Unwelcome visitor!

Yesterday afternoon, while watching tennis, there was a sound like thunder in the chimney. Though I'd never heard it before, I knew right away what it was. A bird had fallen down the chimney!! Some stuff fell into the hearth. There was a pause. Then another racket - clawing and flapping, this time a bit louder. It was definitely on its way down three flights to my lounge! Eek!

What to do? Panic and run? No. I calmly pinned up a wee blanket over the fireplace, sellotaping all round. It was NOT getting into the lounge, if it came that far. And if it didn't come that far, that would be an even bigger problem.

However, after another few pauses and thunderings it eventually arrived with a thump in the fireplace, and I was able to pounce and wrap it up in the blanket. Fortunately JR was home by then, and opened the window, so I could chuck out the intruder - a silly pigeon!!

It just made me shudder to think what would have happened if it had chosen to visit when nobody was there. Disaster! What if it flew around the whole flat? And what if it happened when we were away for the weekend?? OMG! I wonder if the house insurance covers pigeon damage...

Today, after checking all weather forecasts, all of which varied, but seemed to be in general agreement that it would be fine in the east, but rain would arrive later in the afternoon from the west. Susan and I had planned to walk up the River Almond. We decided to go ahead, but the drizzle started when we were on the bus and it didn't stop.

So we spent an hour on the bus to get there, an hour in the cafe and an hour to get back home. This very drookit leaf on the seaweed was the only photo I took all day.

However, all was not lost, as we had a great old chinwag. Turns out that Susan used to live in Tanzania - her dad was in charge of railways and harbours in the 50s!! She taught tried to teach me a few words of Swahili, which of course I've forgotten, but I will learn.

She told me a great story of when the family were back in Scotland, on a bus journey to Edinburgh. Her younger brother was getting bored, so Susan started teaching him how to count in Swahili. She had got up to nineteen, but forgot the word for twenty. A voice from behind told her the word! He was a Ugandan Asian, in the UK to escape from Idi Amin. He couldn't believe he was sitting on a bus in Scotland, listening to a European child speaking Swahili. Good story.

Tennis and another of those bargain Magnums awaits. Hope I have no feathered visitors....