Today’s guest picture is another from my brother Andrew’s trip to Spain where he did a lot and took a lot of pictures. This shows Girona, a town to the north of Barcelona.
We could have done with a bit of Spanish sunshine here today as it was another grey, windy day. I was in a rather discouraged mood and let tiredness get the better of me and wasted the whole morning doing nothing more exciting than occasionally peering out of the window hoping that it would brighten up enough to take a flying bird shot. It didn’t.
I had to shoot sitting targets today. Argumentative siskins…
…and even more argumentative goldfinches.
There were a lot of goldfinches about today.
I did take a quick wander around the garden and found a few hopeful signs.


The pulmonarias and primroses are unaffected by the wind and rain.
In the afternoon Mrs Tootlepedal snuck out for a solo cycle ride while I lounged about groaning and then we went off to our Carlisle Choir practice. Our regular conductor was absent but a very fine substitute was at hand and we worked hard.
For the first time since we joined, we were able to drive all the way home in daylight which was another welcome sign of the turning of the year.
No one could accuse of me of doing a lot today and I didn’t even manage a convincing flying bird. Here’s to a bit more life and light tomorrow. (The forecast for the next few days is for steadily increasing winds under grey skies so I am hoping that they have got it wrong.)
It’s easy to see how the drumstick primula got its name. I hope you see some sunshine soon.
At least it has got warmer and that makes the gloomy weather more easy to bear.
Great to see the drumstick primula, and the hardy faithfuls that don’t care about the weather. I fear that even you can’t be super pedalling pensioner everyday, so it’s got to be good to just relax? Here’s to more sunny days again soon!
I second that.
If Mrs, T’s flowers couldn’t cheer you up, the weather must have been particularly gloomy.
It wasn’t so much the weather as my lack of energy. The weather didn’t help though.
Glad the choir came up to expectations. The flowers in your garden are very pretty.
It’s amazing how well the shots turn out in low light!
Back in the days of film many of our shots would not be possible.
Wishing you some sun for tomorrow!
I am stunned by how good my camera is in poor light.
The weather has a lot to answer for! Hope you have more energy today!
Thank you for your good wishes. I am much perkier today.
Grey and windy here today too but things are beginning to grow and it’s certainly getting lighter.
Even the bad days seem better when there is a prospect of spring in the air.
Before you know it, you’ll be enjoying ridiculously long Scottish summer days.
In four days to be precise our days will be start to be longer than our nights, a moment in the year we greet with joy….except that Mrs Tootlepedal regrets that it just brings next winter nearer. She is a meteorological misery though.
Sorry about the lack of energy, but the choir sounds like a good tonic.
Lovely images. The birds are so beautiful!
They keep me royally entertained.
I wish you better days the rest of the week. The birds looked quite vibrant on the monitor here at the library. I may have to come over here every day.
You can always pick up a book or two while you were there.
What fascinating goldfinches you have there! So different from what I see here in Michigan. And I just love primrose! Hope things are sunnier today!
Sun is still in very short supply.