Not Drowing Dotty at Home

No idea where the time goes these days. I've been: busy at work; busy reconciling the 2022 VC55 moth dataset and starting to write a review of it; watching LCFC disintegrate into a completely shite and relegation-worthy team; listening on repeat to new albums from Depeche Mode and Orbital, and recently starting to get my head around the idea of being a 'Grandad' in October ....

The rubbish wet/windy weather through most of March has not been very helpful to getting out for anything, though a slightly better first week in April gave me chance to waft a lure around and add a few more Pammene giganteana dots to the VC map.

The garden trap went out last night for a few hours, I pulled it in early ahead of more rain. Just as well really, as loitering at the bottom of the dry trap was the first garden tick for 2023 (and it probably would have drowned I'd left the trap out). So just over 11 years since I last saw one, and a very welcome addition to the garden, is this Dotted Chestnut. I couldn't decide which pic to post so have a few.

I mentioned listening to new albums, one being Optical Delusion from Orbital. I went to Nottingham on Friday night to watch their live set, absolutely loved it and it's about 10 years since I last saw them live. This one is probably my favourite track, not least because it mentions 'Sandeels disappearing, Puffins lost at sea'.

A much more sombre offering, but one I've thoroughly enjoyed, is Memento Mori from Depeche Mode. Several great tracks, though I doubt this release will generate a new generation of fans. Sadly, as it stands their current World tour only has one UK date - which falls in the same June weekend that I'm away at the Isle of Wight festival. Hopefully more dates to be added either late this year or early in 2024 (if previous tours are anything to go by).