Colin

This is Colin. Colin joins us for breakfast most mornings just after 6am. He climbs up the bird-feeder, eats a few pawfuls of seeds as an aperitif, then sits back and pulls the nut-feeder towards him for the main course. He chews the nuts through the wire squares till they're small enough to fit through the gaps into his mouth. Occasionally a magpie or wood pigeon will try to scare him off, but Colin has no time for stoopid birds. He's a squirrel with a mission. When he's had his fill, he slides back down the bat pole and disappears off into the woods. It's the same story almost every weekday... but on Saturdays, Colin has a lie in. He doesn't arrive for breakfast until after 9am. Lazy little bugger!

Simon King's Wild Life

Wildlife photographer and TV presenter Simon King has led a very fortunate life. He's done what many of us aspire to - he's lived his dream. Simon's specific dream has always been to study and observe and get as close to the natural world as possible, and he's pursued that goal with a single-minded determination that is admirable. It's true that part of Simon's success is down to knowing the right people - he makes no bones about the fact that his father worked for the BBC and introduced him to many of the contacts that helped forward his career. But I don't think that's the only reason for his success. His talent, dedication, hard work and genuine passion for nature is evident in everything he does.

It's not as though he hasn't had to make sacrifices for his work too. While much of this book involves the thrills and spills of wildlife photography - from being swarmed by killer bees to almost losing a finger to a panicking otter to being attacked by a rabid cheetah and having fire ants bite into your manhood - King also talks movingly about the death of his dad and the end of his first marriage - a clear choice between being a stay-at-home family man and a full time nature-chaser.

"I was one of the luckiest men alive, still am. I reasoned that life would always throw up challenges, and compromises would always have to be made. As long as I was still able to feel the wind on my face and get pleasure from it, I would try to juggle the loves of my life so that none suffered from too great a neglect."

Reading Wild Life, I felt a degree of envy for the life Simon King has led. But not for the sacrifices he's made. As exciting an idea as living amongst lions, elephants or albatross might be, I wouldn't want to give up my home comforts to do it. I'm glad there are people like King who are obsessed with wildlife to such an extent - and that they're happy to share their obsession with us.

While Everyone Else Was Watching The Football...

...we went for a walk in the woods.



Despite what I was saying yesterday about not having enough time for all the things I want to do... the older I get, the more important I feel it is to take time to appreciate the beauty of the natural world.



I've written before about how privileged I feel to live in such a beautiful part of the world, surrounding by so much sublime, awe-inspiring countryside. And on days like the one pictured in these photos, it's a crime not to get out there and enjoy that countryside.






Over the last couple of weeks we've been hooked on the BBC's Springwatch programme. Chris Packham, Kate Humble and Simon King are my new heroes. You can feel their enthusiasm and genuine emotion about wildlife - birds, animals, fish, plants, even insects and seaweed. It's infectious. (I'm also impressed by how Packham in particular seems to be on a one-man campaign to make geekery cool.)



So what are you doing wasting your time stuck inside reading this stoopid blog? If the sun's shining on your part of the world today, get out there and appreciate it!