Well done for giving up - I smoked 3 when I was 14 on the top deck of the 183 bus to Golders Green and that was that

since you have gone back to the topic of smoking, I was interested in the origin of the expression "no cigar"?

I always thought it was something to do with the surrealist artist Magritte who painted a picture of a pipe with the wording "ceci n'est pas une pipe" or this is not a pipe.

I thought that another artist then painted a picture of a cigar with the wording "close but no cigar" - this still may have been an advertising stunt?

Anyway, (as I'm sure you are dying to know) apparently, "close but no cigar" relates to the test your strength sideshow at fairs in the US in the 19th century. If you could hit the bell you won a cigar - if you couldn't you can guess what the stall holder would say. That's right "better luck next time buddy"

so put that in your pipe and smoke it (now where does that come from.............)

Yes, that's apparently true!

But, back to birds of the day .

Kingfisher

Mine has to be a Female Blackbird...it was singing, not as vocal as a Male and not as lyrical. This is only the second time in my life i have witnessed a Female bird singing, well what i have noticed.

Yes I have miscalculated the sums! A pack of 20 is about £6 in the UK.

A Greenfinch for today - if you can see him! lol

lovely greenfinch photo skylark, he is well camouflaged there but i can see him!

Swift, over my house - first of the year. Great spotted woodpecker - in the nest hole. I hope for some good pics this year, as it's in an ideal place.

With regard the smoking thing - I decided to make a New Year resolution that I would not break - to give up smoking. I haven't had a cigarette since!
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Mind you, I've never smoked - well I did say that it was a resolution that I wouldn't break

Mine has to be the Goldfinch at the moment. We get a pair coming down to the feeder everyday. I have just had the first Arctic Terns for the year here too (Summers here).

Spotted Flycatcher this morning - first for the year.

An irate Song Thrush, making a hell of a din with its alarm call alerted me to this sat in a tree. Allowed me quite a close approach

Tawny Owl