Here’s the question that springs to my mind in relation to this — does the person who tempted me into this challenge deserve thanks or curses? This wasn’t on my schedule for today, I have swerved away from other tasks to write this. …

Remembering Sunny Days: “December Freestyle” — No more sun for the dinos. The photo was taken earlier in the year before the entire flock received a custodial sentence. Initially, they were required to be “housed” because avian flu was raging across the country. They were essentially in open prison which kept them out of contact with gulls who seem to be the…

Six Word Photo Story Challenge: Freestyle — Horse’s head? What do you think? Walks at this time of year are a game of How-Wet-Can-We-Get, with whole minutes sometimes standing under makeshift cover while a storm blows over. A benefit to being out in the thick of it is seeing these rain puddle reflection images form. When a sudden downpour catches me, I run…

November Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Collecting Smiles” — Would she really eat this toadstool? Would she? I admit it looks tempting and fresh, but it’s probably deadly poison — I have no idea. I’m not a mushroom/toadstool gatherer these days. But she’s a Labrador and it certainly looks tempting. In all our adventures over the years, the Caped Crusader and I have encountered many…

This hasn’t been a conventional week — none of this 7 days 7 nights nonsense, just a malestrom of activity catapulting us from one high-octane activity to the next. …

Summer Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Shine!” — “No chance. Your ally’s on holiday.” The Caped Crusader loves raw eggs and is always on hand to clean up accidental spillages. I have been glad of her services over the years. Our egg store is in an awkward corner. If I slip when reaching in, any eggs that escape my grasp fall into an all-but-inaccessible…

In a post-truth world, who’s to say it’s not an accurate record? — A tale of forgetting and losing, rediscovering, then remembering why it was forgotten in the first place, but finishing it anyway. A year ago I came across a writing challenge that required me not to use my own words. Sounds like an invitation to plagiarise, but it wasn’t. Writer Somsubhra…

When I wrote about al fresco bathing, the results surprised me. Between June 10th and 11th, my stats went wild. The screenshot shows the…

Six Word Photo Story Challenge: Freestyle — Two old friends share the gossip. We inherited several cacti a couple of years ago. The circumstances were such that we didn’t have the chance to ask questions about type or upkeep, so have had to rely on observation and reading the cactus books. In this shot, I feel that I’ve caught them from behind by…

And a lawn out of control — It’s that time of year when we have some red-hot days and think it’s summer, only for the weather to cry “Fooled you!” and drench us with a sudden downpour. …

The pandemic’s taught us a lot about key workers. But I just learned something new.

Inspiration came to me whilst reading a piece by Susan Alison about Hairstylists National Appreciation Day.

After some warm sunny weather (just enough to have everyone putting away their winter woollies) we were hit by a bone-chillingly cold spell. But it lifted briefly and gave us another taste of Spring. I decided to take what I hoped would be a relaxing stroll around the village.

Six Word Photo Story Challenge: Freestyle — The tallest daffodil in the world? It’s probably not — the tallest daffodil in the world, I mean — but it’s the tallest that’s ever appeared in our garden. We measured it at 112 cms (just over 44 inches). According to Gardener’s World, “Daffodils range in height from about 5cm up to 45cm,” so maybe it…

April Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Graffiti & Street Art” — Just stop worrying about the spelling. It’s beautifully done — well, I think so — the shading, the 3D effect to make it stand out from the wall. The precision is impressive to say it was probably done at night whilst keeping an eye out for the graffiti police. I stood and enjoyed it for a…

Unstoppable as a 4-year-old’s logic When the spouse invited the 4-year-old to “help make cheese scones” I vowed to keep out of the way. I don’t go looking for trouble and am careful to stipulate activities that don’t involve running water, flour, and hot stoves. Cheese scones are on my…

When the 4-year-old came to make cheese scones with her grandfather, I needed my earplugs, but that’s another story. As to the scones…

If it’s not tied down or unconscious, I haven’t a chance — I won’t say that it’s not as easy as it looks, because I’ve never thought it looked easy at all. It’s certainly harder than it looks, and I ended last week thankful for fungus on willow trees. All week, the wildlife has been coming out to perform. We have watched…

But don’t stir the pot by saying so —

It might feel like an old-fashioned form of harassment, but dodgy phone calls are horrible. I’ve been on the receiving end. At best…