Sightings of foxes have been discussed on Streetlife lately. One person reported six in a pack. Another pointed out that these creatures are loners, not pack animals. I have never seen more than one adult at a time, but have been acquainted with two families, one every spring in the garden of the Phyllis Holman Richards Adoption Society, and a single parent and her children in that of our flat in Morden. These posts were published before I was illustrating them with photographs.
Are the foxes responsible for the scattering of feathers that are often lining Downton Lane in the morning, or maybe birds of prey?
Does anyone have a view on the loners/packs debate, or on the likelihood of foxes or birds of prey committing the slaughter.
This afternoon I rescanned another batch of colour slides from 1964 and ’65, covering our year in Ashcombe Road, Wimbledon. This was the first house I ever bought.
Here are Vivien and Michael in our garden in March 1965:
The following month we celebrated our son’s first birthday. I caught him raiding the vegetable store in the kitchen. That cheeky grin was never far from his face.
In June, at least, we bathed him in the kitchen sink, where he loved sucking on the face flannel.
Like any other toddler, in July he fed himself, his face, and his high chair in more or less equal measure. In those days I did my own wallpapering, including what appears in the background of this picture. It is probably the only time I would ever have chosen such a geometric design as was then in vogue.
Michael and I laid turves in the garden during August, when, as I crouched to take this shot, he took great delight in pushing me over.
When in June, I had chosen to wait to snap a forsythia bush until Vivien and Michael had appeared in the corner of the frame, little did I know that this would be the last image of them together.
We didn’t eat this evening. Neither of us felt like either consuming or preparing anything. I had knocked up scrambled egg on toast for lunch, but that was it. Jackie remains in the grip of a virulent chest confection and I spent the afternoon unsuccessfully attempting to avoid succumbing myself. Between five and nine p..m. I flopped in front of the television watching consecutive episodes of Morse and Lewis, and slowly subsiding into somnolence. (No, BBC YouView has not been miraculously restored, so these were repeats on DTV). I then finished this post and went to bed.
Watch this space.
Beautiful joyful photo of Vivien and Michael at the top, and then, what you wrote about the last photo being the last one of them together. Heartbreaking.
Sorry to hear Jackie is still suffering and now you, too. Ugh. Sickness is so hard to be patient with.
Thank you Crystal
As I was reading your post today, my husband caught sight of your photographs on the computer screen and was very impressed by your beautiful work
Thanks to you and to him Cynthia
Thankyou for a glimpse into your life: this whole journey bitter sweet; God hold you all close this December and always
Thank you, too, Innerdialects
You welcome, much prayers and wishes for a rewarding month ahead, Rayla.
I hope you are both feeling better soon! Maybe you will only get a light version of this bug.
Thank you Cynthia – at least I’ve got out of bed this morning
Michael is such a cute baby! 🙂
Get well soon you too. Mr. Pink’s in the grips of la grippe as well 🙁 Take care.
Thank you Sam. I resisted ‘the grip of la grippe’! Get well Mr.Pink
Get well soon you two*
Thanks
Precious photos. My boy laughed, said the little one is “so cute”.
Thank you
On the subject of foxes, I remember seeing large family groups of foxes on BBC Springwatch so perhaps this is what has been described as a ‘pack’. This link shows the background to one of the Springwatch stories … sadly the BBC footage doesn’t seem to be available any longer – http://www.whtimes.co.uk/news/potters_bar_fox_family_stars_of_bbc_s_springwatch_1_1409581
I agree, the pigeon feathers could be the result of either a fox or a bird of prey, such as a peregrine or buzzard. The way to identify the ‘culprit’ is to take a look at the ends of the feather shafts. If the bird was caught by a fox, the ends of the feathers will be slightly chewed. If it was caught by a bird of prey, the feathers would have been plucked out cleanly and so the shafts would not be damaged. We often see feathers like this in the woods nearby to us.
Lovely photos of your son – he seems to radiate happiness. I can imagine your photos are very treasured memories.
I hope you and Jackie are feeling better soon – we seem to have so far ‘missed’ any of this year’s bugs, thank goodness!
Thank you for this full response Peggy. It looks like birds of prey are the culprits. Yes, Peggy, it was a happy year. I hope you do steer clear of the bugs.
You are welcome, Derrick. I was thinking from the feathers, a bird of prey looked likely … perhaps you have a peregrine hunting nearby – that would be exciting!
I’ll look out for a predator, Peggy
What a cute child Michael was! I’m so glad your camera was at the ready that day.
Clicking as I fell 🙂 Thanks very much, Leslie
These photos are precious and priceless!
They bring smiles and tears!
I can’t even imagine all that you and Michel had to endure, and figure out, etc., after Vivien died. 🙁 Such a tragedy.
(((HUGS)))
Thank you so much, Carolyn X
Such a touching post. I hope you and Jackie are feeling better now.
Thanks very much, Liz. Actually it was a lovely, if highly charged, weekend
🙂