If anyone would like to see a photo of an exceptionally fluffy cow, then this is your lucky day.

Around 2 o'clock, there's a show on over at 'Wild Australia' where you can get up close and personal with the Kangaroos and Wombats. There's a Reptile talk at 3pm and from 4, you'll be able to see some Women being fed and may even have a chance to pet one (while supervised).

No shit.

If anyone would like to see a photo of exactly how Kendal reaches a carefully thought through decision on whether something is intended for her or not, then this is your lucky day. #KendalMintCat

Happy centenary, Mel Brooks. Here’s to the next one.

If anyone would like to see a photo of a pair of big-eyed bush babies giving you the hard stare, then this is your lucky day.

Happy Birthday, Mel Brooks, 100 years young 🎂 In the early 80s, as VHS was just taking off, I spent much of my early teens watching Young Frankenstein, Blazzing Saddles, Silent Movie, High Anxiety, History Of The World World PtI, etc. I ♥️ this funny man. #MelBrooks

Took Eileen to Eaton Hall today. She love her day out. Oatcakes for breakfast, ice cream in the sun and being "fussed over" 🤗 Very sensibly, we did NOT let Eileen take control of the buggy............or the shotguns!

With all the warm, sunny weather of late, the cordyline flower spikes are coming up nicely.

If anyone would like to see a short video of a cute little bat hanging upside down from somebody's finger, then this is your lucky day.

Great time at Holmes Chapel for their 10th Birthday. Cleared the Sporting shoot and went first in the shoot-off, hitting 9/10 & putting pressure on the others. Bob was the one who didn't crack, also hitting 9, which meant a shoot-off for first. He cleared it to win, so no complaints from me!

If anyone would like to see a photo of a Puffin that has discovered where his mate, Gerald, keeps his secret fish stash, then this is your lucky day.

Happy #FingerpostFriday 💙 On the Trent & Mersey canal just before the north entrance to Harecastle Tunnel.

And finally, six years later.......here's a video that I took today at the north entrance to Harecastle Tunnel at Kidsgrove. Not much changed in the intervening six years - I still waffle on about nothing in particular 😊

These are a couple of videos from my visit to the south entrance to Harecastle Tunnel back in 2020. It has the nickname "Scarecastle" on account of the folklore associated with it being haunted by various spirits. I'd want a few spirits if I was going through that bloody thing 🥃

Six years on from my visit to the south entrance, I finally made it to the north side of Harecastle Tunnel. Too hot to spend long there 🥵 But it's a lovely quiet spot and a nice place to go and stretch the legs and rest the mind. And interesting to see they've not cleaned up the Irn-Bru spill.

The south entrance to Harecastle is only 5 minutes up the road and I went there in May 2020. This was during the pandemic at a time when you were allowed a brief period of exercise outside. The north entrance is of course also local, so I thought it high time I finally went and had a look....

For this afternoon's lunch break, seeing as it's baking hot, I thought I'd finally go for a wander over to the north entrance to Harecastle Tunnel, on the Trent & Mersey canal at Kidsgrove. Oh my God it was hot 🤣 But worth it. A very tranquil spot to take a break from things.

If anyone would like to see a photo of a red panda doing exactly what many of us wanted to do last night by laying on an ice block mattress, then this is your lucky day.

This morning's walk and a BIG WIN for me when I past a neighbour who said "I don't know how you walk up there in this heat - you must be fit". Little do they know, I'm definitely not fit and have to repeat the mantra, "not today, Satan, not today!" over and over in my head all the way up.

I've just discovered some 70% dark chocolate mint Lindt Lindor truffles that I'd smuggled away in the fridge a couple of weeks ago and I think I've fallen in love with myself.

Me, walking outside to get something from the car Vs Me, walking back inside the house 30 seconds later.

If anyone would like to see a photo of a baby otter being helped to keep rehydrated in the hot weather, then this is your lucky day.

I think all of this morning's joggers were in the air-conditioned cars that drove past me up the hill. SO many white cars out there. Too many white cars. It must be the "in" colour. I don't have a white car. I'm quite glad 😎

Having watched the game last night (bloody hell) & not got to bed until 1am (bloody hell), I surprised myself by dragging my ass out at 7.15 (bloody hell) to avoid the heat. Good to soak up some early sunshine while relating to what it must feel like to be a boil-in-the-bag meal.

With it being salad season (June 14th-28th), a reminder that getting the right dressing for your salad is so very important.

If anyone would like to see a photo of a bunch of Killer Whales having a good old ice bath to cool off in the British summer heat, then this is your lucky day.

Love an early morning garden 💚☀️ (as does Beano)

Hello and welcome to my new series, "What a big fucking house that is", which will be airing tonight on BBC Four at 8.00pm. In this episode, I'll be standing in front of Hatfield House and saying "what a big fucking house that is".

Keir Starmer to resign as Prime Minister. Getting that job isn’t easy. Losing it must be even harder. I only ever want our PM to succeed, whatever their political colour. And I feel empathy when it doesn’t work out. So forgive me if I'm a bit sad about that. It is truly a water shed moment.

If anyone would like to see a photo of a slightly pensive and timid looking hamster, then this is your lucky day.

Love my Dad ♥️ Rocks a proper beard ☑️ Award-winning sock-waver (Butlin's Barry Island 1978) ☑️ Maverick Skateboarder ☑️ Multi-tasking Ice Skater ☑️ Clever man ☑️ Rocket man ☑️ Always loved his wife ☑️ And his boys, of course! ☑️ #FathersDay

This Fathers Day, why not arrange a couple of his favourite treats 👍

If anyone would like to see a photo of a laptop and a lapcat, leisurely laying on a lap, then this is your lucky day.

Lovely to catch up yesterday with Tina, one of my dear pals from when we both studied at Herts Uni. Spent the day having a proper reminiscing session about the good old days of cheap beer, dodgy discos and doing anything to avoid lectures.

Is there a better combo on a summer's day?

If anyone would like to see a photo of a Sifaka Lemur suddenly realising that it's gone out and left the oven on, then this is your lucky day.

Cold Christmas 🥶 In flaming June 🥵 On the approach to the old church of St Mary's at Cold Christmas, Thundridge. #FingerpostFriday

If anyone would like to see a photo of Phil Collins holding some kittens, then this is your lucky day.

If you see this, post a pic from your device with no explanation.

Glass of Porertti for me.....and a gluten-free beer for the old man. A nice bit of pre-fathers day father-son time 😊

A little video I took at Cold Christmas today. I never saw anything remotely ghostly on my brief visit. But Cold Christmas certainly warrants its reputation. Just the name and history, coupled with a remote location helps lend a certain atmosphere to it. I enjoyed it though. #FolkloreThursday

Cold Christmas, a hamlet in east Herts whose name derives from a severe c18th winter during which several children perished & were buried in the churchyard of St Mary's. Visitors report eerie sounds, multiple sightings of apparitions & a dark-robed figure in the surrounding woods. #FolkloreThursday

Wishing a VERY Happy 11th Birthday to everyone in the fabulous @folklorethursday.bsky.social community ❤️ Sorry, the cake's not quite big enough for 11 candles so there's only on thing to do.......get a bigger cake! #FolkloreThursday

Lots of lovely trees around the grounds here.

They employ a whole team of gardeners to keep the place looking spick and span.......

The grounds at Hatfield House are home to an unique family of elephants.

The house wasn't open due to filming. They do a lot of that there for various films and TV productions. Not to mention some classic music videos. The video to Adam Ant's 'Stand and Deliver' was filmed in the grounds.

I do like what mummy and daddy have done with the place 😊

First full day visiting the folks yesterday. Good stroll around the east gardens and lake at Hatfield House and gardens, soaking up a bit of lovely June sunshine.