Cissbury Hill blues, wine and the second test.

Yesterday afternoon between showers I headed off to Cissbury Hill and was rewarded by many butterflies on the wing while walking round the main ditch. I took photos of Chalkhill Blues, Common Blues (above), Painted Ladies, Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns, Six-spot Burnet moths, Red Admirals & Large whites.

This morning I turned on Radio 4 and started bottling the latest batch of Chardonnay. The second day of the second test started and two Aussie wickets went to the first two balls. While starting the next batch of Chianti the Aussie wickets continued to tumble making it a very satisfying session.

Ouse Reserve goes to the Wall

We visited the Ouse Estuary Nature Reserve near Newhaven this morning. There were Wall butterflies by the Tide Mill ruins, Cinnabar caterpillars at same site, plenty of Painted Ladies, Gatekeepers, Peacocks & Red Admirals all on thistle, blackberries and buddleias, Meadow browns, Large whites, Small whites, a Ringlet, Common Blues (by cycle track) and a slow worm.

Goddess status ratified

Delighted to see that Joanna Lumley has had her status as goddess officially ratified: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8169641.stm Many of us have been using the title since the first episode of The New Avengers in 1976.