Heartened to discover a few weeks ago that there is an annual seagull screeching competition in Europe.
For my entire life, my default noise on tripping over or having any similar sort of unexpected and unwelcome surprise, was an unfeminine screech of consternation. Normal people would let out an unexceptionable “Oh!” but not me. It’s been a source of much hilarity amongst friends and family over the years, shading into downright annoyance for the less tolerant. In any event it’s led me to believe that the seagull is my spirit animal. So you can understand why news of this competition left me surprised and gratified. Not that I have any intention of competing amongst these professionals, but the competition itself, designed as an attempt to rehabilitate the image of these oft reviled birds, was good news enough for me.