Half term prep for #WorldBookDay #WBD26 underway today. Any guesses so far what my two are going to be this year?

My Grandad gave me some money for Christmas with strict instructions that I should buy something for myself and not spend it on the children. It took me a while to decide but when I found this frame I knew it was perfect. Absolutely love it and well, IYKYK.

Mallard portrait for #mallardMonday

Goldeneye at Pensthorpe today. 🪶

We're ready for @rspb.bsky.social #BigGardenBirdwatch hoping we get a few visitors. Sadly I don't think we will do as well as previous years, we've had much less activity in the garden and on our feeders since 4 new cats moved into the neighborhood in the last 6 months or so.

A very chilly new year's day at Sheringham! Despite hanging around in the freezing cold for a couple of hours I wasn't able to track down the black redstart but I did see a handful of turnstones and a grey wagtail. Just about thawed out again back home with a cuppa!

After an evening of games, laughter and more food than was strictly necessary with my little family I'm seeing the new year in with style! Well I'm doing it my way anyhow. 😂 Happy New Year to you all. May 2026 bring health, happiness and all you have been wishing for. ❤️

A walk down by the river this afternoon certainly blew the cobwebs away. It was very fresh! Added redwing to the life list too. Nature heals the soul.

The end of our Christmas Day, two very tired boys are sleeping soundly. Two very tired parents are almost ready to follow them to the land of nod. Tomorrow is one of my favourite days. PJ day at home, eating leftovers (including trifle!), playing games and watching films.

I'm stepping away from social media until after Christmas. Those who follow me over on the "other place" will know my reasons. In the meantime I wish you all a "Merry Bloody Christmas!" Hopefully see you on the flip side.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

1st day of advent, the candle is lit and the tree is glowing in the corner of the room. This bauble (one of my favourites) belonged to my great-grandmother and was passed to me by my grandmother shortly before she passed. I need to get out and gather some greenery to finish off the decorating.

Another school holiday and the rewatch with Son1 continues. #ACGAS

Here we go then, one last time before Christmas. I'm already feeling emotional and it hasn't even started yet! I just know this is going to be another brilliant episode, continuing the theme of this phenomenal series. #ACGAS

Great day at Billingford Lakes where we finally managed to add goldcrest to our life list after seeing not just one but three! Also spotted these fungi (if anyone knows what they are I'd be interested to know) and a few great crested grebe too.

Early start this morning as we headed over to #RSPBSnettisham, as requested, to celebrate this awesome 9yo's birthday. Always a wonderful place to be, especially on spectacular days when so many people gather for the mutual love of birds.

All set for #ACGAS with a cuppa and leftover shortbread. It's definitely been the theme of the day in our house as we've celebrated Son1's birthday. Now time to put my feet up and enjoy S6 E3!

Perfect autumn day for a walk. Son2 collected some autumnal bits along the way and brought home to draw a picture.

#ACGAS S6 E2 here we go! Happy Birthday Tricki Woo! (Posh teapot in Tricki's honour this week). Everyone sitting comfortably? ☕ Let the chaos begin. 👞

Back to my cosy autumn Thursday evenings. I'm set for the return of #acgas with a pot of Yorkshire Tea and the all important shortbread as usual. Who's with me? All aboard the Darrowby Express! Next stop - Skeldale. 🚂

Ok #ACGAS folk, I need your help! My eldest has become completely obsessed with the new ACGAS series (my fault of course!) and has asked for an All Creatures themed birthday! He will be 9. Any ideas for things I could put in his lunchbox? Obviously a shortbread is essential!

#DowntonAbbeyTheGrandFinale really was the perfect farewell to all the characters. The right blend of humour and reminiscing. Loved seeing how each character had developed. If you're a Downton fan get yourself down to the cinema, it looked and sounded amazing on the big screen.

And they're off! What a start to the school year, absolutely pouring with rain! Thankfully the boys both got into school reasonably dry but I, on the other hand, got half drowned on the way back!

Mandarin, a rather cross looking Tufted Duck and Red-Crested Pochard all seen today at Pensthorpe. A wonderful relaxing day, always something for everyone of all ages to enjoy.

My boy really is a chip off the old block. He found this lovely artwork in the charity shop yesterday for a fiver and bought it with his pocket money. It wasn't until I lifted it into the car that I noticed the sticker on the back, originally £165.

Nature is my sanity...

Been extra quiet lately as we are currently away from home with VERY patchy signal. Finally made it to somewhere I've wanted to go for a long time today and saw gorgeous gannets! 🪶

Can't beat a good rummage around in the charity/secondhand shops for treasures. Recently found this and just couldn't leave it behind. Needs cleaning up and the frame could do with a wax but I know exactly where I want to hang it.

Summer camp out in the garden. BBQ and toasted marshmallows, card games, stories, stargazing, watching for owls (we didn't see any this time but heard both male and female tawny calling) and we had a bat visit the garden.

Tickets booked for #DowntonAbbey: The Grand Finale - Friday 12th September. Just over 5 weeks to go!

Summer!

The things you find when the Lego gets tipped out... 🤣

Full of cold and feeling absolutely rubbish but my little family have been out and got me Sudafed and bought chocolate muffins too so we can curl up and watch #ACGAS together. 🥰

Early trip to the play park this morning, perfect spot for the boys to burn off some energy whilst I watch the swallows. Lots of cute little bunnies in the distance too.

BIG NEWS: For the first time in six years, Britain's rarest breeding bird has successfully nested in the UK! A pair of Montagu's Harriers have raised four healthy chicks, all of which have taken their first flights.

It was a beautiful morning for a walk down by the river and through the old railway cutting. Added treecreeper to my life list, also heard but couldn't get a very good view of spotted flycatcher. May have to wander back again later when we don't have a fidgety 6yo with us.

🏆 Women’s Euro 2025 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Congratulations, Lauren Hemp 💛💚 #NCFC

Son1: Mummy, as it's the holidays, can I stay up late and watch All Creatures Great and Small with you? Well of course I said yes, and if we're going to do this then we're doing it properly. Shortbread anyone? Two episodes down and he's very disappointed he has to go to bed now! #ACGAS

My bargain from the local yard sales last weekend. £2 and a bit of elbow grease this afternoon. I'll probably work on the chain a bit more when I don't have two small people begging me to play battleships but I'm happy with how it's looking now.

For the sake of my mental wellbeing I'm taking a social media break. I know I won't really be missed but I didn't want to just vanish. I'm not sure how long I will be gone, maybe a week, maybe more. In the meantime I leave you with this and hope I can soon return...

This sign made me chuckle when I went to "spend a penny" today.

Tidying away some toys the boys had left out, this one always catches my eye. I'm so tempted to try painting it green!

Finally some relief from the heat today and some much needed rain, so I've got this blasting out whilst I get on top of the housework! (My neighbour is very deaf, thankfully) open.spotify.com/album/16wmXC...

To add alt text, click the alt text button when you upload an image. Add your alt text, including any text. Click save and share your accessible post. And turn on the handy alt text reminder too! Go to Settings > Accessibility and make sure "Require alt text before posting" is toggled on.

Anyone else find themselves getting annoyed with the pronunciation of the English vocabulary on self-service checkouts? I just had an argument with one in #Morrisons. No my card has not been excepted, it has been accepted! 🤦🏻‍♀️ I feel I've reached a new level of ageing!

Not us quoting ourselves to remind you of this nifty alt text nudger✌️

Hottest day of the year, before the end of term can only mean one thing in our house... It's spa day for Boris! He's far too delicate to wash any other way. He has an annual bath and pamper before spending the day sunning himself in the garden with the aim to drip and steam dry before bed. 🐻 🧽🧼

It's been a while, here goes. Having played a few junior Monopoly games Son1 has decided he wants to play "real" Monopoly.

We made the most of the beautiful weather as the boys had an extra day off school. A trip to Holkham Park kept everyone happy. We added Great Crested Grebe to our life list (it is there in the first picture, it's just a terrible photo!) Also saw loads of Barnacle geese with goslings.

Everyone in the #acgas fandom doing ok after Sam just casually posted this? 🤣