HANG UP THE BUNTING!

It's my 5000th blip, apparently, and as always I want to thank the team and all the blippers who keep on being excellent and keep Blipfoto the lovely site that it is.

More reasons to celebrate: I saw my first swallows of the year today – yay! – (first extra), but they haven't made a summer here yet. We're still having a very slow chilly Spring in this part of the north east and I had to wear my big coat this afternoon. Second extra shows the strength of the wind blowing the smoke from someone's (controlled) fire, and also how bare the trees still are. The gorse and hawthorn are only just beginning to flower in some parts. However, the sun is very welcome.

Also: I took B for a dental checkup and apart from a visit to the hygienist it doesn't look as though he needs any more work done, so that's a win!

Also: it's meles' and DaveH's 25th wedding anniversary today, so cheers to them - they're the reason I started blipping 5000 blips ago - but tinged with the sad remembrance that it's four years since our dear friend and beloved blipper Ogatodomar died.

Keep on blipping!