4-13pm to Swindon at Stroud Station

We had a wonderful start to the day when the curtains opened to let and sun shone in. The 'postman' delivered very early today, bringing me cards with beautiful and colourful hearts, and another with a 'labyrinth to the heart', as was created at Chartres cathedral in the days of the troubadours.

My whole mood was lighter all day, and a necessary trip to town also offered the prospect of good light for blipping. I achieved my tasks quite quickly before heading to the council office to discuss a few urgent issues, but that took longer than I wanted.

Then I headed down to the train station, which is at right in the centre of town, and as I hoped the sun's rays were getting lower in the sky. I played rather more than usual, which was fun which helped me see other possible blip shots for the future. I like our old station which is in the traditional style of the Cotswold branch line to Cheltenham, designed and built by Brunel in the 1830s. I sometimes come to the platforms when steam trains pass up the Golden Valley, but then the atmosphere is very charged, with throngs of enthusiasts. Today was quietly busy. I liked the movement of the different people on the platform, ascending and boarding a train, as has happened like this most days since the line was built.

What probably doesn't happen that often is when a photographer accidentally records a large bird flying across the scene, unseen until the image appeared on the computer. You can see it in front of the guard, who is signally for the train to leave. I assumed it was a pigeon, as it was a reasonably large bird, but now I think it might be a kestrel, whose space we were invading. There are lots of trees and tall buildings nearby, and hills and woodlands only a few hundred yards away in most directions. It was a pity that my shutter speed was so slow.