News & Updates from Joanna Swinton · Page 5

My husband and I went to Dover for a break. Not long after our arrival I looked over to the next building. I couldnt believe my eyes. There was something on the roof and at first glance I thought it was a hedgehog.

I walked closer to have a better look and saw there were 3 very cute seagull chicks. They were like bundles of fluff. Of course they were much bigger than the swan babies we are used to seeing. There also had speckled heads to help with camoflarge. They would be easily lifted off the roof by a hungry bigger bird.Talking of seagulls, they can be so nasty.

While we was out walking our dog, a seagull took a disliking to her. It starting diving at her turning in the air to have another go. I run over to protect her but it didnt stop the bird. It still kept swooping down at her even though I was now there trying to shoo it away.

My dog ran off cause she was scared and we lost sight of the bird. It seemed to have lost us too, thank goodness.

In Sutton Park, at Widney Gate there is a small stream that runs through with a wooden bridge over the top.

The stream at its deepest is about 15cms and in the hot weather dogs and kids play in it.

The man made bridge is about a metre above the water. This week we had a massive thunder storm. I had been out with my dog and got into the car and drove into it. At out house, I got out of the car, walked 6 paces and had to get changed as I was soaked, it was raining that hard.

The day after when we went to Widney Gate, we were shocked to see that the small gentle stream had turned into a river with strong current.

The storm was very heavy but I didnt think it was that bad!

Ive been seeing my doctor since Christmas with a very bad cough. Ive been up during the night coughing really badly and it was making me feel miserable. My doctor run a lot of different tests and all came up with nothing.

She sent me for an x-ray and it was clear. I kept telling her that it was all in my throat and she decided that they needed to get a camera down to see if there was anything down there that shouldnt be.

I was so worried about it. The day arrived and off I went.

To my relief the camera was put into my nose then down my throat. It felt very odd although totally painless. My throat was clear. I said I thought it was maybe the thick mucus in my nose so she gave me a spray that cleared it up, but still I coughed.

Then she gave me some anti-histamines and they made a difference, but not for long. It all errupted again. It seems the pollen type had changed since giving me the tablets. We were now in the Birch Tree pollen season. She changed my tablets and Ive been a lot better, thank goodness.

Every year the pair of swans on Banner Gate Lake in Sutton Park, Birmingham produce cygnets. Mum and Dad are very protective towards them attacking anything that gets too close. Last year they had 5 babies but lost one. The year before they had 4.

This year, however, they have a massive 8. I do hope they all make it as that is a lot for two swans to rear. This week they brought them out for us all to see. 8 little bundles of fluff. They are soooooo cuuttteee. They would fit into my hand.

As time passes the cygnets grow very fast till they are as big as their parents. After a while they start to change their feathers to beautiful white ones. About this time daddy swan starts bullying them untill they leave. I dont understand Mother Nature. They take a short flight to the next lake at Windley Gate.

We love having our grandchildren over. We have the twins quite often so that my daughter can spend some time with the to older ones. The twins are one now called Liam and Lucy. The other day we had them.

I walked in from the kitchen to hear Liam babytalking to my husband while showing him a toy. I had to laugh to myself. We might be sorry when he learns to talk. Sometime he sings to us too. Hes such a darling, just like his twin sister.