You've got more space than us, we have to have narrow roads to fit them all in. 

Where I live we have vast herds of deer that weigh a minimum of 100 lbs. each. After each years fawns are born the doe boots out the last year crop of yearlings. These animals are not "road smart" & there are hundreds of collisions with vehicles causing millions of $ in damages. Of course the local collision shops love this increase in business calling them "deer hits." Meanwhile insurance rates escalate for collision insurance & in the end the motorists pay for the damage & inconvenience. Hence the cut back of the foliage along the roadsides to minimize this. Do you have large critters like deer in any number in the UK? 

This morning while having coffee on the deck of my estate I witnessed a doe nursing her fawn on my front lawn. After being fed the fawn was frolicking around like a spoiled little brat when Mum grunted in displeasure in an attempt to correct such behavior. 

Amazingly there are more deer in GB now than at any time in recorded history around 1.5 million. In some places they're being culled as they ruin the vegetation and, as you say, cause road accidents.  

Red deer are our biggest, but the ones you'll normally see are roe deer or fallow deer.

Amazingly there are more deer in GB now than at any time in recorded history around 1.5 million. In some places they're being culled as they ruin the vegetation and, as you say, cause road accidents.  

Red deer are our biggest, but the ones you'll normally see are roe deer or fallow deer.

There is a very common deer species here, invader actually, called the Muntjac, which was introduced from China in the early 1900's and has now spread from the south, right upto the Lakes. There are quite a few where I live but I've never actually seem one yet. Last year I looked through my front window and there was a full sized deer grazing in the field opposite my house, not 40 yards away. Quite a welcome surprise I can tell you, but I've never seen one since. Many years ago we hit one in the car at the Lake District and it was then we discovered the law in Britain that states that whoever hits and kills a deer on the road is not allowed to have it, but the car behind, or any other car beyond that can. Obviously it's to prevent hunters using cars to kill them.

Ah yes, the Brits are famous for this sort of thing. I remember the Minister of Silly Walks, John Clease. Jolly Good Show, Pip, Pip. 

There's a distinct sense of drift over here, of a government unable to get a grip. 

The Rwanda flight fiasco is a good example. It was a badly thought out plan with little hope of achieving anything meaningful. We'll end up spending millions before the whole thing is dropped. 

Another government pronouncement that stinks of planning on the hoof is their latest food strategy. Because of the world situation Boris has decreed that we ought to grow more of our own food; a great idea obviously, it used to be that way years ago. BUT it comes hard on the heels of his plans to build more wind farms and solar farms and of course more houses, all of which will be constructed on potential farmland!   

There has been a general increase in wild animal populations over the last two years.  It is said this is due to COVID and the reduction of traffic as well as less building because of the restrictions.  In my area there have been more bear sightings than usual and we're even seeing bunny rabbits and chipmunks.

Yes the Covid didn't just lead to higher prices and food shortages it helped repopulate the animal population in most areas. I have had small rabbits in my backyards for years now after some local let their kids easter present go outside. Now I have a very small baby one of their off springs hanging out in the back. It enjoyed the dandylions stems at first but with them they were gone prefers the the mixed bird seed that falls from the feeders. It won't eat raw lettuce, carots or califlower like I though it would.

The bush up north is full of American bear hunters right now. They are seeing licence plates on half ton trucks from as far south as Texas, Alabama and Arizona. Bear meat tastes terrible at this time of year because the bears are just coming out of hibernian and still trying to honk up their stomach contents which is full of maggots.

To come from Arizona to Chapleau Ontario by car is a 37hr drive and 3,548 kms one way. Must really like bear meat or a good trip with the boys away from their wives.

Yesterday afternoon I saw two old looking aircraft fly over heading east, today the same two flew past heading west. Too high to make out what they were but they definitely looked WW II vintage, possibly Dakotas? 

Yesterday afternoon I saw two old looking aircraft fly over heading east, today the same two flew past heading west. Too high to make out what they were but they definitely looked WW II vintage, possibly Dakotas? 

There were no Dakotas at the show Mark. I don't think the organisers did a few of the pilots any favours by putting on small aircraft following the Typhoon. One pilot put on a great show of skill but it was in a small craft which was very quiet and following the spectacle and deafening roar of the Typhoon was totally overshadowed. A mention about the P51. When it climbs it gives out a siren, hooting noise, which the commentator explained came from the gunports, a bit like blowing over the top of a bottle. Really makes it sound special.

A horrendous heatwave started over here at the weekend and next Sunday is forecast to possibly be the hottest day ever! The current record set in 2019 is 101F.  

"When the authorities are stupid, they will tend to side with the stupid children and acquiesce, at least tacitly, in rough treatment for those who show intelligence. In that case, a society will be produced in which all the important positions will be won by those whose stupidity enables them to please the herd."  Bertrand Russell

I tend to agree with this statement.

Hard to imagine that a killer heatwave is going to hit here from Sunday to Tuesday with record temperatures of 104F in the south. At the moment it's cloudy, sunny spells and a nice breeze, 100F + seems a million miles away.  

Yesterday afternoon I saw two old looking aircraft fly over heading east, today the same two flew past heading west. Too high to make out what they were but they definitely looked WW II vintage, possibly Dakotas? 

Here's one used by Canada for anti submarine work Mark. The high tech electrical works are in the funny nose cone.