Saturday 11.04.2020

As if to nay-say the remarks about cold winds, yesterday afternoon turned still and sunny and by the time we were in the woods the clouds were banking up and it had turned warm and close.


Glad to be able to confirm that the Easter Bunny is indeed an essential worker (thank you Jacinda Ardern: https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-easter-bunny-and-tooth-fairy-essential-workers-says-new-zealand-pm-11969298)and has managed to make his (her?) deliveries in our woods:





Later, as younger dog and I took a final turn round the top field it was a beautiful hazy evening, there were more skylarks than the sky seemed to have room for -one even deigned to pose for a photo opp-

and though the air was evening-fresh it was possible to sit for a while and watch the sun heading towards the horizon. Even younger dog decided to have a quiet moment instead of trying to deal death and destruction to little furry animals.

This random pile of rocks has always been a good place to perch and watch the world turning round

but feel even luckier to have it just now.



And then this morning.......up and round the tops with both dogs but such a splendid scented spring morning (and with forecasts of increasing cool winds again), Yoga was postponed - Saturday see? - change of routine - :) as younger dog and I did that early morning canter around the woods - lapwings and oyster catchers over the fields, an assortment of smaller birds in full throat in the woods themselves - and were back home for coffee and one of those Hot Cross Buns made yesterday: they actually turned into (massive) Hot Cross Cherry Scones due to the unavailability of the conventional ingredients but were delicious anyway - lightly toasted with some very good marmalade lathered on. Yum. :)

Friday 10.04.2020

Ten days into the month - is that a sign that in "lockdown" the hours all merge into one amorphous unreality? No, not really.
Aim for variety with just a little bit of structure built in to mark the days. Most mornings early round the bounds with the dogs; a stretch of yoga (try www.yogawithadriene.com very unpretentious user friendly stuff), first coffee and then......
-writing
-reading
-long walk
-garden
-kitchen
-jigsaw
-longer walk
-emailing
-letter/postcard writing
-the day usually ending with a last walk round the bounds before supper........
..............and so on and so on.......but in any order for any length of time as the weather and the mood dictate....actually a massive luxury, all the while counting blessings for the fresh air and space up here on the hill.

And the "markers" are Wednesdays, which have become our shopping-for-oldies day, and the "weekend", in this situation an entirely arbitrary choice of Saturday & Sunday but habits die hard so truthfully not doing much different but perhaps a bit more Twitter, box sets, podcasts and guilt free pottering.......
Talking of which, here`s an enormously sensible take on how to deal with this bizarre situation........
https://www.chronicle.com/article/Why-You-Should-Ignore-All-That/248366 Guilt, you see, is a complete waste of energy.

And yesterday found another activity to add to the list as I reconnected with my inner 13 year old and went for a bike ride. Don`t do it often enough, always forget how enjoyable it is, exercising the legs up the hills and whizzing down them......and there`s a refreshing change of scene as well.

Went "round the block" for about 7 miles, no doubt breaking lots of the current "rules" but as I was only passed by 2 tractors and saw no-one else at all, not expecting to get my collar felt just yet.

Meanwhile the unifying factor across the last ten days or so has been the wind. It seems that whichever direction it came from it was.....well, chilly at the least, absolutely baltic and blowing hard at its worst, sun or no sun. but it means that taking walks - long -or longer - in changeable conditions and at different times of the day has been a sure way of introducing a bit of variety. It`s surprising how the sun being in a different part of the sky casting shadows in unfamiliar places, can alter perceptions and awareness.


OK, so here`s a chance to change the routine: a few hot cross buns...and I must check my sauerkraut. :)

Tuesday 31.3.2020

Another early start. Spur of the moment. Dogs and I beat the bounds on the back hill as usual on a grey, mizzly morning but as we came back down the sun suddenly emerged from behind a cloud and bathed the landscape in the most extraordinary light.
Swapped wellies for walking boots, shooed old dog back in (she went gratefully) and younger dog and I scuttled up the road towards the woods. Birds all in fine voice, including the woodpecker, his (her?) hammering ringing out in the icy air. For despite the warmth of the sun, when it occasionally disappeared and we were left to the mercies of a strong north-westerly wind it was freezing.

Met a man with a gun, as you do. Not quite so sinister as it sounds: this was a friendly country gentleman of mature years who I`ve never encountered in the woods before, and (the designated two metres apart of course) we agreed it was a lovely morning and discussed the local bird life. He had a large pair of binoculars and what looked like a tripod and we parted with a cheery wave.....but I`m still not sure what he was hoping to bag with the rifle at quarter to eight on a Spring morning. Did wonder if he`d given up shopping as too problematic and was trying to secure his next lunch.

Always think it`s odd we don`t meet more walkers in the woods - it`s generally the usual few suspects and then not very often.

However, it was a lovely morning for a walk, the catkins always an optimistic sight at this time of year

and that early light creating some magic.

And later, got to go for a second walk in the woods (but this time didn`t meet anyone), slow dog came along too so we took our time, properly relishing the space and fresh air. Not lucky exactly, we chose to live up here, but particularly fortunate just now. Onwards and upwards and into April!

Friday 28.3.2020

An increasingly weird and surreal few days, instructions changing daily. So as in the army, obey the most recent order, and here we are, socially distanced. But then we are anyway up here on the hill. And counting blessings galore, in particular the space that surrounds us: our own few acres of Scottish land plus, about 4 or 5 hundred yards up the road, a 300 acre wood for our delight and relief.

And younger dog and I were up there early this morning - while old dogs slept on :) - blown up the road for a change as overnight the wind had gone round and was coming down from the north with the
odd bit of sleet and hail on it. Cold:sunshine one minute, freezing showers the next. The deer were startled to see us up there so early but it was a good place to be,the fresh air with that extra early morning tang, the birds in full morning chorus mode.

Couldn`t have been more diffferent yesterday afternoon and evening when the sun burst through the stone grey skies we`d had all week, the wind dropped and all we could do was sit around soaking up the warmth. It was even possible to spend half an hour at the top of the field, watching the sun go down, without turning to stone.

Tonight, then, the clocks "spring forward" but I suspect we won`t be springing anywhere very far in the foreseeable.

Friday 13.3.2020

High grey cloud, air cool but completely still, encouraging the intake of great lungfuls of the stuff which seemed a particularly positive thing to be able to do in the light of the impending cataclysm.

Two lapwings cavorted in a field as we walked up the road, a lovely sight and sound but a sad reminder of the flocks of them we used to see 30 odd years ago.

Anyway, we strode into the woods which were eerily quiet, even the birdsong seemed muted though the woodpecker is back and was making his presence felt. The clouds began to shift a little and a weak sun came struggling through as we turned for home, looking forward to a virus-bashing lunch. Roasted garlic soup anyone?

Monday 9.3.2020

Shirtsleeve order this morning, hat and gloves abandoned even before we got up the drive and sweater removed once we were in the woods. Not exactly sunrise though a little earlier than we have been setting off recently (not long after nine) but the birds were still giving it the full dawn chorus, amplified in the completely still air. Warm sun offset by a cool breeze made walking-quite-fast the ideal pace, the urge to keep looking up through the trees to the very blue sky irresistible.

Even old dog picked up a little while younger dog covered a couple of miles for every one of ours - no bird, deer or little furry creature left in peace. She still hasn`t worked out that they`re all too quick for her but it keeps her fit. :)

Wednesday 4.3.2020

Last few days perfect for walking whether in the woods or round the bounds. During the day bright blue and white and sunny with a wind which, though cold, has been enlivening rather than seeking to kill. Beautiful light with the suggestion of spring in the birdsong and scents of grass and pine and freshly turned earth.

Most mornings and evenings the wind has dropped, the icy stillness grabs at the breath and the soul. In the mornings larks hover overhead heralding the day; in the evening it`s a demi waxing moon that hangs in the sky and watches over our return to the fireside and supper.

A lot of magic in the air on these kind of days.