A week-end across La Manche

OK…if everyone is switched onto the World Cup, here is my best World Cup 2018 trivia fact.

The Swiss broadcasting organisation has established that J R Neymar (Columbia), has been fouled 23 times, more than any other player, and has spent 13 mins 50 sec lying on the lush turf. That is 4% of his playing time wasted in writhing in agony, whether actual or acting.     Not a lot of people know that!!  

Elsewhere, for those of you who have been looking at your calendar and wondering why my publishing dates are all haywire since June, first our Majorca holiday took out 15 days, which I had to catch up.   Then hot on the heels of that holiday, last Friday the whole of our family, including Sarah and Michael, and Sharon and Julian, went for a dip UNDER La Manche. 

Yes, it was one off the bucket list for Mary and me, well 2 actually, as we had (1) our first experience of the Channel Tunnel. Many years ago, we went top side, and crossed the channel on a Hovercraft from Dover to Calais (which “threw up” an experience not to be repeated), so this time we went from St. Pancras to visit (2) Belgium for 3 nights, specifically in Bruges.

With plenty of exercise/walking, good food, some beer (more for some than others) and a 30-minute canal cruise, we had a great weekend admiring and getting to know a lot more about Bruges.

Bird wise?   Not a lot.  In a nutshell, Jackdaws, Woodpigeons, No Sparrows, one Wren, Mallards- ALL of doubtful parentage – but an interesting story was the c100 Mute Swans.

The story goes that since January 2006, the Bruges chocolate swan has been sold in the shops of the city’s confectioners.  The chocolate itself might be relatively young, but the legend on which it is based is centuries old. At the end of the 15th century, the oppressed people of Bruges rose in revolt against the unpopular Emperor Maximilian of Austria. They captured Maximilian and imprisoned him in the Craenenburg House on the Market Square, together with his equally unpopular adviser, Pieter Lanckhals. Lanckhals was condemned to death and Maximilian was forced to watch the execution. The Emperor eventually escaped and later took his revenge: he decreed that ‘until the end of time’ the city should be required at its own expense to keep swans on all its lakes and canals. And why swans? Because swans have long necks – and the Dutch for ‘long neck’ is ‘lange hals’ – or ‘lanckhals’! Legend said 58 birds but the Swans appear to have decided there will be more!!  

We came across this window, obviously inhabited by a Swan devotee

One particular statue caught our attention, as when approached from the back as we did, it looked like a man with a Green Woodpecker head and holding a flute. On circling the statue and reading the inscription, it became clear that the statue was in front of the main theatre and was in fact a principal character, Papageno from The Magic Flute by Mozart. The story required him to dress as a bird, and carry a birdcage on his back, which is what the statue shows.

At first sight….                                                    

 

Then from the front.......

Sitting outside a canal-side bar one evening and watching the World Cup,   were all highly amused by this Belgian determined to water his plants on a balcony, FROM the balcony above…that’s enterprise for you.

Bruges is worth a visit if you have not been there, and Eurostar (and the train speed) makes it an interesting experience.

ADVERT.   Mary and I have 2 fold-up cycles which we have owned for several years, and not being aficionados of sitting on razor blades, nor inflated knickers, we are selling them. With 4 new inner tubes and having had a good clean, we are asking £90 each, with a £20 deduction on a sort of Bogass. (Buy one and get a saving on the second!)   We await reaction from the press advert.

Being in Belgium, I missed the Carsington BwB on Sunday, but I gather 16 people had a good summer count of 30, with close views of Reed Bunting clinching the BOD.  Thanks to Keith and Gary, and Amanda for doing the admin.

Friday, I escorted a group from the Soar Valley U3A group to check out the bird life at Carsington, before they dined at the visitor centre restaurant. I think the heat supressed a lot of birds, but the Willow Tits at the wildlife centre were a good sighting. I was able to supplement our observations with some info about Carsington itself, such as where the Hamster drove under the waves, and they kindly gave me a generous donation for our Osprey nest upkeep fund.  

What?.... you didn’t know about the Hamster?

Talking of holiday reading, Peter, a Carsington BwB birder, leant me “The Peregrine” by J.A. Baker. I just can’t put it down – an excellent read which I’m thoroughly enjoying and brilliantly written. Described by BBC Wildlife as “One of the finest works on nature ever written”, and by the Independent, “A literary masterpiece”. Put it on your Xmas present list!!

Saturday evening, and after the 90 minutes of brilliant football, my postprandial libation was well justified… and enjoyed!

Future events?  Chris and I are off to Old Moor (etc!) on Tuesday (10th), and Sunday July 15^th at 10.30 is the regular Markeaton BwB.

Happy Birding