Discovery

We have lived in the village for over forty years and, in all that time, we have not discovered all the paths there are for an enjoyable walk. To be fair, we haven’t been strong on taking walks so it’s not surprising. However, today I went on a walk of discovery with Mac and took a route I hadn’t taken before. It was lovely. I walked miles.

Not only was the route enjoyable but the sights I saw were amazing. Spring has properly sprung and every hedgerow was bursting with blooms, buzzing with bees and positively perky. Wildlife was abundant with rabbits, loads of birds everywhere, including a jay which I always get excited to see, and butterflies – yellow brimstones, orange tips and red admirals. Cracking stuff.

The sun was shining brightly too, and it was very warm. Here is Mac taking a bit of shade early on in our walk…..

Later on, as we neared the end of the walk, Mac was trotting along very nicely on a long lead, half length, but he was obviously feeling the heat, so what should he do but launch himself, in full belly-flop style, into a very pretty stream running by.

Oh boy! Did he enjoy that!! He had a good rummage around for fish and frogs, burying his nose deep into the muddy water. He didn’t half look pleased with himself as we walked home. Not a contrite muscle in his body.

Our early evening walk was a simple one around the ‘new’ estate i.e. the Kemps Green Estate, which was established in 1981-82…… However, this was also a brilliant walk with the flowers on trees, shrubs and in flower beds pumping their pollen out like nobody’s business. Not only did they look beautiful, but they smelt beautiful, too. And the bees were still a-buzzing. The sun was setting, a full orb, like a bright tangerine in the sky and opposite, was a creamy full moon, as massive as you like. Glorious.

My favourite season? It has to be Spring. It’s just so lush, isn’t it?

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, John has been pottering in the garage for most of the day or scrolling to and fro on the internet for spare parts, which seem to cost far more than they should do. But what can you expect for a classic car, eh? Ha! Another discovery – the cost of things.

When he wasn’t tinkering with the car, John was sleeping, bless him. He’s worn out. We’re not sure exactly why this should be just now but I suspect it’s post-cold fatigue. He keeps saying he’s ‘done’……..however, there’s plenty of life in the old boy yet in my opinion and, anyway, he’s got to get the car finished, hasn’t he? I wouldn’t mind having a spin in it this summer…… “Yes, yes,” he says, “it’ll be ready by summer.” Ah….. but which summer, eh?

On the COVID front, Danielle is still feeling poorly, but no worse, so fingers crossed that she’ll be on the mend soon. Thomas was poorly yesterday with a tummy bug and spent most of the day throwing up. I think it generated a lot of washing and necessitated Michael taking the day off work. Ay-up! Never rains but it pours. However, he is on the mend today so that’s one blessing, at any rate.

I nipped over to the Kenilworth Newbies to drop off some masks for Danielle and the Easter Eggs. Me at one end of the path and Michael and the kids at the front door. Thomas was clearly excited to see me, making high-pitched little noises to make sure Daddy had noticed exactly who it was at the door….. so cute. Fills my heart – but also breaks my heart that I can’t go in and help. Ah well……..

I’d like to comment on the current affairs, but find myself switching off the news, unable to stomach what’s happening and the likelihood of an escalation of hostilities in Ukraine. It’s just sickening. However, one pinprick of light is that the Ukrainian family, who are going to stay at Linda and Brendan’s, have arrived. I saw the wife today, shopping in the Co-op with Brendan – I do hope they can make a good life here in the UK.

Take care everyone. There but for the Grace of God……