Micro-Tibialism goes International

International publicity for the  Micro-Tibialist

Hold the phone! Hold the press!.. just hold on.

Roy (or Royston to his Mum) has been a friend for over 50 years, and we go back to the days of tenpin bowling in league at Hove then Croydon then Tolworth, always under the team name Little Squirrels (because that was the name of his house in Claygate.) Now that WAS a surprise.     An e-mail from a friend of many years standing, who now lives in Portugal, and from time to time, in Devon. 

We went to the same church youth club, I was his best man, and we made an 8mm cine film about the name Hardy to celebrate his father’s promotion to a Masonic master. (Don’t know anything about that organisation, but I know we had a lot of fun making a cine film on my Eumig 8 camera, to show at a Ladies Masonic night.)

The subject was the Hardy antecedents, and the film linked Roy’s father with such well-known Hardys as Laurel and Hardy, Freeman Hardy & Willis, and of course Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy, a Royal Navy officer of the Battle of Trafalgar fame. The filming of the latter called upon the actor playing Hardy (Roy) to kiss Nelson (me). The consequential camera shakes due to the laughter by Mary and Barbara (Mrs Hardy) ensured such a blurred picture that censorship was not needed.  

But I digress…or reminisce

.Roy e-mailed to say that a batch of programmes sold by the BBC and deemed to be non-showable were being screened on his local Portuguese network.  Roy happened to be watching the channel last Sunday and found himself watching the Antiques Road show edition in which I appeared with my leg collection, in 2014, in the days before I became a Micro-Tibialist. In the same show, my daughter Sarah could be seen in the crowd.

Now that is what I call a coinicidence… all those leg fans – what fame!

Whilst I’m on the subject I’ve added a couple of rather odd additions to my leg collection. Not the usual sophisticated antique examples, but novelties to be added to my “naff” section. Well they are legs after all.

 Bottle Stoppers !!!!

                                       

Life is full of surprises, like last Tuesday 24^th April, when Chris, Gill and I decided to catch up on the Warbler arrivals at Attenborough. As Chris and I passed each other on the drawbridge to the visitor centre, she said, “What a shame no Red Crested Pochard, to which I could only reply. “There’s one behind you!! Proves the point 6 eyes are better than 2!!

We had a very good morning (it rained p.m.), and being early, it was quiet, we beat the school trips, and the sun was out. Whitethroat and Common Tern were on the list in no time, plus this confiding pheasant who almost ate from my hand.

A fellow birder told us where to find the Grasshopper Warbler. Recalling over the years how many hours I have loitered on the path near Wheatear field, hearing the fishing wheel whine of a Gropper, but not seeing it. This time we, and several other people, heard, saw and even photographed up to 2 birds on the bushes opposite the Kingfisher hide. What a thrill.

Sedge Warbler and Sand Martin were added to the list before we repaired for lunch. Gill decided to go shopping, so Chris and I took our cars to my house, Mary did a quick brew, and having parked up, Chris and I both set off for Carsington for the evening annual Yellow Wagtail walk, run by the Severn Trent volunteers in cahoots with Carsington Bird Club.

Roger Carrington and John led us round Stones Island in a very damp and drizzly 2-hour evening walk, and whilst we dipped on the Yellow Wags, Hirundines were around and I added Willow Warbler and Little Ringed Plover.

SO (!!) at the 28^th April, I’m now on 146, and Chris is well ahead on 172, helped by a bit of travelling, and more to come.

Next BwB?   Carsington    Sunday 6^th May 10.00am as usual.

…..oh and the res is 94.1% full, and still rising.

Happy Birding