No one ever expects...

To find a large bird of prey in their garden. Lunchtime yesterday, I spotted a large bird in the garden, clutching a (hopefully) dead pigeon in it's claws. My Guide to Local Birds identified it as an adult female Sparrowhawk. Definitely not something you see everyday.

It then proceeded to pluck and eat the pigeon. I have ever only seen something like this on a nature program. Fortunately, I also managed to take some video footage of it as well.

A singularly beautiful creature, despite the fact my dear mother couldn't believe what it was going to do with the pigeon.

till next time,

Alex.

Doing the unthinkable

No, don't panic. I haven't gone off the deep end, at least, not yet anyway. In my earlier post, I reasoned ways of finding a girlfriend. To this end I reasoned that anyone I might meet in a pub or club is likely to be drunk at best, drugged at worse. Thus, it comes to this: I have joined an online dating site. Before anyone asks, no I won't tell you which one.

It probably won't lead to anything, given my luck these days, although of course there is always hope. Though it might be called an act of desperation, I see it as an exercise in bettering myself. If nothing else, it might extend the number of people I can call a friend.

On a different note, I'm currently waiting to hear from the Japanese Consulate about the details of a working-holiday visa. If I'm refused for whatever reason, I will be taking a holiday there for a couple of weeks. Should I be successful, I will be staying in Japan for anything from a few weeks to nearly a year.

till next time,

Alex.