h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

He isn't aware of how bad his breathing is, and how loud, unless he really can't get his breath, but if you are standing next to him it is quite disturbing. Unfortunately if you say anything, he throws a "hissy fit". We have lived with his emphysema now for 12 years, and should be thankful he is still here at all, but it isn't easy.

Add asthma and bronchitis to it, the latter has just surfaced again, early this year, and he does very well, mainly through sheer Yorkshire grit, Anima l A lesser man would be stuck in an armchair all day.

I am going to leave the badgers in peace tonight with no lights etc. so they can settle down again after the excitement yesterday. Besides, I am cream crackered .

Websailor

*sits in calmly-awaiting-photos position*

Bless

WS

Webbie, I did not know he was unwell, he has my full respect. Its part of our breeding up here, we just will not lie down and roll over. Little known saying- the only way you can keep a Yorkshireman down, is 6ft under and then he'll still argue the toss.

That's just about right -difficult to live with, or without, but spot on!!

He bowls, Crown Green of course, and does three days a week doing restoration work on old tudor buildings. Hard work, but satisfying and he enjoys it. Helps him keep his self respect, as he would never have got employment again at 54. Helps to keep him moderately fit too.

You can see some of his handiwork on this site.

http://www.middletonhalltrust.co.uk/

If you look for Restoration you will be able to see the state the place was in when they started and what it looks like now. Lesser people than these volunteers would have given up. The Council wanted to let it fall into total disrepair and demolish it, which is what they tend to do with Grade ll Listed buildings. Either that or "accidentally " demolish them

Brock didn't come till 11.45pm last night. I think he was waiting for all the lights to go off. We live on a corner so our garden is affected by the lighting from six houses. We thought we would leave ours off, to calm him down after the flashes and "noises off " he experienced on Sunday night. Now we are thinking he takes that as the signal that "grubs up" so I shall be putting the lights on again tonight.

He polished off the table contents (at least what the fox left him!) and emptied the dish too, so he must be hungry.

Websailor

Your badger friend is getting used to you now, you had better not plan to go away now, he'll follow you!

that is some time and work thay have put in. Ha! 54, young bugger, I've just hit 55, I just need a rebore and de-coke and I'll get another few years running out of meM.O.T. ran out years back

Animal,

He is 66, was 54 when taken ill and had to retire, so he ain't doing too bad He still has to have an MOT now and again, and he is not too good at the moment, but the hospital were very pleased with him. I was told he would likely be chairbound very quickly, so he has squeezed another 12 years

Websailor

Kaz,

He surely is getting to know us and I think he's playing silly ers with us. They say the scent of humans frightens them off, yet he is quite happy to eat what this human puts out for him, and I handle the food, so work that one out

He has been coming later (must have lost his watch!) but it may be because it is Bank Holiday and there are more people about late - for example one of my neighbours is using an electric saw at the moment, and it is nine o'clock A Fox has been sounding off very loudly too!!

Not sure I can keep up the late nights though. I am a nightowl by nature, but early mornings as well is a bit much, and PHM(my other half) is "early to bed, early to rise" so I shall be viewing on my own, I expect.

We don't do holidays, so they are for the foreseeable future, as are the birds. I think I would miss them all if I went on holiday

I have been talking on the Net with a lady who has six badgers visiting her garden every night - now, that WOULD be something, though she says they can be "naughty boys", and girls I suspect.

Cannot decide whether these two are male, female or one of each. I do hope we can keep them interested when they surface after the winter - maybe we might see some cubs - aaah!! All the birds bring their little ones back to see us, so here's hoping.

Websailor

clears my confusion up, thanks Webbie, I'm still past my sell by date and can't get a good trade inwant a body like Data's on Star Trek

Having one badger visit is amazing enough, but 6 must be a handful!

I am sorry to hear your husband has such health problems, but he seems to be a fighter. I hear many occasions where doctors give sell by dates and they are beaten, I reackon it gives you a drive to beat the date and prove the doctor wrong. Its always worth proving a doctor wrong afterall! May your husband keep proving them wrong for many years to come!

Animal, shouldn't worry. I am sure what you've got is more than adequate

Kaz, thanks for the kind words. Yes, six badgers apparently tip plant tubs over (they like bulbs) and ripped the covering off the wall that was hiding the cable to her fountain!!

So far, we seem to have holes in the lawn and nothing else. The fox smell is very pungent though

Websailor

We have so many holes appearing in the green areas near us, one has become quite a deep tunnel. Started by foxes and continued by dogs, I guess. When I used to walk a neighbours dog, he used to run for these holes, and never want to come back again.

Webbie, in "feet" ft' please how big is your garden and does it look over open fields/copse etc

Animal.

At the last count it was about 82 ft. long and about 18ft. wide. However, we have let a piece about 8ft x 12ft . go wild at the bottom . Partly to encourage wildlife (we go along with Bill Oddie's "Say Yes to Mess!") and partly to discourage humans. We have had stuff pinched out of our garden in the past.

We live in a river valley with railway line and fields, though surrounded by houses. I hope that answers your question without giving too much away. You never know who is "lurking"<

Websailor

Kaz, could they be made by badgers? They seem to be colonising new areas close to humans.

If you can describe the holes - small or large etc. it might help ID. It is conceivable that the tunnel could be made by a badger

Websailor

thanks Webbie

I was reading your post there WS number 101 where you mentioned "breathing" with emphysema Mk2 is exactly like that when sleeping, drives me
She is snoring as such, more like whistling, and it drives me mad as I cant get to sleep
Between that and us taking it turns to go to the toilet, we are up and about more during the night that we are through the day
Smudger,

Ah, the joys of later life!!

Hi, Smudger,

We sleep separately now and have our own loos, one up and one down. Like you half the night is spent toing and froing, and when his chest is bad there'd be a queue if we only had one loo.

Still, at least we get to see more of the badgers and other creatures of the night (some of them human!!) that we would miss!!

******************************
Hi, Carole, the joys of advancing age - instead of lipstick, eye shadow, foundation and nail polish it is now BP pills, corn plasters and Polygrip to glue one's teeth in place, plus all those other things as well. Of course the lads don't need the former do they? Certainly not our generation anyway!!

Still, I suppose I don't have to leave bits of me on the bedside table yet, so that's something

Off to watch badgers, and have a rest - have been at a garden show all day today running a stall, and will be there again tomorrow, 6am - 9pm two days running plus two long days before and two after, and I do wonder why I do it. It is great fun but exhausting. Think I am getting past my sell by date

Nite all,

Websailor