The Dark Knight awakens

No horse for me and the one highland cow had smaller horns

Pleased to see Maurice back with us in fairly good shape and ready for the December 2015 bat count. Mike and James with me formed a formidable Bat team with Maurice raring to go at the 'bat cave'. The outside ambient temperature was a 'toasty' 14-15 degrees and inside the temperatures were on the high side  at 11 degrees {norm being 7-10}. The lesser horseshoes appreciate the warmer temperatures and 119 were comfortably settled in their winter roost. With the Kennels at 3, Bothy at 21 {record}, cellar at 3, this gave a total of 146 probably close to the norm {we missed December last year but November 2014 yielded 138}.

Had some fun closer to home this week as I had to shape up as a cowboy to round up some stray calves. They had broken through a fence line damaged by a fallen willow and were {4 of them} exploring the path near Merlin way and the bottom end of Burrows playing field. Olly and I bumped into them on the path and as Olly wasn't helping too much I took him home before trying to get some help. As I couldn't locate the farmer I was lucky enough to get help from the Cheltenham local Ranger and after a struggle we got the calves back into Lotts meadow where the herd were happily grazing. The farmer, who had to come from some way outside Cheltenham, eventually turned up and did some running repairs on the damaged fence line. So here's hoping no more adventures from the plucky calves.

Update on 'Lotts meadow' cows today which shows the farmer's repairs were unsuccessful. This time while walking Ollie was confronted with a large horned cow running along the path connecting with Merlin way, then was pursued down Merlin way by another adult cow with a policeman and small crowd watching! I was trying to protect Ollie and not too worried by the cows. Farmer still not appeared and half his herd is still roaming around Burrows playing fields. Here's hoping they don't get bored and decide to investigate Moorend Grove.

Today Monday 21 'the longest night' didn't start to well as I had to encourage the Lotts cows from my front garden, at 5:30 am back onto Burrows playing field. Yes they made it to Moorend Grove and the amusing 'escapes' of the past week are becoming a pain, here's hoping the farmer gets his act together soon!!