Penny Black

Two waste experts from Essex County Council met me at The Homestead this morning to look at some ancient chemicals that we need to dispose of safely. One was driving a Range Rover and the other a BMW.

They said that I was correct to refuse to load the chemicals into my car and take them to the local dump, as had been suggested by a woman in their office. I certainly wasn't going to share a vehicle with leaking tins of lurid Paris Green, an arsenic-like substance, so called because it was used to kill rats in the Paris sewers. They're sending a specialist to collect.

My sister and I cleared out the glory hole that was the under-stairs cupboard. I didn't leave until dusk and went for a quick walk along the seawall at Maylandsea on the way home.

The tide was in. This dark hulled boat caught my eye. It's called Penny Black. Not sure what the flock of black and white birds are. Thought at first they might be oystercatchers but I don't think they have enough black on them. 

PS They're avocets.