<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After viewing Bob's photograph of the <a title="The perigee moon" href="entry/Mooning-Around"><span style="color: #3366ff;">perigee moon</span></a>, I was reminded of the night before when out walking the dog and its appearance was much clearer. The evening was quite still and cloudless, and the omniscient moon's presence felt mystically magical, peaceful even.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The next evening, when out walking the dog, the sighting of the moon, in reality, looked exactly the same as Bob's image - it had a luminous and misty, outer ring. It was my hubby who pointed to the moon (who said romance is dead?) and said: &lsquo;The moon tonight is the nearest it's been to the Earth for almost twenty years.' </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But what of these superb images taken from around the <a title="The perigee moon" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/gallery/2011/mar/20/super-moon-in-pictures?CMP=EMCGT_210311&amp;#/?picture=372849128&amp;index=12"><span style="color: #3366ff;">globe</span></a>:</span></div>

<p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">The snow is falling again here in North Yorkshire, and apart from it being a pain in the proverbial for many people, I appreciate the extra light and scenic beauty. The snow makes for good exercise too.&nbsp; After picking up the vegetables, we're going sledging again with our grandson. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;">Wishing you all a safe and Happy Christmas!</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It would appear one of our friends habitually puts out food for the birds.&nbsp; Unfortunately this attracted a rather large rat into the garden and she remarked on its beautiful glossy coat.&nbsp; The rat became a regular visitor and it was decided that the purchase of an air gun was required in order to remove it.&nbsp; So she went along with her husband to a local sports shop to ask advicel&nbsp; The burly Yorkshireman advised them to purchase a .22 air rifle, together with a pork pie purchased from across the road.&nbsp; He explained that rats love pork pies.&nbsp; He went on to further advise that the pie must be nailed down securely to prevent the rat running off with it and also to provide a better target.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The rifle and pie were duly bought and accurate measurements were taken to establish a suitable location for the pie to be secured.&nbsp; The telescopic sights were checked out to ensure a good shot.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">They waited.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Despite all their efforts, the pork pie kept disappearing without any further sightings of the perpetrator.&nbsp; After the purchase of twenty of the most highly recommended, best pork pies, they decided that enough is enough and contacted the rat catcher.&nbsp; Humane traps were set and the rat has never been seen since.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">However, instead of the birds returning they now have to contend with a rather devious squirrel!</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em>The irony to this story is?</em></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_V8fjVWFXdd8/TYxeEoaNseI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/w8y_UxYc71Q/s800/DSC05564.JPG" border="0" alt="frogspawn" width="800" height="600" /><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_V8fjVWFXdd8/TYxruwd1J3I/AAAAAAAAAh8/tq2gUyerWQ8/s800/DSC05562.JPG" border="0" alt="Frogspawn" width="800" height="600" /></p>