Just back from a fascinating afternoon on the Thames following the Swan Uppers - all in their traditional gear & Thames skiffs. All part of my effort to value events closer to home. Not many people around so a very friendly event with a really nice bunch of swan markers and old hands giving me tips on where to go. If you haven't heard of it, it is a very old ritual whereby the owners of the swans (the Queen, Vintners Company & Dyers Company) can claim ownership of the new broods of cygnets. The swans are caught, checked for injury, weighed, measured and ringed. It takes a week (always the 3rd week in July) to go up the Thames, ending at Abingdon.
More information on www.royalswan.co.uk but best to phone on the day to check progress and exact times. The crews had rather a long lunch break in the Barley Mow at Clifton Hampden today - a good place to chat to them.
Feeling uneasy with tradespeople in the house.
Mysterious hole - help please!
