Redoux: Visit to RSPB Leighton Moss Bird Reserve

I made a repeat trip to this excellent bird reserve located in Silverdale in the district of Cumbria. The reason: haven't gone for birding in a long, long time and wanted to do it as I was missing it sorely.

The repeat visit came on a weekend that the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) had announced as the Annual Garden Bird Counting weekend. The aim of this was to watch birds that visited one's garden for an hour and to record all the birds that visited the garden during that hour. I realised early on that this would not work for me as I live in hospital quarters, and there isn't much of a garden there. 

Hence, I decided to go back to his lovely reserve at Silverdale. Silverdale is located north of Lancaster. It is a small town, and is advertised as the best location for a quiet holiday by the authortities themselves. Just five minutes walk from the station is the Leighton Moss Nature Reserve. It is owned and maintained by the RSPB. There is no entrance fee. As you enter, you are into their visitor centre which also has a display of the best ornithological books on sale, a mix of other kinds of merchandise including tee-shirts, cups, etc. and a row of sales counters. Just behind is a staircase that takes one up to their cafe. To the right of the sales counters, one goes past the sales items to a door that opens out on the back of the building and directly on the reserve area. 

Here, one can stroll to their main show area with a canopy from under which you can see and photograph garden birds that stroll the grounds (such as pheasants and dunnocks) or that alight on the feeders to eat the delicious bird food left there by the reserve volunteers (such as tits, robins, chaffinces, redpolls, finches, blackbirds, and even doves and the wood pigeon). Once you are done taking these photos, you have the option to walk to any one of the five different bird hides spread out over the grounds. 

In the event, I visited all five. While the first one is located a very short distance away, there are hides that are upto 2 km away. I had great fun observing birds that wade or swim in the various water-bodies, as well as those that fly here and there. I saw various kinds of these water-birds today. But, most of all, I saw my first bittern today from the Lower Hide (the one that is farthest from the visitor centre).

Not surprisingly, there were a fair number of casual and more dedicated visitors. Many, like me, were birder-photographers, and some had cameras far more advanced than mine and lenses that looked oh-so-mighty. Some even had telescopic viewers. I did chat a bit with some of them, and learned that they were into serious birding only since the last several years (like me, too).

After my birding, I visited the cafe for lunch. They routinely give a 10% discount to guests who visit the centre by public transport or on bikes. I used that to get a dicount. I had a vegetarian quiche, (as the  kitchen had run out of chicken-based items) that tasted quite delicious. 

Here are some pictures that I took:

Male pheasant

Male Chaffinch

Male Mallard duck

Female pheasant

Nuthatch

Female Blackbird

Great Tit

Brown squirrel eating up the bird grain

Egret with fish in its bill

Teals

Teals again

Marsh harrier, record shot

Blue Tit

Robin

Female Blackbird

Grazing cow on the reserve

Cormorants

Pintail (centre)

The entrance to the lower hide

Cormorant drying its wings

My attire on this day 

Watch tower built from Heritage Lottery Fund

The Quiche I had for lunch

I returned home again via train. The journey was as unexciting as the journey I had undertaken TO the reserve in the morning. The only note of interest might be the fact that since the past two weekends, and for the next 6-8 weekends, train services from Blackpool North to Preston do not run and are replaced by BUS services. This is because the railways are carrying out repairs and renovation work between these two stations. While the buses are luxury buses, it does take nearly an hour to travel by a bus as conpared to a train journey which takes only 28-30 minutes. 

Big change coming up

I have already described the road my journey in the U.K. has taken from the professional point of view. Click HERE to go to that post. I have also discussed with you, dear readers, what is currently on. Things are going to be a bit different from the first of February. What is happening is that while I will continue to work at the Blackpool Victoria Hospital, I will now be working as a full-rota SHO. This means that I will now be carrying a first-on-call bleep and will be working shift duties including weekends and nights. 

How will this change my journey? If I am able to perform as a capable SHO, it might motivate some of my consultants to begin to think whether I would be, at some stage, be ready to become a registrar. Secondly, it will augment my paycheck, and make it a little less necessary for me to work in other hospitals, doing locums. I am a bit nervous from the first outcome point of view, and a little happier from the second outcome point of view.

What it also means is that I will be working 48 hours a week instead of the 40 that I do now, and as some of these will be night duties or what is called "unsocial hours", I will be paid additional money for these. 

It seems that this will be an opportunity for me to shape up and show the seniors that I am ready to take on additional responsibilities. What I need from you all is encouragement, which I am sure you will all offer me, and a prayer - if you believe it its power. 

Thank you. 

Pigeons, pigeons everywhere

On this, the 4th Sunday of January 2017, Blackpool held the 40th Annual Homing Pigeon show at the Winter Gardens, and I was fortunate to be one of the interested spectators.

So, what is this show about? Well, there is a community of people who rear pigeons with the object of entering them into one of the following two pigeon sports: Show pigeons or Racing pigeons. The activities are organised under the aegis of the Royal Racing Pigeon society. Pigeons are raced from April to September, but they are groomed for the Pigeon shows that culminate in the Annual show that is held in January each year. This year, it was the turn of Blackpool to hold the show.

Winter Gardens was absolutely buzzing with people when I reached there around 11:00 a.m. The main awards ceremony was almost getting finished in the huge ballroom, but the ongoing trade exhibition was completely interesting. I had purchased a ticket for the show, and at the end of it, I felt that the ­­£6 ticket had been well worth it. 

First, the trade exhibition: there were literally hundreds of stalls selling pigeons, pigeon feed, pigeon homes, racks, and what have you. There were specialised pigeon pharmacies, and also a vaccination stall to sell paramyxovirus vaccine for pigeons. 

One of the big companies that are in the business

A stall selling pigeons

Trade exhibition with customers

Detailed pedigree of a pigeon

More details of the dad and mum

Still more details of grandparents of the pigeon

Now, a bit about the actual show. The show pigeons are put into different classes, with Class 1 being the most expensive ones, and then it goes down right to Class 38. These pigeons were all displayed in 38 long rows inside the huge ballroom. There was a stage at the far end where prizes were declared for the best pigeons from among those entered for the competition. 

Here are some pictures of the activities in the ballroom.

The ballroom from the first-floor balcony

Another view

The stage, now empty

Another view of the stage

A show pigeon from a top class

A prize winner

Another view of the prize-winning pigeon

Finally, I would like to name a duo that are partners in this hobby for a long time. They are Alex Wallace and Tanny Ferguson. Alex has been doing this show since the show since its inception, viz since 40 years. Here is a picture of this amazing duo.

After the exhibition, I went to the adjoining bar where, over a light drink, I had fun listening to a pair of singer-musicians belting out some music. It was a well-spent morning indeed. 

Locum work at Bassetlaw District General Hospital

For the Christmas holidays, I chose to work this year. I secured a rather good hourly rate and so went to work at the BDGH located in British midlands area of Doncaster. I would do 2 long days - on the 24th and the 25th of December, and a night duty on the 26th night. I reached only around 11 a.m. on the 24th, as Bassetlaw, located in Worksop town, is over three and a half hours by train from my place in Blackpool. I caught the first train from Blackpool to Manchester Victoria at 06.38 a.m. From there to Man Piccadilly, and from Picadilly to Sheffield took nearly one and a half hours. The final leg was a train to Lincoln, which took me to Worksop. There, a short walk later, I was at the bus stand where I caught a 22 no bus to the hospital, a mere mile away. Arriving at the main reception, I was asked to contact the security for my accommodation keys and directions. I found my way to Cochran lodge for accommodation. There are three security gates with number pads to reach the floor where rooms are located. You then open your room with a traditional key.

My first impression of the accommodation was very positive. The room was large, with an attached bathroom. There was a tea-maker, a mini-fridge, and not one, but two almirahs -albeit without any hangars! The study table and chair were utilitarian and the bed was quite comfortable. Additionally, the room had a full-length wall mirror, a wall bookcase, an easy chair and good illumination. Outside, there was access to a large common kitchen, a TV viewing area (lounge) and a pool table as well. Impressive.

I returned to the hospital and went to the Paediatric department to commence my first shift. The ward is quite spacious and attractive. I would learn later that the department itself is in a process of shutting down its admission services from February next year and will continue to function only as an out-patient assessment unit from then onwards. Currently, it is sanctioned to accept no more than 6 patients on the admission roster. It takes patients for assessment only from around 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. Outside these hours, it compulsorily refers all patients to Doncaster Royal Infirmary, its parent organisation. The DRI and the BDGH are part of the Doncaster and Bassetlaw NHS Foundation Trust.

There was minimal work as most work is now shifted to DRI. However, the staff was very friendly and cooperative with me. All in all, I had a good time. In fact, on Christmas day, they even served a free Christmas lunch; the Indian-origin registrar made a unique Tamilian gravy from pre-assembled ingredients and I had that with rice. It was very delicious.

During my night duty, I even had time to doze off in one of the empty rooms at the back. To summarise, therefore, no issues. I had a good time. 

Update and more

Dear Readers,

I have been amiss in not posting anything on this blog since the past nearly one and a half months. I will offer no excuses for this, but I do wish to say this: I have missed you all as much as you have missed my posts - perhaps it is a greater loss for me. 

So, after the passing of the one-year milestone, my life in the hospital and in Blackpool went into a routine. Nothing exciting was happening and I was plodding on from day to day. I did locum duties about 6 days in all, and they were mostly in Bolton and at Bassetlaw. Of course, they helped me save more money and earned me a bit more of practical experience.

Back home in India, my family began gearing for my expected visit to Mumbai in the first week of January. This time, the primary reason for my Mumbai visit would be to attend the 40th reunion of my GS Medical College batch of '77. We would be going to Kashid and our stay would be at Prakruti Resorts. This is a large resort spread over a big area of 100 acres. There are indoor and outdoor activities here, including carrom, tennis, a swimming pool, a discotheque, and more. The rooms were decent, and in line with their 4-star rating. Nearly 60 out of our batch of 160 attended the get-together. We - i.e, my family and I travelled together. Inas and Hannah were initially apprehensive about what they would occupy their time with as they would be the only offspring to travel to this holiday. In the event. they were quite happy with the entire package. There was much they could do as a pair, and also, they played with the rest of the class when we had beach handball as a game. The food at the resort was really good, and they varied the menu at every meal so that I had a taste of many different kinds of foods and hence, enjoyed myself.

The reunion itself was remarkable. It was a memorable experience because we had all had different life jouirneys  but were now on a common platform with no differences of sex, social backgrounds, religious beliefs, financial standing or any other yardstick,

In addition, I had a good time with my family. I ate out with my daughters on a few occasions and with the whole family (i.e. including wife Nishrin) on a few more. It was all quite enjoyable. The outing with both daughters was in a mall, where I had food with them in Bombay Blue in a mall known as Phoenix Market City near Vikhroli. This was a lovely lunch with mostly a mix of Italian and Mexican food. 

With Hannah, I had a meal or two in more casual outlets when we went shopping together. With the family, I went to World Streat Foods at Nariman Point  unique experience.  This is a recently opened restaurant that brings world street foods to you in the ambience of a comfortable, indoor place. We really enjoyed this one. We had food from Sri Lanka, East Africa, the Americas and also stuff from other parts of the world. 

As I have posted on social media, I was able to help out some people with their life-problems. One of them was a mom with a child with a borderline delay of milestones. Another was an ex-patient of mine searching for advice on the choice of post-graduation in his chosen field. 

Finally, this short visit, I rejuvenated myself to return to the UK for some more serious work.

Into my second year in the U.K.

Dear Readers.

Most of you who have read my blog entries over the last year are aware that although I entered this country a year ago as a middle-grade doctor, I have had to scale down myself to the level of a junior doctor and work the same duties as before with the intent of getting back to the level of middle grade with dedication and hard work. 

I am happy to share with you, therefore, that things are slowly but surely working to improve my abilities in the right direction. In the last review I had with my designated "educational supervisor", I was told that there has been a  noticeable improvement in my skills and some improvement in my communication skills as well, but that I have to still do more in that direction. Then, about a week or two later, I had a chat with the line manager, who assured me that the department had taken a stand that they would keep me on till I wished to leave. This message of permanence has really lifted up my spirits as I know now that my job is more or less secure at the Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

I continue to stay in the hospital quarters, but it does look like I might need to move out before the end of February next year. I am hoping to find alternative accommodation before my time runs out. 

I missed doing any locum duties in the month of October as I was on annual vacation. My family arrived from India to spend three weeks with me, and the last week of October got simply washed out with all the excitement and memories of my previous 20+ days. From November, however, I began to get locum jobs once again, and with the help of the earnings from there, my savings accounts are now slowly but surely getting augmented. 

More in subsequent posts. Keep visiting and reading my posts, and if you wish, share your thoughts and comments. Thank you.

A Year in the U.K. - My personal life

I landed at Manchester airport on the evening of the 14th of November last year. The time was around 3:30 in the afternoon, but it looked as if it was nearly dusk in Mumbai around the same evening! It was drizzling and dark. I caught a train from the Manchester airport railway station and reached Poulton-le-Fylde station at about half past five. Outside, it was dark and dreary. It was raining. I caught a cab without a metre, and was dropped outside the A&E of the Blackpool Victoria Hospital, with the driver charging me a whopping 14 pounds! 

From that day, when I was hit by the British winter in full force, until today, as I write this, I have certainly come a long way. I have had some really unique experiences, and am in a life that is quite different from the one I lived in my two previous lives - in India, and in Saudi Arabia. This post is about how my life has changed in the past year.

From the hot, dry deserts of Saudi Arabia to the pleasant monsoon climes of India and then to the temperate Atlantic-weather of Blackpool has all been overwhelming, really, Within a few days of my arrival, I experienced cold winds on the Promenade while doing my first shopping for essentials. The next three months were all new territory for me. In December, I attended my very first Christmas party organised by the nurses of the Paediatric department. It was - kind of - exciting to be able to be in the company of so many people, most of whom I didn't even know. And then, to be asked to join them all in a dance. And to partake of a Christmas meal with prawn cocktail, a drink, a fish entree and then a sinful chocolate dessert. Quite a lot of fun.

The days I have walked 10000 steps ... ahh, wasn't that amazing. I took part in the 5K challenge (running 5 km) on behalf of the Blue Skies Fund (the in-hospital registered charity) - with just 30-40 other participants on a cold, wet morning. And the days I went around Blackpool, exploring its roads, the Promenade, its restaurants, and its unique flavour. Those linger on as really good memories. 

Then there are my peregrinations in and around Stanley Park, the urban park that acts as a nature reserve in addition to being a recreation park in Blackpool. It has football grounds, a cricket ground, gymnasia, children's outdoor activities and a large water body with avifauna all around the year. It allows adults to fish in these waters for fresh-water fish. The park affords the bird-watcher with ample opportunities to observe birds all around the year. This includes the water birds, of course, but also so many tree species, some of which I saw for the first time in my life. I have, of course, tried to document all the birds that I could with my Canon DSLR.

I then joined the Royal Society for the Preservation of Birds and visited many bird parks and reserves around Blackpool. The most memorable one will be the Turbary Woods Birds of Prey and Owl sanctuary at Preston, but others also featured. 

My travels took me to the Peak District where I walked part of the famous Monsal trail, and to Cumbria and the Lake District, where I visited Windermere lake and town. I also saw a lot of Preston, Manchester, Liverpool, Buxton, Silverdale, Lancaster, and a few more towns near about me. My travel was limited, of course, by the fact that I own no car, and I get a few days of weekend leave to do my travelling. Be that as it may, I have travelled more in the last 1 year in the UK than I did in India over the previous 50+ years (I am, of course, talking of travel on foot, and only for leisure).

Next, on to my culinary adventures. Well, I have mostly persisted with Indian style cooking, but occasionally, I have tried English cooking, and it has nearly always turned into a less than satisfying experience. Eating out, on the other hand, has been very fulfilling. I have tried, for the first time in my life, authentic, low-price Greek, Italian, Jamaican and French food. And I have enjoyed every such encounter. The most memorable one for me will be eating at Nuncio in Blackpool, an Italian restaurant where they served me excellent seafood risotto. Another one to not forget would be the Greek food I had at Othello's in Blackpool.  Among Indian restaurants I visited, how can I not recall the food I had at Manchester at Chennai Dosa, or the one I had at Imli in Lytham? There are others too, but this blog post would run into several pages if I carried on.

Shopping is a treat in the U.K. There is something for every budget. There are numerous pound shops that deal in thousands of articles that sell for a pound. Then, there are mid-level places where you can find decent merchandise for a low price. You won't have to pay a king's ransom for shopping at such outlets. They include H & M, Primark, TK Maxx for clothes, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Lidl, ASDA and others for groceries, Boots for Pharmacy, the thousands of corner shops run by Asian guys that sell recharges, newspapers, daily provisions and so on.

The major difficulty I have had is in terms of finding regular company when I am not working. This is the price you pay when you decide to work in a foreign country without your family and friends. I have made a lot of casual friends, and tens of Facebook friends, but when it comes to real friends with whom you can spend an evening over dinner or invite to your place to have fun, I have had just a few of them. One of them, a certain Michael Siong, was a gem of a person. I miss him, as he moved on from Blackpool, first, to London, and now, he is in Scotland. 

And that's about it for this post. Do let me know your opinions on how you found it. Comment, if you wish, in the space below. Share it with your friends if you wish, Thank you so much.