First volunteer journey completed today, transporting some very noisy fledgling Wagtails to a rescue centre in deepest, greenest Lincolnshire. I have to admit I was very excited and thoroughly enjoyed myself. It rained all the way there and back again! We have had rain for the last three days and boy is it needed.

I have started work on the second of the three Tiger 1 models I bought a couple of years back. The tracks and wheels took some work and that is one side completed. So today’s journey out was a welcome break from starting the other side. But I think a welcome cuppa and a feet up and good book scenario is now called for as my back is now feeling it after a seventy mile round trip and a supermarket shop.

TTFN.

 The past three weeks have flown by and it does seem as I get older that time goes more quickly. Not a lot has been done although the potato plants and the one test onion I planted are thriving. All supermarket produce so I am looking forward to the results. I have transplanted several tomato plants out into larger pots with old plastic pop bottles for protection. The cats have investigated and decided they’re not worth their time. The kittens are nearly a year old and will now be referred to as the young ‘uns or youngsters. 

We also finally had some rain overnight as the garden was bone dry and today is fresh and cloudy, fairly cool at 12°C although the breeze makes it feel cooler. We also watched as they set up a temporary traffic light directly outside and it’s a four way system. Inevitably, with ongoing work across the road, the bridge closed saga continues into its third year and traffic diversions it is gridlocked mayhem outside! The bridge saga you ask? The council has sacked the contractor responsible for rebuilding the bridge and is searching for another tender…The conspiracy theorists are having a field day with it never re-opening and the government plan to make us live in 15 minute cities with no ICE vehicle ownership, others bang on about brown envelopes, bribery and shady business dealings. I prefer to consider years of neglect by local politicians, poor management and general ineptitude leading to the current shambles. We also received the council letter regarding the plan to build 130 houses and a small block of flats on the brownfield site across the road. At long last but I think it will be too many small ticky tacky boxes rather than housing fit to live in. I would prefer a smaller number of houses and a small park and better access to the water facility of the old dock. 

Modelling wise, the P 40 Tomahawk and the Spitfire Mk IXc have been completed apart from washes being applied. I will do that when I have three or four builds ready for washes. I have been working on a Messerschmitt Bf 109 G6 in the same scale of 1/72 which has just had a clear gloss coat applied prior to the decals going on. The plan is to build the following kits at a future date although the G6 is a work in progress.

There is an irony in the Czechs supplying the Avia S-199 which is essentially a Messerschmitt Bf 109 but with a different engine to the nascent state of Israel. So Israel was using Messerschmitts and Spitfires when it was invaded by several Arab states in 1948. At that time the Soviet Union and its satellite states in Eastern Europe supported Israel as they viewed it as a potential socialist entity which would be of use to expanding the socialist message. 

I am working to complete the several builds from the last couple of months before I start any new builds. I have a tendency to start something new before completing the current build and inevitably end up with several nearly completed kits awaiting my attention…they also attract feline attention as they are near the desk. Exhibit A below of the main offender Winnie…

Sadly, she continues to be stalked and attacked by Mindy, our small Tortoiseshell cat and it causes all sorts of problems. We’re hoping that as Winnie grows bigger this will become less of a problem but she is still small. They both have very different personalities, Wilf is very tall and long, very laid back and he doesn’t wander too far whereas Winnie remains an ADHD cat with a propensity to wander. Happily, they both have trackers on and after a few hours outside they do return home fairly easily. 

Sue has finally had the all clear to stop the Tamoxifen but the effects of her no longer having this in her system is awful. She is struggling with this and it annoys me that doctors rarely mention this as a part of discontinuing treatment at the onset of treatment. I saw it a lot with medications in psychiatry and worked hard to ensure people were fully cognisant with the various treatments being offered. Happily, we had one doctor who preferred to prescribe lifestyle choices but understandably people who are unwell and desperate for a quick fix will ask for medication. MH services are inundated now and I am so glad to be out of it. With all the crap happening today no wander people are becoming anxious and depressed. Fear and constant change are great tools for controlling people. However, time to consider what will be my next build when this lot has been tidied away and possibly another one of the bigger kits. Hopefully all is well with my few readers of this tosh and I am away to find the cats.

TTFN.

 Well that was horrible…two days of excruciating pain and bent double after I moved the large and extremely heavy garden bin. I never learn and paid the price with today being the first day I can potter around and get back in the garden. Sue bought me a small tomato kit which is now seeded and safely situated in the kitchen window away from enquiring cats. I have two small tins of wildflower seeds to scatter on the rough ground near the fence so I can do that today. I should cut the grass but I am mindful I have to be careful and pace myself. But the sun is out after an absence of a few days but still no rain…the media are talking of water shortages this summer.

On the model front I have made progress on this…

It’s the Soviet T 28 and now needs a washes and weathering for a suitable diorama with the figures which also require tidying up.

The F-104G now has tiger stripes but it is messy and I discovered the needle in my old airbrush is slightly bent at the tip. Time for a replacement needle but I have three other airbrushes so no worries there. I will make up some masks and tidy up the stripes but for me this is a practice mule so if it turns out ok I will be happy.

I also have a new kit which arrived today, one that has been on my highly desirable kit list for a few years now and I bought it at a very cheap price. A rare kit but often avoided as it is basic and requires a lot of work and rigging.

The very first heavy four engined commercial passenger aircraft and then bomber during WW1 and yes, the Sikorsky who moved to the USA and late made helicopters.  

Time for the garden as it is a heady 16°C today and once the seeds are scattered I intend to sit out with a good book and ignore the nonsense prevalent in the world today.

TTFN.

 Yesterday was the hottest day of the year so far with the highest temperature of 25°C being achieved. Lovely to sit out and soak up the sun over the last three days but today, back to normal Spring temperatures. My neighbour’s Elderflower tree flourishing and covered in blossoms. The cats sprawled out in various shady nooks and crannies although the kittens, now young adult cats would invariably perform feline gymnastics in pursuit of flies and other insects.

Apart from enjoying the welcome sunshine I have also finally taken up voluntary work. A local wildlife charity which rescues wildlife from songbirds up to deer but, my role is a minor one. I will be called upon to provide transport for sick or injured small mammals and birds to and from various wildlife sanctuaries once or twice a month. There are several of us new volunteers in this role and we had an induction over Skype yesterday evening. This caught my eye as it will only be occasional trips out, involves wild animals which I have an interest in and does not involve too much contact with the public. I wanted something that has little resemblance to my previous work as a nurse and nothing to do with mental health services.We will be paid mileage and the furthest travel will be over to Manchester or Norfolk, both routes I know well. I am quite excited about it and looking forward to my first trip out.

I have also been working on a new model build, a Soviet T28 medium tank with some figures although I haven’t yet decided on a diorama. It is an old ICM kit, a Ukrainian company and generally a very nice build with few problems encountered. The figures are a work in progress and the tank hull and base are dry fitted as are the tracks; all easily removable for painting. I still have two builds requiring weathering and the F-104 aircraft still needs painting but airbrushing in hot weather isn’t to be recommended. 

Time to put the garden chairs out for more solar therapy.

TTFN.