gulls gone

I probably should have mentioned this earlier, but the gulls have vanished. I noticed almost as soon as we returned home on Sunday afternoon: I was not immediately mobbed on venturing out into the garden, and no gull was to be found inhabiting the redoubts on the tops of the houses. Then on Monday I saw a neighbour who told me a dead chick, aged perhaps 3 months, was found in the back alley some time over the weekend (cause of death: unknown). And clearly with that, the gulls had evacuated to a more appropriate billet on the coast. I am sad in a way to hear of the chick's demise, but happy that peace has been restored to our neighbourhood.

Under grey and rainy skies I went out to visit my mum this afternoon, who, though remaining quite anxious about her upcoming holiday, had managed to pack and include all the essentials, including the famous sine qua nons, namely:
TICKETS
MONEY
PASSPORT
These are the only things absolutely required for a successful holiday, and she remembered them. All else may be begged, borrowed or bought, except of course for peace of mind, which is a much more elusive commodity. She tells me that what with all the worry this time, she will never take another foreign holiday, which I am rather relieved to hear (though I seem to recall that I have heard it before) It sounds sad, but then she has travelled extensively throughout the world and seen many of its wonders. So confining herself to the British mainland ain't such a bad thing, really. To say nothing of it being a lot greener...

Now all I have to fear is the dreaded call from the cruise-ship to inform me that something has gone terribly wrong. Please God it will not happen. But, as they say, I've got a bad feeling about it...