No, I'm not being obscene.
We had two of these in the house/conservatory today.
It is a rather large Crane Fly. Crane Flies normally have clear, rather boring, wings; but not this one. We think that this particular species, Tipula maxima, is rather attractive. I can imaginge that many people would think that they might sting or bite but, no, they are completely inoffensive. We put them back outside.
Amanda took the photograph.
We went to Ludlow recently to do some shopping. We had visited Ludlow twice before we moved to Wales and, as we were staying at a hotel both times, we had free parking provided by the hotel. When we were walking around the town we noted that there was some free roadside parking although limited to around 2 hours at a time. This time we noted that if there was a space big enough to park a car then Ludlow will make you pay for it.
We didn't have to pay for parking as the supermarket had their own parking and so did the other shop we went to. Did you know that my middle name is 'Scrooge'? 
On ther way to Ludlow we noticed many places where there were Snowdrops flowering on the road verges so on the way back, near Leintwardine, we stopped to take photographs.
The hill in the centre of the horizon partly masked by the small tree is Titterstone Clee Hill which we climbed when we first visited Ludlow. Amanda tells me that these Snowdrops will have gone by the end of the month.
A little further towards home we stopped in Leintwardine to photograph the bridge.
It's a lovely old bridge so I took a view of each side. I shall take some more photographs when the sun is shining.
Incidentally Leintwardine is pronounced Lent-war-deen.
It's now early March and we haven't done any 'walking' this year yet. That doesn't include any usual walking like going to the shops and the walking about one does during normal activites. It was sunny this morning but it is forecast to rain heavily this afternoon so the time for a walk is now!
This is mainly for exercise and follows a 2 mile route we have already used for exercise and takes about 30 – 40 minutes. We leave home, head for the railway station where we cross both the river and the Welsh/English border, walk along below Panpunton Hill, turn left when we reach the Offa'sDyke path, cross the railway and the river arriving at this spot.
You should be able to see three things. The town in the distance, the rather mucky foreground and the cloud building up already. Continuing onward we soon arrive at a point just below the Offa's Dyke Centre.
The English/Welsh border is halfway across the footbridge and is shown by a yellow stripe with a yellow footprint either side (which you can see more easily in the larger picture) for those people who may want to stand with one foot in England and one foot in Wales. I think that about half this walk is in England with the other half being in Wales. An international walk.
Back into Wales we go up from river level to the Offa's Dyke Centre, down into the town centre and then off to home. I think that's enough walking for this year so see you next year. 
We went to Birmingham on Tuesday by train, via Shrewsbury, although not for our own amusement. We have been to Shrewsbury by train before and on that occasion we also bought our tickets on the train. At that time the tickets were issued from a small portable machine which the ticket man carried with him and were about credit card size.
They have obviously changed their ticket machines because on this journey this is what we were given:
Just below the ticket is a transparent foot rule for comparison.
The left-hand half is for the outward journey and the right-hand half for the return journey. But doesn't it strike you as a little excessive? Perhaps the train operating company has shares in a paper mill. 
In 5 days we will have been living here for 1 year. Near our house there is a footpath running from one road up to a higher road and this year there have appeared a lot of Crocuses along the edge which we either hadn't seen last year or hadn't noticed although I don't think we could have missed them if they'd been there.
They aren't wild but still very pretty. There is a garden at the top of the wall which cannot be seen in the picture and that has lots of similar Crocuses so I expect that they have seeded onto the footpath. It's very nice to have some bright colour showing after winter.
Spring is on its way. Whoo Hoo!
Well it's the first day of the new year and it's pouring with rain. I hope that's not an indication of how it's going to carry on as we have numerous plans for various trips this year.
Last thursday Amanda had the first of two planned cataract operations and that is, so far, progressing well. When we go travelling she'll be able to see her surroundings properly again. 
Happy New Year to all .
A Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our visitors and we look forward to seeing you all again next year.