Some important things I forgot: – In Scotland, we were lucky enough to witness a 46% solar eclipse. Yes, we were careful. I don’t think I ever saw such a big chunk out of the sun before. – In Hitchin, Talitha, Pete and I went to the local pub for an evening of amateur music [...]

Pictures taken while on snarfari in Ipswich with Ipswich is a lovely old market town and has a rich variety of architecture and exciting blue plaques that I can spot from a mile off, because I’m like that. ;-)

After Hitchin, I hopped on a train and went to Ipswich. I had to change at Cambridge. At Cambridge, the train filled up with teenaged school children. One of the girls decided that emitting bloodcurdling screams was a really fun way to pass the time, until a woman got up, tracked her down to her [...]

From Scotland, I flew to Luton, and my friend Tali picked me up and we enjoyed two utterly reprehensible and amusing days together. ;-) She had the gutrot from hell (just don’t ask), so we had a very low key visit, which was exactly what we both needed, since my parents wore me out :: [...]

(1) Big leaves (2) Don’t believe they’re big leaves? I’m 5’3″ tall. (3) In Scotland, we make our own fun. (With a nod to Barbara in Alaska: M&D say hi.) (4) The view I saw last November, with sunlight on it.

(1) A moody view (2) Achnasheen railway station – can you imagine riding on a train through this kind of scenery? (3) Vroom! Duck! (4) Loch Maree, a classic view that everyone gets when they do this road. The road used to be single track, i.e. one lane for both directions, but it’s been/being widened [...]

(1) A moody view (2) Achnasheen railway station – can you imagine riding on a train through this kind of scenery? (3) Vroom! Duck! (4) Loch Maree, a classic view that everyone gets when they do this road. The road used to be single track, i.e. one lane for both directions, but it’s been/being widened [...]

Forgot the Loch Maree one.

2nd October was another family day, with the addition of my sister in law’s mother, whom I hadn’t seen in well over ten years. It was nice. We all ate too much. I got Christmas pudding because I won’t be around at Christmas pudding time. If I’m any better fed, I’ll start to resemble one. [...]