A new Lodger

Apologies for the typos

I once thought the children had left a dinosaur in the garden, it was a newt on its back! They say things go in threes, so you might still have one further rescue to perform.

I hope they are not on your plate, Shanma or the pigeon would look like this

I do know how you feel though. I feed a roaming cat and feel so sorry for it in this weather. I ran out of food the other day and paid extortionate delivery from Tesco to have some more delivered just so the cat was fed. The least I could do I thought. It does have a "kennel" outside but it tends to eat and go, no idea where but it is gorgeous and I would take it in but for the dog and budgies.

I hope your new little menagerie are enjoying their new hotels.

During a particularly wet period with gale force winds last year, a pigeon took shelter in our back garden. I think it had had a battering and seemed very reluctant to fly. It had a ring on its leg so it was obviously a racing bird, but we couldn't get near enough to it to see a number. It was eating seed that had fallen out of the bird feeders and we hoped it would be on its way once the weather moderated, but three weeks later, we still had it, even though DH had emptied the bird feeders to cut off its food supply and encourage it to go. One morning, it had gone. Whether it went on its way, or whether a cat had it, i don't know. At our last house, we found an injured racing pigeon when we were walking in the woods. It was trailing its leg. DH managed to pick it up and we took it to a man we knew, a retired civil servant, who lived nearby and kept pigeons himself. He had a wonderful set up in his large back garden with hospital lofts and the lot, and duly put the bird in there. In his study he had books containing all the pigeon ring numbers and was able to trace the bird to a keeper in Harringay, who subsequently came up to take the bird home. The Queen keeps racing pigeons, apparently, though not, I suspect, in her back garden! I hope your pigeon continues to thrive, Shanma. A good deed in a naughty world !

Newts should be hibernating now, not in a pond.
Funny story - I once nursed a pigeon with gummed-up eyes. After a few days of bathing its eyes it suddenly opened them, took one look at me and died!

Newts do spend most of their time out of ponds, only returning to breed, similar to frogs. BUT in the mild weather a week or so ago, my frogs were behaving as though spring had arrived, they had a shock a week later.

Wobbly I've never seen a shocked frog!

Well I think had the newt stayed in the shed it would have dried out. I have found dried out dead ones before, perhaps they hibernate down at the bottom of the pond, in the mud?

The Pigeon is not as bright today. He was this morning, and as it was pretty mikd i took him outside to see if he could fly..no chance, he flollopped around in the garden, so back nto the greenhouse he went, he seemed to breathe a sigh of relief at that.This afternoon he didn;t look so happy. DH went to the oet shop and bought some pigeon corn, but he doesn't seem to want to eat, if he doesn't eat soon he will die. I think he is drinking, and that is all.

I watched a video on U tube this evening showing how to hand feed a poorly Pigeon so if he is still alive in the morning( I have my doubts). I will see if I can do that.

I am thouroughly fed up tonight, worried about Pongo( the Pigeon), had hardly any sleep the last two nights because of DH having bad nights with his illness, and next Tuesday I have a big meeting with NHS England which means almost a mile walk to the bus stop in the dark, then a bus for 40 min, then another walk, then another bus for an hour, then the meeting, and the same in reverse. As well as studying all the paperwork for that I am working full time and doing everything else to boot. I may just stick my head under my wing like Pongo and hope not to wake tomorrow

There was a frog in our front door mat yesterday evening. Fortunately gone this morning because I am wimpishly scared of frogs. Just pleased it wasn't hurt and has hopped off.

You mare having a rough time shanma. I can understand the temptation to opt out. There are grans here with all sorts of knowledge and experience, if it helps then do post specific queries and worries about the content of your meeting. Someone may be able to give informed help. Good luck with it all, it sounds as if there just aren't enough hours in the day. The practicalities fot your meeting sound horrendous. Take care, try to look after yourself, even if just a little bit.

Thanks Cornergran. I am not worried about the content of the meeting, just a lot of work to fit in to prepare for it. The practicalities are awful. I jusy hope we have dry weather or I will be like a drowned rat before I reach the bus.

Once I am on my way though I will be fine. I worry that we have a bad night and I have to go with no sleep, or worse still nod off in the early hours and sleep in .

I am a little sad. Poor Pongo died in the night. DH has buried him under the Lilac Bush

Oh, Shanma! You are very kind and you did your best! Good luck for next Tuesday. The travel sounds horrendous.

At least Pongo was as comfortable as he could be, in his last days. Well done for taking him in.

Sorry to hear that Shanma. You did your very best. Perhaps the bird had ingested something toxic before you found him - it happens - but more likely shock he couldn't recover from.