Burns Birdwatching

On a breezy Sunday when all the snow had finally cleared, YC headed up the coast to check out the local birdlife.  At Cresswell Pond (the view from the hide is shown on the left), a long tailed duck, snipe, and several red breasted mergansers were on view.  Further north at Druridge Pools, there were wigeon, teal, and a splendid male pintail duck (click here for RSPB picture).

It was still on the nippy side, but at least all the fresh air helped to blow away the cobwebs from a Burns Supper courtesy of Mr & Mrs Rev T.  The haggis was accompanied with a Strathisla malt (a Christmas present from James), and very fine it was too.

Lakeland running

YC was running in the Lake District this weekend.  The weather was distinctly chilly as readers can see from this photo taken from Lonscale Fell looking north towards Great Calva.   All that exercise called for some slaking of the raging fellrunner's thirst.  John Telfer and Paul Hainsworth insisted that YC partake of some refreshment in Keswick, and he thought it churlish to refuse.  For the record, the Landlord's Choice (3.6% ABV) in The Dog and Gun was superb, as was the Jennings Bitter (3.5% ABV) in The George.

On Saturday YC enjoyed a scamper round the fells.  Can any reader guess where he was?  Check out the photo competition on the NFR website.

New Year Quiz (now with answer)

YC saw out the old year with an excellent concert by the New Rope String Band at The Sage, followed by dinner at the Percy Gardens HQ.  Rev T had rolled out the Mexican flag for Ana Elena Kelly - see below.  YC saw in the New Year with an uphill only 3 mile fellrace at Rothbury.  His supporting cast at the race was Rev T.  Despite being assured of victory in his age class, Rev T declined to enter the race and nobly left others to claim the glory.

For a new year quiz, can any reader name the 4 family members in the photo on the right below?  Hint - the photo was supplied by Ana Elena; it was taken about 50 years ago in Wales; and the girl on the right is not a family member.

Answer - the family members are from the left Tim Walker, Steven Palframan, Liz Shipway (nee Palframan) and Phil Kelly (Ana Elena's father).

with the Mexican flag on New Years Eve

name the family members