New posts at bird blog

So, I’ve been on another bird outing, despite the atrocious weather (the photos don’t reflect the true awfulness of it – the strong, cold wind, pushing me back and forth about a foot while trying to take photos). I’ve blogged about it here.

No-one visits that blog, but never mind. It’s my own personal record of my bird outings, which I enjoy. Talking of birds, I recently read “The genius of birds” by Jennifer Ackerman, which was a good read. Birds, like many animals, have often been considered dim-witted compared to the “superior” human (cough), but they are far from  it. You just have to think of the birds’ ancestors such as the velociraptor, made famous by “Jurassic Park”. Humans are animals after all, so why is it any surprise that animals also possess intelligence and feeling? I have always known this, having grown up with a variety of pets, and am constantly amazed that scientists are just “discovering” such things.

Anyway, nothing to write about on this blog, that I can think of anyway. Xmas is fast approaching and I haven’t started shopping for gifts. I have no idea…

 

 

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Diaries

My Scots grandmother once told me to always keep a diary. Her advice made me wonder if she ever did or whether she regretted not doing so. Certainly none came to light after her death.

In any case, I’ve kept a diary since the age of 9. I have a drawer full of diaries for nearly every year since. Some years I missed out for whatever reason. This brings me to the question of what to do with them. (I culled a couple of embarrassing angsty ones some years ago.)

I’ve started transcribing the older ones. Do I then throw the physical copies away? I think I will keep the older, physically smaller ones, but the later ones, particularly the bigger ones, I think I will throw away after transcription. It’s going to take a while. However I have already transcribed five. I’m working my way through the year I was 10 years old. Some, later in life, will be difficult to transcribe. Do I bother? Or do I just chuck them? I’ve already transcribed an account of the death of a family dog, and my mother going into hospital. My 18 year old self emerged to cry all over again (as my mother died within 2 months). I think later entries will just bring back hurt and anger (with the ex). It’s an interesting dilemma. Do I want anyone (eg daughters) to read them? The older ones, sure, but the later ones I will have to decide as I go. I could perhaps just not transcribe bits that I don’t want anyone to read and destroy the original. It’s a long-term project, as I look at the piles of diaries beside me.

Is there anyone else in the same boat? These diaries have followed me round for decades, unread. They take up space and I feel the need to declutter. What would you do?

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I’ve added to the bird blog

I’ve updated the bird blog here. Unfortunately, not many birds, but a fantastic day for kangaroos in the wild! I was delighted.

I had never seen so many before.

A blurry photo of a kangaroo hopping away. I love seeing them move.

Here’s a four-second video (not quick enough to get more or zoom in).

Nothing else to report. I must get out and about more often..

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