Posts Tagged diary

87 results.

2014-12-25 Yes, starling

Dec26
by on 2014-12-26 at 10:00
Chapter:

Happy “whatever” to you, dear readers.

Today’s comic was inspired by our visit to our local RSPB bird reserve at Otmoor, yesterday, where we saw and heard an astonishing murmuration of starlings (estimated at around 50,000) swirling around above us and finally coming down to roost in the reeds.  My point-and-click photo doesn’t begin to do it justice, and of course there’s the sound of the wings and the calls too! If you get a chance, enjoy this sight while you possibly can — starlings are on the critical list and in serious decline.

20141225_murmuration(click for the whole picture)

 

UPDATE: Karen put up a video of this on her blog.

 

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starlings at home:
"I don't feel like going out again this evening. How about we stay in and have a nice, cosy murmuration here - just the two of us?"

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2014-11-17 Dear Diary

Nov22
by on 2014-11-22 at 11:13
Chapter:

Who’d have thought Godzilla was left-handed, eh?

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17th November 2014
Dear Diary,
today I saw a little mouse on the garden wall. I watched it to-ing and fro-ing for an hour when I should have been doing the vacuuming.

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2014-11-16 Neighbourly

Nov16
by on 2014-11-16 at 17:21
Chapter:

It was amazing, and somehow sad all at once.

I though about having the caption: “Hello Neighbour — nice comet you have here.  Do you need a jump start?”  Please suggest any other captions in the comments.

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Alien [out of flying saucer] to Philae lander: Excuse me, neighbour, could I trouble you for a cup of sugar?

[Rosetta looks on from orbit.]

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2014-10-26 Pink

Oct26
by on 2014-10-26 at 16:39
Chapter:

If you must know, they are Dr. Martens.

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1. Karen has new shoes.
2. They are PINK.
3. They are VERY PINK.
4. Other accessories previously described as pink ...
5. ... seem less pink now.
6. Pink shoes, however, must be expected to rub.

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2014-08-28 Sunflower

Aug30
by on 2014-08-30 at 11:49
Chapter:

In this documentary the part of the sunflower is played by Helianthus annuus.

I am grateful for the assistance of my wife, Karen, and to the legion of plant suppliers whose prolific supply of seed catalogues forms an excellent and nourishing mulch in our flower beds.

Scientific note: John Gerard, master in chirurgerie, says in his 1597 book “The Herball, or, Generall historie of plantes” regarding “the flower of the Sunne”

[…] a plant of such stature and talenesse, that in one sommer being sowen of a seede in Aprill, it hath risen up to the height of fourteene foote in my garden, where one flower was in waight three pounde and two ounces, and crosse overthwart the flower by measure sixteene inches broade.

[…] those that have reported it to turne with the sunne, the which I coulde never observe, although I have endevored to finde out the truth of it

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Young woman plants a sunflower seed. After many trials the sunflower reaches maturity. Then things start to get out of control.

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2014-08-10 Itchy and Knee in Blood Bath

Aug10
by on 2014-08-10 at 20:48
Chapter:

The blackberry harvest this year is already far outstripping last year’s dismal returns. If you want to know how Itchy can talk and lick his lips at the same time, well I’m afraid it’s a trade secret.

We went to see the Matisse cut-outs exhibition at Tate Modern this week. Some great designs are on show. Recommended. Even Itchy and Knee decided to try the cut-out style.

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(Itchy is looking frightened, waving a knife and apparently covered in blood) Knee: Oh no, Itchy! What have you done?
Itchy (licking his lips): Blackberry and apple crumble...

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2013-08-04 Shower

Aug06
by on 2013-08-06 at 00:00
Chapter:

Our Bed and Breakfast hosts, during our little jaunt to the South coast, were at pains to point out that the shower drain is not blocked, simply slow; and that we could regard the water sloshing around our toes and ankles as a relaxing foot-bath at no additional cost. However, by the time I’d finished washing my hair I was worried to observe that the water level was just above the top of the shower tray.

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Guests Please Note:
The shower drains a little more slowly than is usual.

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2013-05-27 There’s a GIRAFFE in my sketchbook

May29
by on 2013-05-29 at 00:00
Chapter:

This is what happened to me at the Cotswold Wildlife Park at the weekend while standing on the raised giraffe-viewing platform. The sheer magical magnificence of it was spoilt only by the lively argument I was having with another visitor over whether one was permitted to pet the giraffes. Ironically, I was the one maintaining that one shouldn’t, and so I was under strong moral obligation not to. Though I did want to, very much indeed.

I clearly remember a book from my early school-days called “Nobody Listens to Andrew”, with the leitmotif “There’s a BEAR in my bedroom!” (which all the adults ignore, of course.) I strongly empathised with that Andrew. You can still buy that book, I find.

 

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There's a GIRAFFE in my sketchbook

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2013-05-12 Ice Age Art at the British Museum

May14
by on 2013-05-14 at 00:00
Chapter:

Diary entry: Yesterday we saw the exhibition of Ice Age art at the British Museum (in London). It was, for me, astonishing. The exhibits are drawn from 40,000 years of human history, yet you can clearly see that the artists were as skilled and as insightful as any today. These people thought just the same way that we do, though their technology was less advanced.

If you can possibly get to London to visit the exhibition before it closes on 2nd June, then go! (Booking essential)

In the picture I’ve roughed out part of the Great Court (as seen from just above my much needed cup of coffee!) and overlaid my thumbnail sketches of some of the objects that caught my attention.

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2013-04-27 Smoothie

May03
by on 2013-05-03 at 00:00
Chapter:

Not a comic, just a doodle, but I felt I ought to post something… I’ve been rather lax lately. Anyway, we went to the farmers’ market in Sandford last weekend. They had a brilliant stall where you could choose smoothie ingredients and then liquidise them with a pedal-powered gadget. Yum!

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This smoothie is gaining on me!

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