John was finally laid to rest last Thursday a thank you to everyone who sent messages.

Before I finally finish I would just like to make everyone aware that there are some poor practices out there in particular undertakers so buyer beware and a bank was very poor with its bereavement  practice/handling.

Finally....finally, many people have said how much they enjoyed reading about our birding exploits I enjoyed writing on the thread it allowed me to cope and deal with the situation of the last four months a BIG THANK YOU  for reading the ramblings

Kind Regards T and C X

Just confirming that the chapel will be Rowan on the 23rd at Stockport Cremartorium.

Johns local social club  where he played bridge have put their flag at half mast, what a fabulous gesture.

Again a huge thank you for the kind messages.

Tony and Cath

Firstly a big thank you to everyone that sent kind words, they were appreciated by us both.

We have today received confirmation of the funeral arrangements and anybody that is around Stockport is invited to the Cremartorium on Thursday 23rd at 14.30, the actual chapel will be confirmed shortly.

Finally Cath and I were supposed to be in Mallorca that week !! John managed to get the last laugh 

Again thank you.

At 00.35 this morning John passed away peacefully, at some point I will add a few more thoughts and also add the details of the funeral once this has been arranged.

RIP John, a great father and good friend.

Yesterday started with a call from the Hospice at 07.00ish saying that John was not in a good place his breathing was erratic. I drove the girls over dropped them off and went to pick up a couple of coffees  for them. Johns son was also on his way. By 08.45 his condition had stabilised this bloke is astonishing a real fighter albeit a self confessed coward !! He is independent, determined and so stubborn as we have all witnessed over the years.

His children have been doing four hour shifts at his bedside,  Cath is with him now and Match of the Day will on !!

As well as birding, John is a huge sports fan and he is also a very good Bridge player. In fact John and his friend Rodger (97) are the self crowned champions of Cheshire and Greater Manchester often winning between 70p and a £1 per night !!! Due to Covid they took to playing Bridge on line (you are never too young learn) John and Rodger laughed at the saying " you can't teach a new tricks" 

When the news of the Wryneck came through yesterday I had a little smile on my face as John knows that this little bird is a bogey, after six hours up at Horwich last year and then missing it show by a couple of minutes.

A bit of break from posting stories due to work commitments and dealing with Johns paperwork and general housekeeping!! He is still with us but now very weak and we have been told it could just be days but we plod on.

When I first asked Ian if it was ok to post our stories it was never my intention to post about anything other than birding or nature exploits but I will just share one experience with one the banks.

Eighteen days ago Cath and her sister  Mag took the Certified Power of Attorney (PoA) document to Johns bank. It was taken by a banker and photocopied and the ball was set rolling to enable them both to handle his financial affairs at the bank. A week after the ball was set rolling we had received no notification from the bank that things were in place so Mag rang them and was told it could take a little longer. Another week later and still nothing so Mag phones the bank again. This time she is told there is a problem in that the back to back pages of the PoA have only been photocopied on one side !!! Cath then has to go back to the bank so that the document  can be copied again, this  time Cath asks the banker if the document has been copied correctly this time and the response she received from the banker was that " I didn't copy it the first time it was somebody else" You really couldn't make this up.

A further note on PoA is that some investment companies do struggle understanding what " Jointly and Severally" means on the document, makes me happy to be a BIFFO !!

After that moan back to the birding, during Spring 2014 we had a day over on Anglesey and after breakfast set out for Llyn Penrhyn near Valley, Cath and I had been the previous winter  but John had not been for several years. We had seen a good number of various ducks but nothing out of the ordinary. As we got onto the road near the camp we spotted a bench facing the lake and decided to have a brew. I walked onto the camp for some snacks and returned with the goodies. John and Cath were sat on the bench and had witnessed a large group of Shoveler in full breeding mode. For the next twenty minutes or so we watched and listened to the amazing noise and activity occurring in front of us.

We headed  for South Stack knowing that nothing would beat our sighting in the morning. A couple of Chough turned up and a few Puffin but nothing to compare with the Shoveler.

As  a final note a few people have sent private messages to us, can we just say thank you to you all. 

Whilst out working today the  harsh cackling of some Magpies reminded me of two conversations John and I had with wardens at two different  reserves a few years ago.

At reserve one we had noticed that the Magpie numbers seemed low, there were usually numbers well into the teens. We both commented on this and proceeded down the path a short way down we came across a warden looking across a field at a couple of Red Deer. We had good look at the young hinds and John then asked the warden a question " tell me do you control the Magpies here as the numbers seem a bit low"  The warden looked at us and replied " yes we have too as it gives some of the other birds a chance of survival but don't tell anyone, we also try to control other species" We were both surprised at his openness. 

Some time later we were at reserve two and we again noticed that Magpie and Crow numbers seemed low. We managed to have a chat with a warden and a similar question was asked  and again the answer was the same however he did add that the Crows were controlled by the local farmers.

This in turn reminded me of the trip Cath and I had to Ireland in 2019, we were lucky enough to be taken to an area where Corncrake were and are thriving. Our "guide" was happy to confirm the numbers of predators had to be controlled in order to give protection to the Corncrake, the figures were mind blowing and had to be recorded to enable future funding for the Corncrake project.

Currently Johns condition is best described as up and down, a good day and then a bad day a diagnosis of diabetes has also been made over the weekend. All the staff at the Hospice are superb on the other hand some of the companies we have had to deal with have been less than competent which does not help at this time. We have wondered how people less able or with little support manage to trawl through  the mire of "things to do" on a daily basis.    

Three busy days, I saw John yesterday and had a quick word on the phone, he has given me instruction to sell some shares and buy some others so that needs to be sorted out with Cath who has Power of Attorney, other items have been ticked off the list and the car was sold this morning.

There is some bad news in that the cancer growth has now doubled in size!!!

Anyway going back to 2017 and our second trip to Mallorca, John told us this would be his last trip abroad but we really knew this already with his ailing health, we had found a hotel closer to the S'Albufera but again we knew that Johns days out  would only amount to one big day out and possibly two small days and this was exactly as things went straight to plan. In between the birding sessions we just messed about looking for Hoopoe in the park, counting Audouin's Gulls on the beach, checking the salt pans and lagoons across the road for waders and Greater Flamingos and drinking coffee and eating cakes..again for a change.....

On one of our small trips we had agreed to meet in the foyer at the usual 09.30 anyway it got to 09.31 and no sign of John now John is never ever late so off I went in search. I got to his room and knocked on. I could hear him coming to the door (good news I can tell you) he opens the door and there he is stood before me.... I looked at his face and could just make out his mouth and eyes.....he must have put half a bottle of sun tan cream on, his face was white!!!!! " I think I've put too much on" he said "well I think your right" I replied "are you expecting it to be sunny" I said grinning. "just take some off and put it on your arms and legs, see you in the foyer when your ready" I said. I went down stairs and told Cath about my encounter with the "White Minstrel" A few minutes later John appeared minus most of his cream, " have you bought shares in Soltan then" I ask, we just look at each other and start laughing.

A few days later and John is again late but this time for our 08.30 breakfast however I see him walking towards us, so there is no need for a search party. He sits down, Cath pours his tea as he explains why he is late. He had left his room early to have a little walk, he got in the lift and pressed the wrong button, the lift took him up not down. When he got to the next floor the door opened and two chaps with cases wanted to get in but as the lift was only small they declined to enter and said " ve vill vait for next one" John nodded and pressed the button and down he went this time to the basement and not the ground floor! Once he got to the basement he pressed the button again and off he went straight passed ground and back up to the floor were the two chaps were waiting, the door opened and there they were with a look of surprise to see John in the lift again, he explained he was having trouble with the lift. On this occasion they announced that " ve have plane to catch" John apologised and invited them in. The correct button was pushed and all three occupants landed on the ground floor and vacated the lift then said their goodbyes. When he finished his story I said " its a good job you didn't have a face full of sun cream" and again we all had a chuckle and enjoyed a magnificent breakfast and pastries!!

This morning we heard that one of Johns friends is in Stepping Hill after falling and splitting his head, he is 94. I popped to drop a shrub off to another one of Johns friends at 11.00 today, he said he would dig it later he is 97 and going fishing tomorrow rain or shine!!!

Yesterday morning John was in the garden at the Hospice at around 11.00 just at the same time as Northwest Tonight were filming he declined to be filmed but was introduced to Owain the weather forecaster. John is never keen to be photographed or filmed I sometimes think he was some kind of "International Man of Mystery" when he was younger.

John moved to the Heaton Moor area of Stockport in 2012 as Cath wanted him to be a little closer to us because of his growing health problems. Up until around  2016 he was always telling us that he did not have many birds visit his garden despite having a few feeders up so one afternoon I decided to do a bird count. Within a very short space of time I got to sixteen very easily. I gave John my findings and he said something along the lines of " well I never see much"  It was not until 2017 that it became clear why he was not seeing much it was of course due his eyesight deteriorating as has been covered in a previous post. After his operation he has ended up with thirty one species being observed with regular visits from Ring-necked Parakeets, Blackcap, Redwing in autumn and very recently a single Lesser Black-backed Gull.  

In between birding trips we would also take in a film at the local Savoy cinema this also needed to be planned with John always wanting the same seats, a bar of fruit and nut, minstrels, wine gums, bottle of water, a mug of coffee and of course a large box of popcorn. It was the popcorn that was his biggest prop as he managed to drop it, kick it over, eat mine or just leave it in the foyer on the counter. He would fall asleep a gentle nudge would wake him and he would then need to be updated on events.

Whilst at the Savoy the ex MP Edwina Currie was present I made John aware of this and he promptly reminded the whole foyer it was "John Majors fancy piece" she did very well and just remained in conversation with her partner whereas poor Cath didn't know where to put here face.

Good one that Rob not for your dad though. I knew a bloke up by the Gun pub in Hollingworth who trained Greyhounds and he told me a few stories about  Lowry one very similar to yours...if only we knew then what we know now.......

Mallorca 2015 was my first trip with John and Cath. I had been told of all these birds I would see and I was rearing to go. We were only staying a couple of miles down the road from S'Albufera and decided to catch the local bus down. As usual we got to the bus stop early and I asked John if he knew where we were going to get off and he replied "yes, no problem" There we a few people before us in the queue the bus duly approached us, stopped Cath and I scrambled on John took his place to pay, Cath and I sat down I looked down towards the driver, John was next to pay and then in a  deafening shout he announced to everyone he wanted " THE GRAND CANAL, GRAND CANAL " what made this even more hilarious was that he had managed to somehow acquire a Spanish accent. Cath and I were bent over double laughing and he proudly walked up the bus and plonked himself behind us and said "the driver knows  were we want to stop"

This would not be the first time that John would practice his fluent  Spanish, he could also order white coffee and ask for the bill not at the same time of course.

Saw John outside at the Hospice this afternoon, Cath was able to bring him into the garden for ten minutes in a wheelchair, it was both great and sad to see him.

Cath and her sister have invoked the Lasting Power of Attorney for Finance which was drawn up some years ago and lots of other aspects are been addressed for the future.

On our travels we had an odd encounter with a chap in the car park of a reserve in mid Wales during 2013.

There  had been a Great Grey Shrike showing so we had decided to call in after seeing the Red Kites, after a bit off a walk we got back to the car and whilst having a brew a chap approached us and asked us where we came from we proudly announced our places of birth which are not necessarily were we are from!! He looked a bit brassed off with our replies but we were all from different places.?

We had a discussion about what we had all seen and then he asked "do you like Lowry" I replied "yes I do" this stems from a trip to Salford Art Gallery whilst at Junior school. Our friend led us to his car opened his boot and showed us maybe 20 or so Lowrys or should I say copies and they were pretty good, John was that impressed and walked away. I stayed and chatted and learned that he did in fact copy and sell them on as a living although he had retired, his wife was that happy that he tries to sell them to anyone he meets and anywhere.

On Sunday I asked Cath to ask her dad if he remembered this encounter and if he remembered the chaps name. He did remember the encounter but not the chaps name. This chap was from the  NW but had moved to Wales I don't think he was called Greenhalgh! We had many a laugh about "The Lowry Faker"

John does have some great prints by an artist called Donald Watson who I know illustrated bird/nature books. When the time comes we will try to get  valuations and pass any proceeds onto the Hospice. If anybody knows anything about the artist then please do get in touch. 

Today I was able to go to the Hospice and see John through a window and chat on the phone for a short time and true to form he has given me a couple of things to do. 

During 2016 we encountered an absolute Owl feast the Short-eared at Ashton Moss and Barn at Martin Mere which John was taken to see and he was elated especially with the Short -eared.

We also had Little at North Cave, Long-eared at Burton Mere and Tawny again at Martin Mere. John was with us at North Cave but unable to make the walk. However the latter two were a little worrying as despite being almost within touching distance literally, he could not see them. Now hindsight (no pun intended) is wonderful and then in late 2017 it finally clicked. His eyesight was not good. He had a small bump in his car, nobody was injured thankfully he was then put under pressure to have his eyes tested in the meantime "somebody" contacted DVLA and they took him off the road pending a GP report.

It certainly answered why he was unable see anything whilst birding and why he had so many scratches on his bumpers

He attended an eye test and was diagnosed with cataracts  which only gave him around 35% vision subsequently he had cataract surgery and eventually allowed back on the road.

We took him out and were impressed with his "new eyes" and he was now able to see the little birds.  

Having read Mark Jarretts recent post about his trip to Mallorca reminded me so much about our trip with John in 2015. We were sat having coffee and cake in Port de Pollenca and John asked "what's that Gull" "it's an Audouin's" I answered "are you sure, they are rare you know" he said " not anymore John, there are loads around" and we counted fifty or so, he was amazed how things had changed. In agreement with Mark it  is  a smashing looking Gull.

My notes show that 2015 was a great birding year. We drove John over to Midhope in February to catch up with the Great Grey Shrike (lifer) and on the same trip he heard Common Snipe drumming for the first time, it was a great day to share these experiences.

During the month of June we shared two trips to RSPB Old Moor to try to catch up with the Little Bittern but sadly in vain for John. I persevered and had two long range glimpses.

Old Moor would provide us with a very interesting meeting with a young man in July. Cath was not with us on this trip. We checked in at reception and then went upstairs for our customary breakfast and looked around the shop and then off we went. We stopped at the feeders behind reception and sat and watched the little birds as John calls them. It was here I noticed a young man, he stood out as he wore  pink trousers, blue shirt, big black coat, a huge Stetson type hat and cowboy looking boots and this on a day in July when it would get hot.

John and I set off  heading towards the Reedbed Hide just chatting about the chances of Bittern being seen, this bird is a favourite of Johns. I then heard a voice say "lots of Bittern at my reserve" I turned around and it was the young man I had noticed earlier. We walked along the path as a trio and he told us of his reserve where it appeared that Bittern were as common as Audouin's Gull in Port de Pollenca.

Our first stop was the viewing screen where we scanned over the reedbed trying to locate a Bittern or even a Bearded Reedling but to no avail. Our new found friend delighted in wetting our appetite for his reserve by giving us even more information about Kingfishers and all manner of waders. I could contain myself no longer " so where is this reserve" I asked " Potteric Carr" he replied "Potteric and you have all these Bittern flying all over" I said "oh yes they are everywhere " was his response " so how many do you normally see" I asked......" well I have NOT actually seen any but I've been told that there are loads" he triumphantly replied. Well I just burst out laughing I looked at John his face was a picture confused, bemused and amazed. The path to the hide is a dead end at some point we lost our friend and enjoyed the rest of the day and we even saw a couple of real Bittern. Our friend has never been forgotten and in subsequent visits to the Moor we reflected on our encounter with the "Cowboy from Potteric Carr"

Great news this morning in that John is being stubborn at the hospice and not accepting help to walk, his pain management is under control and the medical team say he could even be allowed home for a few days in the near future!!!!! This man has had pneumonia six times in the last seven years and ripped his Achilles last year, as everybody that knows him has said, he is a real fighter.

Johns stubbornness is renowned however his patience is not, fifteen to twenty minutes in a hide is good going, during a visit to Leighton Moss we were stood by the grit trays awaiting the arrival of the Bearded Reedlings after five minutes he announced  he was walking on and off he went. I had promised to phone if the Reedlings turned up and then after five minutes the Reedlings appeared so I duly phoned and he said he would walk back. As he approached with Cath I beckoned them on  and then within the bat of an eyelid both Reedlings flitted further into the reedbed and out of view. John was not happy but I said next time I would ask the birds to stay a little longer for him, he muttered something and smiled.

We left the grit trays and walked down the causeway toward the Public Hide, about halfway down stood a chap looking intently at the distant reedbed. "anything interesting I asked" "Bittern" he replied, very quickly Cath and I focused on the bird. "Have you got it John" I asked "not yet" he replied, for the next minute or so went went through the direction process, sticks,posts,dead reeds and lining up shrubs and trees all these things were mentioned to him but to no avail. "Are you sure that you lot are seeing a Bittern" he asked, we just looked at each other and smiled. I took a deep breath and slowly moved him into a different position and pointed him in the right direction "ah I see it now " he said " your directions weren't clear you know, I was looking at that post" he added and again we all just smiled. Having seen the Bittern he was happy and off we headed to the Lower Hide.

His impatience whilst out was really due to not being able to stand still or sit on hard benches/seats in the hides when it was suggested that we bring a little cushion or foam mat he rejected the idea as people would think he was a "geriatric" 

John was always keen on visiting Leighton Moss, Old Moor and Martin Mere it didn't take me long to work out why.....they all have a cafe.

After booking in usually bang on 09.30  we would set about having breakfast, normally it would be full English or whatever was on the menu ! By 11.30 we would be ready for cake and a brew.

During a visit to LM we had set about our normal routine and duly arrived back at the cafe for 11.30, John and I had a scone each and all the trimmings butter, jam and cream all washed down with a pot of tea, Cath opted for the healthy option lemon drizzle cake !!

We finished our refreshments and met up at the feeders. I noticed that Johns binoculars  had a dollop of jam on the lense. I took out my cloth and said " your lenses need a clean" he took my cloth and started to clean his lenses and  as he looked down he exclaimed "hey your cloth is full of jam and its on my lenses now" Not for the first time on a birding trip both Cath and I burst out laughing, to this day it brings a smile to my face.

On a trip to Old Moor with Cath only, John  asked "what's that over there " Cath focused in on the area in question "where do you mean dad" "over there is it a Swan in the reeds" she looked over and replied "no dad its a carrier bag" "are you sure it looks like a Swan " "no dad unless its had tesco stamped on its wing "......

John would often ask "what's that over there" we would focus in on the find and confirm what it was and he would reply " thought it was"

Over twenty ago he had a problem with squirrels in his garden. He bought a trap and after capture he would take them locally to Woodbank Park in Stockport and release them all live and well, that was until he received a letter from Stockport Council stating he should stop releasing wild animals into the park. It appears a do gooder had taken his registration number and reported him.  He rang the council and asked what he should do about his squirrel problem they advised he should phone a pest control company who would either dispatch the animals humanly or take them and release them locally!!!!!!

Firstly thank you Dave and Rob for your kind words. Enrichment is certainly something that John has given me Dave.

We returned to Blacktoft the same year partly because John likes it but also there had been a male Montagu's around (working from memory) 

Now when we travel over to the area we normally go for a night and stay near Hull in a Premier Inn visit North Cave but more importantly we have to stop at Ferrybridge services for a pit stop and a Greggs bacon bap ! We never set off before 08.30 and in the morning breakfast can be no earlier or later than 08.30 and then John has his ablutions.....John likes his routine..lol

So we turn up at Blacktoft for bang on 09.30 a quick chat with a warden and we head to Xerox hide were we will have lots of young Bearded Tits ? After about five minutes there are a few people in the hide with us and the tits (birds) turn up directly in front on me and John...now the fun starts.

" can you see them John"

"see what"

"the tits"

"no where are they"

"right in front of us on the reed stems just above the waterline"

" no I can't see them"

My voice now starts to rise 

" they are straight in front of you there must be a good dozen plus adults as well"

"are they right in front or to the left or right"

" JOHN THEY ARE RIGHT IN FRONT OF US"

By this this the whole hide is laughing, sniggering or literally in stiches as John is the only one who can't see them and we have the best seat.

Eventually he says oh yes I can see them now at this stage I think there were only two left and was never sure he actually saw them.

Later in the day we were in the Singleton Hide where a debate ensued between two birders regarding if the bird in view was a Wood or Green Sandpiper and it nearly came to blows, we had it as a Green as nearly everyone else, to be honest not even sure why there was debate. Anyway John had moved around a little in the hide chatting to people, Cath gave the signal we were moving, John picked up his bits and bobs moved to the door then someone shouts " hey you've got my glasses" John turns around and says " sorry these are mine" "I don't think they are" says this chap, " so where are mine then" asks John........Cath replies "on your head Dad" for the second time that day a hide was in stitches.

John has never labelled himself as a twitcher, birdwatcher etc, having his own engineering company and being on the road calling on customers/companies took him all over the UK and allowed him to visit well known bird sites.

" We just like birds"...........John and his late wife Dot visited Mallorca many many times over the years, one tale he told me, they had stopped for a bite to eat and sat near some chaps with scopes and "geared up" as John claimed. A conversation  soon started and the chaps said they had not seen too much on the day but the birds they had seen John and Dot had also seen plus about another thirty or so more. " Are you birders then" one chap asked "oh no " John answered " well you have seen a lot more than we have if you are not bird watchers"...... " we just like birds" John replied 

Yesterday whilst topping up Johns bird feeders and carrying out my gardening duties I noticed there were hedgehog droppings on the lawn what an irony we had worked at trying to attract them to his garden by cutting out sections out on his fence panels and creating an "untidy area" He has only been in the hospice twenty four hours and they turn up!!! Cath is with him this afternoon and evening and will let him know I just hope he understands as he will be elated. The hospice only allows three named visitors and obviously his three children take priority.

Next time..Jam Incident at Leighton Moss and possibly Hunting Bittern

After taking Caths dad John to Ludworth Moor in April we had hoped that we could get him out again unfortunately this was not to be as his health took a turn for the worse. On the 24th June he was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer and given 12/14 months. Bucket lists were made, top of which was a birding outing obviously very optimistic but we are a breed of optimists.

Sadly, again Johns health deteriorated to the point where he was admitted to a local Hospice yesterday and now just given two weeks.

I had always planned to put some words together about John as in Caths words " he had always birded as long as I can remember" writing this also helps me deal with the situation. John is not a forum member but is always wanting to know what is being seen despite being unable to get out there himself.

John is 92 next and has probably birded for 60 years or so. He birded on Mallorca at the same time as Eddie Watkinson and his wife and has a well thumbed guide book written by EW.

In 2015 John took us to Mallorca and showed us the famous places written about in the book. At nearly 86 he took us through the Boquer Valley and around most of the S'Albefera, I was totally hooked and have been back since and indeed John came with us 2017 albeit this time he did not go out as much. 

Over the last ten years we have had several good sessions out a few funny experiences and encounters which I will share in the next few days or weeks.

Whilst out at the A'Slbefera we were near the reception area when a male Little Bittern flew out and  gave me fabulous views whilst it flew over Johns head, poor John just did see it and by the time he turned around it had landed out of sight in the reed beds. John was not happy as I had not shouted it quickly enough.... things got even worse as me and Cath walked further into the reserve whilst John rested. When we returned to him and announced that we had ticked off both Purple and Squacco Heron this again didn't go down too well...

Later in the same year we visited RSPB Blacktoft we were sat in the  Xerox hide I decided to stick by head out and take a peep directly in front of us and there sat a Jack Snipe. I brought my head in and said to John "have you put your head out, you never know what might be there" so he stuck his head out and very proudly  told everyone there was a Jack Snipe there and then I never heard the last of it, "I don't know how you didn't that Jack Snipe" he said with a gleam in his eye, little did he know !! 

Until next time.... another visit to Blacktoft and the Jam Incident at Leighton Moss

-- Edited by Tony Koziol on Tuesday 3rd of August 2021 05:10:03 PM