The Bristol Swans

One of my much-loved 'things' are the Swans in Bristol harbour. I find them mesmerising as they swim along the dark waters at night, lit up by the glimmering lights of the boats and restaurants along the harbour. After a long busy week they were a welcome relaxing watch from the windows at riverstation, one of my favourite restaurants last night. 


The Mute Swans (Cygnus olor) are large white birds with a distinctive long S shaped neck. The 'mute' swan is distincitve by its beak patterns - it has an orange bill with a black base and is the least vocal of all the swans. 


I often feed the swans in the colder winter months..the most I've fed in one go is 22 swans. They always seem to welcome the food and swim quickly towards us when they spot my turqouise coat and a bag of food!

I started to wonder about the swans...who feeds them? are they there all year round? From a little go-ogling I find that the swans have been there for at least 300 years, with a resident flock of 50 to 70 swans they inhabit the docks all year around. Although there isn't suitable breeding grounds so most fly away to breed and return with there youngsters. The swans are fed and cared for by volunteers at the Friends of Bristol Swans charity. For further information see this BBC article. Friends of Bristol Swans BBC News Article

Tip: Never feed the swans in broad day light otherwise the sea gulls will mob you and steal the food! 

Mother's Day & Vintage Flea Markets

Had a lovely morning wondering around a vintage flea market at Ashton Gate stadium with my mum. I'm getting a taste for vintage markets although I had my reservations on how 'quaint' this one would be at a football ground but I was pleasantly surprised. A mixture of old vintage antiques with a few not so and Mum enjoyed spotting tea sets my grandparents had. 


I treated myself to lovely vintage satchel leather bag for the bargain (I think) price of £7...I've had my eye on a new satchel for a while and this fits the bill perfectly. It's a little rough around the edges but after a little clean up it's just how I'd wanted.

A lovely new home for my laptop and notepad...

The Start....

Sunday 18th March


For far too many days and months I've thought I would like to start a blog...waiting for the 'appropriate' 'best' 'exciting' topic to start with has never really happened or passed quickly so instead I've found myself with a quiet sunday evening and the chance to write my diary online. 


English has never been much of a talent of mine so expect lots of imperfections. I hope to write about the things that I do...my jewellery ideas, my fashion style successes or more likely mistakes, my attempts at new recipes, wildlife sightings, extracts of old diaries, my travels, and my random goings on....I am a little shy and rather cautious of this sounding self indulgent but I've always kept a paper diary of some sort so I will think of it like so.


So I guess here goes....