Monday 26 October
First day of the half-term break but I went in to work this morning. Myself and others were delivering food parcels for our pupils who qualify for free school meals. It was great to have a team of volunteers giving up their time to ensure some of our most vulnerable families will be able to feed their kids. It really is getting that difficult.
As I was driving with the delivery on the back seat, I was struck with another emotional tidal wave. These have come along occasionally over the past year or two. It has been tough dealing with a few challenges personally and professionally throughout 2019 and 2020. The virus seemed to act as a distraction at the start but has become another cloud to add to the ongoing shit-storm. I guess it was a relief at the beginning because it was happening to us all.
So, I’m driving along and this piece of music is playing on the radio (I’ve never heard before) and the late morning sun is shining on the iridescent leaves on the trees. The branches now showing through like dark veins. The breeze was uncoupling them from their places. And my thoughts came thick and fast about the trials of family and physical disconnect from friends. The future is not looking too rosy as we battle the pandemic, economic turmoil and environmental crisis. And I contemplated that, this year, the whole world has stopped smiling.
But it has been a day if two halves. This morning was bitter-sweet. This afternoon was simply simple. After lunch, the four of us drove the ten minute journey to Stratford St Mary and we walked Mabel in the beautiful landscape of Constable country.
Getting outside. I know I’ve talked about it before, and it has been mentioned many times by people over the past few months. But a walk in the fresh air and soul cleansing countryside is priceless right now.
The Bald Birder 