Ben
@benjyhere.bsky.social
First and foremost, biodiversity: Frogs; Snakes; Bees but the wild kinds; Birds but not a birder. Occasional politics, of the woke, pro-Rejoin kind. Si j'avais le choix, je serais à Toulouse. SW London. Crepuscular.
It's such a massive let down that whole stretch. 3 small bits of protected lane, no floating bus stop and what's with that weird double yellow bulge at the junction with Fieldview that follows the old kerb? As you say, hoping for Wandle gap but not very safe at night...
February 9, 2026 at 8:04 AM
It's such a massive let down that whole stretch. 3 small bits of protected lane, no floating bus stop and what's with that weird double yellow bulge at the junction with Fieldview that follows the old kerb? As you say, hoping for Wandle gap but not very safe at night...
Do you get toads or newts as well?
February 7, 2026 at 4:21 PM
Do you get toads or newts as well?
Oh very nice! SW London is still about 3 weeks away from lift off but the boys are starting to assemble in the evening. About 10 last night.
February 7, 2026 at 10:07 AM
Oh very nice! SW London is still about 3 weeks away from lift off but the boys are starting to assemble in the evening. About 10 last night.
Lovely, thanks. Re owls, as Lev said, definitely possible. We had tawnies on Tooting Common during lockdown, occasional visitors to Wandsworth Common and resident on Wimbledon Common. They also nest in Battersea Park. Can get my fix quite easily. Merlin occasionally says in my garden too (not)
February 6, 2026 at 11:35 AM
Lovely, thanks. Re owls, as Lev said, definitely possible. We had tawnies on Tooting Common during lockdown, occasional visitors to Wandsworth Common and resident on Wimbledon Common. They also nest in Battersea Park. Can get my fix quite easily. Merlin occasionally says in my garden too (not)
Very cool. Is there an idiot's guide to how to set something like this up somewhere?
February 6, 2026 at 11:30 AM
Very cool. Is there an idiot's guide to how to set something like this up somewhere?
I remember thinking, bother, have to go through all this again in just 5 years, the cost, the time, etc. Then you get to 5, look at the photo and go, ok, fair dos.
February 4, 2026 at 3:27 PM
I remember thinking, bother, have to go through all this again in just 5 years, the cost, the time, etc. Then you get to 5, look at the photo and go, ok, fair dos.
In the meantime we'll toy with you... even pretend to take your money. 😀
February 4, 2026 at 3:22 PM
In the meantime we'll toy with you... even pretend to take your money. 😀
Rail Europe says booking window not open yet... massive sigh.
February 4, 2026 at 3:20 PM
Rail Europe says booking window not open yet... massive sigh.
It's doing my head in - last and fairly vital bit in complicated jigsaw. Have tried 6 diff sites inc obb, 2 cards. All take you right through selecting couchette, etc then either fail just before or just after payment (all refunded, thankfully)... very odd. Just assume a switch needs flicking.
February 4, 2026 at 11:59 AM
It's doing my head in - last and fairly vital bit in complicated jigsaw. Have tried 6 diff sites inc obb, 2 cards. All take you right through selecting couchette, etc then either fail just before or just after payment (all refunded, thankfully)... very odd. Just assume a switch needs flicking.
Nice forest fire in pic 4 too
February 3, 2026 at 7:03 PM
Nice forest fire in pic 4 too
Or a dish. But not by the door, in the kitchen.
February 3, 2026 at 7:49 AM
Or a dish. But not by the door, in the kitchen.
Amazingly the newts and frogs seem to coexist at the allotment... not quite sure why
February 2, 2026 at 10:49 PM
Amazingly the newts and frogs seem to coexist at the allotment... not quite sure why
Yes, things are definitely afoot. I only have frogs in my garden pond but they put on a great show - there are newts down at the allotment though sadly not there at night at this time of year really so don't get to see the action but there are always eggs to show they've been...
February 2, 2026 at 10:32 PM
Yes, things are definitely afoot. I only have frogs in my garden pond but they put on a great show - there are newts down at the allotment though sadly not there at night at this time of year really so don't get to see the action but there are always eggs to show they've been...
I have tried so often to photograph one, they're so difficult to get. Nice shot!
February 2, 2026 at 7:22 PM
I have tried so often to photograph one, they're so difficult to get. Nice shot!
Yes, mad people the lot of them. Worth going up on to the plateau to meet the reindeer, light also very cool up there.
February 1, 2026 at 5:26 PM
Yes, mad people the lot of them. Worth going up on to the plateau to meet the reindeer, light also very cool up there.
Must be close to where I took this picture in January a couple of years ago. Magical place. Just out of shot my wife was taking a loony dook.
February 1, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Must be close to where I took this picture in January a couple of years ago. Magical place. Just out of shot my wife was taking a loony dook.
Are you sure they're not 16 year old male humans? They look like some of my son's friends.
January 31, 2026 at 9:05 PM
Are you sure they're not 16 year old male humans? They look like some of my son's friends.