Weather and the weekend!

Well, typically now that the new school term has started, summer seems to have arrived! Temperatures have been hot and the skies a beautiful deep blue. Four days back at school with the new class and already it feels more like four weeks. By the end of the second day, I had managed to collect 3 sets of 35 books to mark as well as planning and assessment and the inevitable meetings that go on late!

I was almost late for work one morning as cool night time temperatures after very hot daytime temperatures had created a most amazing spectacle of evaporation in the marina. I spent almost 15 minutes with the camera to collect the following pictures amongst many more!

The evening then rewarded me with the following picture, (again - amongst others!)

I have laid awake every night in the last week with the side hatch open, listening to a pair of owls calling to each other as I drift off to sleep. My evening walk with Simba has involved spending much time watching the many bats sweeping silently around the boat fly catching and more recently a family of 3 kingfishers has taken up residence on the old arm. One even fished from a fencing post before retreating to the top of a boat to devour his catch - most amazing. This evening, when I got home from work, a magnificent heron was standing by a neighbours boat fishing and I was informed that the owner had watched him earlier having a fight with another heron who was attempting to drown him. I have seen that done with swans on a number of occasions, but never heard of it amongst herons. Rabbits and hares abound and the only disappointment is the recent absence of the Muntjak deer. Oh, and the swans have caused great hilarity as they attempt to teach their cygnets to fly - you can almost see the lock of sheer horror on their faces as the youngsters flap across the marina and suddenly find themselves air-born for a few yards!!

The weekend promises to be glorious again and I have even rolled the cratch fully up this evening in anticipation. Tomorrow, I have to undertake my regular 'pump-out' trip and plan to book the boat in for hull blacking and various other jobs for the May half term if they will book me in that far ahead!