They're Back

Not a great pic, but I liked the movement in the wings. Ventured outside for the first time since Wednesday. The cough is still lingering but otherwise getting back to my normal self. Nice to see Bar Tailed Godwits back on the beach although there were a lot of dog walkers out and the birds kept having to move on. Earlier we watched the funeral service on TV - so much pomp and ceremony as London was looking its most imperial. No doubt a fitting tribute to the Queen, after her years of service. Much of what happened today, and in fact since the coffin arrived back in London, wouldn't have looked out of place at Victoria's funeral. The coffin on a gun carriage, pulled by horses or people. The massive queue to pay tribute, eschewing a modern system of pre-booked time slots which certainly was technically feasible, if not providing the same useful optics for the state. The removal of traffic lights, road signs and much other evidence of our times, the dress military costumes that wouldn't look out of place in Fenton's photographs of the Crimean War, the walking procession with just a few cars tucked away at the back of it all. Could this be the very last hurrah of Empire? I fear not, as England seems addicted to looking backwards through rose-coloured spectacles. I remain hopeful that Scotland will follow a different path.