Hello From Andrew

[Boddie]

I am 34 years young, live in Little Aston, which is a suburb of Birmingham and borders Sutton Park, a 4200 acre park with varying flora, fauna and wildlife. To be brutally honest, prior to being made redundant recently, I had little interest in any form of wildlife but have found it to be a fantastic hobby, costing no money whatsoever.

I now work within the medical field and am currently studying for an examination, hence my not having been on so much lately. My hobbies now include walking, cycling and photography and, once qualified, which should be by the New Year, I expect more time off to start travelling again and visiting the few places I have yet to see in the UK, having spent previous years as a sales manager travelling up to 120,000 miles a year, so there are few places I have never been to, but so many I aspire to having seen them depicted on this site.

I really applaud the efforts of all who contribute to this site. I have been a member for some time now and have seen just how well it has grown in a relatively short space of time. I predict this has the makings of the most comprehensive nature site in the UK. Fantastic for a site that has not succomed to advertising and appears to be funded purely by its founder / founders? It is also evident that a few people are now helping with moderating and identification but even those that ask the odd question stimulate a 'conversation' so I would implore anyone who visits to promote the site to friends and try to contribute in some way and become part of what is a very friendly community with none of the usual 'yoghurt knitters' that you would usually associate with wildlife sites.

Can I say that?

I guess I just did!

[Pat]

What's a yoghurt knitter Boddie ?

[StuartDH]

While I don't think there's a dicitonary definition for 'Yoghurt knitters', it usually means people from the far left who are bureaucratic, whinging, very PC, protestors who are offended by anyone who doesn't share their view on the environment, war, society etc. The term refers to the uselessness of trying to knit yoghurt.

[John]

Originally Posted by StuartDH

While I don't think there's a dicitonary definition for 'Yoghurt knitters', it usually means people from the far left who are bureaucratic, whinging, very PC protestors who are offended by anyone who doesn't share their view on the environment, war, society etc. The term refers to the uselessness of trying to knit yoghurt.

I couldn't have put it better myself Stuart. lol

Welcome Andrew from a fellow midlander. In fact I lived in Birmingham for 58 years but nowhere near as exclusive as Little Aston. BTW does Ron Atkinson still live there?

You say wildlife watching costs nothing, and to a degree you are right, but you ought to invest in at least a pair of half decent binoculars as you would be amazed at just how much more you would see.

[Boddie]

Originally Posted by John

You say wildlife watching costs nothing, and to a degree you are right, but you ought to invest in at least a pair of half decent binoculars as you would be amazed at just how much more you would see.

Hi John

I do have a good set of bino's, but they were purchased so that I could see just how badly I had duffed my drive off the tee and if it was necessary to take a provisional. Now they are with me on every walk. When I said free, I meant the act of getting out, air in the lungs, beautiful sights, curious noises usually utilising equipment that I already had. Infact I drove over to Aberdovey and Barmouith last week and slept in the back of the car on an inflatable matress which usually only gets used when my old dear and old man stay over.

Stuart was spot on with his analogy of Yoghurt Knitters - those that feel they have the right to live everyone elses lives for them and are so 'PC' they marginalise those they proport to represent, but are actually ill-informed.

I find this site has a great mix of well informed contributors with some good humour mixed in. Fantastic.

As for Big Ron, I can't say I have ever seen him. Whilst seeing every conceivable Bentley, Roller, Lamgorghini, Ferrari etc etc with personalised number plates I have yet to see RA1, 1RA or B16 RON.

[Helen]

Originally Posted by Boddie

Hi John


Stuart was spot on with his analogy of Yoghurt Knitters - those that feel they have the right to live everyone elses lives for them and are so 'PC' they marginalise those they proport to represent, but are actually ill-informed.
.

Ah yes, I've seen my fair share of these people in and around various forums.

What they don't realise is how tedious they sound after a while.

[Boddie]

That's the beauty of this site. A good mix of knowledge, some great questions, friendly banter, a few jokes but most of all a welcoming community with no anoraks. I find the content of the site fascinating and, as I have said before, I now see a quiet walk as quite a noisy one, but for all of the right reasons. I am even beginning to apprecite the nature sounds around me want to explore where they are coming from and what they are up to, even hoping to get a photo. I have even began to accept creepy crawlies - from a distance.

It would be nicer to see more youngsters on here though - maybe they are the guests and do not have the facility to contribute photos as they may not have the equipment but it would be good to know that they are utilising the site as a reference guide and for facts that are not normally expressed on more generic sites or on sites that are that elitist that the terminology is somewhat 'too geeky'.