A year of Badelynge

I didn't really expect to be still writing this blog one year later but here we are. Last year on this very date I had just finished a book review of a book called The Blue Handbag that I'd won from the author in a competition. It was a fairly self indulgent review with several little personal segueways including some stuff about a woodpecker. When I'd finished I reread and thought, "Right, now edit all the personal stuff out and it will be a usable review". So I did. But I still liked the original so I decided I would start a blog of my own so that I could still post the unedited review without feeling guilty for any personal bits or whimsy I'd included. Maybe I would write a few more reviews.Before I knew it I'd introduced Harry, Mofo, the garden and a host of ducks and wildlife. During the year I would write 168 posts, inspire my sister to start her own blog, get her hooked on nature photography and I would also meet lots of fellow bloggers and their blogs along the way. At the end of that first post I wondered whether I would see the woodpecker again. Over the months we caught brief glimpses of them, we heard their drumming, we saw their empty holes but it was only this last fortnight that we would track the wonderful Greater Spotted Woodpecker back to its current home, rearing the little ones.Camera Critters

Debbie says I should make up a knock knock joke because apparently woodpeckers and knock-knock jokes go together. I hereby apologise in advance.
"Knock-knock."
"Who's there?"
"Woody."
"Woody? You mean Woody Woodpecker. Wow I'm your biggest fan. I've seen all your shows."
"No no. This tree. It's very.... woody. Listen....."