Sunday 07 February
Snowy Sunday. It started around 4am and has not stopped all day. Now, I know we have a tendency to exaggerate and get a little hysterical about all weather in the UK, but that’s because (I believe) we live in a temperate climate where we have few extremes of anything and alittle bit of everything. But drought or snow are a rare occurrence and stear our behaviours accordingly.
So, after our bracing and bright-white dog walk in Lawford we hunkered down at home, with cheese and biscuits, a good book and a roaring wood burner.
The birds were crazy busy on the feeders but there seemed to be more blackbirds than normal today. Perhaps it because the snowy carpet made them more obvious, hopping about searching for food. But I was also reading that, at this time of year, the migratory blackbirds will be heading back to Scandinavia and the birds who spend summer in our backgardens will be heading back east to their nesting places. Some will also move from the woodlands, where they go for berries and shelter in the depths of winter, back to their spring, summer and autumn garden territories.
A couple of days ago, I cancelled our planned flights to Italy. We had already rearranged them from last October to March in the hope that travel restrictions would be lifted, but that is looking unlikely even now. It looks as though the UK government want to push on with this third lockdown as the final one. They want to get the majority of adults vaccinated before they start returning things to normal, and don’t want to risk yet another surge.
And who knows what the situation will be at Easter, both here and in Italy? At the moment, flights are being cancelled and anyone who does come into the country has to isolate for two weeks in a hotel at their own expense.
Age brings experience; some good, some not so good. Bereavement is one of those experiences, and for me it is a confusing one. My simple brain (as a result of my experiences so far) split this thing into sad and happy memories that flit into my mind at odd times. Sometimes triggered by something obvious (“I remember coming here with..”) and not so obvious – I may just wake up and think of that person.
Well today, I am missing my friend, Jason. Not sure why today, of all days. I just am. And that’s ok. I am sad, but thinking about him makes me smile too. Love you, Mate. Miss you.
The Bald Birder 