View From The Conservatory


So I was just heading out to the freezer in the utility room, thinking about what we should have for dinner tonight. I was a little cautious stepping out of the kitchen as always, because I like to peek and see what birds are in the garden. I stood watching a Dunnock for a minute or so as it darted around the bare branches of some shrubs. Then a movement from the other side of the garden caught my eye.

And this is what I saw…

Fox
Skanky Fox in my garden. Apart from the lack of fur he seems quite healthy and alert.

The amazing thing is he clambered up on top of our fence and plodded along the top in the same way as cats do. The feet on one side on the top of the fence and the other feet on the arris rail.

Fox1
As I said, Alert. He was aware of every noise be it traffic or bird calls.

I had watched him for a while before I thought to go get my camera. These pictures are all captured through double glazing which is less than clean at the moment.

Fox2
I don’t think he had a best side.

This is the second fox that we have had in the garden with skin/fur problems. Although the previous one looked like he had suffered a kind of de-gloving of the hind leg, perhaps as a result of conflict with a car. Maybe this one has had a similar encounter although I am tempted to contact the RSPCA and see if this is indicative of something that local dog owners might need to be aware of.

Mac on… Horse meat scandal and Romanian migrants | Mail Online


Cartoonist Mac neatly merges the european horse meat fiasco and the UKs latest xenophobic focus, the Roumanians.

'... so I said, "If you can smuggle horse into the UK, you can smuggle us in." "Okay," he said, "Twenty smackers."'
‘… so I said, “If you can smuggle horse into the UK, you can smuggle us in.” “Okay,” he said, “Twenty smackers.”‘

Mac on… Horse meat scandal and Romanian migrants | Mail Online.


A useful piece of information that may slip beneath the radar but a serious omission that could spoil a holiday.

TripWheels's avatarTrip News

By Elle Hubbard

*02/04/2013. This law has now been repealed in full and signed by Governor Scott. There is no longer any requirement to have an International Driving Permit when driving in Florida.

Well, we opened a can of worms with our exclusive story in Florida Homes and Travel about the new Florida Statute 322.04 and non-residents now needing an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive in Florida. Until January 1st 2013 (when this statute became law), holders of driving licences written in English (and in some cases just a Roman Alphabet was sufficient) were not required to carry or present an IDP to hire a car in the USA.

Under the terms of Fl Stat: 322.04 the following now applies to Florida:

A nonresident must have in his/her possession a valid driver license from another state or territory of the U.S. or an international driving permit issued by his/her…

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