Beleaguered Britons continued to suffer from the effects of last weeks Big Freeze, with torrential rains plus the Big Thaw causing flooding in low-lying areas. And then it was blowing up a storm. After the morning showers, conditions were wet and gloomy as the temperatures rose to 9C. Strong winds continued gushing through Coventry and Warwickshire and walking to work in the morning was a challenge but fun. I arrived at the office looking as if I’d been dragged through the hedges backwards ;-)
"Why, what's the matter,
That you have such a February face,
So full of frost, of storm and cloudiness?"
~William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing~
This week was One World week, the biggest student-run, non-profit event on the campus. This year, the aims of the Days were to act as the platform for societies to showcase their unique activities and draw visitors into a whirlwind of different cultures and workshops. The Days each represented a different region, namely – Asia and Australasia Day, UK & Ireland Day, Americas & Caribbean Day, Middle East & Africa Day and Europe Day – which encompassed the unique cultural traditions, dances, food, colours and overall experience of their respective regions. Unfortunately, due to the atrocious weather and bad timing, I wasn’t able to attend any of the events.
We’d our first Data Services meeting of the year. Mr. manager gave us a quick overview of what had happened so far and what we would expect in the future. Each of us presented something new and I highlighted the presence of RDA codes on the 336, 337 and 338 fields. The department will be welcoming 2 new colleagues in a few months. One will be a maternity cover for RSC and the other a temporary Digital officer. Wow, it looked like it’s going to be a full house again.
Before the meeting, I attended an EBL (Ebook Library) Book demonstration. It was another platform for e-books offering titles in a wide range of subjects featuring content from hundreds of publishers. According to the supplier, it was a lending service that integrated seamlessly with local collection management and catalogue system. What interest us most was that we were able to extract a lot of data about the users that would be useful for the library to plan for the future.
On Friday, as part of National Heart Month, I joined the thousands dressing up in red for Rock Up in Red. I could stop traffic and I think I did when I crossed the road. Except for my shoes, hat and handbag, everything was red. Touch wood, none of my family members had succumbed to the disease. But, I know a lot of people who had been affected by them and I’m supporting them to promote awareness of the charity.
I took the afternoon off to do a few chores in town. First, was to collect my glasses at Specsavers. I must remember to put them on when I’m working !!!. I wanted to get some deodorant at Bodyshop but there wasn’t any in stock. According to the manager, she wasn’t able to restock since Xmas. That was a surprise. We checked out HMV because Babe wanted to get Spartacus part 2 but it wasn’t out yet. I bought a pair of Fair Isle leggings on sale from H&M that should keep me warm and cosy this winter. I noticed there was a new Polish supermarket on Shelton Square and it has a bakery. I must check it out on my next trip. Babe wasn’t feeling too good and we need to be home ASAP.
Saturday was Love Your Library Day. The Midlothian council in Scotland had this bright idea to hold a free pole-dancing class in their library in Dalkeith. A spokesperson said that it was a “fun way” of getting people “to try out all the services on offer and ultimately borrow more books!!!” Words failed me. What was the librarian thinking of allowing such cheap gimmicks? Let me guess. They’d no say at all. I went to my local library and thank god, no pole dancing classes was on offer.
Having fun isn’t hard
When you’ve got a library card
~Marc Brown~
After my usual weekly calls to my parents in Malaysia, we made our way to our favourite playground. It was packed. The rain had stopped and everyone was out and about, taking advantage of the lull. Outside the visitor centre, we were greeted by a Bullfinch and a Nuthatch at the bird-feeders. We stopped to have a natter with AH who we’d not seen for ages. We’d to cut short our conversations because it was freezing and AH was also on his way out.
Outside Baldwin Hide, a flock of Redpolls were helping themselves to the depleting alder cones. We noticed a lot of children testing their shiny cameras and binoculars. It must be Xmas presents. It was lovely to see them taking an interest on birdwatching at such a young age. I hoped they stick to it. From the hide, we spotted a Great Crested Grebe in its winter colours, plenty of Pochards and Galdwalls. The island in the middle of the lake was still underwater.
Then a very tricky walk towards East Marsh Hide. We’d to stop to feed a Robin who was so excited when I rattled the container. Scarlet Elf Cups were popping here and there on the rotting tree trunks. From the hide, a White Goose flew in with a gaggle of Greylags. A Shelduck was asleep on the far island. We continued towards Carlton Hide when a couple told us that we’d just missed a Bittern. The hide was packed but there was nothing much except for this hovering Kestrel. We left after the Kestrel flew off.
On Sunday morning, to my utmost delight, a flock of Long Tail Tits were having a party, on the bird-feeder. Woo-hoo… The air rings with their chatters, chirps and peeps. I just love the way their tail dipping up and down during their short, undulating flights. Little heads of House sparrows, Blue Tits, Great tits and Robins were popping in and out of the hedge, flitting from the feeders and back again. Blackbirds and Dunnocks were congregating beneath the feeders to feed on the crumbs and seeds that had been scattered down. Starlings, Collared Doves and Pigeons were waiting impatiently for their turn on the fence. 
John Clare (1793-1864) was described as “the finest poet of Britain’s minor naturalists and the finest naturalist of all Britain’s major poets”. He described the Long Tail Tits as “bumbarrels” after the shape of their domed nests. This classic line about them were in his poem Emmonsail’s Heath in Winter.
“And coy bumbarrels, twenty in a drove
Flit down the hedgerows in the frozen plain
And hang on little twigs and start again”
~John Clare~
Later in the afternoon, we decided to check out the Cathion Lane feeders that AH mentioned to us yesterday. It wasn’t that far from Brandon Marsh. A lovely secluded car-park beside the calm Oxford Canal. A few cars were already parked there. We walked along the canal checking out the place. We chatted with a fellow photographer and when he left, Babe reversed into his space. We sat in the car and waited with anticipation. And then the party started. The trees were teeming with Robins, Dunnocks, Blue Tits, Marsh Tits and Great Tits. But the highlight was getting up-close and personal with several Nuthatches. It was amazing watching them scuttering about the trees. We will definitely check out this place regularly, especially when it wasn’t that far from the playground.
Another poem by Clare
“Deep in the woods of some uncommon bird
It makes a loud and long and loud continued noise
And often stops the speed of men and boys
They think somebody mocks and goes along
And never thinks the Nuthatch makes the song”
February was often quoted as a month for dying because everything was dead. But actually, there were a lot going on. So wrap up warm, donned the wellies and have an adventure. Go on …I know you want to :-)
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