Female Bullfinch.

We've got a lot of people on holiday at work at the moment, as a result i was asked to work right through last night. Started at 4-30 Friday afternoon and finished at 7-45 this morning.
What a relief to be in the cool fresh morning air, and did i mention the peace and quiet.......The factory has been very very hot over the last week with the hot weather, togging up in full overalls doesn't really help.

I thought i'd visit an old stamping ground of mine on the way home from work.
Many years ago i worked for a company called Diametric which was nestled in a lovely little village called Meonstoke. Most days i'd travel along the A32 which in its self was a nice drive as its all through countryside. Occasionally i'd cycle to work, but instead of cycling along the main road, i'd cycle along the old railway line from Wickham to Meonstoke, a very very nice ride.
The A32 running through the Meon valley, runs along side the Bere Forest, which has lots of tracks and trails running through it. Three or four times a week, either on the way to work or the way home i'd go for a run, which was just superb.
The running in the forest lasted for around 7 or 8 years, year round, so even when the weather was hot as it is at the moment, it was still cool running under the canopy of the forest.
As a result of the running, i got my screen name which i use on most web sites, "Bererunner".
I spent an hour and a half this morning just mooching about, keeping quiet, and out of sight as much as possible.
My prize, this beautiful shot of a Female Bullfinch, the male didn't come close enough to get a clear shot, he was like a beacon, beautiful bright chest, you could see him comimg from a long way off.
Apparently we're having a BBQ later, so that means lots of food and drink, i'm going to bed to get some zzzzzz's.

Larger view.

Later's.

j.