Fishpond in my neighbour's conservatory

I love that!

Thanks Chavs. They're like little aliens those fish, you go near them and they come up, mouths open going feed me, feed me.

If you're ever in a Japanese park, stand by the side of the lake (there's bound to be one) and whistle. Dozens, sometimes hundreds, of koi will rush at you. Better still, buy some fish food (they sell it in the parks), put some in your hand and the fish will take the food from you. Having your finger sucked by a very large koi is decidedly weird!

That definitely sounds kind of creepy, flopsymopsy, but then again, I have a thorough dislike for fish mouths anyhow, they always seem to be so ugly!

I treated myself to a couple of bunches of daffodils the other day, the budsd have now opened.

Yes, I know the glass is cracked on the table.

Oh Yes! Spring is on the way I guess.

This is the end of London, and probably the closest it comes in Finchley. If you travel in the right direction you can keep going to the London border and stay in fields.

Love the daffodils Sue, I think a vase of spring flowers just cheers you up, especially if the weather is still very wintery.

Flopsy, having your fingers sucked by Koi sounds very weird indeed.

It is official, we have some snow. OK, it is only about an inch but all schools closes, airport not operational at the moment so no national newspapers or mail plane, vehicles abandoned all over the place and police advising people to have a duvet day!

Before anyone asks, yes all the houses have garages, we just don't use them to put cars in as they are full of other stuff!

Back "garden" with its snow blanket. Luckily my area of England usually gets off relatively lightly with snow

That always seems to happen with garages doesn't it

Well it does here! I did put mine there a few times some years ago, but not often.

I've been checking in to see all the great photos even though I haven't been posting. I've been fighting a cold and haven't been taking any photos. I DID take one last week when we had our cold front come through, but I hesitated to post it because it's a sunset (again) taken from home. But it was so spectacular because the sky was golden from horizon to horizon and gave off such an eerie light. I was so busy getting pictures of it that I forgot dinner was on the stove and burnt our chops!

Fabulous.

My patio this afternoon, it's still snowing too!

I took this one as I trudged to work this morning:



(I decided to walk. It was not a day for cycling!)

Nice shot, Martin. Very pretty! Those trees look like ice crystals themselves.

ClaraSue, that's an awesome sky and a wonderful photo. I don't think I've ever seen a sky so full of the sun.

I agree, lovely snowshots and the sunset is a sensation.

ClaraSue, that is a completely sensational sunset. Martin, hope you got there and home safely.

Pardon my slip, this is the one I thought I added

Isn't that the same picture as the 17th?

Yes it is.

Big oops, now corrected, that's what happens when the last photo isn't on the same page, I tried to use my memory. I won't next time.

This is a typical London Victorian road in Finchley

Aww. I thought for a moment you were going to test us with a tricky spot the difference competition...



Now, apologies that I haven't got a clearer photo but I've had to take a faraway pic and crop, and the image starts losing definition with every crop, but I think I saw a baby bluetit -- and that seems very odd for January. Any bird experts around to enlighten me?

A spot the "baby" competition...


bigger

more spot the birds: better one of the "baby"

Of course, it could be just an adult fluffing itself up on a freezing cold day, but none of the other bluetits were fluffed up (as you can see by the "parent" in the picture) and the feathers seemed very grey to me.

Anyone know?

Well, if that's an adult he needs to go on a diet, he doesn't seem to have fluffed up at all. if I knew about birds I'd say he was a baby.

The bird higher up the branch is an adult - yes, looking a little tubby now you mention it but less so in the second picture - but the one further down is fluffy.

I went on a scrapbooking camp just before Christmas. This is the place where we stayed. It's called Swanleigh. It was a very peaceful and productive weekend.

Oh, I'm jealous! Of the place and the productivity!