Thursday, October 28, 2021

Patio Psychosis

Yes, another leaf

Dave stayed home from work yesterday because he wasn't feeling great. (Don't worry -- it's not Covid. We're both negative on our twice-weekly lateral flow tests.) He said he felt achy and tired and kind of brain-foggy, which can all be related to his Crohn's Disease.

When I got home from work in the afternoon, he said to me, "We have a psychotic squirrel in the garden."

Apparently a squirrel came to the living room window several times during the day, stood on its hind legs, put its forelegs against the glass, and then tried to jump through. Dave knocked on the glass at one point to scare it away, but it came back. Olga regarded the whole episode with detachment. Dave thinks she probably sees this squirrel every day and has become bored with its antics.

As it turns out, I had our garden-cam set up in a new position on the patio, and I was happy to see that it recorded the deranged squirrel, and even Dave's window-knocking. It also captured some footage of a grazing pigeon and a couple of little robins, and a quick view of a fox at night.


Yes, I know, our patio is in woeful condition. We have too many potted plants. Once the weather gets drier I'll move them all and sweep and weed. The dahlias will go in the shed for the winter and I probably should toss some of the primroses, which I don't think are even alive.

I'm at that stage in the annual life of the garden when I just want to throw everything away. The plants are all done blooming and they're slumping and overgrown, and I want to get out there with a machete and start clearing like an explorer hacking his way through the jungle in an old movie about Africa. I did cut the dead peonies back yesterday. Every week I'm setting out my allotted two bags of yard waste for composting by the council, although you'd never know it.

I've been feeling kind of despondent lately. I think our decision not to go home for Christmas has me in a funk. I need something to look forward to. Dave and I planned a getaway at Thanksgiving -- a couple of nights in a little village outside the city -- so that helps. And I think we might try to go somewhere at Christmas, maybe even on a quick trip to France or Belgium, depending on travel conditions at that time. Getting on a train to travel a short distance seems less risky Covid-wise than getting on a transatlantic flight.

I think I'm going to start another walking project, too, to keep myself in shape. Now that Olga has become so lazy about walking I need to get out and get more exercise on my own. Maybe I'll walk the Thames Path or the Green Chain.

Unfortunately the UK's Covid numbers are not in a good place. My brief foray into working unmasked, under the school's new mask-optional policy, lasted about three days. I'm now back to masking. Maybe when the numbers trend downward I'll feel more secure in going maskless.

46 comments:

  1. Friends of ours finally finished walking the Thames Path a few weeks ago.Where is the village you are going to stay in? Is it anywhere near us? We could meet up for a drink?
    If a squirrel did that at our window Alexi would go absolutely nuts! Sometimes a pigeon lands on the velux window and we have pandemonium until it flies off.

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    1. The village isn't near you but we should meet up anyway! Maybe it's time for another Olga/Alexi walk. I'll be in touch!

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  2. I suspect that Cyril the Squirrel was entranced by his own reflection. Evolution has still not supplied him with ability to understand the very principle of reflection. He looks in your window and sees an energetic and healthy member of his own species and thinks, "Time to party!"

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    1. Yeah, it could be a reflection that's freaking him out. Squirrels have very small brains.

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  3. YP may be correct or may not be. It could be that the squirrel has learnt that putting in an appearance at a window can bring forth food. They are certainly nimble and fast critters.
    Short holidays away can be very beneficial.

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    1. I've just been looking at the Covid figures and graphs for England. Death rates have risen in an alarming manner. I wonder if there is published figure of how many who die are fully vaccinated. Positive new tests and patients admitted to hospital seem to have stabilised. Sydney opened up eleven days ago and new infection numbers are still falling. Prepare for the worst but expect good news. In years to come the mental toll of Covid and lockdowns and then freedom will be analysed and be interesting to read, but at the moment, no one really knows.

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    2. Sorry to be a pain, but people who write on the internet talking of their personal feelings about the situation will add to future research.

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    3. As I understand it, many of those who die are vaccinated, but they also tend to be very old (like Colin Powell) and ill with other things, so their immune responses are quite suppressed. Younger people who die (or are hospitalized) tend NOT to be vaccinated.

      And yes, you're right -- being candid about our responses to Covid and to lockdowns will add to the information available in the future about this time period.

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  4. I'm seeing fewer people wearing masks in the sthe few stores I go into. Our county had 42 new cases last week, a full half of them in my small town.

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    1. Yeah, masking has fallen quite a bit here, too. A lot of the kids at our school have given up on them.

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  5. I can completely understand why you'd feel a bit despondent. Things are still in such confusion and we have to keep deciding whether the risks are worth the mental health benefit of...well, almost everything.
    Walking regularly will probably help some. Stay safe, Steve.

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    1. Yeah, I think getting out and about will give me a big boost! I also need to stop reading right-wing news sites. They just depress me.

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  6. Those urban squirrels are a much bolder bunch! While I was in New York, I wore a mask everywhere I went. The only time it was off was in the hotel room and eating. There were times I wan't to rip it off and other times I didn't notice it. Nonetheless, I was glad to be home where I can go most of the day without one.
    Now that I am home from this trip to New York, I'm getting a similar feeling of despondency. I need to plan something so I have something to look forward to.

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    1. In a place with the density of NYC, I'd wear a mask everywhere too! I think it's always good to have something on the horizon.

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  7. We had a bird doing that in the Spring and we guessed it was because he would see his reflection and think it was an enemy invading his territory. I put some of those cling stickers on the inside of the window and that fixed it!
    I get my booster next week and I still wear a mask when in stores. I think your ideas of walks and a Christmas trip will help lift your spirits. Hope so!

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    1. I've heard of birds fighting their reflection, but never a squirrel! It's certainly possible, though.

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  8. I think covid is doing more to our heads than we think.

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    1. Definitely. As Andrew said above, this will be a subject of study for years to come.

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  9. That is very interesting squirrel behavior. It's hard to figure out what the squirrel is seeing from the ground that makes it keep wanting to jump up and hit that window. The reflection must be pretty attractive.
    I'm sorry you are feeling a bit despondent about not being able to travel home this Christmas. I hope you get to take a lovely trip there and see things that will lift your spirits sky high.

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    1. It seems to love digging in that planter by the window, and maybe from there it just can't resist climbing onto the windowsill.

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  10. Funny Little Video - Travel On Brother Reed - Enjoy The Weekend

    Cheers

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  11. "Once the weather gets drier..." Hahahaha! (I know, England is probably less damp than the stereotype makes it seem...).

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    1. Oh, it's pretty damp! But we do dry out from time to time. Of course, "dry" is a relative term.

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  12. I've reached a point in my life where there is very little on TV that interests me. I think watching your garden cam would be FAR more entertaining! It's your own, personal nature show!

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    1. Exactly! I can put it out for just a few days and always get some interesting footage.

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  13. Or maybe the squirrel is a little drunk on rotting fruit or berries. It happens to birds here and they fly into windows.

    I heard about england on the news yesterday, rising case numbers again
    Be careful. Even with vaccinations you can still get sick, although you don't often end up in hospital.

    I need something to look forward to as well. Winter is too damn long here.

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    1. Oh, that's an idea! I never considered drunkenness! We do have some overripe berries here and there in the garden.

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  14. Do you have to pay the pigeon to tidy up. It's not very good at the job.

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  15. I'm glad you're masking again. The UK is now home to the delta-plus variant which is new! improved! even more contagious! It will be here soon, oh joy. Christmas is hard, we're debating on just giving it a bye this year, getting on a plane during a high travel season just sounds bad. Love the squirrel, he's persistent.

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    1. Yeah, I've heard a little about this new variant (or sub-variant). It's always something!

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  16. I feel despondent because I have no idea what's going on for the holidays. With one daughter 2,800 miles away and the other one in a weird place emotionally and mentally, I don't know quite what to hope for. Is it Delta or are they saying there's yet another variant? Squirrels are crazy to start with...

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    1. I think they're saying it's a sub-variant, so it's Delta with some small differences. (I think?) And yes, I feel your pain re. Christmas uncertainty.

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  17. When I read about the squirrel, I worried it was rabid. But seeing the video tells me he was just for some odd reason dying to get into the house. Actually, maybe it was just trying to get someone to come out and clean up the #@%$ garden.

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  18. LOL at Mitchell's comment! I enjoyed the video and keep thinking if I was as active as that squirrel I'd be in as good shape as he is too.

    I've been seeing reports of rising Covid cases in the UK for a couple of weeks now and was wondering whatever happened with the unmasking rules at your workplace. Seems wise to just be a little more cautious again far as loosening restrictions and travel. I hope you can find a way to beat the blues though. I'd pick the train over any other transportation (except personal vehicle) any day of the week. I love train travel - not to GET anywhere, just for the travel alone.

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    1. We're still masking at our own discretion, though the school may reconsider that policy at any time. Many of the kids have stopped wearing masks. (Many of the older ones are vaccinated, at least.)

      Yeah, I love a train trip!

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  19. That's a well fed and rather chill pigeon, strolling around your patio. I find the holiday season brings its share of despondency. I hope you find some distraction.

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    1. Usually I'm fine with holidays, but this year things are looking a bit glum. I'm sure we'll manage, though!

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  20. Squirrels know where the nuts are, our Mr Bags is keenly aware- tosses himself at the door frequently and insanely.
    England is really a beautiful place to hang out for Christmas, if you are lucky it will snow and sparkle.El Nina is bringing rain here, too much of it, steadily. No holidays for us.

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    1. We never feed our squirrels, though, so it's funny that it would be so intent on getting inside. I think YP may be onto something about the reflection.

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  21. Your video is enchanting. I watched it twice, or perhaps three times. You think YOUR life is boring!

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    1. Ha! Well, I'm glad you liked it. It's hard not to laugh at that crazy rodent.

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  22. Just returned from the UK last night after two weeks of visiting various places. Frankly, I felt more comfortable about being there (vis a vis Covid) than I do in the US. On the plane from US to UK (and on the return), everyone wore a mask and no one had any issues. As you well know, in London, probably less than half the folks wear masks on the Tube or in stores. I was there several days before and after a five day trip to Scotland. I always wore a mask except when walking outdoors where I could avoid crowds. Took the Avanti train from London to Scotland (Glasgow) and then from there a Scotrail train and ferry over to Argyll. My booking on the train indicated that, per Covid issues, no one would sit beside me and that was indeed the case. Had very relaxing rides both to and from Glasgow--great scenery, too. In Scotland, different rules apply and they tend to take masking very seriously--both on buses, ferries and trains and in stores. In Scotland, I met up with friends from Scotland and Paris and had an absolutely wonderful time. Never felt unsafe or over-exposed. Made it to V&A (must book ahead) this past Wednesday and even though it is half term this week, had a first hour booking and visited multiple rooms without any one else present during my first hour. Helped that I wasn't there to see the Wonderland exhibit. Obviously, my Day 2 test was negative, as was my test to return to the US. Will do another home test in a couple of days just to be sure. Must say I am absolutely delighted that I made the trip. Had a wonderful time, besides seeing friends, I got up to the Scottish Highlands, saw wonderful country vistas and any number of art exhibitions. Felt alive again in a way I haven't for a very long time. Sorry (not sorry) if that sound like hyperbole, but I think it is what you are missing right now. The only thing I didn't do (and I had a ticket for) was attend a concert at Cadogan Hall. Looked up the seating chart for the event a few days beforehand and saw that virtually every seat was filled, so skipped the performance as I heard many theatre goers are not masking. A minor issue in the great scheme of things.

    Hope you are able to find someplace to go to make you feel as happy as I am that I made the trip. A calculated risk, but one that is doable if you take some not too arduous necessary precautions. Best of luck.

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  23. What a fun video. I feel kind of bad for that little squirrel. Can you do a video call with your families at Christmas? Just a thought. Enjoy your day, hugs, Edna B.

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