Late swallows and house martins

Earlier this week I sat next to the Mere in Knutsford. Cheshire. Several swallows and house martins were seen. Most swifts have now gone south, but it was good to see so many swallows and house martins still around. There was even a nest with 3 young martins in at Little Morton Hall.

In past years I have seen house martins in the South Hams (Devon) as late as the end of October. One year there were still swallows near Salcombe, Devon as late as Dec 7th. Not living in the South Hams, I don't know how common this is i.e. this late. The return of house martins, swallows and swifts is something I welcome each year but sadly at this time of year we bid these migratory birds farewell before they fly thousands of hostile miles to lands with more plentiful insect food. With the Sahara getting bigger their migration routes are getting more and more hazardous. There seem fewer of these birds than there used to be, presumably as more die on migration.

Fare thee well little friends and see you again next spring when the cycle of life goes on, I pray. The return of these little fellows between early April to early May fills me with renewed hope and joy. I tend to have tears in my eyes when the swifts return. I pray I'll be around to see these return in the spring.

http://thesteepletimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Henry-Williamson-450.jpg

Since my stroke a year ago, these simple affirmations of the continuance of the cycle of life mean even more. I guess I am more aware of how finite our lives are.  Somehow I think Henry Williamson was right about the cycle of life.

Time to return home

Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope

After 3 nights in Goostrey, Cheshire, we traveled home today. We have both enjoyed the change a lot. Jodrell Bank was only about 1.5 miles from my brother-in-law's home and apparently is visible in winter when the trees have lost their leaves.

Our hosts - David and Rosemary

We used Virgin Trains Euston to Crewe and back and trains from Cambridge to Kings Cross. A word of warning: 35 minutes to get from Kings Cross to Euston by tube was cutting it fine, if you are disabled.

Breakfast time in Cheshire

Little Moreton Hall

Today we visited this National Trust home in Cheshire. I sat in the garden whilst my wife and the others went around the house. Splendid moated house little changed in hundreds of years .

Pub lunch

Having a pub lunch

It was good to go out for a pub lunch today with my wife's brother and his wife. I managed to eat chicken sandwiches and drink tomato juice. Not quite normal yet but getting there!

Train ride

Later we are traveling by train to stay with my wife's brother and his wife. Should be a nice change especially for my wife.

Strictly Come Dancing

Is this a women's show? My wife seems totally blown away by this. I enjoy watching this as a background whilst doing something else. I am afraid I just cannot get that excited by this. As a teenager I enjoyed ballroom dancing, but that was a long time ago.

Scotland independence vote

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-29096458 .  The outcome on the vote in Scotland on independence is anyone's guess. What I do know is that the people of Scotland will find it quite hard in the years ahead. There would be many challenges, but ultimately it is their decision.

Personally I hope they vote to stay in the United Kingdom but either way won't matter too much. England and Wales would be fine whatever the outcome.