An ugly duckling

A young swan stretches its wings. This "teenager" was present each day with its parents in the small harbour at Eling at the top of the Test. Why are they called ugly ducklings at this or any stage in their development into a white swan? It seems to me that they always have the same beauty and elegance whatever stage their plumage is in in the progression to the brilliant white of adulthood.

I needed a bit of a lie-in this morning after the journey down to Southampton yesterday. So this photo was taken mid-morning when I went to stretch my legs. After this, I took Dad into Southampton to get some trousers, as none of his old ones fit properly any more. Surprisingly, M&S didn't have any of the sort he was looking for. They had plenty of Chinos. "Do old chaps wear Chinos", he asked me. "Why not", I said. So that's what he got.

Speaking of older people, when I was on the train I finished reading Patrick Barnham's 'The Butterfly Isles' about his quest to see all the British species of butterfly in a single year. There is a wonderful description of visiting Arnside: "it appeared to be a model society entirely populated by old people....White-haired folk thronged the streets, served by a dinky branch-line railway. Others beetled through the lanes in well-polished cars, heads barely peeping above dashboards." An uncannily accurate description at least of a weekday in the village when anyone of working age has left for their job in Kendal, Ulverston or Lancaster. Oh well, at least when I reach retirement I won't have to retire anywhere else.

This is the first of the back blips - two more to go.