TheCuriousSoul

I have a brand new bird blog post! Photos galore... please take a look and tell me what your fave pics are! 🙏😀🐦 ko-fi.com/post/Cornwall-…

@CarlBovisNature Great blog, I adore many but the Male Chaffinches at Ham wall stole my heart.

@ActivePatriotUK Just sent the video to @autcareandshare - not sure if he can help but you never know.

One young man's search for a job 🤞🏻 I was joined at the weelsby Woods clean up today by Cohen Cullum who has just featured in the guardian newspaper High unemployment and a lack of support mean life can be tough in Grimsby, cohen suffers from several disabilities but he's determined to make the best out of life He spoke to the guardian about how hard it is to get employment especially with disabilities Cohen's dream is to become a professional wrestler but he's realistic, he loves entertaining and set up a mascot business called 'coco mascots' If there's any advisors out there or anyone that can help Cohen into full time employment please please get in touch, he's a top lad, do anything for anyone without a second thought 💙

Hawthorn flower… #Faeryland #Grasmere #LakeDistrict #Hawthorn #Flower #Nature #Fae

@London_W4 and the two folks between your fingers

Moon over (empty) wine glass. Saturday night sitting in a pub garden somewhere in London. Very pleasant, but time to go home.

Long helpful tips here from Grok. Let the boots dry completely first- Stuff them with newspaper or paper towels (change as needed) and air-dry at room temperature away from direct heat/sun. Drying prevents setting the salt deeper and avoids Brush off loose salt and dirt- Use a soft brush (like a shoe brush or old toothbrush) to remove surface residue. This minimizes how much you need to wet the boots. Wipe with a vinegar solution (most common DIY method). Mix equal parts white vinegar and water (or 1:2 vinegar to water for milder action).Dampen a soft, clean white cloth (not dripping). Gently wipe the salt marks in one direction (top to bottom toward the sole). The vinegar helps dissolve and neutralize the salt. Follow immediately with a cloth dampened in plain water to remove vinegar residue. Alternative - Mild dish soap + warm water + a bit of hydrogen peroxide for tougher cases (then rinse well) Saddle soap for general cleaning after initial salt removal. Dry again thoroughly Stuff with paper and let them dry naturally (can take 24–48 hours). Condition and restore the leather- Salt and cleaning strip natural oils, so this step is crucial.Apply a quality leather conditioner (e.g., Bick 4, Saphir Renovateur, or mink oil-based). Let it absorb, then buff. For rugged boots, use dubbin or a heavier balm to re-waterproof and soften. Optional: Finish with shoe cream or wax polish for color and extra protection. Tips for Best Results- Test first — Always test any solution on a hidden spot. Avoid — Excessive water, hairdryers/heat, paper towels that can leave lint, or harsh chemicals. Prevention — Regularly apply waterproofing wax or spray (e.g., before exposure). Clean boots soon after saltwater contact. Stubborn damage — If marks persist or leather is badly stiffened, multiple rounds or professional cobbler help may be needed.

Drying out. In today’s edition of ‘which boots are best to wear whilst swimming in a river?’ I’ve tested my Dr Martens. They were very comfortable, but provided a bit too much drag to be entirely suitable for swimming. They were shiny before, but the leather is looking worse for wear after being soaked in salt water. I’ll keep you posted how they polish up when they’ve dried out.

British climber Kenton Cool has scaled Mount Everest for a record 20th time, setting a new record for a non-Sherpa climber. He joins @MattBarbet live from an Everest base camp and describes his trek. trib.al/Rx0iR33 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233, and YouTube

@London_W4 Beautiful! Thank you for sharing this.

Mornin’. Survived the first night on my sailing boat and have just come out on deck to be met by one of the most beautiful scenes I’ve ever seen. Sunrise over the River Deben to a dawn chorus from the birds. Really very pleasant.

Total honour, and favourite time I’ve ever performed Gethsemane. Thank you thank you thank you Andrew Lloyd Webber ❤️

How to build a hedgehog feeding stationWant to do something brilliant for wildlife this bank holiday weekend? #HelpHedgehogs #WildlifeGardening #hedgehogstreet

@AlisonWeirBooks Will you be doing audiobook for this ?

Published today in the UK! I will be launching my new novel tonight at Southwark Cathedral.

@London_W4 😧😧😧

Thought my iPad had survived today, but looks like it hasn’t. The final straw. Good night.

@London_W4 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨

iPhone won’t charge either because of water. That really is the last straw today

@lowcarbGP @drjenunwin Bisglycinate for me.

I’m experimenting with different forms of magnesium. Threonate gives @drjenunwin and I terrible dreams but does help sleep, magnesium Glycinate seems the best for us but what has your experience been ??

Children in a kindergarten in Italy napping to the sound of birds singing.

Join me for 2 minutes on the marsh with the may birdsong. #cuckoo

🤝 We're looking to recruit a new Member to our board. Someone who shares our passion for the Dales and who understands the importance of protecting its natural beauty, driving forward nature recovery, and strengthening climate resilience. More 👇 …for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles/9325

@London_W4 Crikey- just glad you are safe- not great that you lost some of your kit due to damage but items are replaceable not people.

I know you like to keep abreast of my adventures so today I have excelled myself. I’ve come to Woodbridge in Suffolk to spend a few days on my sailing boat that I bought a few weeks ago. Packed loads of stuff. Bought a secondhand dinghy from the local boat sales place here, rowed out to my boat and the dinghy started sinking. Slowly at first and then boom, it was gone and me and all of my stuff were in the water. I had my very heavy backpack on. The duvet managed to wrap itself around my left arm and body and was pulling me down. At this point I thought I was going to drown. I managed to somehow free myself from it and swim to my sailing boat and reach up and cling on. Anyone who knows boats however, knows that you cannot pull yourself up out of the water. So there I was clinging on to my boat, backpack still on and wondering how long it would be before my arms gave way and things got even worse. Well, the world’s most wonderful bloke in a rib saw me and sped over. He got my backpack off and I got into his boat. He saved my life. Back on dry land and I assessed the damage. My Fujifilm xpro3 is deceased. Totally filled with water. Various other electronic items are destroyed. That involuntary swim has cost me thousands of pounds and no, there is no insurance I can claim from. I’ve lost it. The dinghy should never have been sold. If I’d had more experience I’d probably have realised that before getting in it. At least he’s refunded me the purchase price! So I’m sat in soaking wet clothes in the sunshine outside a pub now. I’ve booked a hotel and I’m going to have a glass of wine. Or two. Or three and reflect on an exciting Thursday. Just not exciting in the way I’d hoped. P.s. I’m sure there are those who will wonder whether I made parts of this story up. Well I didn’t. It’s exactly as I’ve told it. It was actually worse than I’ve told it. So I’m poorer and somewhat fed up about that. Anyway, cheers 🥂

I might actually sell all of my potatoes!! Thank you to everyone for the likes shares comments and donations for bags of potatoes! This is just the orders from the last 12 hours!!!! 🥔👨‍🌾🚜 You can order your posted potatoes or still donate a new bag of potatoes at: farmerluke.co.uk 🥔📮 #FarmerLuke #DownOnDaintreeFarm #Mrsfarmerluke #spudwife

Prince William singing and dancing to Sweet Caroline was not on my 2026 Bingo Card. He is the fun Prince! 🫶🏼🤴🏼