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The Return Of Roookie…...‘Threading the Labyrinth’…..Birds….Something Strange….  

by Bernie Bell - 08:18 on 06 October 2024

 

The Return Of Roookie….

 

The year turns…..Roookie returns…looking at the bird table as if to say… ‘Where the peanuts at?’

 

 

 

Maybe I should explain Roookie – I’ve written about him previously in m’blog.

“A flock of Rooks regularly flies over our garden – we think they’re from the Rookery at Woodwick House.  There’s one who is often on his own.  We call him Roookie – pronounced the Yorkshire way – and he’s a very clever bird.  His beak is too big for him to peck bits from the feeder but he worked out that when the feeder was freshly filled to the brim he could either land on the cross bar, push the lid up and pick whole nuts from the top, or, when the level had gone down a bit he'd perch on the cross bar, shove the lid up, clamp himself onto the mesh of the feeder, and stick his head down into it to get nuts.  When it got to a certain level he could no longer do this, and we wouldn't see him again until it was filled again.  What I don’t understand is – why the other Rooks didn’t copy him? 

 

https://theorkneynews.scot/2021/11/04/studies-of-a-rook/

 

In fact, he broke the lid of the feeder and we got a new one which is very sturdy and has a tight fitting lid which he can't shift - so Mike made a new bird table and we put nuts & grain on that for him instead - he soon learnt to be first there in the morning.”

 

 

 

‘Threading the Labyrinth’…..

 

I came across a reference to a writer who is new to me -  Tiffani Angus.  She’s had stories published in anthologies and in the two writing guides which she’s co-written, but has only had one full novel published so far. It’s called ‘Threading the Labyrinth’. 

I Googled  it and the description of an historical fantasy about 400 years in a ‘haunted' garden appealed to me….

 

https://www.lunapresspublishing.com/post/welcome-back-to-threading-the-labyrinth-a-novel-by-tiffani-angus

 

…..brought to mind Oscar Wilde’s ‘Canterville Ghost’ which I like for his understanding of the shifts between life and death….and time…..

 

Similarly, in the film ‘Time to Time’….

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/From_Time_to_Time_(film)

 

…..which I can watch any number of times.

 

We ordered, and received a copy…..

 

I had started re-reading ‘Wildwood ‘ by Roger Deakin, but realised that what I needed at this point in time was a story. 

I began ‘Threading the Labyrinth’ and it is just what I was looking for.  It’s a story - right from the first line.   It catches you - catches your interest in the people and what becomes of them.  Note I say ‘people’ not ‘characters’ – they are immediately…. People.

I have bad eye-sight and can only read a certain amount at a time before my eyes get tired.  ‘Threading the Labyrinth’ is divided into sections relating to…...time, and so I can finish a section, make a clean cut in time, and start again the next time  I’m ready.

And it‘s well written – very well written – at times poetic, at times underlining the need for social reform through the years of which the tale tells. 

It’s full of magic – real magic. 

I hope she writes more.

If you’re wondering why it’s called  ‘Threading the Labyrinth’ – you’ll need to read it to find out!

 

**************************************************************************

 

Birds….

 

I saw this posted on the Orkney Wildlife FB page, by Gill Johnston…

 

Can anyone tell me more about the swans on the Peedie Sea please? The original pair, who were raising 4 remaining cygnets from the 6 they had, seem to be now a single parent family. Just this week about 20 new adult swans have appeared - sadly just in time for Bonfire night. Is this the usual pattern? Love to see them and only lived here for about a year. TIA. Gill”

 

And I responded…

 

“I was hoping that the bonfire & fireworks would be re-located. 15 minutes is a long time when you're frightened.”

 

Then added  a couple  of reminders about bonfire night….

 

http://www.spanglefish.com/berniesblog/blog.asp?blogid=16557

http://www.spanglefish.com/berniesblog/blog.asp?blogid=16560

 

Maybe if folk make a fuss again – the venue WILL be changed.

 

There have been developments since I wrote the above – see the Orkney Wildlife FB page…

 

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/SxEX2kZcPb4pHX7X/

 

I thought…. ‘That’s the last time I put my head above the parapet’ – but – I’ve said that many times before, and I still do. 

 

The alternative is to let harm happen.

 

***************************************************************************

 

Something Strange….

 

……in Anatolia….

 

https://earthlogs.org/2024/10/02/drip-tectonics-beneath-turkiye/

 

 

 


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