Today’s guest picture comes from my sister Mary. The parakeets in Hyde Park are so tame that this one came to her friend Garth’s hand without even being offered food.
In spite of being in a spell of high pressure which usually brings sunny weather, we have been getting a lot of cloud. This has been trapped near the ground and is reluctant to disperse. As a result we didn’t have any views to enjoy when we caught the train back north after our visit to Evie and other relatives.
What we did have was a punctual train. We were beginning to think that we might have become railway train Jonahs, bringing lateness and delay in our wake whenever we boarded a train but today’s journey put paid to that idea. As the train wasn’t even very full, we had a most comfortable trip and caught the bus from Carlisle to Langholm with time to spare.
Although we have had a delightful time in the south, we were still very pleased to get back home…
…even if it was even greyer in Langholm than it had been on the way up.
A few snowdrops in the garden promised a brighter future.
After a revivifying cup of tea, I took my legs out for a little stretch. It was reasonably warm at 8°C and there wasn’t much wind so it wasn’t a hardship to be out but there wasn’t a lot of light left in the day.
I walked round Pool Corner…
…along towards the Auld Stane Brig…
…where I checked on the fencepost lichen garden…
…and then returned by the track towards the town.
Meikleholm Hill was entirely encased in cloud…
…but on the other side of the valley there was a slight lift so that I could see the mast on Warbla for a while,
The was no chance of seeing the monument on Whita though.
We had lightly boiled eggs for our tea and will go to bed early in an effort to be fit to face local life again tomorrow after the excitements of the great metropolis.
I shall take this opportunity to thank my sisters Susan and Mary for accommodating Mrs Tootlepedal and me during our stay, and Mrs Tootlepedal’s brother and sister in law for our welcome to Marlow. We saw nine relatives (plus two alternative grandparents) in two days which is a very reasonable return of relatives per hour spent.
I have filled the bird feeder up to the top and hope for a visit from some garden birds tomorrow but in the meantime, the only flying bird action that I saw today was a noisy parliament of rooks having a break in their discussion while I was on my walk.
Note: I don’t know what happened to the posts from my phone while I was away. They didn’t have any allowance for comments for some reason. The ways of WordPress are often mysterious and as far as I know, it wasn’t anything that I had done. I am hoping that comments will be enabled on this post now I am back at my computer.
Tootlepedal's Blog 
We are always delighted to see you both in London and are grateful for the delicious Greek meal you shouted us. Nice to be able to comment again.
Nice to have the comments.
Welcome home! The parakeet photo is interesting, as somehow I don’t think of them as being able to survive a winter outside in your climate. I had heard of a flock of them somewhere on the Connecticut shore, but never saw them myself.
I saw blooming snowdrops on the way into town yesterday. Ours are not up yet.
The parakeets are very much at home in London but we don’t see them here.
Back in touch again so all’s right with the world! Pleased the train journey home was better than lots you’ve had recently. Good to read too that you are now up to date and in everyone’s good books for ages after visiting all those rellies!
I bask in the sunshine of a deed well done.
I’m sure it’s great to be home again.
My grandmother kept parakeets but none were as big as that one. It must eat well.
Nice to see the snowdrops. We won’t see them here for a while.
The parakeets are well fed in London.
Glad to hear you are back home safe and sound and that you had an eventful trip.
What a pleasing post: all is right with the world now.
Agreed that the ways of WordPress are often mysterious!
Very.
Lovely to see you.
Glad you had a surprise punctual train trip home. Those snowdrops look very welcoming.
Comments are back. 🙂 And a punctual train. Things are really looking up.
Hooray. Thank you.
Shock horror — a train ran on time! Your trip south looked to be very enjoyable, especially liked the four generations story.
I just wish that I could have got them all posed like an old Victorian study but it was not to be.
I agree; your return of relatives per hour was very impressive. A lovely break away, snowdrops to greet you on your return, and breaking the railway Jonah… not bad at all!
All good!
I’m with Derrick. And you sure packed in a lot in two days. Always good to be home, though, isn’t it?
Agreed. 🙂
Home sweet home. Grey and gloomy here too.
A bit of a swindle when there is high pressure about.
I am envious of your lichen garden.
It has lasted very well over the years.
So dark and gloomy there, similar to here, where I have thought a couple of times that it is dusk when it’s only about 2 PM!
We know that feeling.