Time to move on to pastures new......

Today I have created a new blog, Quicksilvercountry which now replaces my other 2 blogs, this one and my art one. I shall no longer be posting to Quicksilverbirds.

This blog, Quicksilverbirds will remain in place with a link until the end of 2009, when it will be deleted. I hope you will find my new blog entertaining and a fun place to visit. I shall look forward to welcoming you all in the coming years..... please bookmark and pay a visit to Quicksilvercountry.

All the best, Andrew

Time to move on....

Today I have created a new blog, Quicksilvercountry which now replaces my other 2 blogs, this one and my wildlife one and from now on I shall no longer be posting to this site.

This blog, Quicksilverwhistle will remain in place with a link until the end of 2009, when it will be deleted. I hope you will find my new blog entertaining and a fun place to visit. I shall look forward to welcoming you all in the coming years..... please bookmark and visit Quicksilvercountry.

All the best, Andrew

REJUVINATE AND WELCOME

Welcome to my latest blog. For 3 years now I have been blogging firstly as Quicksilverwhistle, a blog about my art, then Quicksilverbirds, a blog initially covering my birding trips, but recently looking at other aspects of the British countryside. Recently I've been thinking having 2 blogs, one for wildlife and one for art, neither of which really covered the topics which interest me these days, were doing what I wanted them to do. So I have decided to pull the plug on these, leave them mothballed with a link to this blog for a while and create this completely new blog. Then there is just one blog covering everything which interests me, no need for links and life is a lot simpler.

So what is this blog going to be then? Well simply, my interests are varied and eclectic and as such when I'm in the British countryside, I'm not just looking at wildlife. In fact these days I'm more likely to be looking at houses, churches, customs, fairs, events and well anything which takes my fancy, sometimes quirky, sometimes serious, but I hope always entertaining.

So I plan to develop this blog over the coming months to combine my interest in wildlife, with an interest in art both mine and others, with a comment on anything else which comes along. I hope then that what follows in the coming years is interesting to you all, and for those of you who have followed my birds and art blog, I hope you'll stick with me here. If not, thank you for all the comments over the years, they were greatly appreciated.

And for anyone new to me and my blogs, welcome and your comments are always welcome!

The forces of nature

Well I'm now slowly recovering from my 1000 mile dash across Britain in cars and trains, having travelled in 6 days, Bristol, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Hadrian's Wall, Bristol, Lyme Regis, Salisbury, Stonehenge and back to Lyme Regis.

By Tuesday, my visitors were safely back in London having a Capital time before their flight back to Canada. So The boy needed some R&R and relaxation, where better then than Lyme Regis. I'd quite happily live here. Busy in the summer but wonderful the rest of the year, and now Mark Hix has built a fish restaurant overlooking the Cobb, even more reason's to visit and sample his fare from the trough.

So on Tuesday, myself and a friend descended down to the coast. I'd been here on Saturday with my Canadian visitors and it was jammy packed with day-trippers, but today, though busy, space to breathe. Probably because it was raining. But there you go, we walked in drizzle from the car park, the clouds parted, the Cobb was bathed in sunlight and the rest of the day was gloriously sunny.

What these photo's do not show of course is the gale blowing in off the sea. The French sand used to rebuild Lyme beach after the storm of 1999 washed it away, is fine and pointy sharp. So as the wind whips it up and hurls it at passers by like myself, at 40 to 50 miles an hour, it doesn't half sting!!

And it made me think, not for the first time, not a eureka moment, but just made me think. Here I was on a sunny beach on the first day of Autumn, the photographs made it look warm and inviting; when in reality it was stormy but very invigorating when stood on that transition zone between land and sea. It's not a new concept, but man is so useless against the elements. We think we can control, when in effect we have absolutely no control over anything this Earth has to throw at us.

Taking these photographs on Hive beach, just along the coast from Lyme, one realises the power of the elements which make our planet work. I'm not a big fan of the hype around Climate Change. I agree completely the climate is changing, but prefer to think of climatic oscillation, a completely natural change brought about by the circulation of systems we really don't fully understand. Man is probably not helping, and is certainly polluting this wonderful Planet. I'm no expert, I am probably wrong, but I just can't believe driving cars and releasing Carbon makes that much difference in the grand scheme of things. 1500 years ago the climate was warm enough to grow crops on the Outer Hebrides, it then cooled, crops couldn't be grown, and now they are windswept, if glorious places to visit. I'll wait to be fully convinced what's happening now, is not part of a much bigger, and much older cycle of climatic changes which have happened across the millennia, but never recorded by man. And if you think; we're still technically in an Ice-Age, which logic says is a cool period in the Earth's history. So if it's a cool phase, there must be a warmer phase.

But I digress, with my personal views. What this posting is really about is the power of one of these Earth's elements, water, in the form of the sea. Actually it's about 2 elements, wind and water. The three photo's above were taken on Hive beach, and don't really show the other force, wind, in play other than crashing waves. But believe me I could hardly stand up. I have always been fascinated by wind. We can't see it, but we can feel it. We can't see the pressure differentials that cause air mass to move from one place to another, ergo to produce wind. But it's there, all the time and invisible and weightless, but has the power to move trillions of tonnes of sea water enough to produce waves. It's fascinating if you think about it, even if it did nearly blow me off the Cobb twice.

So a bit earlier in the day, back on the Cobb at Lyme Regis, at least these photographs showed what was actually going on. So a few images to gladden the heart of anyone who, like me, absolutely loves rough seas, extreme weather and storms ... well when viewed from the land of course. I've had enough rough ferry crossings in my days to make me a land lubber, the best being a force 9 from Arran, when we (as in the Ferry) had to divert south and out into the sea to rescue a capsized yacht. Rough wasn't the word I'd use that day, absolutely terrifying better describes it! And the carnage in the car decks afterwards was quite something.

And finally, another element, earth. Or more accurately rocks. On Saturday I'd watched a guy called Adrian Gray perform his visual art pieces of Stone Balancing on Lyme beach. It was fascinating to see as he basically had a pair of pointed rocks and balanced them using nothing but gravity and friction. His website is here.

I love making stone sculptures on beaches everywhere I go, so I had to have a go myself on Hive beach.

First attempt - okay I know what you're thinking. I thought the same. So I got a bigger stone.

That's better. But I will practice this a few more times with more pointed stones. If you're very unlucky, some of these may end up on my sister blog.

Blowing in the wind

Somewhere in South West England there is a road, and that road leads down a hill into a lane, which goes down another hill and into another lane, where eventually one finds oneself at Maiden Newton. Maiden Newton is actually 2 villages, one of which is Frome Vauchurch, the former about 1000 residents, the latter 150. A sprawling conurbation it isn't, but it was known as Chalk Newton in Thomas Hardy's novels.

However last night although this village has many attractions, a chip shop which stays open until at least 9pm being one of them, I pressed on through the valley and out onto the ridge, higher and higher until eventually I met some cows.

These are very tall cows indeed as they're standing on a hill some 820 feet above sea level, which surely must be very tall for bovine members of their family. I've mentioned this hill before in this blog, but it is a hill I'll not mention by name. And if you know where it is, SHHHH! Because this is a special place for me and I don't want people tramping all over it. It vies with my affections for my favourite view and place in the whole World. The other being this view below, near Hepple in Northumberland, which I love but that also reminds me of childhood and playing here, a bit spoilt in this photo by some bald bloke trying to be moody and interesting... in those trousers?

Yes, here in little old over crowded, but green and pleasant land there is a piece of England which has had my footprints all over it since the early 1980's when I discovered it by accident and fell in love with the place. And every time I need a mental boost, or to think, or to just be alone, I come here and sit.

Last night I came and sat with another. She liked what she saw; sadly I think she meant the view, not the author of this blog, because he had these trousers on again, tailored for comfort, not style I'd say - or is that really the shape of my legs!

I hope they've had a wash. Anyway I rarely bring anyone up here with me, because this is a solitude place for me, but last night relented and well she offered to take the photos as in nearly 30 years of coming here I'd never ever been photographed up here myself. But for my lounge wall I wanted to replicate the Hepple image.

But wandering about in baggy trousers on a windswept hill was not the real reason for this visit. This year started dreadfully but then improved and improved and has just been great, but just recently a little local difficulty cropped up and well I teetered on the black side of life for a while, clinging precariously on the lip of the cliff. By nature I'm very optimistic, but black moods when they arrive are real coal shaft of despair. It's the Norwegian in me, far too many dark winter nights and sucking salted cod over a weekend. It's taken about 6 weeks, but I've climbed out the lip now and striding through the sunshine. Ive not completely moved on, but nearly....... I had to do one last thing. I needed to let the past blow in the wind.

I'm not a religious person, but very spiritual, though friends often don't realise this, as my spiritually is hidden and private. My natural leanings these days could be described as Christian-Pagan-Spiritual, if there is such a thing. I believe there's a higher spirit out there, and nature will eventually re-balance the mess human beings are making of this planet, but what it is all about I have no idea. And don't worry, I'm not about to launch into a post modernist crusade, but as part of the cleansing process last night I thought I'd share a bit of my intimate thoughts for a change. And it's August, I never do much wildlife watching in August.

Last year I read about releasing negative thoughts and letting one of the elements of the planet, namely Air in the form of wind, take those thoughts up to the spirits, thereby releasing the dark side of one's inner being to the elements, where it can float away, rejuvenating the soul and creating an inner balance based on the positive calm rather than the negative.

Or to put it a bit more simply, write a load of horrible things down on paper and set fire to them and you feel a lot better.

The process is very simple. One needs to find a place, preferably high up, which is spiritually special to you. Ideally meditate in complete silence for a few minutes and let one's mind form the negative thoughts, influences or deeds which are bothering you, write them down, place them in a dish, set fire to them, meditate while the flames are burning, and once the ash has cooled, let the wind blow the ashes away across the landscape. Ideally you'd leave the ashes there to blow away in their own time over days, the reason being they're "picked up" by the spirits when they pass and only when they're ready to leave you; but in reality though, a little help is needed.

An interesting thing happened just before the burning. The most important negative thing I had to burn, and the cause of so much anguish and pain in the last month, was the first to be written down. I wrote 17 other things, some related, many not, twizzled the paper balls around in the bowl with a stick, and a gust of wind flicked that first paper up, unwrapped it and it ended up on top of all the others and readable from where I was sitting. It was the first paper I lit and therefore to burn and it ignited all the others.... Significant? Maybe, but I'm very much into these odd things which happen out of our control are there for a reason.

Sorry about this - it refuses to turn around in the blog - but you get the idea, ash!

And away they go............ !

My companion thought I was slightly mad when I suggested this, especially after three explanations didn't convince her I wasn't insane. But even she said when she agreed to meditate with me on the hill, and then walking back she felt different. Couldn't explain it. Just different. As I meditated, I had a weird warm feeling surge up my body. I can't explain that either, but I did have it once before on this hill years ago, and turned round to see a shape behind me slowly dissolving, like mist, but it was a fine spring day. To this day I have no idea what that was, but I know I saw it, and I wasn't at all frightened.

But lets end with some views...... I feel absolutely fabulous today and so here are some views of the finest view in the British Isles on a summers night. Click to enlarge

Thank you for taking these, you know who you are, and thank you for being there for me these last few weeks. It can't have been easy.

Normal blogging service will resume soon (ie wildlife) but I'll end with another little clue to where I was. The village which is on the Swine River, Toller being the river, Porcorum the pigs. I feel a sniffle coming on.... achooo.. Tamiflu anyone?

I didn't plan to go here......

HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU BUD !

This weekend was weird. Okay let me re-phrase this as all my weekends are weird at the moment as I'm not home much. Picture the scene, Friday afternoon in the office. Sun splitting the paving stones and the boy blogger was wondering what to do at the weekend. A few options were in the bag, but as he mulled these over he began talking to a colleague who'd just returned from Northumberland, and was loving it. Ohhohh that's an option, I haven't been there since Easter. So I rang parents, and well in a little over 5 hours I was in my parents gaff, quaffing tea and discussing what to do for a relaxing weekend up't north. A bit mad really as I'll be back there in 2 weeks with a pair of Canadians, but what the heck - we only live once - so what if the grass hasn't been cut in 6 weeks - it's a wildlife garden after all ?!!?!

Saturday morning rose fair of face. What shall we do? was the discussion as I sucked on a spot of toast and marmalade while my parents hoovered into the egg and b with I have to say the speed of a starving army. Reading the Journal, an advert for the 150th Slaley Show, this very morn. Now Slaley just south of Hexam is an area I know for only one thing, blackberries. When I were nowt bigger than a gnats knee in short pants, my father and I would be dispatched by my mother to Slaley to plunder the blackers in the hedgerows. We used to come home with tons of the stuff (it was probably drift from all the chemicals farmers used in the 1970's which made them so big and juicy). To this day though an apple and blackberry pie makes me shiver with fear, remembering the terminal lacerations we both endured to get that "perfect" specimen of a blackberry just out of reach before crashing bustle over apex into the thorns. Who needs Facebook or the Internet when there's quality entertainment like that outdoors.

Anyhow it was a bit too early for blackberry picking so by lunchtime we were there. Advertised as a traditional Northumberland show, it contained Llamas, Irish Dancing, a Roman Centurion doing a re-enactment by himself and the dog-able-to-do-the-best-tricks competition. If that's Traditional Northumberland events I'll eat my grannies clippy mat. But having said that it was a fabulous day, not least as I met up with my ex-lollipop lady (Mrs S) from my junior school, who's daughter was in the craft tent with very nice jewellery. Have a look here.

Though I have to say it was a bit worrying, when Mrs S said after we'd had a hug and a greeting "you haven't changed since you were that high, waving her hand somewhere around my nether regions, I recognised you immediately, you haven't changed a bit" Do many of you know any 17 stone, bald, pot bellied children under 10? Some of the girls maybe... :-)

Well enough of this rubbish, lets see some photos, stop the chatter.... not much wildlife I'm afraid, but Judy in Canada, this is what the UK is like. These photos are for you and Miss B. Click to enlarge if you can cope with the thrill of it all.

10 month old llama's with wellies on!

An incomer from Leicester

Always controversial, but hunting still exists, the Haydon Foxhounds

Muckle gurt tractor - I want one for the Bristol traffic - no messing !!

Eye Eye what's this then, a Highland Cooooo

What I love about shows, the produce tent. Here's a tiny selection of an hour mooching about looking at a wonderful side of eccentric English life.

Highly Commended Dahlias

Quicksilver's Father with a large cabbage - he's the one on the left

Veg in a basket

Always a crowd stopper, "silage in a Tesco's carrier bag" Gets my vote!

Children's classes are great fun - this one was just hilarious, and very very inventive !

What on earth?? Gordon Brown maybe?

thought this bat was excellent - it didn't win a prize sadly

Scrummy cakes and scones and well just mouth watering

Stick Dressing (making sticks using horn, wood or other objects on a stick) is alive and well in Northumberland, a fantastic craft. I tried it once. The stick was okay, but the carving was well shall we say, good firewood.

Somehow we missed John Grundy.... who I never knew until Saturday was the person responsible for listing my parents house as a Grade 2. It's his fault then??

Music to my ears..... will they though be bleating something by "Baaaach"

Even the carpark had a canny view owwa the hedge.

A shameless plug

Just a quick note today, and for a shameless plug of David Attenborough's Life Stories. Last week we completed the final 5 (out of 20) episodes of these lovely 10 minute pieces on Radio 4. Something has happened in that these little programmes are being seen by both the industry and Sir David himself as a fabulous piece of Radio broadcasting.

So if you can, please tune in to BBC Radio 4 either 8.45 pm on a Friday evening or 8.45am on a Sunday morning, or on line by clicking this link - Life Stories. I'll guarantee you'll not be disappointed if you love the natural world - and by all means, spread the word.

And I'm sure you'll forgive this photo taken last week!!