My absolute all-time favourite bird in Shetland is the goldcrest.  Apparently, it is an autumnal visitor from Scandinavia.

And, according to Wikipedia “The goldcrest is a very small passerine bird in the kinglet family. Its colourful golden crest feathers, as well as being called the “king of the birds” in European folklore, gives rise to its English and scientific names. The scientific name, R. regulus, means king or knight.”  I did not know this.  I just see them in my garden around this time of year and think they are the best.

I will admit that I am not the most professional bird-watcher at the best of times but, when I popped over to Turriefield to collect some horse/pony/sheep carrots, I was told about their newly arrived goldcrests.  Obviously I didn’t have my big camera with me as they flitted about.

And back in my garden, I went out armed with my camera.  I could hear some goldcrests in the trees – they have a unique sound, very high pitched tweeting.

Of course a certain white cat came too. He was unhelpful and I shouted at him to go inside as he stalked everything I was trying to take a photo of.  Bloody Monster.

But I managed to spot a few wee birds….

…. as they flew off, once Monster was on their trail.

Not kind, Monster, not kind.  It’s not like he’s hungry with his 6 meals a day blagged off OH.

But a goldcrest is a determined chap and, once I got my bird-watching eye in, I could see them in our trees.

Go away, Monster.

At times, it was a case of spot the goldcrest – none here, I don’t think.

I love these wee birds – they make me smile – and tomorrow I think I will head back to Turriefield armed with my big camera and no cat to become an official bird-watcher.

I can see the Minions in their field from Thordale – they are currently living in a five acre croft across the hill.  During the day, I do a head-count fairly regularly so I know they are all ok.  The wee blob on the far left is Newt.

As they were crossing the field, having spotted me watching, they were in a silly-billy mood so I walked over the scattald (grazing for hill sheep) with Pepper and climbed up the hill to watch the boys playing.

Their eyes were on me.

But silliness was stronger than trying to talk to me.

And I stood behind the wall watching them annoy each other and bounce around like ants on a hot pan (a Chinese phrase, apparently).

The sun was setting and the Minions had finished annoying each other so Pepper and I went home again.

Watching the Minions play makes me hopeful that I made the right choice putting them there.  Yes, they are a little fatter but the weather is only going to get colder and very likely worse so the natural workings of their own internal combustion engines and thick coats will kick in to keep them warm and happy (and I don’t have to lug hay).

It was a pretty tortuous journey home yesterday. I started my journey at Paddington catching the Heathrow Express and that was the only easy part.

Saying goodbye to London was sad. I had had a lovely holiday with my family and friends.  Really special.

All day, I was checking the flight from Edinburgh to Shetland which I reckoned would be the one to be cancelled.  I also had a spare set of keys for my sister’s house in London in case I didn’t even leave Heathrow. Be prepared was my mot du jour.

Heathrow was fun. I was body searched by two stroppy mares in uniform, while I argued for my belongings that had gone through the scanner to be put into a safe area.

The flight took off on time and landed bumpily at Edinburgh but I had reached my “half-way” point.  On the plus side, I sat next to a very nice lady who kept saying to me, when I told her my worried tale of travel woe “Visualise the Win and it will happen”.  So I tried my hardest but then the fun started.

The Shetland flight was delayed a bit – fair enough, I thought. The weather was vile.

As the afternoon progressed, flights were being cancelled and our’s was delayed a bit more and more and more….. so I made plans to stay in Floss’ flat (she was home looking after the animals) in Edinburgh.  Add a migraine too and I was feeling very dodgy.  Anyway, our flight was called we eventually took off around 19.30, I think.

This morning, has been lovely and quiet – the wind has dropped right down.

Lambie pretended he didn’t know me.

And Monster has made himself a new bed on OH’s soft guitar case.  He’ll be pleased when he finds it.  I am saying nothing.

So, that’s me. I visualised the win.

I went into town today to meet up with another cousin for lunch in Chinatown.  As I used to live in London for 15 years (1981 – 1996), I mostly know my way around.  More people, yes, but the buildings have remained the same.

Chinatown was very colourful and vibrant. It got busier over the day.

We looked at all the restaurants, which have taken to having their menus with pictures outside, and chose an old favourite, the Wong Kei. I used to go there a lot when I was nursing a few streets away.  Nothing much had changed. They were suitably rude, the food was adequate and they asked us to pay and leave!  My cousin thought it was all hilarious, including their attitude.  I was rather hoping they had got better over the years. Obviously not.

After a lunch, feeling rather full, I showed her around a Chinese supermarket which is a superb Aladdin’s cave of food and drink.

Onward, ever onward to Liberty, possibly my most favourite shop in the world. It is elegant and perfect.

And full of “lovely things”. I was drooling at their silk scarves, perfume and material. We had a splendid wander about just soaking up the whole experience.

My life in London could not more different from my life in Shetland.  I enjoy both worlds very much but tomorrow I will attempt to come home, battling through Storm Babette. Wish me luck!

Again, apologies for nothing yesterday but I will make up for it today.

Yesterday was spent at Tate Britain, Millbank looking at our cousins with our cousin.

We had arranged to meet our cousin in the foyer first. She had travelled especially to do this.

The Tate is big so we wandered about through the different galleries soaking up the atmosphere and the art and then we found “our” painting.

It is obviously a very popular picture and possibly the must-see of their collection.

We asked a total stranger to take our photo standing in front to show all of us cousins together. The two little girls are our first cousins three times removed, I think.  They are our Great Great Aunt Kate’s (of the Diaries) first cousins.  Their mothers were sisters.

It was nice to see they had an armed guard taking care of our cousins.

But I was slightly concerned by their neighbours, for obvious reasons. Young men all “bare nekkid”. I expect the girls avert their gaze in good Victorian fashion.

And we wandered around, going from room to room, admiring the incredible artists, some of whom were contemporaries of Aunt Kate, which made it even more fascinating. I even managed to dredge up some Greek, or was it Roman, God mythology for my cousin, which hopefully suitably impressed her.

Of course I had to take a photo of this painting but I found it worrying as the cliff was far too alluring.  Lambie would’ve been down that in a shot to go and get stuck.

Finally, the gift shop and we found you could buy our cousins in many forms including a spectacle case, fridge magnet, bar of chocolate and a tea towel!

It was a memorable day out and I’m glad we’ve all seen Polly and Dorothy (or Poz and Doz as they were always known) together as a family.