I just had an almighty shock. A Goshawk (I think) complete with jesses, bells, and a tail guard landed on my patio and looked at me. It stood about 20 inch high. The local crows buzzed it and it flew off. The local garden centre that has a few birds of prey says it is not one of theirs.The tail guard is supposed to stop them flying, well it didn't work. I have rung the police on 101 to let them know it is on the loose. its big enough to take a small animal rabbit sized etc.
If anyone knows of someone in the Notts/Derbys border area, around the A52, who has lost a bird, I can point them in the right direction.
No charity shops here, don't think the French are as charitable. When I helped with a people with disabilities French charity they opened a charity shop and it got closed down because other shop owners said it was unfair competition. No East European grocers either.
Crikey Fidget, must have given you a fright! Hope he gets re-united with his owner.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
Lots of charity shops here. Barclays closed about 6 months ago. Nat West is going soon. I'm with HSBC but, to be honest, I've not crossed the threshold in about 2 years.
No betting shops, shoe shops , coffee shops nor eastern European grocers.
Our village has two butchers, a bakery, a pharmacy, a fruit and veg shop, two convenience stores, an art and crafts shop, a kitchen knick-knacks shop, a dry-cleaner/service laundry place, a fish and chip shop and an estate agent. The place that sold expensive cushions closed this year. The Post Office closed last year (is now in one of the convenience stores). The only bank is the Natwest mobile one which turns up once a week. But generally, if you need it, you can probably get it .
The shops in the village will be shut this Christmas Eve - they usually open half day, but as it's Sunday, we'll have to manage a whole extra day. Of course, I could go to Tesco, half an hour's drive away, but on balance, I think not.
The nearest town is mostly Estate Agents and charity shops
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
We found a lost and found bird of prey site. They know who the owner is and have given him our postcode. Apparently they tend to stay in the vicinity. I put a chicken carcass in the middle of the lawn to see if hes interested. Apparently a Northern Goshawk... 22 to 24 inches tall and a 48 inch wing span. Or as hubby says, a chuffing big bird. I hope the neighbours keep their miniature Yorkshire Terrier in, its probably getting hungry by now.
That sounds a pretty good range of shops for a village, Raisingirl.
In this small town (population 15,000) we are lucky enough to have an excellent market hall, open 5 days per week, with a good range of stalls, some of which have been operating for more than 40 years. The outdoor market, operating a different 5 days, is variable but interesting. 2 supermarkets, 4 charity shops, numerous cafes, craft shops, hairdressers, butchers, bakers... no candlestick makers... and now, sadly, no clog maker. When we lived here in the 1970s, folk still wore clogs for gardening etc, but their use seems to have died out except for clog dancers now.
Did a quick shopping trip this afternoon, when the temperature seemed to be at its highest - garden thermometer read minus 3.4. The snow, such as it is, seems to be wearing away rather than melting.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
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Some town centres are full of coffee shops and charity shops .........
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I just had an almighty shock. A Goshawk (I think) complete with jesses, bells, and a tail guard landed on my patio and looked at me. It stood about 20 inch high. The local crows buzzed it and it flew off. The local garden centre that has a few birds of prey says it is not one of theirs.The tail guard is supposed to stop them flying, well it didn't work. I have rung the police on 101 to let them know it is on the loose. its big enough to take a small animal rabbit sized etc.
If anyone knows of someone in the Notts/Derbys border area, around the A52, who has lost a bird, I can point them in the right direction.
Wow! Fidget ... what an experience .... hope he and his handler manage to get back together very soon.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
You forgot the betting shops , East European grocers and shoe shops!
No charity shops here, don't think the French are as charitable. When I helped with a people with disabilities French charity they opened a charity shop and it got closed down because other shop owners said it was unfair competition. No East European grocers either.
Crikey Fidget, must have given you a fright! Hope he gets re-united with his owner.
Around here the charity shops are closing and the buildings stand empty
Lots of charity shops here. Barclays closed about 6 months ago. Nat West is going soon. I'm with HSBC but, to be honest, I've not crossed the threshold in about 2 years.
No betting shops, shoe shops , coffee shops nor eastern European grocers.
Our village has two butchers, a bakery, a pharmacy, a fruit and veg shop, two convenience stores, an art and crafts shop, a kitchen knick-knacks shop, a dry-cleaner/service laundry place, a fish and chip shop and an estate agent. The place that sold expensive cushions closed this year. The Post Office closed last year (is now in one of the convenience stores). The only bank is the Natwest mobile one which turns up once a week. But generally, if you need it, you can probably get it
.
The shops in the village will be shut this Christmas Eve - they usually open half day, but as it's Sunday, we'll have to manage a whole extra day. Of course, I could go to Tesco, half an hour's drive away, but on balance, I think not.
The nearest town is mostly Estate Agents and charity shops
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
We found a lost and found bird of prey site. They know who the owner is and have given him our postcode. Apparently they tend to stay in the vicinity. I put a chicken carcass in the middle of the lawn to see if hes interested. Apparently a Northern Goshawk... 22 to 24 inches tall and a 48 inch wing span. Or as hubby says, a chuffing big bird. I hope the neighbours keep their miniature Yorkshire Terrier in, its probably getting hungry by now.
That sounds a pretty good range of shops for a village, Raisingirl.
In this small town (population 15,000) we are lucky enough to have an excellent market hall, open 5 days per week, with a good range of stalls, some of which have been operating for more than 40 years. The outdoor market, operating a different 5 days, is variable but interesting. 2 supermarkets, 4 charity shops, numerous cafes, craft shops, hairdressers, butchers, bakers... no candlestick makers... and now, sadly, no clog maker. When we lived here in the 1970s, folk still wore clogs for gardening etc, but their use seems to have died out except for clog dancers now.
Did a quick shopping trip this afternoon, when the temperature seemed to be at its highest - garden thermometer read minus 3.4. The snow, such as it is, seems to be wearing away rather than melting.