Though frankly I'm amazed he lasted as long as he did.

Please Kill Me - The Uncensored Oral History of Punk by Gillian McCain and Legs McNeil, gives a lot of space to Reed and the Velvet Underground, and two particular anecdotes stand out. Both involved a star-struck fan and someone acquainted with Reed. (And both are cited from memory, as I don ( Read more... )

I don't much like this land of mine, it cannot be denied ( Read more... )

Yeah, I know, I haven't posted lately. Not even about wildlifing, though not because I haven't been doing any because I have. Maybe not as much as in previous years, but the autumn migration is now in full swing and my bins are firmly on as soon as I clock off from work ( Read more... )

I've been playing Sims 2 for the best part of a year now, and my neighbourhood continues to grow. The latest arrival: to Jenna and Kerr, a daughter - Servalan Stannis. To which you will either nod knowingly (quite possibly with a chuckle or a weary sigh) or just go "Huh?". If the latter, and you wish to be enlightened, go hereServalan's birth is ( Read more... )

The Larine Raptor Alert System (aka "Gulls go berserk if a big bird of prey flies over") has served me well before and continues to do so. In the past I've had Red Kite and Peregrine from my doorstep, this morning I added Honey Buzzard to the list. First one I've seen for years.

What a gorgeous bank holiday it's been. My plans to get seriously out and about never quite got to fruition, but I did find time to potter out with the camera. And lo, there were many blurry pictures of flies and spiders trying hard not to be photographed. Also divers images of leaves where an insect had been sitting absolutely still right up to ( Read more... )

This morning I decided to take the long way home while the fine weather lasts, and it proved to be a good decision with 53 species of bird seen. Ironically, the best was also one of the first. I wasn't planning to visit the Pegwell Bay reserve, simply because of the time it would take, but I did follow the main road down to the edge where I could ( Read more... )

A very pleasant morning's birding on the way home from work. The summer visitors are now clearly arriving, and I managed to see my first Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail, Chiffchaff and Whitethroat of the year. And as a bonus, whilst I was watching one of the Chiffchaffs, another little green bird darted into the same bush. A Firecrest. Not new for the ( Read more... )

Phew! I was beginning to think it would never get here. But it has, it seems, finally arrived. I spent a couple of hours pottering around Foreness this afternoon, and although it was pretty breezy it was also a warm breeze. The first warm air outdoors I've felt for what must be months now. As soon as I hit the clifftop I was under a steady ( Read more... )

You know who I mean.

Click to view