It was a day of damp; of cold seeping from the sky and from grass that smelt of cellars and decay. It lined the bare branches and parasitic balls of mistletoe. Buds like clenched fists held the promised leaves of next year tight within them. Jessie and Will approached along an avenue of dark treesContinue reading “The House”
Tag Archives: Seasons
Winter to Spring
It’s raining as I set off on my walk. Not really wet, just a gentle drizzle. And it’s warmer than I expected, about 8 degrees Centigrade, so I revise my layers, ditching a warm layer for a waterproof one. It feels as if we are at an intersection between winter and spring today. I haveContinue reading “Winter to Spring”
Christmas Shopping
The shopping centre is busy, but not as frantic as you might expect on the last Saturday before Christmas. To me, not particularly drawn to crowds, it makes the experience less gruelling than expected; although I do turn tail when faced with a crowded Marks and Spencer’s food hall. I’m hungry and getting just aContinue reading “Christmas Shopping”
Sunlight
Sunlight drifts On gossamer line Into autumn
Autumn
The first day of autumn, according to the calendar and to the Met Office. The dragonflies and faded butterflies will tell you that summer is still hanging on by a thread, but the cobwebs are frosted with dew in the mornings and there’s a cool wind blowing from the north. It takes more than oneContinue reading “Autumn”
Morning Song
The stagnant air is fog-filled, as it has been for weeks. I’m putting out food for the birds when I hear it. A secretive burble of notes, a warm-up routine. It takes a while to find it but then I see a dead-leaf-orange amongst the holly leaves. Its eyes are hidden but I feel itContinue reading “Morning Song”
Winter Visitors
It was a damp, foggy start to the day. Cloud wrapped around us as we started walking along the concrete track. The morning chill fingered its way down the inside of my scarf. Pylons had their heads in the clouds. The wooden humpback bridge over the mud-brown River Thames was slippery and we slowed ourContinue reading “Winter Visitors”
Hedgehog
The weather has turned colder, bringing a lull in the rain-sodden autumn. The horizons of our days are pulling together. It’s a time of change, when the last shining berries are snapped up by hungry birds and the trees expose their skeletons. I’ve gone outside in the dark evening to scatter some food for theContinue reading “Hedgehog”
Alien Footprints
It was a typically Atlantic autumnal day of warm blustering wind. This is the best time of year to stare up through the canopy, enjoying the stained-glass effects of reds, oranges and yellows. So, stare up is what I did, neck creaking at right angles to my spine. Staring up at a sky that couldn’tContinue reading “Alien Footprints”
Snow
Putting on my ancient, blue anorak, shapeless and baggy in all the wrong places but warm, I shove the back door open. The old door is warped and damp, the bolt broken years ago, and it gives easily. I step out into the snow, which creaks under my feet, and pick up the bucket ofContinue reading “Snow”
Mudwriter 