Author Archives: janh1

About janh1

Part-time hedonist.

The Sprint

Posted on September 15, 2017 by janh1

There is nothing, absolutely nothing like the sprint finish of a bike race. For a start, in a big stage race, you never know if there will be a sprint finish.  On a flat stage, there usually is but sometimes … Continue reading →

Posted in Countryside, Current Affairs, Cycling | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Canoeing? Wye, I’d love to…

Posted on September 6, 2017 by janh1

It seemed a long time since Mothers’ Day but the offer of a day out canoeing didn’t come with a time limit, so I waited until August. A couple of years ago I enjoyed an idyllic day out with the … Continue reading →

Posted in aircraft, Birds, Countryside, Current Affairs, Watery things, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Goatsuckers and other crepuscular creatures

Posted on August 19, 2017 by janh1

Some bits of the Forest of Dean are hardly forest at all. When Canute ruled England in the 11th century, he named the Forest of Dean and excepted the top of Plump Hill, then wild and treeless and scattered with … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Countryside, Current Affairs, Photography, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The start of the rut

Posted on May 20, 2017 by janh1

From now on, the hedgehogs will be rutting. Yes, the concept is ludicrous. The word rutting is associated with hormonal stags locking antlers and battling across precipitous craggy outcrops overlooking outrageously scenic Scottish lochs and bonnie braes. Hedgehogs are cute … Continue reading →

Posted in Countryside, Current Affairs, Hedgehogs, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Soundtracks of a life

Posted on February 23, 2017 by janh1

Last night, I went out into the dark garden and stood listening for hedgehogs. It’s only three days since Spiky Norman returned with his new lady-friend Tigs and I hadn’t seen them – only the evidence of their messy dining … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Cats, Countryside, Current Affairs, frogs, Hedgehogs, Uncategorized, Watery things, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Freedom!

Posted on February 19, 2017 by janh1

So today, Spiky Norman came home. There was no bunting or fanfare, which was just as well because, quite frankly, he displayed not a jot of recognition or gratitude. He remained curled up in a big heavy spiky ball, like … Continue reading →

Posted in Countryside, Current Affairs, Hedgehogs, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

Resist

Posted on February 19, 2017 by janh1

If 2016 was a year where your natural order was turned upside down, where nothing is as it seemed, where people you respected turned out to be startlingly and disappointingly different, then read on. If you weren’t much affected by … Continue reading →

Posted in Badgers, Current Affairs, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Gone with the wind

Posted on February 5, 2017 by janh1

The forecast for Storm Doris,  Blustery Belinda, Slightly Zephyrine Zoe or whatever her name was, turned out to be a little over-blown. A seafaring cove might have described the wind force in Cheltenham on the day Doris was expected as … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Affairs, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Party on

Posted on February 1, 2017 by janh1

Writing this at 11pm on the 30th of January. All is dark in the garden but I can hear a small chorus of frogs. These are the first frog songs of 2017. They are heralding the Spring. This is the … Continue reading →

Posted in Countryside, Current Affairs, frogs, Pondlife, Uncategorized, Watery things, Wildlife | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Happy New Year

Posted on January 29, 2017 by janh1

Happy New Year to anyone taking the trouble to read this, my first blog of 2017. That in itself might put you right off as it’s apparently very annoying to be wished Happy New Year after the first week of … Continue reading →

Posted in Coast, Countryside, Current Affairs, Seaside, Watery things, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments