Swallows

Just seen the first swallow (migrant bird) flying over at lunchtime. There may have been some a few days ago, but this was my first positive sighting here. The earliest I have seen them here is April 7th.

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swallow/

Coffee in the garden

This morning it was warm and sunny, so we had coffee in the garden for the first time this year.

Walk this morning

Earlier, we went for an walk at nearby Anglesey Abbey. By road, this is 5.3 miles away. It is owned by the National Trust with grounds big enough to avoid people even when busy. As this is the school Easter holidays, there were plenty of people there!

Notre Dame - Paris

The images of this world famous cathedral last night looked horrific and I was dreading seeing the photos this morning. Precious medieval ceilings and the spire have gone, but I was surprised just how much managed to survive. 

It will be rebuilt, although I may not be around to see it finished. Thick 850 year old walls stand some treatment!

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47945465

Breakfast

For the last few days one of our sons has been staying here with his family. He has cooked breakfast. The photo shows our son having his breakfast earlier. It was great to see them all.

That hum

A fair proportion of people say they can hear a very low frequency audio hum. I can hear it. I have heard it from very early morning (about 5.30am UK time) until now. At first I thought it was someone's washing machine, or perhaps a plane. It sounds a bit like a distant washing machine.

Could it be the distant noise of traffic? Low frequencies may propagate through rocks. It is a very low level, but definitely there. It is worse today than I recall. Weather conditions are a little misty and we can sometimes hear traffic on the A14 road (about 2 miles away) clearly on misty days, which must allow audio signals to propagate further. Normally we do not hear A14 traffic.

I expect someone could "see it" with suitable audio transducers and software.

Margaret are you grieving?

As one gets older thoughts turn to human mortality. All of us dies - this is more certain than BREXIT day.

One poem, spoken to a young child, that hits me is by Gerard Manley Hopkins, a metaphysical poet. You may know it. We are on this earth for a very short time really. Deep down, our mortality hits us in the pit of our stomachs.  Are we really just dust?

See https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44400/spring-and-fall