Hazel Ricketts

Oh I read that when I had an elderly dog... I sobbed!! Heartbreaking & beautiful in equal measure I remember!

Not a bad view from my usual seat for evensong at Salisbury Cathedral. This is the south case of the Father Willis organ which dates from 1876 & is basically unaltered. A privilege to hear it so often especially when in the hands of @johnorganist.bsky.social who knows it so well.

When a parrot wanted to connect with a distant friend, a touchscreen showed a selection of other birds available online. The parrots learned to activate the screen, designed specially for them, by touching it gently with their tongues rather than pecking aggressively with their beaks. "We had 26 birds involved," said Hirskyj-Douglas. "They would use the system up to three hours a day, with each call lasting up to five minutes." The interactions ranged from preening and playing with toys to loud vocal exchanges. "When we went through the data, we found that most of these parrots had favourite friends," said Hirskyj-Douglas.

Pet parrots which typically live alone (whilst those in the wild live in large flocks) were given the technology to call each other. They would use it for up to three hours a day, and developed favourite friends 💔
on.ft.com/3K05vhS

Oh I have read that... it pretty much destroyed me too - especially with an aging dog of my own at the time...

When off work, feeling lousy thanks to a stomach bug cats can be great company. Keep one warm too! This was Piccolo & Duo's self appointed nursing job earlier in the week...

Photos of @salisburycathedral.bsky.social from Tuesday. My dog walk, just outside, and inside when suddenly there was nobody in sight for a moment!

Duo hasn't been allowed out for 10 days following a minor injury. He isn't impressed, but has finally settled in the sun. Cats manage to look like they are relaxing every single muscle and may just "pour" off the chair by mistake don't they?!

The mist was rising from the water meadows which gives it that vibe, and of course the colouring thanks to dawn. It was a magical time to be out.

Out around 5.30am this morning before it was too hot for the dog. Salisbury Cathedral looked like this...

Indeed! She had a couple of days with mainly music experience but also with vestry team & things like helping catalogue music. All "behind the scenes" which makes a place like this what it is. So grateful to those who accommodated her.

Quick photo yesterday when dropping my lucky 16yr old off for work experience. Yes this is Salisbury Cathedral! Thanks to @johnorganist.bsky.social & colleagues for giving her a fascinating couple of days "behind the scenes".

Free world class music performances every single day in our cathedrals - it is called "Evensong" and even for those who are not Christians the music and a quiet service where congregation only join in with one prayer (& sometimes a hymn) can be a time of music & reflection in a busy world.

Having chased off the pigeon that had the audacity to land in HER garden, and drink from... "oh! I had forgotten this water bowl!" aka the birdbath, Solo sat on guard to make sure no other creatures were going to make the same mistake!

Two photos of Salisbury Cathedral at dawn at 4.30am a couple of days ago. This view is from my house!

Quick photo of Salisbury Cathedral after evensong last night.

Looking forward to Salisbury!

When Piccolo turned up as a tiny scared feral kitten I was worried Solo & Duo wouldn't accept her. Solo cuddles & mother's her & Duo plays with her (piccolo is under that blanket!)... I hadn't been intending to get a 3rd cat but I'm so glad she found us.

Sending love.

The bride has her heart set on this. The organ is notoriously unreliable, esp the pedals. What is your answer? Mine was my 16yr old (organist) daughter page turning, stop pulling, & playing the pedal part on the manuals!

And yes, I paid her for her contribution - much to her delight!

At this time of the year, the last rays of the setting sun reflect off the tower windows of Salisbury Cathedral. This makes it look like the tower is on fire! Rest assured it isn't!

I live in a city. But that city is Salisbury which has 5 rivers, water meadows, and a cathedral. Therefore views like this are pretty normal! Salisbury is not your average city!

Menopause is starting to be a more open subject generally, and hopefully the impact of this change on the voice will become as mainstream and as well understood as that which happens in teenage years.

I find one amateur choir I direct chatters a lot especially before rehearsal. We started doing some breathing exercises to start, and it just brings quiet and focus. They have to watch me too, to know how long I want the exhale to be. Changes their mindset from "social" to "work".

Salisbury cathedral a few days ago.

They are lovely. I quite understand why you'd use them for this.

Also beautiful.

That is beautiful. Please don't think me rude when I say I'm tired & without my glasses on at a quick glance & a small photo my brain saw "something round and orange with candle" and assumed Christingle! A quick zoom in allowed eyes to put brain right, and me to appreciate how lovely it is.

I'm not surprised you wept. That is stunning, and finding it and "hearing" it (even if only in your head) must have been impossibly moving

Brave little Piccolo cat in the garden! No beetle or spider is safe!

Many years ago there was a cartoon of a person in a wheelchair, and a door up a flight of steep steps. The sign beside the door read "incapacity benefit assessment centre" (or similar)...

I make no comment on whether that felt accurate at the time or now!