Sitting Tight

    I wonder how my mother felt back in the summer of 1945? She’s 18 years old, and war is already raging on the Continenet due to the meglomania of a fascist  madman, determined to fashion the world in his own twisted image. I think I know.

There is an unforgettable beauty in this Spring day. I will treasure it, as perfect. It’s warm, and I am serenaded by a chorus of a splendid clutch of songbirds. Violets, primulas, primroses and daises are scattered willy-nilly at my feet. Above my head, the mock orange, and  Pacific dogwood are waiting in the wings. A few more weeks and they will shower me with blossoms.

I hesitate to spoil the mood. So maybe I won’t. Maybe, like my mother, eighty years ago, I’ll enjoy this day, and let tomorrow be. 

Geographically Challanged

I am going for a walk. This WILL be a challenge.

I have been a member of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust for a couple of decades (on and off) and have useful information to hand, like a Reserve to walk in, the name of the nearest pub and a Map Reference.

Five Acre Grove, The Royal Gloucestershire Hussars. SO791043.

Thank God for Google, I mutter, having learned from my Geography O Level (1967) how to ink in a coastline with a mapping pen, but not how to read a map.

Last year was not a good year for walking. It was too wet. I am a fair-weather hiker, I'm ashamed to say. The only Reserves I visited were Buckholt Woods and Swift's Hill. (Black Horse, Cranham, good pie, Woolpack Slad, no room. No room at the inn, just like Christmas.)

An adventure in prospect then. Better get going!

Photo: Swift's Hill, Slad

Below: Five Acre Grove

F

Spring is Sprung

The earth turns and the sun makes her appearance at 06:35am. I awake to birdsong and remember Donald. 1968, a long long time ago. He wrote funny letters that made laugh with quirky little poems ... 'The Spring is sprung the grass is riz...' & etc. With little drawings of Suzy Dougal. A Pelham Puppet. I was at least a hundred years younger. So. D. W. Sharpe, should you ever read this, 'Hi'. That's all, just, ' Hi'.