Summer Run-down

Howdy folks,

Just a wee update on goings-on at work and suchlike. Summer was a bit of a wash-out in the end, with the coldest UK summer since 1993! Still, it wasn't all gloom and drizzle. After the best holiday ever in June (walking the West Highland Way in Scotland - proving that Essex isn't the only way!), I started getting to grips with my new part-time job at my local Essex Wildlife Trust reserve. I continued volunteering when possible, although this was very difficult for the first month or so while I was trying to settle in at EWT. In early July, I headed back up to Scotland for a music festival, T in the Park - sadly the "summer" had begun to go head over heels by this point, and the weekend was a mix of sun and rain. Great music though :) The acts I saw included Coldplay, Jimmy Eat World, Brandon Flowers, Beyonce, KT Tunstall, Weezer, You Me At Six, Pendulum, Ke$ha, and the Pretty Reckless. Phew!

T in the Park, 8th-10th July

Upon returning to bonnie Essex, I went on a Tractor Driving course for work. Interesting is one word to use... Scary another word. The health and safety video you have to watch, with all the accidents that can happen? Horrifying! I began to use some of the skills learnt on the course at work, including helping out with haymaking on the reserve. July also saw me run 10km with the karate club (who were raising money for kids to compete abroad), and I beat my previous time from 2 years ago which felt fantastic.

Haymaking on the reserve

August saw us gearing up for some events at work - an opening event in September at the building where our office will be, and then an Autumn Fayre on Oct 1st. With average London temperatures of only 18c, it was certainly an interesting August. Haymaking was postponed a number of times due to rain, but there were plenty of other things on our plate! I continued with inductions at EWT headquarters, and worked on a display about the reserve for the September and October events. While mowing at an EWT reserve one day I was also attacked by wasps, stung 14+ times, and ended up in A&E, that was exciting. Plus, I was kept busy with my other commitments and interests: I went on a 3-day residential Mammal ID course in Surrey, led a Tree Walk with BTCV, and continued my volunteering with various organisations. And girlf and I broke up... 'Nuff said there.

Me on the Mammal ID course

September arrived, and wow! The sun made an appearance a few times hehe. I got the September event prep out of the way, which was a relief, and then ran a stand on the day to give people more info about the reserve and what EWT do there. Some of the highlights of the month included having lunch at my sister's new flat, helping out on a "Wildlife Presenter" event at Greenwich Ecology Park (BTCV), going surfing in Devon with some FSC friends, taking up Ballet (!), going on an FSC Badger course, heading out to Billie Jeans for dancing with friends, and passing my Trailer Driving Test (and gaining a new category on my licence).

Making wildlife films with the public - and yetis!

The first weekend in October... Yet another record, in a record-breaking year for weather. October 1st, day of the Autumn Fayre: hottest October day in Britain, on record, ever (or in 100 years depending on which articles you read). Hang on though folks, it's only the start of the month so who knows what might happen! It was certainly a glorious, if unseasonally-hot, day for an Autumn Fayre - 30c, "making it hotter" (on that day) "in England than in Mexico, Antigua and the Sahara Desert" [Sunday Mirror]. There were many different stands and activities, and a steady stream of people throughout the day. From archery and ferret roulette to steak burgers and a country/folk music band, I was certainly impressed with the event! The fayre was organised by Countrycare to celebrate their 25th anniversary, and was held in cooperation with EWT (as we manage the reserve where the event was held... though Countrycare own part of the site, just to make things confusing!).

Autumn Fayre on the reserve

Anyways, that's a rundown of life as a part-time Ranger, part-time volunteer on the border of Essex and London. Ciao for now :)