Hybridisation revisited
D iscovered this jellyfish/party balloon hybrid on a beach in Co. Fingal, Ireland, last week. Hybridisation is well understood by the science community, but never before has it been observed between a living organism and a man-made material.
This further compounds the problem of persistent plastic in our oceans – jellyfish today but just imagine if cod start to hybridise with crisp packets, or tuna with lucozade bottles. It’ll be chaos down at Morrisson’s fish counter.*1
*1Plastic pollution is actually seriously shit – we don’t deserve this lovely planet.
The Virgin Sailor
A quiet week at home
Well, inside the house it was quiet enough, but outside our back door there was a wildfire raging. Still is 5 days later.
In black and white
No denying it. (Opposite Blaen Dyffryn, Plantlife nature reserve, Lampeter)
The Lover’s Pinch
Totally delighted to be the publishing part of this new collection by Brecon poet Gareth Writer-Davies. Here, in 68 pages, Davies fleshes out his twin subjects of love and sex in poems of affection, sardonic humour and a characteristic lightness of touch that makes his first collection both exceptionally readable and an intimate pleasure. So the blurb says… Anyway, buy one <here> it’s a gorgeous publication.
Single-use plastic – reused and retired
Had these two plastic cups followed their intended life they might have spent the last 25 years in a landfill site. As it was, they were retrieved by us and have spent all this time as a nursery – mostly for broad-bean seedlings. Their time, though, is clearly up. They can no longer hold themselves together let alone the humus and root of a burgeoning vegetable crop. So this is their retirement day. Thank you plastic cups. Farewell. You may now take your chances in the recycling bin. And below, further evidence of overwork of single-use plastic.
Grey Wagtails
We have a family of grey wagtails moved into our garage. It was due to be renovated this summer – that will have to wait a while now. A security webcam diverted to naturewatch duties.
Fenns & Whixall Moss NNR
Dull Men’s Club
I was delighted, not to say, honoured to be a guest speaker at the recent “Delightfully Dull, Brillilantly Boring” evening, hosted by Dull Men’s Club at UCLA Preston. The evening was actually as far from dull as I am from accession to the throne of England. Now, that’s quite a long way. Dulluminaries present were Kevin Beresford, president of the Roundabout Appreciation Society – in fine form having partaken in the refreshments with gusto during proceedings; Richard & Mrs Gottfried who together have visited, played and documented 819 crazy golf courses around the world; Andrew Dowd who has visited every one of 2,548 railway stations in the UK. Not to mention Grover Click – park bench appreciator and Assistant Vice President of D.M.C. (the highest position attainable); a fine and illuminating talk by Dr Boredom aka Dr Sandi Mann, author of The Upside of Downtime. And last and by no means dullest Elliot Windmill, a trainee dullard who just wants to be duller.
Much fun was had not to mention illumination and refreshment. Oh and we sold a few books.
UNICA 2018
My nano 60 second short, Nuisance, has been selected as the UK entry for WMMC (World Minute Movie Cup) at UNICA, Czech Republic this 7th September. I am both honoured and excited. This entry cut to 60 secs from its original 90 seconds and is better for it. I then spent a further 2 days working on the sound. There was much to improve.
Anyway, I am not a wearer of football tops – this film required something bright for our insect to home in on. This being a Wrexham FC top, a signed shirt in fact from several seasons ago from when I was match sponsor. We lost.