I’ve been away for a while so haven’t been updating here much - back to the routine now, though!

To start off, a short selection of scenes from my recent holidays with my family.   We did all emerge safely from the deep, dark woods!

Playing Chinese Checkers with my parents while staying with them this week.

The game is such a simple concept, but I find it endless fun.

In memoriam: my great-uncle, whose funeral was on Wednesday.

I took this sunset photo from the window of the car as I returned with my parents from the funeral and gathering afterwards.

He was almost 92 when he died, and had lived his life to the full, with great joy and great love for others, always a fun person to be around.   He won’t be missed, though, because he lives on in our hearts.

Going away for a few days, probably wont have time while away to do any tumblring.

The occasion is a sad one: an elderly relative passed away a few days ago, and I am going to join my parents and attend the funeral.   That said, it somehow feels like this was the time for it to happen so the sorrow is not overwhelming.

Back from catsitting for my relatives.   This is Felix, the cat whom I was charged with keeping alive until they got back.   He was a little doubtful about me at first, but soon felt comfortable in my presence!

He did catch a mummy blackbird in the garden, apparently the first time he has taken live prey.

Mother and Father Dearest grow wild flowers in their front garden patch (the first picture).   These are very wild flowers - totally unruly!   They’ve started putting their “tags” in the neighbouring gardens - the other pictures are examples of their offspring growing where they didn’awta.

I’m spending the Whitsun bank holiday weekend with my parents.   Photos are:

The in construction glass ziggurat I saw from London Bridge train station.   If my life were the musical/science fiction adventure that I wish it was, that would be some key element of an alien plot to invade and annihilate the Earth’s population, and it would be up to me (or someone else) to stop them.

The Love-in-a-mist growing in the garden tended by Mother Dearest

The family cat, who I swear has not changed since kittenhood some 19 years ago, and whom I therefore call The Unchanging One.

Just heard from my parents that he was put to sleep today.   At 19 years old, he had a very good life but it was clear that he was on his last legs.   He wasn’t in serious discomfort but it was only a matter of time before he would start to suffer badly, so it was kindest this way.

He is survived by his sister, whom I once dubbed “The Unchanging One” because she shows remarkably few signs of ageing despite having been around just as long as her brother.