By Reina Free
Because of the heavy snowfall in January I was not always able to enjoy my early morning walk along King’s Lane. But this morning I was back on the ‘trail’. My wind-up torch was a great help, for it was still quite dark. Sometimes the flickering light woke up the still-sleeping birds in the hedgerows, making soft tweetering sounds. I told them not to worry, hiding the light.
The dewpond, and even the small one, are full to over-flowing with a layer of blue-ish white ice and snow on top.
In the small wood I call Little Narnia an owl hoots.
In some parts of the hedgerow here and there is still some snow. In the light of my torch it sparkles like thousands of uncut diamonds. Can it be the hedgerows are calling “more snow, more snow” as the old country saying goes?
King’s Lane has become very badly pot-holed. But as so much is already written about it I will not go along with an “I simply can’t believe it” dirge like Victor Meldrew. Even so a small amount of our already very high Council Tax would not go amiss if it could be used to close these very gaping dangerous holes.
In the verge close to the hedgerow a badger has been digging for worms and grubs. I know, for one he has used for his own ‘private loo’. I pick up three white bluebell bulbs he has left untouched, poor little things. But loved by me I planted them in a small pot and they are rewarding me with beautiful blooms. Spring time on top of my kitchen sink. In due time I will return them back to the verge. On top of the hedgerow a blackbird sings and a pair of blue tits are discussing nests and babies.
Yet the forecast is more frost and snow. I wonder and ponder if the crows will return to their untidy nest in the oak tree. I stumble and fall down because of a deep pot-hole and really hurt myself. Sporadically hither and thither the odd ever-waterlogged pot-hole is filled. In the country I come from we call it “mopping with the tap running” – in other words a total waste of time and money.