I did three things today

The dishwasher has broken. I can't begin to tell you how annoying this is. It is only about three years old. I remember ranting on this blog about a similarly recently constructed, and also now deceased, fridge. Why don't people make things better? Just make a good one, rather than a cheap piece of shit. It has been on the way out for a while, but had been clinging on. Now it won't even pump any water in. My options are get it fixed, up to £130, or buy a new one, £200. Irritatingly close. Given our circumstances I think I am going to get it fixed, but I will not be surprised if another part dies in the next six months and I'm ranting on here again, just more vehemently.

I did three loads of washing up today, all taken out of the dishwasher. Very depressing. Some of it was a couple of days old. and so Rice Krispies had morphed into pebble-dash, and Weetabix was full blown concrete. I'll be shouting at the children tomorrow to finish every last morsel, or not allowing them milk perhaps.

But all that is a bit dull. Much more interesting are three things I did today. First of all I went out on Wanstead Flats and saw nothing. Much the same as usual really. Always with an eye for a photograph though, I have touchingly captured an image of a Moorhen and a couple of discarded Tango cans for your enjoyment. Lovely.


Secondly, I attended Muffin's sports day. Put off from last week when rain stopped play, today was glorious and so we were on. Great to see all the kids having such fun. I don't get to see him interact with his peers, so this was like a brief window into his world. His team didn't win, but boy can he run!


As soon as his year group had finished, and well before I could be rounded up and made to run in the dad's race, I snuck out of the playground and went to Broxbourne to look for Purple Emperor butterflies and Crossbills. You'll be pleased to hear I didn't find the butterflies, but I did score a Crossbill. After giving up on the main ride through the wood, I took a side path through some pines and found a small pool with a bench. There I sat, silently, for well over an hour, during which many things happened. First of all I watched a succession of small birds come down to the pool to drink, including Coal Tits, Blackcaps and Wrens. A Treecreeper fed on a trunk close by, and most amazing of all, a Muntjac Deer came in to drink, appearing not to see me. I inched my camera up to my eye, cursing the fact I only had a Macro lens. At the click of the shutter it startled, saw me, and bolted. And last but by no means least, a Crossbill, possibly more than one, flew over SE giving its diagnostic call. Played for and got, and very pleased after drawing a blank last week.