Six (Good) Things
Thing 1
Eight.
EIGHT.
This was part of the excellent exhibition at the British Library – Art, Science & Sound – exploring how humans have documented the natural world. It’s not much use my telling you about it, really, because it closes today. Sorry about that.
Thing 2
We have come to the seaside for a couple of days – for once this freelancer is celebrating a Bank Holiday like normal folk do – and we were greeted by this sunset. Swanage or the Serengeti? Always tricky to tell the difference.
Thing 3
Thing 3 is the specific feeling you get when you’ve driven for four and a half hours so you stop at RSPB Arne for a walk and a wind-down before continuing to your final destination and there are gulls and godwits and curlews and cormorants and oystercatchers going pyoo-pyoo-pyoo and ooh look a common tern and even though someone says ‘have you seen the eagles’ you haven’t seen the eagles but it doesn’t matter because the heather is in fine fettle and sea air is in your nostrils and it’s just good not to be on the road and then when you get back to the car park a juvenile firecrest comes to the edge of a tree to check you out and you’ve never been so close to one and after a minute or so it seems to decide you’re to be trusted and quietly zips away and then you get back in the car and eat a Kit-Kat.
You know that feeling, right?
Thing 4
The enduring ability of Michael Johnson – American Uber-athlete, multiple world champion, and the most informative, lucid and articulate of sports pundits – to enthuse about the exploits of British athletes.
Thing 5
Femke Bol’s perfect redemption arc.
Nine days ago:
Three days ago:
Yesterday:
Thing 6
James Burke’s timing.
There's nothing like gaining the trust of a firecrest. And someone get James Burke a baton!
Michael Johnson - about time he gained honorary national treasure status. And Femke Bol - deserves to be at the top rank of sporting world superstars.