The Owls of Schloß Ricklingen

When S&D told me that their friends had owls living in their garden I imagined they must live in a forest. But no. Up to six owls at a time can be found in their garden in the middle of the village of Schloß Ricklingen, day and night. When we visited this morning though we could only find this young owlet.

D was feeling much better so he joined us for today's outing. After hunting for owls we moved on to Wunstorf for a Sunday lunch of giant ice creams then a stroll around the town. On the way home we stopped off to look at two very different churches, a very ornate Baroque church from the C18 and a C12 Romanesque church, complete with amazing frescoes and Storks nest (see extras).

We were only out 3hrs as it had become apparent that both S and I had gone down with D's lurgy, so back at base everyone went for a rest before I started packing and S&D prepared homemade Käsespätzle as a last treat before heading to Hannover Airport and the flight back to Heathrow.

Arrived Heathrow 10.35pm, quickly through passports etc to be met by the driver I'd booked as was too late for the last coach to Bath. Home by 1.15am, 2am (3am German time) did a Covid test as felt so ropey, negative but will retest again tomorrow, doesn't always show straight away.

Thank you so much for all your very kind stars and hearts for my German blips. I'm a day behind but will catch up at some point.