I learnt a lot about oaks watching this. All I know is a branch from one fell missing me by only a meter a few years ago. It was about 12 inches through and was hanging from the tree. The end twigs were slightly pushing down on a wire fence. It was broken about 50 % of the way through so to make sure removing these twigs would not cause a sudden fall I swang on part of the branch first, and it didnt move at all. All good then ? I then heard a crash behind me after removing the twigs touching the fence which supported no weight it seemed. I cant see why that branch snapped off but it did. I wouldnt be here today if it had hit me.

She has also written a book im going to buy on plants and trees in folklore and medicine. I feel drawn to it.

 

And why do they always have their lights on ? lol

 

Two bitches ?

 This weekend as I queued at a snack bar a woman with a dog stood right behind me. Her dog  constantly barked really loud with a raspy harsh edge to it. It was unbearable. Feeling constantly on edge this month I returned to my shouting " shut up " when a dog in public does this near me. The anger and or fight or flight just explodes out of me in the moment. Next came the awkward atmosphere in the queue. You know the one when someone in public shows a true emotion. You're not supposed to do that.

Its strange how everyone just tolerated this unacceptable sound. To me it is as socially unacceptable  for a dog to bark as loud as that in close proximity to people as it is to be blowing cigarette smoke in someones face. It is however a taboo to scold someones elses dog. I think it might be worse than shouting at a child. I base that on the reactions that ive seen dog owners display.

So I walk away to a picnic bench as far away as I could get from the dog as I get. A woman then arrives with a dog and sits opposite me with a dog. Hmmm. I mention to her that im glad her dog isnt barking. She replies that " Oh that was my dog barking " with a cold tone in her voice. I was stunned by her malice. She purposely came to sit by me after she had seen me shout out in annoyance.

Sometimes you can feel a situation encircling you as though its hunting you. I walked away again and went on my bike ride. All the time I could hear that damned dog yapping on the other side of the river, and it wasnt stopping.

A new suspect

 "  Fight, flight or FREEZE ! "   

    Freeze is a new one and possibly the most mundane and suffocating.

A life affirming moment

 

I went for a bike ride along the canal to cheer myself up last week. I was on the look out for young swans as I watched last years grow throughout the year. I was eating and looking down at my phone, and when looking up again this was the wonderful sight I saw. They had just silently crept up on me. It was a profound moment that warmed my heart.

There is a war coming...

 Elon Musk cares more about UK citizens than all our politicians. Following the attempted beheading by stanley knife of an unfortunate man attacked by an African immigrant in Northern Ireland, all we want is someone in power to acknowledge there is a problem here, and take action.

Last week a trial of a Sikh who stabbed a white man to death and claimed he had been racially attacked came to ahead. He went to jail for murder after it was found he was the attacker. Police on the scene didnt believe the white guy when he said he had been stabbed and he died on the floor in hand cuffs. The police automatically believed the Sikh when he claimed racism.

Its getting worse and inaction is throwing fuel on the fire. 

God knows what Americans must think of us.

A politician only does the right thing when they absolutely have no other choice. Strange that.

This fire is hungry. If it could, it would devour all I own on this cold windy summer day.

Thought for the day - Fire does not play by the rules. Anything destructive doesn't either.

Strange name ?

Beauty and the beast ?

I came across this today at a retail village. What are they trying to say ?  The white woman is looking submissive and the black one devilish. Black is on top violating white. This is really bad. Advertisers are not even trying to hide it anymore as they get more and more extreme. 

Ive enjoyed previous Kate Spade adverts. The woman becoming a girl again climbing the tree. Another showing how a book might change your day or send you in a new direction, This is basically demonic. I mean look at the black womans eyes.