This is where all the confiscated wildlife items go in the US, the importers of which are rarely prosecuted. It should be an item of shame in any civilised country.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jul/20/house-of...

I can't believe that it was thirty one years ago today that I turned up in work in a two piece skirt outfit feeling incredibly nervous but also very committed to dealing with anything that happened that or subsequent days. the official grapevine had informed people what was going to happen and I must admit most of the comments I received were encouraging. I wasn't the first in the NHS to have transitioned, but in sleepy West Dorset, I was a bit of a novelty for a while.

Who is Philippa York? Only one of the greatest British cyclists of all time in her previous life as Robert Millar, who has announced her new identity. I attach a link from the Guardian (where else?) with a supportive article for those who want to read it. My only comment, I hope you're as successful in your new life as you were in the old.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/jul/06/philippa-york-...

It seems we haven't quite cracked it in UK schools for transgender children.

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2017/jun/27/half-of-tr...

Possibly one answer to the above.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jun/27/trans-...

Two stories from the Guardian about boys or men wearing skirts to school or work when their dress code prohibited shorts.

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2017/jun/22/teenage-bo...

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/22/french-bus-dri...

I hope no thinks it arrogant, but as Bike heads towards 3200, I know I shall be able to fill those episodes, albeit not necessarily on a daily basis. I've submitted my (I hope) end of term assignment which Whizz helped me write - got to blame someone if it fails. If it does I have to resubmit as I passed the others.

The lone star state has apparently passed 'bathroom' legislation against transgender students, showing that the conservatives who control things there are still bent on bashing anyone who doesn't conform to their ideas of normality. I wish them happiness in their narrow and bitter lives.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/may/22/texas-bill-b...

Not quite sure where Cathy will fit this in her survey. Or a couple of others.

A new cat on the block?

You know I did that study on Mountain Gorillas... meet the new neighbour!

Nature is reputedly red in tooth and claw, things will kill each other possibly to eat or as rivals. This was the sad end to our dormouse survey today. The picture contains the body of a dormouse which has been attacked and killed possibly by a wood mouse. It was the only one we found today, making it doubly sad. To think the poor thing survived the winter then possibly went torpid overnight and met a wood mouse...

Had an interesting day, put up some trellis for my ex, took my daughter to lunch and then fixed her bike plus a hundred mile drive each way. Then just as I'm gearing up to start scribbling Bike, my glasses fell apart or shall we say, a lens fell out. I then spent a fruitless twenty minutes trying to find the screw responsible only to discover it was still in the frame. It's a weird arrangement because the screw holding the lens in is under the arm not on the top and I couldn't see it because I didn't have my glasses.

Depending upon how you say the title, it could almost be the start if a music hall joke, except I've been essaying an essay essay as an essay all day. If that doesn't make sense, neither does most of what I wrote. An essay can be an attempt, a piece of written work shorter than a treatise, a first draft, a trial or an experiment; according to Chamber's.

Human rights groups in the US are worried about what the White House is doing to various bills regarding lgbtq protection and the fact that the proposed census will no longer collect information to determine how some lgbtq people are living and the difficulties they face.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/30/lgbt-rights-...

I've had an exhausting week work wise and haven't had the energy to do much at all in the evening not finishing until 8.00pm most nights - and I'm supposed to be semi-retired. Then last night I went to bed early and woke in the night for a wee and couldn't get back to sleep for ages. consequently sleeping in this morning. However, I woke feeling much better and resolved to have the morning doing something I enjoy instead of slaving over a hot text book. I went to check the barn owl roost I know and found some more pellets.

Sorry just did a twelve hour day, yeah I know supposed to be retired, sort of, and am just too tired to bother writing anything tonight. For those with withdrawal symptoms you could always read some earlier episodes or try one of my short stories, there are one or two of them, plus other serials like Totally Insane or Charlotte's Tale or my thriller and fantasy novel SNAFU, the first 47 parts are on Sapphire's site. See links below.

https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/book-page/13585/angharads-sto...

I was getting into essay writing mode when my printer played up again, it did so last weekend when I was trying to print off a couple of scientific papers that I could quote or cite to justify my case. I was trying to do the same again, print off a paper on sustainable use of the forest when it started playing up again. It's amazing how quickly an hour can pass when you're enjoying yourself - so why is it so slow when waiting at an airport or railway station?