A smashing little film by Sally.

Greeting a brand new friend who is only 1 minute old, originally uploaded by Fi – almost spring (sleepycat-gallery.com).

Today I saw a calf being born in a sunlit field in the Eden Valley

£1 for half a dozen, originally uploaded by Fi – almost spring (sleepycat-gallery.com).

Omelette for dinner!

How exciting. I’ve seen my first ever nuthatch and in our garden too. The little soul wouldn’t keep still long enough for me to get a photograph. Obviously camera shy.

One man and his team, originally uploaded by Fi – my eyes feel old (sleepycat-gallery.com).

The start of big things for the new Westmorland Barbarians Team…. thanks to Chris and his colleagues.
He is a brilliant teacher, mentor and a great friend.
Fiona did a brilliant job in the club house and as we left she was feeding what looked like the 5,000 and still smiling. What a woman!

Rydal under crumbly sorbet-like ice, originally uploaded by Fi – my eyes feel old (sleepycat-gallery.com).

another from the car as we drove home. A crumbly covering of ice on Rydal.

St Johns in the Vale road, originally uploaded by Fi – my eyes feel old (sleepycat-gallery.com).

Isn’t it lovely in the hills when they are snow-capped.
Taken from the moving car while I froze Hector by having the window open!

Rugby acrobatics, originally uploaded by Fi – my eyes feel old (sleepycat-gallery.com).

We’ve had SUCH a lovely day. The Lakes were stunning. We saw Mum, then spent a couple of hours watching rugby – Chris’s ‘Westmorland Barbarians under 16’s’ team playing Sedbergh school and seeing him and Fiona and seeing again their super family. What a joy to see their daughter Clare again. An afternoon to warm the cockles of anyones heart. And the rugby was excellent too.

If the wind changes you’ll stay like that…., originally uploaded by Fi – my eyes feel old (sleepycat-gallery.com).

I like this….. It captures EXACTLY the Hector I know.

An exciting weekend ahead for Nic – video profile.

So, the press agency liked my 6 double-yolker egg pic and put it out to the press and on Tuesday 2nd Feb everything went bonkers and it was all over the press, radio and blogs and Twitter etc. I am not at all sure its something to be proud of, but it made for an interesting day or two. I even got photographed at home for the papers by a proper photographer (thankfully not used in the end).
The interest was around the whole concept of probability and chance and maths and statistics.
Trillion to one indeed!

Here are the clips of the radio coverage – even Radio 4s Today programme.
A mention on Chris Evans Breakfast show
Almost an entire debate on probability on the Today Programme on BBC Radio 4
And interviewed on BBC Radio Cumbria
swindlehurst

Dusky fingers, originally uploaded by Fi – is it spring yet? (sleepycat-gallery.com).

The view from our front door step at 5.30 this evening…… and to make it even better I noticed at the same time that at last the snowdrops were poking there spiky shoots out of the ground.

I’ve known Martin since I was a kid, I first saw him play guitar in the teenage bedroom of a friend in around 1972/3. His guitar playing is more than stunning. Many happy memories of live gigs and his music as a soundtrack to many lovely times…. and sad times too. I don’t believe that there is another guitarist who can come close to his clarity of playing and dexterity and skill. His interpretation of tunes is distinctive yet also true to the tradition.
Buy one of his albums – there isn’t a dud one. But the best – I think – are:
Golden Vanity (1976), Sad or High Kicking (1985), Bramble Briar (2001), True Stories (2009), Martin and Jessica Ruby Simpson: Red Roses

Me and my shadow (Long Meg) during a short trip out to watch the sun set and feel the cold ultra-fresh air on my face. It was lovely. I first went to Long Meg stone circle and had the whole place to myself. Then a drive out on the tiniest roads to Gamblesby and Renwick and with the bright lowering sun direct in my eyes I drove home via Kirkoswald.
We spent the rest of the day getting the kitchen ready for decorating and I even did some gardening.

How to Fly in Formation from Vic MacRae on Vimeo.

King Frank atop his personal cushion castle, originally uploaded by Fi in snowy Eden (sleepycat-gallery.com).

Our wonderful, quirky, clever, silly, demanding and luxuriating cat Frank! He’s king of his cushion castle!