January we had flu and consequently we felt poo
for the first six weeks of the year we stayed inside groaning
mid February we're awake, Roy and Kaye have built a lake
big cat reports for heaven's sake, and there's no point in moaning
In March we fnd bloody hell, Oliver has made a wels
but because we'd been unwell we were running late its no surprise
April we had sunny days wandering round in a haze
Max and I spent happy hours cataloguing butterflies
There was a strange hedge garlic glut and orange tips were everywhere
Corinna and I went and did some speaking gigs in Berkshire
one in Reading library, and then the next day she and me
did another one in Wokingham and then drove our way back here
On the way we went to see the Hampshire hawk conservancy,
a place that's rather dear to me and everything was going well
I filmed bustards (birds I like even though they look alike)
Max brought us a handsome pike, Corinna called it Cromwell
WITHOUT SELF-AGGRANDISING
I THINK THE CFZ GIVE A PRETTY GOOD SHOWING
WE DIDN'T LIGHT THE FIRE
BUT WE DO OUR BEST TO KEEP THE DAMN THING GOING
Graham fixed the roof in May, it doesn't leak no more wayhay
so when the skies are cold and gray, we no longer panic
there was a tragic incident when prudence snapped her ligament
after running round the garden and being stupid and manic
In June we bred our Aequidens species Peru, which is an
unidentified species of cichlid that needs to be studied
July a boost to our self worth, our caecilians had given birth
we've achieved something most major zoos have so far just not managed
In August once again my friend, will this madness never end
we promoted the 12th weird weekend the lynx caused a sensation
a few days later sponsored by the North Devon animal ambulance,
Pru went in to hospital to have an operation
She sulked for nearly six weeks for not getting on the furniture
the way she always had before, and worse we couldn't let her
go outside except for when she had to go out for a pee
but after time, eventually the vet pronounced her better
WITHOUT SELF-AGGRANDISING
I THINK THE CFZ GIVE A PRETTY GOOD SHOWING
WE DIDN'T LIGHT THE FIRE
BUT WE DO OUR BEST TO KEEP THE DAMN THING GOING
In september to Redfern's groans, Corinna sang like The Ramones
we were working so hard to make sure that things got easier
the same month Richard and the crew, to the great joy of me and you
went back for the fourth time to hunt apes in Indonesia
Of success they had a glint, was this a real knuckle print
of a new species of great ape still lurking unmolested
they brought back footprints pics and filmed eyewitness testimony
they also brought back hair samples which are waiting to be tested
October Oll left us alone and we got our rabbits rehomed
and Oll took Helios with him to go live with his girlfriend near
and much to my personal glee we had room at last for a library
now all my books are in the same place for the first time since we moved here
November we just had to mention how much we enjoyed the unconvention
and with Shosh and Gvin's help getting there wasn't too much bother
and afterwards we went to see the Rutland hoot birds sanctuary
and spent a pleasant few days staying with my wife's dear mother
WITHOUT SELF-AGGRANDISING
I THINK THE CFZ GIVE A PRETTY GOOD SHOWING
WE DIDN'T LIGHT THE FIRE
BUT WE DO OUR BEST TO KEEP THE DAMN THING GOING
And in December with good reason, we celebrate the festive season
looking back the last 12 months all had a strange cohesion
prudence corinna AND ME had A YEAR of natural history
and fortean zoology and as the year draws to completion
WITHOUT SELF-AGGRANDISING
I THINK THE CFZ GIVE A PRETTY GOOD SHOWING
WE DIDN'T LIGHT THE FIRE
BUT WE DO OUR BEST TO KEEP THE DAMN THING GOING
Love to you all
