Losing things

 

I knew the answer!

Straight away I shouted ‘kestrel’ at the TV. It was University Challenge and Amol was asking about the ‘windhover’. You sometimes see one hovering over the roadside verges, keeping in one place and only moving its wings and tail to balance. Mind you I did not manage to answer many more questions this time.

Our kestrel has not been around for a while and I know that their numbers are dwindling so I was pleased to see it his week on the wires above Oak Meadow. It sat there with its hunched orangey back lighting up in the winter sun whilst it was intent on a little creature in the grass below.

In the darkness we sometimes have the owls over Oak Meadow, but did you know that at night the light pollution is altering insect and bird behaviour? Robins are singing in the ‘dark’ and creatures are becoming confused with the constant light. There are only six international dark sky reserves in the UK and our nearest is in Wales. In Shropshire I have been to Carding Mill Valley at night, it is quite good for stargazing, but I have only just started to think about valuing darkness and thinking about light as pollution.

There is noise pollution as well and yesterday I came across a quiet garden. There are hedges for privacy and just before you go in there is a waterproof bookcase filled with an exciting collection of books. It was all very tidy. Perhaps there is someone monitoring every day and perhaps you can donate books. I went in eagerly through the little pathway in the clipped high beech hedge. I was alone and it was certainly very quiet. I sat and thought about my ‘clearing out’ project.

I have sold things online and given items away to friends and charity shops. At my age it is no good keeping things that I do not use. And one of these items is my old pasting table.

I bought this plywood table when I was twenty-one and just moving into my first flat which needed decorating. I chose wallpaper with bright blue poppies dancing in circles. I bought the table to help me with my job.

I have used my pasting table all my life for a camping table, a ‘shop’ table when I have a stall at a craft fair, a family party table in the garden and a table on the drive during COVID for the delivery of groceries.

Mr T has now bought a much smaller lighter aluminium one that folds more neatly, so sadly my pasting table must go. I think my wallpapering days are over.

 (Taken from my column in the Shropshire Star)