Not a normal day......

I had to cancel my shifts for today (yesterday) - I had no choice. I hate letting people down and especially when its my own ward where I should have been working on as a nursing auxiliary (my second job). One can only mentally cope with so much and I was needed today. My father was taken seriously ill and I have had so little sleep and have been in such a state that I feel I am losing my mind. I HAD to take time out today and late this afternoon I decided to go to Titchwell, just to get some air. I arrived in the carpark, but couldn't get out of the car - I just sat there. A robin flitted about in front of me and a cute little bank vole scurried along a branch. I shut my eyes - time passed and I eventually forced myself out of the car. I couldn't walk my normal speed and ambled along in a daze. It was sunny, but a bitterly cold north wind cut through you. There were 4 beautiful, summer plumage Spotted Redshanks amongst the usual waders, avocets etc. A magical scene of loads of swallows, house martins and sand martins skimming over the pools and also a Red-crested Pochard was seen distantly. From Parrinder hide there were shovelers, tufted ducks, teal, gadwall, shelducks, pied wagtails feeding along the muddy bank and a single greylag and canada goose grazing on the bank. Several brent geese, loads of avocets, gulls etc and also 2 Med gulls flew across the hide. I walked up to the beach and scanned the sea - seriously cold here and a sand storm blowing - saw a Red-breasted Merganser flying east, but little else aside from the usual sanderling, turnstones, gulls along the shoreline. Back at the carpark, several blackcaps were singing before I left.

Nature helps so much in difficult times. I would also like to thank Sophie, colleagues at work and friends for their support over the last few days X