I don’t know where the days and months go. I have more staff and less time as the years go on, it is quite extraordinary!

So where are we, Easter was not good, the forecast was dreadful, although the reality was not that bad. But of course by the time it looks like it is going to be OK people have come to the decision on where they are going to go – or not. 

My cooker is finally fixed and working which quite frankly was not before time. My next moan is to be at the car parking at Gloucester station. I used to be able to walk up and pay for my ticket and parking at the same time. Now it is either a machine, which apparently does not take my cards, or a phone job. It took me four attempts to get it right and I don’t think I have the correct reg number even now. I very nearly threw the phone under the nearest incoming train. How people can think this makes life easier I am at a loss to know. I was getting so bad tempered that people were moving away from me!

The breeding season has been a difficult one, some successes, some sad failures, but we do have two baby Brahminy Kites which is very special, and two baby Lugger Falcons as well, one of which will stay with us.

One of my dearest friends died in March. I had meant to go and see her, but a stroke compounded her illness and I did not have the time. She would probably have laughed to know that I got a speeding ticket on the way to her funeral. I did try to explain to the fine people that one of the things you can’t be late for is a funeral. So I go t to do a Speed awareness course (again!). I can never understand why the people who get given the opportunity to do one of these are always so miserable about it. I am delighted to have the chance!

We have had two sad losses here, Hector our 24 year old male lanner produced his last baby this year and quietly died while helping to rear and our beautiful male Verreaux's Eagle who produced the last four chicks died today at 28 of a heart condition. It is these times that are very hard to deal with. But both had a long and I like to think happy life. 

I hope you like our new flag pole and flag. On the Queens birthday someone wrote in a local paper that they thought the town should not fly the Union Flag because it might upset someone. I was so livid I spend £157 buying a pole and flag to put up here. She is our Queen in our country, I am very proud of her and if you don't like that - go away!

 

We have found a wonderful fund raiser locally, she is very experienced, great to work with, incredibly positive which is important and we are going to officially launch our appeal next year which is our 50^th anniversary – a good time to do it I feel.

It is the 50^th anniversary of BIAZA – the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquaria, and the 50^th anniversary of RRF Raptor Research Foundation both this year. I have to go to both conferences, although the BIAZA one means that I can’t go the Water Colour painting course that I had booked on. There is a later one in November and I have to be in India for that one!! I am doomed!!

 

The gardens are looking lovely and the swallows are back and nesting in the garage, which is great to see. One pair looks like they would like to nest in Hare’s compartment, I wonder what he will think of that if they do. The House Martins are interested in my fake nests for them, but if it encourages them to make their own that is fine by me.

I had invasion of the bees about 10 days ago, there was a swarm under my bedroom window, and when I went to bed there were a considerable number dead on the bedroom floor and tons more in the sitting room. I have no idea how they got in.

I did my first Eurostar trip last week, had to go to a CITES Stakeholders meeting in Brussels, the meeting was interesting the trip was fine and all went OK, however the carriage I was in on the way back had two children opposite one, one of which should have been fed to our condor, she was a monster. Roll on the day when they see the need for child free travel!