Empty nesters

It's just as well that the baby swallows photographed in this nest by me on 24th July 2003 are blurry, as they are meant to symbolise our newly empty nest at home. Philippa has flown, as did these little chicks.


She has semi-flown on a number of occasions, which birds generally don't do. The first was on her gap year, then to university and all the comings and goings during that period. A key feature of these occasions has been, not the momentous flapping of wings as such, but the movement of stuff. It comes and goes, with much heaving, dragging and purchasing. It usually has to be traipsed up stairs and through heavy fire doors, new stuff and old stuff. I'm looking forward to that first cup of tea, with water boiled in the new kettle, by my newly fledged daughter in her new nest.