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[endlessrarities]

Okay.  It's past four o'clock in the afternoon, the writing muse is snapping at my heels and it's been one of those days when I've had stuff circling round my head for hours and I haven't been able to get near a computer for  hours SO I'M VERY CRABBIT!!!

We went out for a walk around Castle Semple this morning, and I made an exciting discovery.  Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera to record it for posterity...

Last spring, I noticed a lone whooper swan amongst the mute swans.  The rest had left on their migration - this one was left behind, with a broken wing. 

I've been wondering about its fate for a while, whether it made it through the summer okay, or not.  To my immense delight, I saw it today, looking quite well, mooching for food amongst the mute swans.  Hopefully, its ability to scrounge will see it nicely through the winter.

'Ghost Light' was great - just as good as I remembered it.  But it was extraordinarily complex, and thankfully the good old Beeb had added a special feature explaining the plot!  I thought I'd sussed it out.  I thought 'Control' was in charge of Light's spaceship and 'Josiah' was one of the specimens brought aboard for study.  I was wrong...  But I still love the idea of an intergalactic 'Beagle' touring different planets in order to classify their life-forms, and to juxtapose that idea onto Victorian England was a masterstroke!

And now, a preview of next week's featured archaeological wonder.  I couldn't visit Ripon and Pately Bridge without taking a detour to the World Heritage Site which just so happens to be sitting on their doorstep.  The site in question is, of course, the magnificent Fountains Abbey, which embodies monasticism on an industrial scale!

Here's some views to give you some idea of the scale:-
 

 

And now I'm off to do some writing...

Have a nice evening/afternoon or whatever, everyone!!
 

Comments

[red-trillium.livejournal.com]

Hooray you saw the swan again. Perhaps it will find a friend this year when the others come back and next year you'll see babies????

This abbey looks like it will be interesting. :)

Do you know much about 15th/16th century Morris dancing? I've got a friend at Dreamwidth & she's trying to get some stuff together for SCA. I don't assume you would just because you're an archaelogist, but because you've got a lot of different interests and might be able to help her. her post is here if you are able to help.

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

There will be no patter of little feet for our friend - unfortunately, they migrate south for the winter, and it ain't the breeding season for them...

Poor lonely swan...