Mastodawn

Chris Jan 8, 2023

We are trained from an early age to believe that youth is beauty and age is not. Read the excellent @PhilippaPerry in The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/jan/08/ask-philippa-perry-i-hate-my-ageing-body-why-do-i-look-at-myself-with-disgust

I hate my ageing body. Why do I look at myself with disgust?

Observe your critical voice to put distance between it and you – and remember that the most attractive women are those who carry themselves with pride

The Guardian

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Chris Jan 6, 2023

There was no fall that year - there was nothing left to fall. In spring the garden was crawling with millions (?billions) of the newly emerged shiny, metallic blue predators. The trees did not bud; I thought they were dead. After about a month the beetles either died off or flew away to better pasture. Then, very slowly, the Alder buds started to unfurl, much later than usual. Just a few at first - testing the environment - then a sudden rush when they realised it was 'safe'. Clever, huh? 😊

Chris Jan 6, 2023

Been listening to @botanygeek on Radio 4 "Is it wrong to eat plants?" where he speaks to Suzanne Simard author of the fascinating book 'Finding the Mother Tree'. There is no doubt that plants are 'smarter' than we think (depending on how we measure intelligence) as I can confirm from my own experience when the Alder trees in our paddock were devastated by Alder Leaf Beetle in 2021.......

Chris Nov 25, 2022

Linda Heap Nov 25, 2022

If most overseas students return to their home countries and are benefiting the economy while they are here why are they included in immigration statistics.

Surely they should only be included if they stay here after the end of their study period.

#Immigration

Chris Nov 25, 2022

As a Brit, I have been fascinated by all the pictures of #Thanksgiving #dinner. Common themes seem to be :
Turkey (or veggie equivalent)
Mashed potato - not roast? 😢
Stuffing /dressing
Gravy
Corn / squash / sweet potato
and weird things like green bean casserole and macaroni - what's that all about? 🤣
Thanks for posting, and hope you all had a very happy Thanksgiving 💛

Chris Nov 24, 2022

Ginger Nov 24, 2022

What I really need is James O'Brien and all the Guardian journalists to move onto here and then I can probably leave the birdsite for good. #riptwitter

Chris Nov 24, 2022

Want to know a little bit about the #geology where you live? Zoom in on Macrostrat (or use the search box) - tells you about the bedrock, fossils etc. Amazing!
https://macrostrat.org/map/#x=16&y=23&z=2

Macrostrat

Chris Nov 24, 2022

Museum of Natural History Nov 24, 2022

#pterosaurs were flying reptiles, whose ancestors taxonomically split from what would become #dinosaurs around the start of the #Triassic period. Pterosaurs were the first non-insect animals to evolve powered flight.

In our Pterosaur case you can see wing bones which were found in Stonesfield, just a few km from the #museum. There is also a wonderfully preserved Pterosaur claw from #oxford in a case just to the left of the African elephant. Let us know if you find them. Happy #fossil hunting!

Chris Nov 24, 2022

Dr Katie Strang Nov 23, 2022

Scotland has some of the oldest rocks in the world! Here’s a gorgeous piece of ~3 billion year old gneiss from near Loch Duich 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🖤 #Geology #ScottishGeology #AyeItsVeryGneiss

Chris Nov 24, 2022

Liz Zorab Nov 24, 2022

I miss the gentle light of summer evenings, the fuzzy hum of insects gathering nectar and scent of flowers all around me. I wanted to write something poetic about the winter months ahead, but no, I just miss summer and my favourite time of year - 'the pause'. The pause is when the air hangs warm and heavy with scent, insects and colour. When warmth reflects back up at us from the ground and abundance surrounds us. Photo by Huw Richards. #gardening #garden #summer #mentalhealth #SAD #goldenhour