Another wee tribute

Sorry to have been quiet for so long. What with one thing and another I haven't had much enthusiasm for blogging lately which is very naughty as it's a lovely way of keeping in touch with you all. When I do come back to it, it's with more sad news (from my point of view). This time it's teh death of my aunt down in Norfolk. We were to have had an 80th birthday party for her in Perth, Australia (where one of my cousins lives) next month. When I got back from The Azores and heard she was ill I went down to see her and accused her of being a party pooper! She liked that. Sheila was married to my father's younger brother (there were also five sisters) and she's the last of that generation. I don't know how many cousins will make it to Kings Lynn for Thursday - her four boys are gathered: two live in Australia, one in Ghana and one in Korea! Sad though the occasion is, and much as I will miss Sheila who was such a good friend, it will be lovely to see everyone. I'm going to drive south on Wednesday and stay over until Saturday, taking the opportunity to polish up the new proposed Norfolk tour and visit friends in Thrapston. The only problem is losing 4 days when there's now less than 3 weeks left before I head off for Australia. Much remains to be organised for the 5-week trip which will take in Brisbane, O'Reilly's in Lamington National Park, Lord Howe Island, Sydney, Tasmania, Melbourne, Perth, Christmas Island and Cocos Keeling. Just the rest cure I need!!!! Our Australia tour is already on the website (and if it wasn't for Typepad refusing me access to the bits and pieces that allow links and photographs I could let you have both). The second tour I'm planning will be Christmas Island and Cocos Keeling with some birding in Western Australia at either end. But first it's time to say goodbye to a dear friend and have some family time.