Wolf! Wolf!

On Bank Holiday Monday we went to the Open Day at the UK Wolf Conservancy Trust. I didn't realise this place was so local until I saw the advert for the open day.

There are no wild wolves in the UK, the last one was killed in the 1700s in Scotland. There have been none in England since the 1400s though there have been campaigns to reintroduce them to the wild in more remote areas. The Trust serves to educate people about wolves and wolf behaviour and to support projects around the world that protect wolves.



One of the European Grey Wolves - they have two at the Trust - Lunca & Latea

This is Duma, their only remaining North American Wolf, her sister Dakota died this year so she is feeling a little lonely, however it's not possible to introduce another adult wolf to her enclosure. To make up for her lack of company she was moved to the enclosure next to Lunca & Latea so she can interact with them and she has been getting more attention from the staff and handlers including more enrichment walks.

There were some other animals brought in for the open day including this handsome Bearded Dragon. There were some snakes (a rat snake, a corn snake and a python), some tree frogs, toads, a tarantula and other creepy crawlies. These are all part of an educational experience that tours schools and other places.

A well hidden stick insect

One of the Canadian wolves, either Mosi or Mai. Both are girls, their alpha male Torak was hiding most of the afternoon.

Everybody had a go at archery (except me because of my shoulder)

There were also some raptors on show including this handsome Red Kite. As red kites fly over here quite often, there is a local pair that I see most weeks, I was thrilled to be able to get this close to one of these magnificent birds. From near extinction they are now doing really well with 600 breeding pairs in the Thames Valley, 1600 in the country.

The end to a fabulous weekend!

Tom, Enrolment Day and something he said...

Took Tom to enrol at Queen Mary's College today and he's now all set to start his 5 A/S Level courses on 9th September - Maths (Decision Making), Electronics, Physics, Computing & Economics.

We toured the library, the IT department, spoke to the Skills Centre about his needs. The college is going to do a fresh assessment of Tom that will apparently still be valid when he goes to University and will make sure he gets any help he needs with exams (extra time, a quiet room, a laptop or a scribe etc)

As we left the IT department which I thought was our last stop of the day, Tom decided he had to make sure everything was done so we headed back the way we came in to find someone for him to check with. We get back to the main reception that was set up for enrolment and he walks up to this lady and says:

"You look like someone important..."

Cue mum: snorts of laughter

Lady: "Well not really but I will try to help"

A classic moment in parenting an Asperger's teen. And I've learnt a new technique to get someone to pay attention and help you!

August Stitching Round Up

I only worked on one piece this month as I am trying hard to finish something. My focus project was "Wild Menagerie"

This pic was taken today - I'm really happy with how the jaguar looks.

Dragons and legendary creatures

As the weather seemed fair enough this morning we decided to conquer our 5th county top (Oxfordshire) - and also planned to visit Silbury Hill later in the day if time allowed. As is usual we missed our turning and then decided to visit Silbury Hill first followed by Uffington and White Horse Hill. On the way to Silbury Hill we stopped at The Sanctuary in Avebury - a circle monument that was originally formed of wooden poles and later standing stones. The circle was destroyed in 1724 to allow the field to be ploughed. In 1930 the site was excavated and the post holes were marked with concrete. Many human bones (incuding an adolescent interred in a pottery jar) were found here and it is thought that some kind of ritual sacrifice may have taken place here.

You can see an aerial view of the stones here to get a better idea of the layout.

On to Silbury Hill, the Europe's largest man made neolithic monument. In 2007 it was suggested that the hill was originally constructed in a spiral and that the spiral may have served as a processional walkway to the flattened top. The hill would originally have been bare chalk and would have stood out against the greenery all around. No burial site has been found here. There is no public access to the hill but it's an awe-inspiring site from the viewing point. It has been calculated that it took 18 million man hours to build (equating to 500 men working for 15 years) using only rudimentary tools - antlers and pickaxes.


Onwards to our main destination, the White Horse at Uffington. This view was taken looking North from White Horse Hill.




Picture taken from the head of the horse looking towards Dragon Hill


You can't see the horse from the ground very well as it's on a 30-degree slope, the best view is from the air (video of the horse). What makes this remarkable is that the horse was first constructed in the bronze age, approx 1000BC and has been maintained throughout history never being lost under the downland.



Similarities have been made to the Silchester Horse found in the Roman dig (though believed to pre-date Roman Britain)



Looking down on Dragon Hill, a natural escarpment with a flattened top. Legend has it that this is where St. George slew the dragon and that vegetation doesn't grow where the dragon's blood was spilt.


Alan and Charlie (on the Trig Point) on White Horse Hill
261 m (856 ft)


As you can see from my hair it was a bit windy!


Looking back at the horse from Dragon Hill - trying to stay upright felt like Hill Surfing! This is probably the best view of the horse from the site, you can get a slightly better view from the road to Avebury but it's a very busy and fast road with only a few places alongside to park.


And as we were walking down the hill back to the car we heard a familiar roar and could hardly believe our luck as XH558, the only surviving Vulcan bomber (she's 50 this year) flew low over the hillside. After circling twice she roared off to the North. I have loved this beauty since watching her grace the skies at the airshows I visited as a child.


This was a low altitude flypast much to the delight of everyone on the hill. Alan saw her fly last year at Cosford but I wasn't with him so this is the first time we've been together and seen her fly.

Ebay Auction for Charity

For stitcher's everywhere here's a link to an Ebay Auction for Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Charity.

My friend Tanya used to design cross stitch and she has put up all her out of print designs and one new special design in this auction - in total 28 designs.