Many years ago when I was in hospital, the man opposite was in a full body plaster cast in two halves. Every few hours they would put the two halve together and turn him over, when he was face down and he could look out of the window and all he could see was a flowering weed. When the grounds men came around to clean up, one of the lads asked them to leave that particular weed. When the weed died off they came and put another plant in its place. Until you are unable to look at the flowers and the weeds the bees and the butterflies you do not realise how much you miss them.
Tek care o’ thissen. Jack Spring is here, or so they say. The Brimstone, Comma, Red Admiral, and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies will soon be waking and stretching their wings after their winter sleep over. Now for the small print, this will vary from area to area.
Global warming and climate change are put forward as one of the major causes of the decline in many insect species. I am not convinced; populations have been varying for hundreds if not thousands of years, long before diesel and petrol fumes were around. Enough, enough, the hedgerows and gardens are coming to life little dashes of colour on the blank canvas, snowdrops, bluebells, violet, crocuses and daffodils, absolutely beautiful. Before we moved into our present house, about 10 years ago, just before Christmas, we used to have beautiful displays of snowdrops and since then nary a one, and despite our best efforts, having only moved a mile up the hill, and Elaine’s green fingers we are snowdrop-less. This morning the entire family went to Fodders, next to the Yorkshire Showground, for breakfast, we all had a magnificent Yorkshire Bacon sandwich, they could not have put in more bacon if they had tried, and a cup of Taylors coffee, their tea is also available. Not to mention the mouth watering sweets. For the vegetarians, which I was for over 40 years, and vegans there is also a wide choice, all Yorkshire produce. We call in whenever possible, a great atmosphere with cheerful and friendly staff, leaving with bags of locally grown fresh fruit and veg, then onto a craft show at the Yorkshire Showground, another beautiful evening meal with the family and back to work. At the moment I am working on an idea for the younger children, I will attempt to keep you up to date, if I possibly can. Writing my books depends on the good will of so many people so schedules tend to be elastic. Now the better weather is coming, the northerly and west winds are calming down; I can now see the cups on the anemometer spinning gently around, not just a blurred flying image, it is time to go for a walk in the countryside or the local park. If you have been trapped indoors all your working or studying week have some fresh air. Tek care o’ thissen.
Ollie opened his eyes and yawned. He raised his trunk above his head and breathed in the familiar smells of the large garage that was his home. “David should be here soon” thought Ollie. Just then David walked in. “Sorry I’m late Ollie” said David. “The road was blocked; I’ve just got time to give you a wash before we start work. David climbed into the cab and drove Ollie outside into the sunshine. The cold water that came out of the brush made Ollie gasp for breath, but soon he was warm and dry and his bright yellow paint sparkled in the sun. The manager came out of his office “You have a lot of work to do today you had better start right away”. “Right” said Ollie. David drove down the narrow road. Ollie cleaned all the leaves out of the gutter and drains so when it rained the water could run away. David and Ollie turned a sharp corner and drove over a little bridge that crossed the stream. There they saw the village policeman waving at them. “Good morning” Ollie the policeman called, Sue, the milk float, has slid off the road into a ditch and can’t get out, Can you help”? “I’ll be glad to” said Ollie. The Policeman climbed aboard and the trundled down narrow lane. Soon the heard “Help Help, somebody please help me” and there in a deep ditch was Sue. “Don’t worry Sue we will soon pull you out” said Ollie. With David’s help they drove nearer and nearer to the edge of the ditch, but his wheels started to slip and slide. “Stop, Stop” Ollie called to David “Be careful or we will fall in the ditch as well”. Slowly Ollie swung his trunk over Sue and managed to catch hold of the front of the milk float. “Hang on tight Sue” called Ollie and he slowly moved back onto the road. “Oh dear, I’m all covered in mud” wailed Sue, “I can’t deliver the milk looking like this”. “We will soon have you bright and sparkling” called Ollie. He un-rolled the hose pipe that he carried and washed Sue all over. “Oh thank you” said Sue “I will just be in time to deliver the milk to the school children for playtime”. Back at the garage the manager said” You’re very muddy Ollie”. Ollie just winked at David “Yes we have been very busy” he said and rolled into his lovely warm garage. |
AuthorJack Byard was born in Yorkshire where he lived and worked all his life. A Rolls Royce mechanic by trade, and a jewellery craftsman in his later years. Jack has a deep affection for his rural heritage and so wrote his first book, Know Your Sheep, with a view to sharing with others the countryside that he loves. Years later there is no sign of a quiet retirement for Jack just yet. The 'Know Your' series from Od Pond publishing includes 16 books by Jack. Do you like Jack's posts?
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