It’s been a too long since I have been to a conference, and when the major vacuum conference in Europe is ten minutes’ walk from my mum’s flat in Harrogate it was too good to miss. The last time I gave a presentation in Harrogate I was about 14; this one went a bit better.
It did mean we could spend a couple of weekends up north, with a trip to Northumberland to see the Bridled Tern that was resident at Coquet Island. This was a British lifer for us, or would have been if we hadn’t gone the day after it had left. Still, there were smashing views of Puffins and our first Roseate Terns for several years.
The Dales were glorious and a weekend in Flamborough gave yet more seabirds. Heading down south with a car full of decent beer, Betty’s cakes and other Yorkshire treats, I didn’t realise I was bringing down another souvenir: COVID.