Cold!

[glallotments]

We had five blackbirds in our garden for several days and one is particularly agressive about the food. So much so that I have had to make several little piles of seeds so that they can share.

Incredibly we counted 8 yesterday we have a snow free area just by our patio window and have put some food there too and they are coming for it. The females are more likely to do this. It always seems that the females are a bit tamer. We had one that used to come up to the window and look in as if to ask for more food and she would almost come and take food from my hand.

[Johnboy]

Hi Glallotments,
What is interesting with Blackbirds at this time of the year is that last years bred males have almost black feathers but still have a brown beak.
I had some waste bread and cut it up into very neat squares and threw it out on the lawn and within a second there were an absolute host of Blackbirds squabbling over the crumbs and up to that point I had not seen a Blackbird today.
Noticed a Wren roost last evening and counted over 20 going into a hole in the barn wall. Must remember not to repair that hole!
Masses of finches about today.
JB.

[peter]

Yorkshire town's grit 'stolen by outsiders'
BBC News

[Westi]

Peter I can guarantee it is no-one from around here -
most roads a hazzard even the main ones. Maybe the
same thieves got here first

Westi

[JohnN]

Woke up to 9jn of snow this morning, looked out the window and saw with horror that I'd forgotten to take the top netting off my fruit cage. The whole structure was sagging with the metal frame looking to collapse any second! I rushed out, desperately trying to think of the best way to remove the snow - then assembled my leaf blower, ran an extension cable from the house and Bingo, worked like a charm!
Netting is damaged, but frame seems OK. Phew!
John N

[PLUMPUDDING]

Not sure if it is the government's idea to re-distribute grit to more needy areas, but eight huge lorries virtually cleared out our town's supply of grit this afternoon leaving a tiny heap that wouldn't even do the bus routes. We've had over 12 inches of snow this week and the temperature was -9C last night. None of the side roads have been cleared and we're having to walk in the ruts in the slush where the few cars have gone as there is deep snow on the pavements. I'd like to know where they have taken it if somewhere is having worse weather than us. Down South perhaps?

[Shallot Man]

PLUMPUDDING. On prime ministers question time, our bold Gordon brown has taken over the salt distribution, maybe that answers your question.

[Gerry]

No snow here yet but it seems that we will be getting lots tomorrow. The ground is frozen solid, which I haven't seen since we moved here, 10 years ago. I'm glad that I got a polytunnel last year, I put a few veg in there and we are now able to lift them. Hope the weather gets better very soon.

Regards, Gerry.

[Elle's Garden]

Hi JohnN,

That was very quick witted of you! I have a friend who put a similar net over her chickens run area - it is ruined