On the evening of the 21st, a little before dusk, we gathered with some other Norsey Wood enthusiasts to see is we could hear and see some bats. There was a brief introduction (https://www.norseywoodsociety.uk/bats-more-info) which included the number of different species of bat that visit the wood. If memory serves it was 16, 9 are listed here https://www.norseywoodsociety.uk/batsofessex. Three different site were proposed, and the bat detectors (a device which picks up their high frequency calls and translates them into something we can hear) were handed out. The most common visitors call at 45kHz and 55kHz. So the detection frequencies were set accordingly. We made our way through the gathering gloom of a later summer's evening to the first location by the pond. We waited, mostly quietly, although our low frequency chat is not going to distract the bats from feeding. Eventually we saw a bat or two flitting around the treetops and some beeps came out of a few detectors. It was a windy night; the previous couple of days had been warmer and stiller. At the next two locations, there was absolutely nothing. Walking back, I tried to take an atmospheric picture - not much luck there either.
It meant a late night for the infant school aged grandchild, so next morning we were up lateish. He enjoys the indoor crazy golf at Hackers, so no surprise that we went there towards the end of the morning. He's getting rather too good at it now, but was upset that he didn't get a hole-in-one.
Then back home, so that we could drive to his favourite restaurant - McDonald's. It is a strange place. I ordered on the big screen and took my table number indicator, which now includes some sort of detection tag, so the servers know where to go without having to walk around the whole place. McDonald's is consistent, if it is anything. It always fails, just a little, to meet my already low expectations. Our order number never did appear on the 'Preparing' screen. When the food arrived, the sauces that I had ordered on the screen were missing. The food, though, was quite edible. The lunchtime experience was set to get worse. We drove across Festival Leisure and walked up the stairs to Sprinkles. We waited some time to be seated. We were handed menus and told that we could order on the website, or at the counter. The paper menus and the web menus don't match - not even close. I went to the counter and was told that they are too busy to take orders and I must use the online system. It seats about 100, perhaps 150, there were only 3 tables in use. I tried on the web page again, but could not even find the option he had chosen, then we left. I have visited Sprinkles twice in my life. Both times I found the staff unhelpful and the ordering process confusing. I've promised myself - never again. In the cinema foyer, there is an ice cream bar - we ordered there and got what we wanted in a couple of minutes.
Then, back home, and it was soon time for him to leave. On balance, we had had a good 20+ hours.
No comments:
Post a Comment