|
 Ooops! Late again with a new diary, and so much to thank you for. Thank you to all of those who came to the extended book tour in the autumn. Thank you for the kind comments about Autumnwatch this year. And thank you all for your congratulations for the honour I have been awarded. An OBE! Crikey!!! And for doing something I love dearly. I have said it a thousand times, but I’ll say it again (and again), I am undoubtedly one of the luckiest people alive.
Sooooooo, since I last wrote, I have been:
On the isle of Rum following the red deer in their annual rut.
 In the Forest of Dean, following the fallow deer rut, as well as watching badgers and other forest wildlife. Also indulging in a bit of seasonal foraging.
In Scotland, watching salmon migrate and having a go at ‘stripping’ a salmon of its eggs! All very weird and wonderful, especially on live telly
In Senegal, watching ospreys in their winter home (awesome numbers, all hunting together)
And in Norfolk, to witness the astonishing spectacle of one of the largest Rook and Jackdaw roosts in the country if not all of Europe.
Then, a fund raising dinner for the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, which raised significant cash which helps some of the planets most threatened species.
And a quick trip to Lapland with friends to see the aurora.
After which...
I know, it reads like a catalogue of wonders, like I say, I’m extremely lucky....
I’ve been in Glasgow a great deal working on the Shetland series at the BBC there, and on two notable evenings, went to a little pub, where the most sublime folk music was being played by some real masters. Thrilling, spontaneous stuff!
Any other time has been dedicated to writing, walking, and recently, (over new year) heading to the west coast of Ireland. Here, I was still writing, but snatching the odd walk up hills and on beaches where I managed to spot a few local specialities, including choughs.
It’s now very early January. I’m heading back up to Glasgow tomorrow, (snow and storms permitting) for the day, before a brief stop in Somerset, then off to Kenya to join a few folk, who generously bid to come on a safari I am leading. All the proceeds went to TUSK, one of the charities which I support and who do incredible conservation work in Africa.
Back to the writing now, but one more huuuuuuge thank you everyone.
I’ll try to get another diary written when I come back from east Africa. |
