Photo-a-Day  (Tuesday, 25th March, 2025)

They are a pest in my garden so are cats. Birds are very welcome apart from pigeons. By the way, not everyone loves gardening but as a pensioner it keeps me active and I love seeing all my flowers in the Summer months.
Hope I haven't touched a negative point with some people, I know some like pigeons. Hope you all enjoy your gardening this Summer, it really does make you happy.

Every so often I have one bouncing along the roof of the bungalow. In the photo it looks like it is smiling at the though of eating the nut

I've never been keen on Marmite, but lately, I've been thinking a bit about my physique so I've been eating rice cakes from Kallo who make them do a Marmite-flavoured one which I don't mind but the best one for me is Beetroot and Balsamic vinegar ones

They do look lovely, but, Destructive animals. Don't put food out in your garden.

Although a very cute photo Dennis they are nonetheless Tree Rats in cuddly clothing.
If you are planting spring bulbs make sure they are well covered otherwise they’ll get dug up and eaten!

Better than marmite.
They are a good source of protein if cooked properly.

There is nothing wrong with rats; it is our fault they are like that because of the rubbish we leave lying around.
My late father bailed out of a Lancaster bomber over Holland in the war and then lived in a Dutch barn for more than a week, he and the rest of the crew who survived lived by eating barn rats, he said they just tasted like chicken because their diet was corn and barley.

Tree rats in cuddly clothing? Aaaw Colin, look at them big eyes Colin. It’s like a big ball of fluff.
I bet Maureen likes it.

I have never had a garden so have only seen squirrels in the park; I love them but can understand that they can be a nuisance to people with gardens. I think it's the bushy tail and the stance they adopt when they are holding a nut, as in the photo, that makes my heart melt. As for Marmite, I love it, and I feel sometimes that people who try it for the first time spread it generously on toast as if it were jam or marmalade.... believe me it is absolutely inedible like that! You have to spread it as thin as a shadow to enjoy it.

Mick, like I said yesterday about golf, everyone to his own.
I’ll stick with Penguins even though feathers get stuck in my teeth!

I like the story Janet but I don’t think it would ever become popular.
Kentucky Fried Rat, just does not sound quite right, although Mick might be tempted!

Dennis?????

I enjoyed your fascinating story Janet Murray.
Thanks for sharing it here.

“The introduction of grey squirrels has had a disastrous impact on the UK’s only native squirrel species the red squirrel. Greys compete for food and also carry a virus known as squirrel pox. Whilst greys are immune to the disease, they transmit it to the reds for whom it is fatal”.
They also strip bark from trees in Woodlands due to their destructive nature.
These ‘ American cousins’ are very ‘cute’.. but deadly.

I was in the Tufty Club . Still am I think .

Yes, squirrels have a a liking for crocus.
They dig the bulbs out of the ground ,then leave them scattered around the garden.

Not only rats - dogs and snakes were also eaten by the prisoners of the Japs. To supplement their diet of a few ounces of rice per day. Imagine having to do slave Labour on that diet. I have the greatest respect for the war generation. So glad your dad survived Janet and hopefully got home with help from the Dutch. Some were hidden for months with families at great risk for those people.

Maureen I think Dennis's comment was to say that he thinks you would love the squirrel as he knows how you, (like me), love all animals and champion them when others condemn them, (eg squirrels and pigeons).

T.D. To me Janet’s story is one of those modern day myths, like the hundreds if not thousands of soldiers who ‘s descendent claim to have a pocket watch, prayer book or cigarette case with a bullet in it that saved their life.
The Dutch would have risked their own lives to feed an Allied Airman not leave them in barn to eat rats. That’s an insult to the brave people of Holland. Get real.

Strong Curry Powder is what you need, for your Crocus bulbs when planting not the Squirrels, though you can try dusting them with it too if you can catch them, but they will protest a tad, as they don't like it.
Rats are all deadly, bacteria and flea laden nuisances no matter where residing, even if living on only corn and barley both the rats and squirrels will still be full of diseases and toxins too even when and how cooked, but if anyone is willing to try either of them 'Battered and Deep Fried' - they're very welcome to do so.
Remember the old hillbilly Elvis, he was said to be quite partial to Squirrel & Grits - and look how he ended up, he should have gone on Rice Cakes.

Irene you've never had a garden?
We've always had a lovely big garden and all our grandchildren have played in there, the photos of them enjoying themselves when they were small, Really precious times.
We have Squirrels in our garden and love them, even though they are grey.

Squirrels horrible creatures (if you have a garden) I think they are vermin.

Then you are very lucky, John. I have only ever lived in houses where the front door opens straight onto the pavement , with a small back-yard at the rear. I am very happy for you that you have been so fortunate. I'm sure your grandchildren have happy memories of playing there, and it's nice to hear that you like the squirrels.

WN6 I enjoyed your Double Dutch.
Thanks for sharing it here.

Maureen, Dennis means the vermin squirrels. Red Squirrels OK.

WN6 I have read many books about POW’s and those soldiers avoiding capture especially the Airmen. That is very true about hiding in barns until the powers that be were in touch to help them escape. It was the Airmen’s duty to get back to Britain as soon as they could. There were lines of escape to help them. They would avoid being taken into houses as much as the they could and if they were they would be passed around to ‘ safe houses’. Many helpers of the Resistance were tortured and killed for helping these men. They had to be very careful who they trusted. Why would Janet lie about what happened with her father and his crew.?
A relative of my family was a Japanese POW who survived the hell of it. Why would anybody lie about that?

WN6 he did say that the Dutch were marvellous and gave them lots of help.
The plane crashed because of a heavy snowstorm, and when they had to walk through 2 feet-deep snow before finding the barn. And it was only after about 10 days and a thaw that they were discovered.

No offense intended Maureen, I was just recalling you saying that you would never knowingly harm any living creature.
Sorry if I gave the wrong impression.

Irene,I had an inkling he meant exactly that but just wanted to be sure. you’re spot on Irene ..there are some wicked people on this planet that aren’t as good as animals..I opened my phone yesterday to see a video of a man??? in Thailand lift his spade and bring it down on the head of a poor dog..there was no sound but it looked like the poor thing just screamed,it was a plea for donors to help trace the devil,I couldn’t get the image out of my mind..and then the woman who was told she couldn’t board a plane with a dog,she took into the toilets and drowned it. My heart weeps for the cruelty beautiful animals suffer with ..Irene,I truly wish it didn’t bother me so much.
I was in town the other day and sat on one of the benches to check something I’d just bought when loads of pigeons flew down at the side of me..I was chuffed to bits ..I’m sorry to go on but I just hate cruelty to any animals.

Mutley stick with Dick Dastardly it sounds better….

Thanks Irene x.

Dennis,please don’t apologise,I had an inkling that’s what you meant..I’ve got the same mindset that I had as a child and don’t ever want to change..I would never want to be the reason for a little heart to stop beating..never.

I must admit I've never tried squirrel Cyril... that I know of.

I feel like I should be apologising, I don't know what for, though.

That message on your phone seems horrific Maureen, that man wouldn't want someone to hit his head with a spade nor anything else, so why do such to animals - I do hope they find him and bring him to justice, but sadly, the way that animals are seen in some far eastern countries we know that it won't be justice as we know it.

It would have been a long and very cold 10 days stuck in that barn Janet, glad to hear they all survived to tell of the ordeal.

I feel as though I should be forgiving you Mick …
Although I don’t know what for .

Cyril,they’ve found him and. shows his face..theyre asking for donations in order to get him real punishment saying that he probably won’t get a fair sentence ..but I don’t know what to do.

Maureen, be careful.....some of these things are scams. I can understand your feelings but be very careful. Sometimes it's a way of getting into your bank details, and they play on people like yourself who care so deeply. Please think twice.

Ozy and Mick, say three hail Mary’s each.

Thank you Irene,that exactly why I haven’t sent any money.theywill obviously play on peoples emotions..if it is a scam then they should be ashamed of themselves by using a poor creature in their greed…and hope they get paid back.

Maureen, it would have been an edible dog that he bought at the market to feed his family
A lot of rural families don't have fridges, so they buy chickens, dogs ducks and fish alive from the market
and kill themselves when they get home,

Doesn’t seem much point going to the market at all if you’re just going to go home and top yourself does there Mick ?

You would have to be in dire straits to eat a dog.
It turns my stomach thinking about it. I’ve heard of monkeys being eaten by prisoners during the war in the far east and that’s bad enough.

Human flesh has been consumed by humans on more than one occasion Veronica .

Think Auschwitz and Donner Pass for just two instances .

We’ll overlook Borneo for now , as they eat each other for fun out there . Besides , I don’t think they have any Aldis either .

The urge to survive is probably one of the most powerful instincts that we possess .

People have eaten all sorts from bugs to humans to survive

All this talk of food is making me hungry so I was thinking of making misel’ a butty .

Does anyone know anywhere in Wiggin that sells Witchetty grubs , as Tesco don’t appear to stock them .

Them aborigenes out in Oz seem to enjoy them and I’m prepared to try owt once .

Then it is education they need Mick, if they are to breed edible dogs for food then introduce a humane way of dispatching them as we do with farm animals, a spade isn't a good implement nor is an axe as Mary Queen of Scots could testify too; as it took three swings of the axe for her decapitation, and she had given the executioner a fiver at that, though he was French and maybe the exchange rate was low.

Them Aborigines in Oz do like them Ozy, and they say they taste a bit like Kookaburra.

PeterP, tuck in owd lad and if you want mato sauce just ask:
https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/good-grub-13-edible-bugs/11/