After an absence of more than three years I have returned to writing. Trying to work full time and care for elderly parents took its toll an there never seemed to be time to write. Sadly we have lost both my parents and Malcolm’s father now. Our dear, last remaining dog, Barney, has died too.
Life goes on though and we are still here. Our field continues to evolve and our burgeoning wildlife continues to delight us. The pond still does not hold water! It does fill up in winter though and we have managed to maintain a reasonable level of water in it having installed a solar pump to fill it, when the sun shines, from our well.
We still have the Soay sheep, twelve in number now – no replacement dog as yet. In recent years we have started to see hedgehogs in the field which we are thrilled about, having not seen them here before. Last summer we successfully reared an abandoned baby hedgehog and have just released another who spent the winter in our utility room as it was too small to hibernate.
We have been adopted this spring by a pair of wild mallard ducks, which we have christened Tom and Vera (after Captain Tom Moore and Dame Vera Lynn). They particularly like our patio and entertain us by waddling up and down and peering in through our glass doors. They have taken possession of our garden pond and have quickly ensconced themselves on the bespoke floating duck island made specially for them by Malcolm. We’re hoping we might hear the patter of tiny webbed feet one day….
It’s bluebell time and our woods are carpeted with their nodding heads in a sea of blue, interspersed with the frothy white flowers of the ramsons (wild garlic). The heady scent of bluebells fills the air and with the sunlight glinting on the fresh green of the newly unfurled beech leaves it really is the most beautiful time of year.
really is the most beautiful time of year..
Never Mind the Bullocks 