Summer in Hastings with the Battleaxe

The last two posts have been about particular outings, so let’s stick close to home this time. Weather has been changeable, to put it mildly. You’ll see that a number of photos are from the Country Park – the Bale House Cafe has re-opened, much to our relief. We have just been up there again today, in the scorching sun. As well as extolling the beauties of our surroundings, I’ll do a quick round-up of local things from this month, including the big up-coming change for the Battleaxe – volunteering at RSPCA Mallydams Wildlife Centre. To start with, here’s a view from the garden of friends Michael and David, who live in the Old Town – we recently went to an evening garden party there on a glorious sunny evening.

Here are more contrasting Country Park views – weather threatening, and weather bneign…

 

The Country Park, and in fact every bit of open ground round here, is covered in bright yellow Ragwort this year. Have never seen so much of it. Don’t know why. It is known to be toxic to horses, and to other grazing animals as well if eaten in sufficient quantity. Ragwort is often controlled, but at the same time it is a major food source for insects, some rare. Here’s an article about it, if you are interested.

Now, here’s a strange thing. I remember walking through the Country Park with Philosopher about 10 years ago, this time of year, and the ragwort was covered with bright red and black cinnabar moths, and their scary-looking striped caterpillars. I know there is supposed to be a national collapse in the insect population, but can it be this bad? This year, we have looked and looked, and have only seen one moth and only a few caterpillars. However, today there were plenty of bees and butterflies on the ragwort, which is a relief – there are very few of either in our garden. Philosopher says this is actually a  six-spot burnet moth, which also eats ragwort, and he is right. The caterpillars are cinnabar moths, though.

Just to finish up the glorious view theme, here are a couple from another sunny day, at Pett Level.

So, doing things. Apart from various meet-ups with friends, things like my Novel-writing group, and attending Helena Dollimore’s ‘thank you’ party after the election, I organised a visit to Fairlight Hall Garden for the WI. Yet again, there is a change of Head Gardener – ooh, I wonder why… and we were shown round by a former incumbent, Tony Howard, who is acting as a ‘consultant’. Anyway, as usual, it was lovely. I’ve got two more garden visits, and then that’s it for the year.

Joined other WI chums for afternoon tea at Cooden Beach Hotel – it was absolutely excellent – good service, masses to eat, very tasty and fresh.  Battleaxe would totally recommend. No pictures, unfortunately.

No I didn’t go to Pirate Day. Been there, done that.

Yesterday we went to the Elm Tree Car Boot sale and then drove to Hythe to meet Philosopher’s niece Harriet and to see her new house – rather too near the firing range for her liking – his nephew Matthew and wife Julie, and his brother -in-law Mike. It was the second anniversary of his sister’s death. We had a nice meal – no pictures again.

So, what of Mallydams? Look, Battleaxe has worked with people all her life, over and over again. Her recent experiences as a volunteer board member, with the WI Federation and then the Conquest Friends, have not been at all enjoyable. OK, I know I have a difficult temperament, but why persist with things I don’t like? Life is too short.  All her life, Battleaxe has liked creatures and wildlife. When I was little, I wanted to be a vet or a zoo-keeper… So now I’m going to do it. I’m going to be a volunteer wild-life care assistant, working directly with the creatures.  Here in Hastings we are lucky to have Mallydams, one of the few specialised RSPCA wild-life treatment centres, and it is only a couple of miles up the road, so a few weeks ago I went up there for my interview. Had to have references taken up, but have now been approved.  I have to complete various on-line training modules before I can start – everything from diversity to zoonotic diseases.

My credibility was helped by the fact that while my application was pending, I rescued an injured young gull from the road here, and took it to Mallydams.  Had to get Philosopher to help by holding an umbrella over me and the bird, otherwise I would have been attacked by the parents. I think the poor thing had a broken wing, so wouldn’t give too much for its chances. I know many so-called animal lovers slag off Mallydams because they euthanise what they perceive as too many creatures. But the aim of the place is to return things to the wild. If creatures are not going to be able to live their wild lives, they are not saved. That feels OK with me. I guess we won’t be allowed to be too loving to our charges. They don’t want them to become tame.

So, that’ll be me. I know I’ll have to work with others at Mallydams, and be part of a team, but I won’t have any horrible peopleish responsibilities. I imagine I’ll be older than most of them…. but so what?

I’ll finish here, go downstairs and watch the Olympics. That Clare Balding drives me crackers. She pops up on any and every remotely sporting thing on the BBC. Crufts, Wimbledon – now the Olympics. Just go away.

 

 

 

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