Jet trails (not something else entirely, as originally intended)

Tuesday morning and another day off. Ah.. days without deadlines.. time to wax trite philosophical as the sun rises, turning a jet trail rosy pink......... sigh...... and it's tangent time....

Although we're on the approach/take off circle for Barajas, we rarely see jet trails up here (and I suppose I mean on the meseta rather than from from the 7th floor.) For much of the year, the planes fly over as little silver arrow heads (though I noticed EasyJet livery the other morning). No trail.

But yesterday, drifting into wakefulness under the sky (a slow, gentle transition, and not to be rushed, you understand....) I realised that I could see jet trails forming as one little arrow cruised over. And again this morning. With the sun rising later and later - and more and more slowly - each morning - at 7 or 8 a.m. the temperature is only about 16C down here, so it must be very cold up there!

From here, you can actually see the pulse as the twin plumes power out of the turbines, and how they slow and widen to look like two lengths of yarn stretched side by side: first four-ply then double knit, then merging into a single length that unravels and flattens, so that by now - 9.15 - the sky is banded from one horizon to another with trails of wispy white felt fading into the blue.

And we've got a cricket almost as long as my thumb on the wall.

And there was a pigeon here a minute ago - young and slim with dark grey plumage.

And someone started drilling downstairs about a quarter of an hour back, and the workmen have just got started in the plaza with their pneumatic drill, and I'm going to make some fresh coffee NOW!