I know that you might think that living in the country we do not get to see people very much. And it is true that I cannot walk out of my door and have a natter with a next door neighbour and I can’t just pop in to a cafe and catch up with friends who happen to be there. But you would be surprised how often I do meet up with friends – it’s just that you have to make more of an effort and it all has to be arranged and planned and when we do meet – we never stop taking – you see there is so much to say after only having our pets for company. Well, anyway, I am trying to tell you about what happened last night. Now the nights are drawing in we all agreed to meet up for an evening meal in our nearest town to cheer ourselves up. I offered to pick up a friend in a nearby village and drive to the nearest town miles away. What a good time we had catching up on news and ... well, just talking to a person and not a cat or bees or the like. But at the end of the evening I was dismayed to find tha
The endangered spotted fly catcher bathing in the bird pool I would give anything to go for a swim right now. I used to swim, twice a week – in the old days b.c. (before coronavirus). I met my friends and took health giving exercise. Now I don’t even know where my ticket is. In any case, I expect it is out of date. Early in the week some little creatures took an unexpected swim. A pair of blue tits have been in and out of the nest box, on the old apple tree, for over a month now. The young fledged this week. Four of them flew uncertainly into the long orchard grass. Their colours of pale yellow and faded blue are good camouflage so they can hide from predators. They are small and about the size and weight of a wine bottle cork. But there is one danger, which has never caused a problem before, and that is our wild pond. It is on the corner of the orchard. It was a warm day and I imagine that the young blue tits were thirsty. They went down for a drink and three of them fell in. Wh
It is the sameness of it all this winter. Everyday melds quietly into the next. I have been wondering how to make life different in lockdown, to gain a new perspective on things. Then I heard about night walking and thought I would give it a try. People in cities are doing it already. As long as you ‘social distance’ you are fine, and they say that you see things in a new light. Social distancing is no problem for me as I am shielding, and I planned to walk on my own. But at the first attempt I did not get past my front door. There was a frost, and everywhere was too slippery. This week has been milder, so I tried again. I soon found out that I would have been better in town but, of course, I cannot go there. I must stay in our own garden and fields. Here, instead of people, there are rabbit burrows, mole hills, and vole holes to avoid. I stayed on the path and walked round the house. I heard the last call of a blackbird reluctantly leaving its prized bird-table food. I noticed
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