Hi there once again

Pictured here is my lovely Paula sitting on Platform 1 of the preserved railway the Mid-Hants or "Watercress" line -the natural spring water of the River Itchen made the town of Alresford famous for it's fabulously nutricious watercress fields.

More photographs from this visit with Paula and the day before's with the Shaw Trust "Snaps!" group can be found on the usual www.flickr.com/photos/colinbp & Paula's www.flickr.com/photos.paulabirds .

Thanks to the volunteers and staff of the Mid-Hants Railway and Michael my Shaw Trust officer.

Moonie and Rupi (i keep calling him "Rooney" for some reason???) are settling in ok but i still have no photos of them yet...they are tiny compared with the larger bigger budgies!!!

The new Clare Burson cd "Thieves" came from USA and is being readily played. I've ordered the other SMTV ( http://www.samanthamurphy.com/ ) interviewed artist; Izzy Cox -this time from http://www.cdbaby.com/ = Izzy has a fantastic voice and sound...check it out!!!

The Rutles album is getting plenty of play...the original vinyl was available in the '70's with hit singles from the prefab four...a spoof of the Beatles with George Harrison in on the joke and as an interviewer in the tv film/ now dvd. great alternative sounds with Neil Innes and crew with the film staring Eric Idle with Mick Jagger and Paul Simon adding their two pennith worth and Bianca Jagger also strarring-i recall!!!

The 2nd cd was "Archeology" released when many a fine band released their "Anthologies"!!! Also excellent!! Neil Innes recentlty played a reformed Bonzo dog doo dah Band tour and some solo gigs including a few Rutles numbers.

Bye for Now

Colin "Citypool" Puddephatt - non-singer/songwriter with "no fixed ability!!"

(The yoke's on me!!!)

August already!!!! Well there's been sadness with the passing of young Donna -one of our original budgies . The cage seems very empty but almost ready to enter are Rupi (after the Ian Anderson album ) and Moonie - after the Manchester City FC song "Blue Moon" (quite a lot going on there!) and also Keith Moon late drummer for the incredible The Who. Both sky blues (budgies)!! Also the previous week enter 4 bengaliese finches (society finches) ) named Woody (Guthrie), Merri (Merideth Brooks), Ralph (McTell) and Kathryn (Williams) -all singer /songwriters/birds. The names are getting harder to think of for new birds we befriend!

Pictures are as usual on www.flickr.com/photos/colinbp with trips to BirdWorld, the back garden and Mortimer (again).

The debut cd issue and extended vinyl style cover soundtrack to "All you need is cash" the tv/DVD film by The Rutles (here in the UK) is my latest cd listened to album.

Mainly listening to singer /songwriters at present; Ralph McTell/Kathryn Williams/Clare Burson (countdown to "Thieves" album release 21august-USA) / Bert Jansch / Michael Messer

We've had flash floods seems were having hot spells now!

Have fun!!Colin