Arrival and Departures

Today was the day, twenty-five years ago, that I gave birth to our golden girl, Julia. In extra, the only old photo of her I have here, washing one of the boards for making wax sheets to put in beehives - in Brazil, where she was born, in the town of Mossoró, a birth so lovely I'd have happily done it again the next day. Sad not to be with her, but her great friend, Beth, and Tom have really made it special. As did Deb and Sam a few days ago.

Paul and Karis have made it safely to Belfast, where they will spend their quarantine at Karis's home. So honoured they risked it to visit us. Thanks for all your sympathy yesterday - glad to say we are all much better, just washed out. This is their plane arriving at Faro airport, we were underneath, walking along the boardwalk, taking photos of all the birds and clam diggers.

Like a fisherman, the ones that got away:
- the sun shining through the wings of two spoonbills flying overhead
- purple rain falling from a cloud out to sea at sunset, the red sun turning the blue into purple
- around thirty seagulls and two herons on posts in the estuary
- banks of bright cumulus over Faro, against a dark sky

We've decided to stay another night; couldn't face the drive home, Mike especially, with his toothache. Thought we'd spend the day in bed, but we've been out twice, and so glad we did.

Gratefuls:
- the gift of this child we were given
- the gift of the visit from Paul and Karis
- the gift of their elder sister, who carted Julia round on her hip for years, and put her to sleep in the hammock when I was too busy