The New York Times had a cheery article yesterday about the "nightmarish winter" of shortages that Britain is likely to face, largely as a result of Brexit. Great. Dave and I haven't experienced anything directly, at least not in terms of consumer goods, but I suspect like many things these problems will hit poorer people much harder -- especially as cuts in social welfare are part of the problem.
Merry Christmas, everybody!
Anyway, I didn't mean to start off on a political tirade; on a personal front there hasn't been much news here. I was busy as all get-out at work yesterday, with lots of checkouts. I forgot over our summer break how challenging it can be to keep up in blogland and have a full-time job!
Speaking of which, Dave and I need to figure out our plans for Christmas. We had intended to go back to the states, but neither of us are crazy about the idea of traveling this winter, with Covid numbers up, and both of us were just there a few months ago. We might wait and go next spring. If we don't go to the USA over the holidays we'll probably stay put in Britain and do something here. I have no idea what.
When I came home from work yesterday I found this:
Yes, those are our sunflowers, completely beheaded and shredded on the ground. Squirrels! The entire top of the plant is broken and sagging (I'm propping it up in the picture above). The other one got attacked too, but it still has one intact blossom, at least for now.
Those little furry monsters.
(Top photos: A rose petal from a neighbor's garden, found on the sidewalk on my walk home from work.)
39 comments:
I had never really thought about what squirrels would do to growing sunflowers. But, of course. That’s the pits. I’m uncomfortable re-planning my trip to New York and have been talking about waiting until spring. Would love to soon take at least a short trip somewhere.
I've heard the north of Scotland in December can be quite a pleasant place to visit and to catch a few rays. I read it on the internet at an Air B&B ad, so it must be true.
Stating the obvious is hardly a political tirade.
Wait until you are retired and then you really find out how hard it is to keep up with blogland. I was much better focused when I was working.
There was some interesting news I read today about Tesco's using many more trains to bring fresh goods from Spain to England, rather than the less reliable truck service.
I have some ideas about what you and Dave could do at Christmas. You could buy each other a few presents. You could also put up a tree and decorate it. You could sing carols up and down your street in order to raise money for a chosen charity and Dave could also make a roast turkey dinner with all the trimmings. There could also be Christmas crackers on the table and you could pull them in order to find the colourful paper hats within. These you would of course plonk on your heads. Olga could wear a collar made from tinsel. If you need any more ideas you only have to ask.
I just watched a news report o shortages here, and now I see that people have begun the hoarding again.
We are still set to travel west this month to see my Dad but I keep seeing these stories about idiots and air travel, and I'm wondering if we'll have an easy flight.
Fingers will be crossed.
I wouldn't want to visit here either. this place is full of people who think violence is the appropriate response to any inconvenience. and idiots who won't get vaccinated. I was just thinking this morning I'd like to go back to Portugal.
I never knew they'd do this either, but I guess they really can smell (or something) those seeds and they WANT them!
Well, it was originally more of a tirade. I deleted part of it before I posted. :)
Going back to trains makes sense to me, and it's probably more fuel efficient in the long run.
Surely you know by now we're not THAT conventional!
Good luck with the flying. If it's any consolation, my travels in July were fine and Dave's in August were fine too. I know it's a bit different now, but still -- fingers crossed, as you said!
The whole world has gone crazy.
Have y'all been to Ireland? Scotland? Too cold in December? I can't tell whether Andrew is serious or sarcastic because I have no idea what the weather would be like.
Isn't it funny how a picture of a rose petal can almost transmit the very texture of it?
I can hardly blame the squirrels for eating your sunflowers. I'm sure they enjoyed them tremendously.
I worry about the coming winter and shortages. Our local food coop is out of English Breakfast tea (our favorite) and I did a special order a week ago, which has still not arrived. Damn... it's going to be a long winter.
Those furry little monsters are always up to something. It's a good thing they're so cute.
Love those rose petal photos.
Here the little monsters are the mule deer. They cleaned out my petunias and geraniums. Then they crapped and I stepped in it at night and tracked it into the house!
Vandals!!!!
The UK was called the Sick Man of Europe before joining the EU in the 70s.
All the problems we had back then....are back with us now since leaving.
Feral squirrels! The most dangerous sort of feral animal:)
I imagine they really wanted the seeds and you were kind enough to grow them.
I did warn of food shortages a while back and now I'm warning of power cuts. Get some candles in for sure.
Love the petals.
Briony
x
It does seem like the entire planet has just gone off the rails. We're seeing holes in the grocery stores now. It's rather disconcerting.
"Sick Man of Europe", GZ? I arrived in England a considerable time AFTER that phrase was coined. I was aghast at what I observed. Under Thatcher (don't stone me) it got better, at least cosmetically. I was wide eyed my future (English) parents-in-law banging on about "class". I was agog at those fine differentiations between, say, "lower middle class", "middle class", "upper middle class". Come again!? Brings Oscar Wilde to mind and his often trotted out lying in the gutter seeing the stars. Let's hope the sky isn't overcast for the down and outers.
As an aside: I can't recommend enough to encounter another culture (actually live it, work it, breathe it, learn/speak the lingo). You'll also gain perspective on your country of origin. From the outside in as it were (and still is). They say no man is an island. I sometimes feel I live between two chairs.
Brexshite is a tragedy. On more levels than one. But then the English have a way of overcomplicating things. Isn't there a saying something along the lines of if it ain't broken don't fix it?
Thanks, GZ, and, of course, Steve, for allowing me to voice my exasperation and, more importantly, my utter disappointment at the result of the referendum. I won't remind any of your readers, Steve, that it was only "advisory". The "will of the people" wasn't cast in stone, legally binding, to be executed at all cost. I am not that hot on physics but the whole thing appeared to take on a momentum of its own - a bit like the "domino effect". Now we'll have to live with the fall out.
U
I just KNEW you were going to blame the squirrels for that thing they clearly did! lol
They did make a mess, didn't they? Making a mental note here never to plant sunflower seeds due to the squirrels we have behind us.
Or, maybe the garbage truck didn't have any gas. They did a story on PBS last night about the gas shortage and I saw that article in the NY Times.
It's hard to imagine those cute little squirrels doing that much damage in the garden. That took some work.
There are so many interesting places to go in England. I'm sure you won't have any trouble picking a place to go.
OMG! I'm shocked at the sunflower carnage! Just one more reason to dislike squirrels (and I apologize to your readers who think they're cute and lovable). Instead, I will focus on the rose petals. In fact, you've inspired me to share all my daughter's roses in a post.
Thank you Ursula.
I have been to other countries..everywhere has its problems.
What we have here now is so frustrating when you want to carry on with life as before, and I am not talking about covid.
I have never liked squirrels. They destroy stuff. Murphy never liked them either. When he'd see one, he'd go nuts!
I am starting to think the "shortages" are a marketing ploy so we buy more now and pay more now and we feel lucky somehow!!
We've been to Scotland but not Ireland. We would love to go to Ireland, but that would likely involve air travel too, so if we're going to fly there we may as well fly to Florida! You really CAN almost feel that petal just by looking at it, can't you?
It's interesting how shipping is screwed up all over the world. I thought it was mainly here, but apparently not!
Ugh! At least I don't have THAT to worry about with the squirrels. (I mean, I'm sure they do crap, but now that I think about it I've never seen squirrel poop. Where do they go?)
Exactly, GZ -- I just want things to go back to normal and so many of our current difficulties are completely self-inflicted and unnecessary. We are once again the "sick man of Europe"!
Ursula, it may have been advisory, but you can't hold a referendum and then ignore it. Once they opened that door they were basically obligated to take action. The Cameron government bears responsibility for this fiasco.
It's amazing because the seeds don't even look fully formed. The squirrels don't care -- they'll eat them now anyway!
Yeah, and I was skeptical of your food shortage warnings. I hope we don't get into power cuts. That would be miserable.
It's interesting that you're seeing it there -- because obviously that's not Brexit at all. I guess it's supply chain problems related to Covid?
I never knew squirrels would so voraciously consume a sunflower!
Oh, that's true -- it could have been fuel-related. And yes, I'm sure we'll find somewhere to go, if we don't go back to Florida.
I actually DO like squirrels, but it makes me nuts how destructive they are. I swear squirrels in the USA are not like this. LOL
Yeah, Olga's the same. Nothing provokes her like a squirrel.
I wonder?! You're like Briony -- she's skeptical of the origins of the shortages too. I really do think it's a combination of Brexit and Covid, but it bugs me that the government won't take responsibility for creating these conditions and instead lays the blame on the pandemic.
I'm skeptical too. However, I agree about the squirrels. They can be very devilish. Enjoy your day, hugs, Edna B.
Damn squirrels! We cancelled plans to go to NYC next week, hoping next year is better.
Xoxo
Barbara
I saw that show advertised but it looked so weird that I wasn't sure I could deal with it.
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