This Monday I was feeling good so I did the longer 5 bridges river walk and I struck real life Gold on the way. :)

[dall05]

Even though it was pretty chilly I decided to go for the more challenging longer river walk and my Mum came along too. There's something not quite right when my 81 year old Mum with a worn out left knee is a good match for her 55 year old son. I plod and she limps along at a similar speed, if it were a race I wouldn't like to bet on who crosses the finish line first.

Anyway we hobbled along together being passed by everyone and everything whilst keeping an eye out for what wildlife is about. Mums not to keen on the river walk bridges but I say you'll be alright if they collapse the cold will kill us very quick. Ha Ha.

About 1/2 way round we came to the electric wire where the cormorants hang out, then it was on to the weir which was noisier than usual with the extra water rushing over it.

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We went over the next walk bridge and across to the other side and then headed back toward the car park but on our slow walk back some small birds in a nearby bush caught our eye. They were Gold crests so out came the camera a bit snappy.

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They don't stay still for long but I did manage to get them and their Gold crests reasonably well I hope.

We both ached a lot after our extra long walk and the car was a very welcome sight but I think it was well worth the effort.

Tony + Mum

[jimmyw123]

again dall, brilliant on your jaunts your poor mother lol loved the goldcrests, they must have been difficult to film, as they are so quick and nimble [ a bit like me,, i wish ] ,, and the weir,, i wouldn't want to fall in there,anyway!!

up my way in bonnie scotland i used to see lovely singing goldfinches, chaffinches etc,, sadly they seem to be less and less nowadays,, lovely post as always dall,, jimmy

[dall05 in reply to jimmyw123]

Hi Jimmy, hope all is well with you up there North of the border. You seem to be sending us some of your weather over the last few days as its pretty dam cold down here now.

Glad you enjoyed the post and the wildlife that come with it.

Your right about that weir Jimmy, its not a good spot to practice your swimming is it with all those currents, it is though a great place to watch the salmon heading up stream as they have to jump pretty high to get over it.

We still get chaffinches and goldfinches down here, very colourful birds but you do have to go to the right places to see them, green finches and bull finches have virtually disappeared though.

Tony

[jimmyw123 in reply to dall05]

hi tony, just caught me before kip

yes tony, tonight is very frosty,, very, very cold indeed. brr,,, the coldest night by far,,, its a pity we couldn't copy the hibernating animals sleep all winter reappear in spring

i love the wildlife tony,, i could just imagine the salmon on the weir ,,yet they still manage it !!! i've watched them here on the river tweed,, absolutely stunning,,

the place where i stay had a pair of goldfinches just a few years ago,the cock bird would sit right at the top of a fir tree opposite me,, the song from such a tiny bird could be heard all over, but sadly i've missed them this last couple of years., same with the bull finches , such a shame really,, at the moment there are a pair of robins here and a pair of wrens in my garden. but the greenfinches very rare here now,,, but who knows what might just appear next spring

enjoyed your filming tony,, keep it up,, jimmy

[Towse1950]

Well done it's wonderful to make the effort get back in the car and look forward to a cuppa...heaven.

[dall05 in reply to Towse1950]

Thanks Towse, sometimes its not so easy to raise the enthusiasm to get out there and exercise when the weathers bad but once you've done it it makes you feel so much better and that cuppa tastes extra special.

[Colours23]

That sounds lovely,I know I can only go at the pace of my 87 year old mum,she's the only one I walk with,no one else has the patients. Lovely to walk whatever the weather some times ,it's these things that make life worth living. Enjoy more!

[dall05 in reply to Colours23]

Thanks colours23, it seems as though these old Mums have their uses. . I know the walks we go on does us both the power of good.

[Colours23]

Just watched your video of water ,wonderfully healing the sound of. Water.your lucky.

[dall05 in reply to Colours23]

Do you think if I stand there long enough and listen it'll fix me. No harm in trying eh'. It is a great spot to sit, watch and listen.

[Lyd12]

enjoyed your filming, Dall05, the gold rest is lovely. My son was at a loss to know what to buy his dad for Christmas, so I suggested a squirrel proof bird feeder. We don't see too many birds in our garden because the squirrels take their food. did see a green woodpecker once though, and the occasional Jay. also a sparrow hawk came visiting for a while. I'm your mums age and also full of arthritis in the hip at present, so know it's not so easy to get about. It's great for you both to have that closeness, so it's compensation for you even though you would love to be rushing around.

[dall05 in reply to Lyd12]

I hope that bird feeder works and those small birds return in numbers to entertain you. Squirrels are entertaining also but soon eat everything and frighten all the birds off.

I won't be rushing about unless the transplant team phone so until then I'll take a life in the slow lane with Mum and enjoy seeing all the things I would be missing out on.

I hope that arthritis eases Lyd and allows you to get around with less pain.

Glad you enjoyed the videos

[Hidden]

You are as ever inspirational!! xxx

[dall05 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks TAD, I must say though I bit off more than I could chew yesterday and found myself struggling to get back to the car walking into a very cold headwind. I coughed and sputtered the last few hundred yards and realised maybe I should go a little more careful next time the temperature gets close to 0 degs. .

Its that thing they like to call the chill factor, I was fine with the wind in my back and it was only when I turned to head back things became very hard going. xxx

[Hidden in reply to dall05]

Yes My husband the same - if the wind is behind him its fine - turn his head into the cold air and it just takes his breath away literally!!! Not sure if he has been sneakily reading your posts - he has been using the treadmill and walking half a mile each day for the last five days!!!! Just take care, its a very fine line between pushing yourself enough or going a little too far and making yourself ill!! Keep on trekking! Lots of love TAD xx

[dall05 in reply to Hidden]

I was going along nicely until I turned into that cold wind, then it all went pair shaped. It seems every now and then I get a little reminder that I'm on the transplant list for good reason.

Great to hear your husband has decided to take a more positive route to improving his and your situation with a little exercise. My treadmill is buried in the garage at the moment as we have been having work done in the house. What with the dust and lack of exercise I'll be glad when that's all over and I can do a little more indoors for the next few months.

I'm off to the dentist now for a filling and parting with just over £50.00, Double Oucha!!!!!

Tony xx

[scorpiolass]

It looks wonderful, so do the birds. I lost mum this year, she was 92 but for a long time we walked slowly together. But when she got her walker she outpaced me, as you say, something not quite right. x

[dall05 in reply to scorpiolass]

I never thought the day would come when my mum and dad who are in their 80s would be fitter than me. Still that's how it is and I guess I'm lucky to be able to do what I do so all's well eh'

I had a spell on a zimmer frame while learning to walk again 4 years back which is probably why I'm happy to be able to do what I do now.

sorry about the loss of your mum scorpiolass, it sound as though she was pretty nifty with her walker. xx

[emmo]

Lovely, your Mum sounds great!

[dall05 in reply to emmo]

She makes a pretty good pace maker.

[Hidden]

I love wondering along with you beautiful markings on the bird, its like a painter came along with his brush and just dabbed a stripe there

[dall05 in reply to Hidden]

Those goldcrests are our smallest bird I think but that splash of Gold makes them something quite special. You wouldn't have liked wandering with me yesterday as the cold wind in my face really got to me on the return journey to the car. There was no time to look for birds etc, it was head down and dig in, a cool reminder that I'm really not that well and maybe should try to be a little more careful in these winter months. Look after yourself eyes

Tony.

[Hidden in reply to dall05]

I know what you mean - we went to Lacock village (Pride and Prejudice and Cranford) yesterday and it was bitter cold so did not linger

[Hidden]

Hi young Tony,just getting back on to the forum again!

Loved your videos,your Mum is gold,bless her.Easy to see where you get your genes from,your Mum & Dad are gems!

Hope alls well with you, xxxx

[dall05 in reply to Hidden]

Sorry I took so long to reply Wendells, my first attempt 6 days ago crashed along with the lap top and disappeared into no mans land.

Its great to see you back after the horrible time you have had lately, it seems you and Huggs are in a battle to see who can score the highest on who is the most ill. I'm sorry to say it but I think you won that battle.

I hope the videos gave you a little entertainment while you were laid up so now your home maybe you could make a video of the aussie birds in your garden.

Look after yourself wendells and take it easy, try to stay cool which is not a problem over here at the moment. The weather forecast is telling us we have a 'weather bomb' coming, sounds a little dramatic for a bit of wind and rain don't it.

Tony xxxxx

[longlungs]

Good on you Tony and your mum bless her.Dont know how you do it in this weather it just takes my air in an instant.Love the pics as always,you can hear the power in that water very danggeroo.Blessings to you breathe easy. Janexxx

[dall05 in reply to longlungs]

Hi Jane, I found out just what you mean, yesterday when I was out doing a short walk with the wind behind me I was ok but when I turned to head back to the car the chill factor kicked in and my breath ran out. I coughed and spluttered my way back to the car and will now have to be a little bit more careful in these winter months.

I wish I could tap into some of that water power to drive me along a bit quicker. That weir is no place to get to close to the edge, as you say pretty danggeroo but the Salmon seem to love it.

Tony xxx

[onamission]

Well done you are an inspiration to us all

[dall05 in reply to onamission]

Thanks onamission, glad you enjoyed walking with Dall and his wildlife show.

[liz45]

Thank you, your video really cheered me up this morning.

[dall05 in reply to liz45]

That's the sort of feed back I like, glad you enjoyed them liz.