Bat Hunting Quest

Armed with my trusty torch, I joined the Avon Bat Group for a bat search in Lincombe Barn Wood.  First, we were given a talk about different types of bats, the sounds they make, and facts about them (for example, did you know they're not really blind and they don't get caught up in your hair?).

As twilight fell, bat detectors were handed out - one for each of the 25 folks who'd gathered for the walk.

The bat detector - looks pretty nifty, huh?

We set our bat detectors to the 'bat frequency' (yeah, I always thought that was from the Batman films) and off we went.  Our trail led us along the river and it wasn't long before the first ultrasounds of a pipistrelle (the most common type of British bat) were heard (the bat detectors turn the ultrasound into sound we can hear).  We turned off our torches (bats are nocturnal (duh) and don't like the light) and listened for more bats.

We heard some noctules (the UK's biggest type of bat), as well as more pipistrelles (which we spotted flying low over the river).  We tried to find some horseshoes (cute, furry bats), but they didn't make an appearance.

Sadly, I didn't manage to take a photo of any of the bats we saw (it was too dark), but here's a shot of the twilight sky for you!



Quest: successful!  Thanks, Avon Bat Group.

Snow day!

The whole country is blanketed in white today.  Trudged all the way into work (took an hour and five minutes to cover approx. 4 miles) only to find they'd shut the place (& had since updated the out-of-office message from when I'd checked earlier, letting people know).

Still, I took some lovely pics on the walk, and I'd always wondered how long it would take me to walk to work anyway, so now I know!

I took a more leisurely walk back home (stopping off at the shops to stock up, so I don't need to go shopping tomorrow now), and flaked out when I got home.  Methinks my legs will be protesting tomorrow!

Quite a few people had their sledges out on the hills, and there were few cars on the road (several were having difficulties as I was walking to work, so I was glad I hadn't driven).

I saw a postman out on his deliveries, wearing knee-length shorts (mad fool!), and council workers were out gritting some of the pavements.  I thought most schools would be closed, but there was an infant school I passed which had children out playing in the schoolyard.

Roll on more snow days next week!

Did you have a snow day today, or did you have to make the trek to work/school/wherever?

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!


Have you made any New Year's resolutions?  According to this article, the top one for Brits this year is to read more books (hopefully not the old ones in the pic though!).  This is one resolution I don't need to make.



Last year I read 65 Young Adult books from my library (as well as several I bought, plus a few beta reads), so I think 2012 was quite a productive year!

And, yes, at some point I will add an update to my 'Quest to read 100 YA books' entry.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

(And don't forget the reason for the season...)

A Quest to Remember

Remember, remember, the fifth of November,

Gunpowder, treason and plot.

I see no reason why gunpowder treason

Should ever be forgot.



On 5th November 1605, Guy Fawkes (a member of the Gunpowder Plot - an attempt to assassinate King James I of England and VI of Scotland by blowing up the House of Lords during the State Opening of England's Parliament) was arrested while guarding the explosives.  People lit bonfires around London to celebrate the fact the King had survived the attempt on his life, and this is a tradition that has carried on over the years.  We Brits call it Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes Night, and usually celebrate with fireworks.

In the run-up to Bonfire Night, children would make effigies of Guy Fawkes (or other political figures) and ask for 'A penny for the guy'.  The effigies would then get placed on the bonfire and burnt.  I'm not sure whether this tradition is carried out these days (it's probably viewed as begging) and I'm also not sure what was done with the money collected (I suspect children probably spent it on sweets!).

I went to a firework display on Friday evening (never mind that Bonfire Night isn't until tonight - if we can make a celebration last out over several nights, then we will!), and there were some gorgeous fireworks - I particularly liked the ones that formed a heart shape and the ones that twinkled like stars (all whilst my favourite song - 'Rule the World' by Take That - was blaring out from the loudspeakers nearby).

Are you going to a fireworks display tonight?  (Or have you already been to one?)  What are your favourite fireworks?

A Quest for Wild Food

Most epic fantasy stories have their heroes journeying across the country on a quest. Perhaps they lodge overnight at a roadside inn, or maybe they have to sleep under a hedge or in an abandoned barn.  Along the way, they're unlikely to find a Pizza Hut or Subway if they're feeling peckish, so in all likelihood they're going to have to forage for some food.

I wouldn't have a clue what could be safely eaten and what would cause me an excruciating death if I were the heroine in my YA fantasy story, so when I heard about a Wild Food walk taking place at Wapley Bushes Nature Reserve I jumped at the chance to find out more.



Top tip of the day - red for danger, so avoid red berries.  Here we have briony (and Briony, incidentally, is the name of one of the characters in my novel - but she's lovely, so the warning of the name is no reflection on her!).

The not-so-lovely briony

Ergot

Next, we have ergot, which is a fungus found on rye and other related plants.  Apparently it can cause hallucinations, so this one is best avoided when you're rooting through your grasses.

Sloe, sloe, quick, quick, sloe

The sloe berry is the fruit from the blackthorn shrub, and is used for sloe gin.

Upside down Bolete fungus

We found a Bolete fungus which some insect or creature had tried their best to devour.  Our instructor wasn't sure which type of Bolete it was, so he was going to take it home to check it out.

Looking rather burnt - King Alfred's cake

King Alfred's cake.  Now, with a name like that, you'd think this fungus would be edible, wouldn't you?  I wouldn't want to chance it though!  It's also known as cramp balls or coal fungus, and it's good to use as a firelighter, as it smoulders (and will keep your hands warm).  That's definitely something our fantasy heroes will want to make use of on a cold night. 

You're so sweet, meadowsweet

They'd also be interested in meadowsweet, which was the medieval equivalent of aspirin.

Heal my wound, woundwort

And woundwort is definitely a plant they'd want close at hand if they've been wounded, as the leaves are great for coagulating blood.

Burdock

Finally, we came across some burdock, which I know from the drink Dandelion and Burdock (though I've never tasted it).

Of course, there are other wild foods like blackberries, apples and wild garlic, as well as other plants that can be used to season a meal - you just have to know what you're looking for!

If you were on a quest, would you be able to survive on the fruit of the land if you had to, or would you hotfoot it to the nearest inn?

Quest for the perfect Danish pastry

Couldn't you just eat this right now?

Oh noes!  I haz been recognised.

You know you've been frequenting the local baker's a little too often when the lady behind the counter reaches for the cherry Danish before you've even opened your (drooling) mouth to order.




I love Danish pastries* like the one in the photo (baked to perfection by my local baker's).  Mountstevens Bakeries used to make 'em (with coloured gelatin bits sprinkled on the top as well as the cherry), but they sadly went bust several years back.  Since then, I have been on the hunt for the perfect Danish pastry.  A chain of bakeries down in Cornwall do a rather delicious one, but that's rather a long way to drive to satisfy a craving, so I shall just have to start donning disguises instead.

Quest: successful!  Thanks, local baker!

Have you been recognised when visiting a local shop?  What's your particular downfall?

*Other types of pastries are available, and are quite tasty too!