Well as Christmas Day creeps ever closer I find more things i'm not achieving!

Set backs come and go but our canary Amos is not appearing to be well and we lost our lovely Bert after his trials with a bad eye.

Bert was a beatifully graceful bird who seemed to do things in a precise planned way-always first down for veg and very often a late night fly to show us what him and his mates had practiced whilst we were out and not looking. It was with sadness that we had to bury him with the birds we had previously lost-in our garden.RIP Bert -you were much appreciated for the short two years we had the pleasure of your company and friendship.

Managed to visit Marwell Zoo in December -got a white Rhino, a meercat along with tiger and a few leopard portraits.

tried out the new "Grasse cafe there too-excellent!

A big thank you to the Shaw Trust Horticulture project with which I volunteer with. Another year gone by. Paula and I attended the Shaw Trust staff meal at a local Brewers Fayre which was very tasty and simply run. I must admit i was a little shocked at £5.28 for 2 x diet colas-even if they were quite large. i later found that most people opted for small bottles. Still a splendid time was had by all-Paula and I certainly were grateful!

Today I attended the Shaw Trust Horticulture project meal which was held at the same hall as last year and was worked hard on and produced an excellent meal finished off with the traditional Nigel /Carolyne (with Chris's help) Quiz....i actually managed a winners box of chocalate stars. Paula and I do not manage many chocalates but we should manage these-its only a small box!

Thank you!

So an evening and two days to Christmas Day...i looked at the tv listings guide on the webb on Christmas afternoon to evening...well i look forward to HM Queen'Elizabeth II speach - last year I enjoyed it very much! Not sure I 'll watch much else -just talk and play cds with maybe a bit of computer. Definately no turkey has died for us here - i appreciate birds of a feather much more than a plate of their bodies. Maybe looking after 30 odd creates such an appreciation and a view of caring nature at its best.

Well if there are any readers of this blogg even if you havent followed Paula and I with our ups and downs with life and the animals we encounter .....

...we wish you a Happy Christmas for 2008 Festive Season- solstace and all!!!