Tuesday 29 December
We’ve been really lucky. All of the walks we have down in and around our locality (not straying too far due to Covid restrictions) have been really good. Interesting things to see, close up and from distance, broad vistas of land and a thousand acres of sky. But today I held my hands up and apologised to the family for taking them on a bit of a stinker.
Head north, east or west from our house and you’re going to do ok. Head south and it’s pretty plain, flat, uninspiring agricultural land. Vast stretches of stubbled fields waiting to be woken in the spring.
Actually, come to think of it, that’s probably the key thing here. In winter, everywhere looks brown and grey. But, and especially under a cement grey sky, farmland looks particularly bleak. But, my seagull companion was there, as usual today.
But a shout out to (some) farmers for doing a little bit of good for us mere mortals. Those kind landowners who allow for a path to be carved by walkers to run parallel to lanes and roads. These aren’t designated footpaths but allow people to keep safe (avoiding traffic) and dry (avoiding mud and pools of rainwater). It’s a small thing but much appreciated by some of us.
The headlines at the moment are talking of us being in “the eye of the storm” in respect of the latest wave of Coronavirus. The NHS is under significant pressure with London, the south-east and East Anglia being picked out as regions of increased concern.
I went to see my Dad this morning. He was being called by the oncologist to review the latest CT scan, and it was good news, the cancer hasn’t spread.
So, although we had a crap walk, which was also longer than I had expected, I have been pretty positive today. We are preparing for the inevitable return to school next week and the government seem to be sticking to the staggered return of year groups and rapid testing of secondary age pupils. But as we know, that could all change.
The Bald Birder 