Delayed celebrations.

Last night we meet the farmer who says the Swifts that live under the eaves of the potato barns have started to head back to Africa. The swallows and House Martins will stay for another five or six weeks before following them on the long journey down to Mauritania. The farmer also tells us the council has given approval for the caravan park to expand onto the field the curlews use to feed on in winter. The curlews are an endangered species and deserve better.  Static caravans 1: graceful and unassuming birds 0.

The Begonias outside the church are enjoying the current ' wet one minute, warm the next ' summer weather.

Down by the 16th tee a local dog owner is walking his dogs. Perhaps another, more realistic, take is that his dogs are walking him.

They look ferocious but are as gentle as lambs. They pass us going one way and reappear ten minutes later going in the other.

We pick this up in the local bookstore.

Angus had a 'big' birthday on Monday. We are now heading off to celebrate in a hotel restaurant which 'The Font' booked a year ago. Tonight was the closest opening they had available. Angus has called ahead and spoken to the sommelier to see if there any hidden ' gems ' that don't appear on the wine list. It seems that there are some 'bin end' Pomerols the thought of which puts an anticipatory spring in my step and a whistle on my lips.

Why you should avoid fizzy drinks on a long flight  :https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/what-ultra-long-haul-flights-do-to-your-body/

Sight suffers in space :https://www.universetoday.com/articles/what-if-a-trip-to-space-changed-your-eyesight-forever

26% of Americans are Costco members :https://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/06/22/just-how-many-americans-are-costco-wholesale-corpo.aspx

A ( partial ) solution to nuclear waste :https://interestingengineering.com/energy/waste-eating-nuclear-reactor-stellaria