After tantalising us with one week of tropical goodness (sunburnt shoulders from coffee date at garden centre, I live on the edge) the weather here has gone completely to pot - cold, rainy, windy....blaaaaah.
The pond has returned to the road, but this time I have to report that Mrs Mallard , single mother, is no longer in residence. She valiantly sat on her eggs day and night for about 4 weeks, only leaving occasionally to eat out (she spurned my offerings of water and lettuce which is apparently what you should give ducks - I had a lovely chat with the Protection of Birds lady). I had cardboard boxes ready to transport Mama Duck and chicks to local pond. A bit like having your bag ready for the hospital.
Then one morning Ma and the eggs were gone - they appeared to have hatched - so I guess she marched them off in the early hours herself. I really hope they got there safely. Mama Duck had plenty of time to observe my skills at getting Boys 1 and 2 out of the door, so probably decided she had better get on with it herself, without letting an amateur in troop movements intervene. Wise old bird.
I do miss her, I got used to peeking at her every time I left and returned to the house. Should I be worried that my most important emotional attachment recently was to a duck? Don't answer that.
Here's video of a duck rescue.
In other news, before I went to Paris (did I mention I went to Paris?) I had a little scoot round the old Happy Valleys Shoppe Centre .
Silk dress by French Connection, made me feel cold just looking at it
French Connection
Brrrrr, not warm enough for these
Loved the navy sequined jumper - Whistles
Whistles
Hobbs - loved this on the mannequin
NW3 - younger sister brand of Hobbs
NW3
Snuck into changing rooms to play dress up. Noooo, I look like a deckchair
Hobbs
NW3
NW3
All about NW3 here. I liked these dresses but with the navy one priced at £99 I resisted temptation, back in the day you could get that sort of look at TopShop for a lot less, of course now Toppers has gone all micro mini and frilly...
Anyway, enough of dresses, the only sensible attire right now is raincoat and wellies..and possibly waders for visiting ducks..
