Yes that is correct. Where there's one you usually find two. They are very common here. I hear them everyday in the fields behind my house. Noisy bastards they are. My camara was downstairs and by the time I had the chance he/she had flown off. Beautiful bird though I think Female. So I may have to re name it. One thing though, I do like to eat them.

Isn't that about 15 degrees c ? 28 degrees is about 82 F. I know I felt it once, in Portugal last year. If it ever got to 82 here it would be a national disaster. Weather today is mixed. A bit of blue a bit of grey the occasional shower. Usual

Looked out of the bedroom window this morning and a big fat Pheasant was pecking away under the plum tree in the garden where I have a bird feeder full of sunflower seeds. Not sure what sex it was but I will name it Dennis, for no apparent reason.

Varanasi - On the banks of Mother Ganga. India

I have posted this before but it reminds me of warm days. The beach we lived on. Silvery moon beach, Ban Kai, Koh Phan Gan. Thailand

Supposed to be Golfing today but a biblical monsoon rain attack over night paid to that. Only ever seen rain like that in Malaysia. Needless to say course closed due to flooding (again). So plan B. Bake some bread for the weekend and finish the cleaning I have been meaning to do this week. All the wood is in which is a relief.

Your forgiven man. A Jacket Potato is a baked potato. In it's skin. I do them by threading a skewer through the middle of the spud and bake in a hot oven for at least an hour. They come out really crisp on the outside but fluffy on the in. A bit like a burnt old rabbit. Cut in half, a drizzle of butter is a perfect way of eating the crispy delight. But if one want's to really do the humble Jacket some justice, scoop out the flesh leaving the crispy Jacket to cool slightly. Mix the potato with a crumbly cheese ( or any that you like), a few bits of onion and clove of garlic. Add an egg and a knobette of butter. Mix well. Spoon the mixture back in it's jacket and bake for a further 15 mins on a high temp in the oven until brown. Serve with Branston Pickle or a favourable relish of your choice. Marvellous.

Nowt me old china. I occasionally have mash but prefer a Jacket. Mrs CP loves mash,her favourite. As you said "It tastes better than it looks" and to that I am assured

Part of my tooth fell out at Breakfast this morning so have visited Dick Turpin for a patch up job. Have to go back for some serious work in November so am selling the family silver and my arse down town to muster the dosh together. This afternoon has been to calm the wallet down and prepare for bankruptcy

Was there any room at the Inn Charles? And does it have barrel drawn ale and a place to tie the nag?

Civil Servants Joe. Having the afternoon off due to doing 2 days this week already. Wankers. My neighbour is a CS. Lazy arsed shite. Works about 4 hours a day, has more holidays than Thomas Cook and always complains of having to do 5 days. When they were called to do Industrial action because the Government were going to increase their retirement age to 50, she stayed in bed for 2 days and was proud of it. When I mentioned " are you going to join the protest" she nearly fainted and laughed! I didn't. Maybe I should dig up the old "What Irks me about society" thread and pen an essay regarding this very thing?

Lunch today ( thankfully before I saw Striders pic) was hummus on Organic Stoneground cob. Bowl of mixed tropical fruit and raspberries. A drizzle of natural yoghut, cup of Assam Tea

Strider. Of all the great things you eat, that my friend looks absolutley disgusting. It reminds me of a dose of the thrupenney bits I had in India !

Dinner was a lasagne. Should have been for 2 but Mrs CP very under the weather with a bastard of a flu

Our famous water from The Peak District You can fill up from the natural spring in the town for nowt

Time for a vat of soup?

Been really sunny again today - that's 3 days running. I reckon that's more than we got in the whole of the summer ! Another lovely day forecast for tomorrow Temp @ 14 degrees which is about 57 F. Perfect. But the sun has dropped over the hill at the back of the house and it's starting to get chilly. Time to set the woodstove me thinks. But at least Priscilla is enjoying the last few weeks of her life

Is Monday Clean Day ?

Today is a doing day.Mrs CP has left a long list on the blackboard of chores. Starting with clean the house and she says CLEAN. So it's the Kitchen first. From the left it's the oven, the cooker, the worktops, the sinks, the fridge. Then it's mop the floor, put the washing on the line, Move into the lounge where a good dusting and the vac. Empty woodburner ( shit, also got to chop some kindling and wood for the week). Then have to go out for the shopping. Move upstairs for an industrial clean of the bathroom and finally the bedrooms. Oh and the office in the loft (attic). I'll take a break for some tea and lunch but then it's a lasagne to make for dinner. Finally I'll require a glass of red and some relaxing before bed. To be honest I really love doing this. Oh and of course there is my work to do.

Sunday dinner was a stuffed breast of Lamb. The lamb was stuffed with Anchovies,Lemon Zest, Oregano, Chilli Flakes. Then slow pot roasted in Onion & Garlic, White Wine,Black Olives, Plum Toms, a little more chilli and oregano. Served with Creamy Mash. A fine Rioja was the wine of choice

Sunday dinner was a stuffed breast of Lamb. The lamb was stuffed with Anchovies,Lemon Zest, Oregano, Chilli Flakes. Then slow pot roasted in Onion & Garlic, White Wine,Black Olives, Plum Toms, a little more chilli and oregano. Served with Creamy Mash. A fine Rioja was the wine of choice

Everyone I know has the shits in India for a few days. Me and Mrs CP got Gastro enteritis in Delhi the last time we were there and it was horendous but once it finishes you can get over it pretty quickly. Then you can enjoy the country to the full. It is a fantastic place to go for a few months. Utterly breathtaking,funny,scary and down right WEIRD

Some parts of India are breathtaking. We spent a month up the Himalayas - Manali and Kulu Valley, North India. It was incredible. Of course Calcutta, Delhi, Bombay are overcrowded, dirty,smelly and hair raising. But there is a particular type of love and excitement, for me anyway, about these places. I will post some pics of a few places that explain what I mean in the next couple of days. In fact my Avatar was taken in North India

Weird really I never think of England as crowded. I would consider India as crowded. All cities are crowded but we have The original National Park in the world - The Peak District of which I am a citizen. Then further up towards Scotland is The Lake District. I am always amazed when flying back into my home City - Manchester, how much is actual countryside. But having said that I can see Canada as being a total wilderness, which I want to see one day. I assume CJW you have actually lived in England?

The revolutionary Warriors Of Dub