Indoors day

I was booked onto a Royal Photographic Society course on Zoom today, about documentary photography. It was excellent.  I also have a Zoom dinner booked with two friends this evening. Zoom overload. But I appreciate both the new ideas (RPS) and the company.

My one outing of the day has been into the garden, to to hang up some new bird feeders. One of them has the grand title of Squirrel Buster - just what we need. Unfortunately it's not the spectacular kind that whirls the little creatures round and round, as seen on social media. But it is weight sensitive, so the seed hatch just closes when a squirrel (or pigeon) climbs on board. However, they're smart (squirrels, that is) so I confidently expect to watch them figuring out how to get to the seeds regardless of my efforts.  And maybe that is better than watching them dig up any bulbs left in the garden...

In the photo is a tiny orchid that has just burst into bloom on the windowsill of my study.  I am not knowledgeable about orchids, so I don't know its name. I seem to manage to keep them alive, however.

I've sent off the photos for Jim's order of service, and they've been well-received. The small funeral will be next Thursday in Larne.   Strict limits on numbers mean I won't be able to go, but there are plans for a bigger get-together and a memorial do sometime in 2021, whenever the Covid context permits. Richard is busying himself looking after Diana (his sister, Jim's widow), and entertaining the two great-grandchildren while the other adults get on with all the arrangements that need making. Arlo and Ezra (the little ones) are roughly the same age as Eben and Luca, so it's familiar ground for him - and special time to share with the family.