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

Hi WS et-al

Have just nipped home again for a couple of days, so have not actually deserted my post totally.

Only just arrived though and have only skimmed through the last 12 postings so far. Will read more later when I've got through the mountain of washing.

Really must teach number 1 Daughter how to operate it.

Speak soon

Scorpio

Christiane, I don't want the Badger or anything else to get my Wood Mice. They are lovely and do no harm at all!

I am sure Springwatch would not pay anyone to camp in their house/garden, I think they would regard it as a privilege for the householders. As I mentioned a long while ago, taking photos here would be extremely difficult, but I will try. It will be better when they start coming earlier in the evening perhaps.

I could charge for viewing, as I have three couples, all friends, who are angling to come and have a look, but PHM doesn't relish a house full of people at 12 midnight to 3am!!!

Scorpio, I guessed you were away. How old is #1 daughter? Think I would rather have boys, mine washed and ironed their own kit from age 16 if I wasn't there!!

Mon. 29th May 06
Weather: Rain early evening. Dry later. Very Windy

10.50pm saw the first Badger arrive in a hurry and hungry, heading for new dish, table then new dish again, eating very quickly, and constantly looking down the garden with ears pricked. And so began a very busy night.

At 10.55pm a second Badger appeared, followed a minute later by a Fox. The first Badger, which I am sure was the new Cub, ran down the garden and the Fox exited quickly stage centre while Cub exited just as quickly stage left. I wonder if they bumped in to one another in the bushes at the bottom of the railway bank?! Shortly afterwards the second Badger, Mrs. B I think, also disappeared having eaten a little food only.

The Sensor went off again at 12.07am and a Badger was working its' way slowly up the peanut trail. It was Missie. She did her usual dance round the table, rocking it several times, before dragging it over with her paw. She lay down to eat and settled comfortably, munching away. At 12.27am her ears pricked up and she ran to meet another Badger mooching at the bottom of the garden. They exchanged Menu details and Mrs. B came up the garden to the table to finish off what Missie had left. She then removed the lid off the new dish completely and lay down to eat. In the meantime Missie disappeared at 12.30am.

A came through the patio and down the step - *shock, horror* he came face to face with Mrs. B who wasn't impressed. Neither was the ! She charged the cat and it ran down the garden literally like a 'scalded cat'. I think it was Ginger! Mrs. B gradually finished off the contents of the new dish.

Now, there is one problem with a NVScope, as there is with Binoculars or a video camera etc. While focusing your eyes through the appendage you cannot see what is going on around your field of vision. While I was absorbed in watching Mrs. B another cat crept up the garden, possibly Fluff, and hid itself away to watch the Badger. Mrs. B finished eating, came up to the patio sniffed the dish and left it alone. You mean she had eaten enough? Looked like it. She trotted over to have a drink at the dustbin lid, coming face to face with the under the cotoneaster, who let out such a squeal -whether fright or threat I am not sure, but it didn't sound friendly! Mrs. B wasn't impressed either and shot down the garden exiting centre at 12.45am. disappeared while I was checking up on Mrs. B.

Boss Man, he of the dirty face, came up to the patio dish at 1.30am, having clearly instructed the rest of the family to steer clear of 'his' dish. He cleared the dish in record time, leaving it muddy, and exited left at 1.45am.

Phew! Cup of would be nice, but I can't be bothered. Flask perhaps tomorrow night

TODAY (Tues.)
Weather: Sunny spells, slight showers, very windy and very

I woke to the Sensor and found a young Squirrel sitting in the tray attached to the bottom of the feeder on the line. Legs wrapped round the tube, front paws holding on to the ring perches, and snout well in the trough. He did look comfortable. The Robin came pinching Mealworms again as did the Great Tit before I could get them in to the dishes. They are coming closer and closer. So long as I don't make a sudden movement they seem quite content.

A Magpie and Collared Dove were fighting over possession of the stone table. CD won! The Magpie moved up to the patio table and proceeds to swipe everything back and forth with his beak till he found what he was looking for, making a right mess in the process. Hopalong Blackbird appeared for her raisins, seemily unconcerned that Fluff was watching from the bushes. Later a Jay challenged the same Collared Dove to the stone table, also losing out to the CD. She/he is getting very stroppy!

Must order more Mealworms tomorrow as I only have two tubs left. Large ones and some mini Mealworms for them to take to the babies, or for the babies to feed themselves later. If it stays they will keep, and grow, for quite a while.

I am looking forward to the Springwatch Great Tits fledging. They do look nice and big and healthy. PHM gave up Springwtch for the . Honestly

I really must try and shorten my posts. These are getting ridiculously long but so much is happening!!

Websailor

sorry, can't shorten perfection, its not on!

Oh abbi!
They are what set me up for the day!!
But you MUST gt your sleep.
big
Christiane

Animal, you do know how to flatter a girl and make her feel good on a bad day!! Just tired that's all!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A1, I hope the message was meant for me, Websailor, but I am sure Abbi will be just as pleased!!



Websailor

Tues. 30th May 06
Weather: Starry, starry night, dry, breezy

12.19am and the Sensor was going nuts as a Badger foraged for peanuts all around it! It came very slowly up the peanut trail to the table. It was Missie. Her table antics were unmistakable. She stood on tiptoe stretching right across the table and almost climbing on. Oddly, it didn't tip immediately but when it did she looked . She licked the table and sat down to eat. Suddenly at 12.45am a appeared from nowhere, followed by another Badger, and the got caught between the two!! Missie glared at him, then belted down to meet the other Badger and they both disappeared stage left. I think the second Badger might have been the new Cub. hopped over fence.

12.47am and another Badger came quickly up to the new dish. I think it is Mrs. B as she pushed the lid off impatiently and foraged through the dish, leaving about half before trying out the patio dish. Again she ate about half, then went back to the new dish, had a little nibble at honey sandwich then ran off down the garden,exiting left at 12.57am.

2.55am and another Badger cleared the new dish before doing the same to the patio dish. By dirty face and antics this is Boss Man. After clearing the dish he had a drink from the dish on the wall, jumped over and trotted down the garden, having a mini mooch before exiting left at 3.12am. I don't think the new Cub visited again but he can probably manage quite well on earth worms for now.

Either we had no further visitors or I Zonked Out completely till 7am.!!

THIS MORNING
Lovely sunny day but still a bit chilly. Birds singing. The Mealworms were collected pronto, and the other food was quickly dispatched, especially the raisins which seem to be keeping 'Hopalong' the Blackbird going. I have ordered a mixture of large wriggly mealworms and mini mealworms to arrive tomorrow. I just have to work out where I put them all, in order to ration them out! I have to make sure the birds can't see where I put them or they will be in the house like a shot.

There are very few birds around at the moment. I hope they are busy feeding babies, and that they will come and visit us all soon. I want to get organised for this evening as I want to watch Springwatch, and I think a David Attenborough prog. is on later too which might be interesting.

See you folks later if there is anything to report,


Websailor

Correction - Sir D. is on Thursday night at 9pm.

Websailor

Hi WS

Yes the message was meant for you!!.

I had somehow missed the part about the badgers discssing the menu so had a on my face when I rad it just now!!.

I was wondering about the mange on the foxes. Has the marmite helped them? Are the foxes frightened of the badgers. the cats certainly seem to be. I love the squirrel parking him/herself comfortably and being lord/lady of the manor whilst dining "chez" the Websailors.

Have a great and restful day.

with affection
Christiane

Hi, A1,

Glad it made you . It is just as though the first one in tells the others what is on the menu for the night!!

We still have a fox coming, which I think is our original female, and she looks in fair health. Seeing the state of them when Mange hit, I had little hope any would survive. The Marmite would certaily have helped, and the homeopathic remedy. I just wish I could have fed them every night, but when a r-a-t turned up to eat the sandwiches I had to stop! I know a lot of other people feed the foxes locally, so I am hopeful we have all been doing the same thing. I will let you know if any more turn up.

The Squirrels think they own the place now. It is McWebbie's Diner during the day, then we change the table cloths and it becomes McWebbies Bistro at night. I was within touching distance of a squiggle this morning and he just carried on munching and looked at me to see what else I had brought him!!

See you later. PHM is looking for his tea!!

Websailor

Hi WS
Thanks for the info on Sir D. I have been watching the Xfactor Celebrities and have been voting for the chefs. they are so absolutely dreadful that I roll about laughing my head off. So now it is going to be a choice between Sir D, and the Chefs, singing out of tune, but Oh so joyously!!.

I wonder if you remember a lady who lived in America and sang falsetto. This was aeons ago, and it was an absolute hoot. Well, the Chefs are rather like that. They are all charming but cannot sing n tune - except fo one Italian one.The poor Frenchman, who cooks like a dream, sings the most beautiful love songs, and ends up tones below anyone else. It really is funny. But as they are doing it for charity I can laugh and support their charity at the same time!.

I hope your spouse had a good tea.!!

Happy viewing and visitations tonight.

Christiane AR1

Webbie, now-a-days, they call it old fashioned, but if you can't give a lady a compliment, then its time to pack in and I ain't ready yet(for a long while)

Animal, Long may you prosper. Bless!! If only such views were held by more people. I have to say girls these days don't respond well to compliments, good manners and the like, at all well. So blokes don't bother any more. Feminism has got warped.

A1, I think PHM has watched some of the X factor but hasn't got your sense of humour. Though at the moment he is not in the best of humours generally, in spite of having a good tea.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wed. 31st May 06
Weather: Dry, bright, quite cold, starry

I almost missed the first Brock at 11.20pm as he barely registered on the Sensor, coming up fast to the patio dish, with a quick sniff and snaffle at the new dish on the way. All the signs are that it's Boss Man getting in early before the rush. He ate about half the contents of the patio dish, with sweetcorn and peas, and pear too, which seemed to go down well. He went back to the new dish and had a nibble, before checking out the table. Finding no sandwich bits (and Boss Man does like his sarnie!) he trotted quickly down the garden exiting stage left at 11.31pm. The end house had its' bathroom light on bathing our garden in light, which they are not keen on.

12.25am and a Badger came slowly, slowly up the peanut trail. This was Missie but I think I should have called her Pole Pole (Swahili for Slowly Slowly). She jigged round the table, again almost climbing on to it, until her little short back legs got tired and she pulled it over. She flopped on the ground in relief and lay down to eat. Having finished most of what was now on th floor she moved to the new dish and finished all of that. She went for a drink at the dustbin lid, before exiting left at 12.42am.

From 12.55am when I had a brief sighting of a Badger, which I think was the Cub, the Sensor was going off at about 10 minute intervals. The Badger disappeared quite quickly and checking several times I saw nothing, so something was playing silly beggars with me!! Pretty well all the food had gone, so by 4am I switched the Sensor off in order to get some undisturbed shuteye.

TODAY(Thurs.)

We watched Fluff and a Magpie having a set to on the fence. Fluff was on the fence going for the Magpie, and the Magpie was on the trellis, taunting Fluff with its' beak, flapping its' wings and kicking up a heck of a row. Everything else fled in panic. This went on for about five minutes, and evenutally Fluff retired to his own garden well and truly defeated. The Magpie strutted around, Cock of the Walk. We had six Wood Pigeons this morning which is more than we have had for a while. The Collared Dove arrived with two others, then drove one off! He is still getting stroppy with anything that dares to land near. Must be expectant father's nerves making him jumpy.

I put the last of the Mealworms out this morning thinking new supplies would arrive shortly, but they didn't. If they do not arrive early morning tomorrow I shall have to feed them the Mealworms I had kept back for breeding purposes, or there will be a mutiny. I see the Springwatch Great Tits have only just fledged in Devon, so perhaps we shall start seeing babies soon. Pretty please!! It is so quiet. There is almost more activity in the night time Bistro than the day time Diner.

I missed David Attenborough (got long phone call!) so fed the Badgers in a rush, and must go check emails etc. now. NIght, night, all


Websailor

walks past on tippy toes

Wot!! Oh, *waves*

like me dad was, "I'm not asleep, just resting my eyes"

Scorpio, did you get the email ok ?

Very dear WS
You never cease to amaze me.

Now you are speaking Swahili!!/
Where did you learn it?

I do not think that Sir. D. was on top form. He was interviewing a weatherman from somewhere who was so full of doom and gloom that it was practically theatre.

IF they think so seriously about the North Pole, why does no-one think about the fact that it is only in the last six or seven years that aircraft have flown over the North Pole to the far east.
It is actually never advertised that fact.

I am sure that more badgers are seen in your garden than on Spring Watch.
But that wonderful Simon King who is on the island sighting the otters is presenting a programme which is full of excitement and interest.

Send you lots of good wishes,

and
Christiane

A1,

tafadhali means "please" and "una taka chai sasa bwana", means "Do you want a cup of tea now, Sir?" I met a lady from Kenya on another message board, and she gave me a few translations, but I remembered the Pole Pole from the 'Born Free" film with Elsa the Lioness. They had a young NDOVU (elephant) which they called Pole Pole because she was slow. I believe Prince William has been learning Swahili too.

The Badgers are coming out quite late at the moment which is probably why they are not showing them, as they want 'live' pictures if they can. I have watched Simon King since he was about sixteen, and it is lovely to see him still enthusiastic. I think he would be David Attenborough's natural successor, above all others.

Thurs. 1st June 06
Weather: Dry & Clear

Our first visitor was the Fox at 10.55pm. She only stayed about three minutes, just long enough to eat a few peanuts. She didn't come up the garden so I couldn't get a really good look at her, but she seemed

11.15pm and the first Badger appeared to PHM's delight. He goes to earlier than me, so doesn't always see them. It was Boss Man coming straight up the path to the patio dish. He still has the twitchy tick and a dirty face, but apparently it is not unusual for them to be *itchy,scratchy*. He half emptied the patio dish, then the new dish. After picking a few bits off the table he wandered off down the garden, exiting stage centre in a hurry just as a second Badger appeared stage left. PHM Much mooching by Missie kept setting the Sensor off, upsetting his Lordship, so I had to switch it off! A , Ginger I think, came racing up the garden, leapt over the wall on to the patio and crouched down, peeping over the top at the Badger! I blinked and the disappeared!

Missie did her usual dance round the table, eventually tipping it, and lying down to eat. Another possibly Fluff arrived, taking a great interest, either in the Sensor red light, or something in the undergrowth. After eating for a while Missie suddenly upped sticks and raced off down the garden exiting left at 11.44pm. Switched Sensor back on.

Another , Patches appeared on the patio at 3.05am and its' eyes were glued to the bottom of the Lilac tree for about ten minutes, before disappearing through the tradesmens' entrance out in to the street. Nothing else was heard or seen until a Squirrel arrived at 6.35am.

TODAY(Fri.)
Very hot and sunny all day becoming humid this evening. The swifts were screaming overhead as I put the Badger food out tonight. This morning I had what I first thought were two Greenfinches, all yellow green and bright, but on closer inspection I am sure one was a Greenfinch and the other a Siskin. It's a bit late for the latter here, but some do appear to stay around. A pair of Bullfinches alighted, and I have to say the female looked very fat. Eggs I wonder? Two Wood Pigeons were cavorting on the lawn unti Fluff ran at them and chased them off. I think he only wanted to play. I hope!!

The bags of worms arrived at about 9am, and I had an hour or two wrestling with them, especially the mini mealworms, who are very active, adventurous and hard to pick up. I put some minis out in one of the mealworm feeders, which had minute drain holes, and some escaped, so I had to put them in another feeder. They soon disappeared as did the bigger ones I put out later. The Robin chased me this morning when there were no mealworms at 7am. He looked . I think I am back in favour now though!!

It is really humid here this evening, and rather uncomfortable. The birds seem to like it as they are singing happily.

Off to check emails and messages, then for a long cool . well Cranberry actually - same difference!!

PS. Animal, your Dad sounds like PHM!!


Websailor

another lovely day and night dear WS
Thank you.
I am hoping against hope that my friend comes nd installs my upgraded computer this weekend. It really would be wonderful to be able to print again. I cannot print out instructions or anything.
abbi has replied to me and it seems that the wonderful place I descrbied in Colorado really does exist. She is going to send me the link.
Have you seen the photographs of giraffe which Willem took in Turfloop. They are quite magnificent. They are such elegant graceful creatures. Giraffe also have the longest eyelashes I have ever seen!!.
I so agree with you about Simon King. He is such a humble guy and his enthusiasm is so absolutely infectious.
Sorry your spouse does not share my enthusiasm for the Chefs. It is just that they so obviously enjoy singing and so obviously have absolutely NO idea that they are off key!!.
But I hope that the Welsh South African will win. He is also a natural. TV is a very demanding medium and any trace of artificiality is glaringly evident and very off putting.
I was feeling very mis last night. Very bad toothache, swollen gland etc. etc. K came with me to the A & E and I ws very touched when, at about 10 p.m. the local NHS doctor on call phoned and came round personally and delivered some antibiotic and pain killers. I really do get cross when people berate the NHs unmercifully. There are many wonderful people who work and care wonderfully in it and most of the ideas that are put out are excellent ones. They just need to be porperly implemented. I slept very well after all.

Have a good day my dear friend
Christiane AR1