Tattoodave

I hope you've got someone close that has patience Ian, that's all it takes, if someone is prepared to work with you on this you will recover, other's have done and you're strong enough willed to do so too. Just make sure you think positive. Get well soon.

My favourite record, owned a boot for years, got an original about 10 years ago now, and might play it out somewhen

The thing is Steve there's a chance that a lot will never grace Spain again as they were probably blown off course years ago and died before getting back to where they came from. I'm not a birder or twitcher, but have been a professional falconer, and know most of the British natives, I enjoy seeing birds in flight, I can usually identify them if I get a good look, and have a few that I'd like to see, but I'm chiefly into plants, and that is a journey that continues to amaze. Dave

I rented a house in Sibiu for a month, tattooed the locals for peanuts (not literally) just to cover expenses, love the place and the wildlife, snakes, wolves, lynx and bear that will all come to the edge of civilisation, pure magic. Moved on to Sigisoara after that.

Strangely I was reading something about Spanish birds the other day, supposedly only 6 endemic, but 563 species recorded, but that includes the Balearics and Canaries. Lots I've not even heard of.

He'll learn if he wants to, bless him, otherwise he'll rot in hell

I think it's something to do with not going to evening rug making classes

I have a condiments set that says "Life is Peppered with ups and downs" and "So take it with a pinch of Salt", so when I read stuff like this I just think "Well there's ten minutes of my life I've wasted, but then having consumed a glass of gin and tonic at the same time it wasn't all a waste", it just means we should close ranks a little more, and not talk to journalists.

Maybe the fees could help fund the Soul Source Hall Of Fame?

Not a bit competitive Steve, just a fairly fast walker, walked the length of three of the Japanese islands, done JOG to LE too, but took my time there, I just gave myself a time limit and tried to go for it, I was told it's possible and probably could have done it if I didn't stop to take photos, but where would the fun in that be? Dave

On the road north of Granada when travelling up to Cuenca a month or so ago I spotted a shrub that I was familiar with that usually has blue flowers, the Vitex agnus-castus or Chaste Tree. However this one had white flowers but unfortunately was in a place where it was impossible to stop the car, so imagine my delight when I spotted both blue and white varieties growing side by side less than a mile away from home. I now intend to try and propagate it from seed or cuttings and plant it where the blue one is naturalised on the dunes, basically I like messing with nature

I wanted to work with bears, stroked one in Canada, ate with one in Romania, but really would love to work with the orphan cubs, they are less likely to rip your arm off like I saw in Brasov, Romania with a guy trying to hand feed one at a rubbish dump

There were several on the mountain side Steve, but very shy, could have done with being alone on the mountain, but with kids, dogs and others it was very busy, I never had anyone overtake me though. Dave

I think this is a Great Grey Shrike, it was some distance away and very busy catching insects etc.

And that's why I didn't make it to the top, slipped too much on a steep bit and had to try another easier slope, then lost time and decided to head back, messed that up too as I went the wrong way, but think I saw a great grey shrike whilst there, can't think what else it could have been

Have you ever been to the Bear Forest in Ouwehand Zoo Rhenen? I realise it's a little out of your way, but want to go there myself sometime

Quince tree at Riofrio Close up of fruit of Quince tree Ducks on Riofrio I usually stop at a café/ restaurant at Riofrio (means cold river) they specialise in fish, though I only stop for a coffee and to buy meringues by the box (6 boxes this last time), if I've been up to Sierra Nevada or points north, there's a fish farm there as the river would have been emptied years ago. Some interesting wildlife too, though I was too slow to get a look let alone a photo.

the summit of Sierra Nevada The view from the road to the skiing village, Sierra Nevada

I know someone who did it aged 81, though took 5 hours.

The top is 3000 metres above sea level, you drive up to where they allow you to and then hike the rest, it's scree pretty much all the way, and there's quite a few paths, some steeper than others and shorter, which I went for most of the time to get to the alpine zone. Very hot and dry in the summer, but they ski there in the winter.

Field Cricket Spanish Marbled White Purple-Shot Copper Giant Banded Grayling All taken on the slopes of Sierra Nevada last week, where I attempted to go up and down in three hours and failed, made it nearly to the top, but found it difficult to breathe with bending down to photograph plants, still a good first effort, and I hope to return in the spring to dig up a few trees to cultivate as bonsai.

They pretty much both rely on their quarry being already dead, i.e. road kill, as they are what falconers term as slack mettled, meaning they'd rather find something that they don't have to hunt, so, with the roads as they are they ought to be fine.

As I tend to singalong, gurn and dance at the same time I must admit I'm a vocals man all the way, though I do have a soft spot for the dirty sax of Bird Walking, even though I think the vocal version is sublime.

The only time I see them here is when there's water about, and there's pitifully little of it. Lots of butterflies, but I don't see many dragonflies.

My favourite Indian