Hard Shell (Sean Connery's preferred sales method)

On our recent perambulations about town, we have been fortunate enough to see some pretty, interesting and pretty interesting sights and sounds.

The mink skirting the river bank yesterday, was certainly something new and pretty as well as a fresh update on the otherworldly kingfisher we saw flying low, upriver for a couple of days in succession.

The gentleman, who I had stopped for in order to let him past me at the requisite two metres – only for him to come even closer than would be comfortable without COVID-19 circling about – to inform me that he and his wife had just been having a chat about euthanasia (I hadn’t enquired) was, on balance, slightly less welcome but still pretty interesting.

Today, we took the interesting sightings up a notch with the surprisingly sprightly fellow pictured. His owner has had him for over 50 years and his name is “Cherry Mint” (the tortoise, not the owner who wasn’t a native American and/or stripper to the best of my recollection).

Cherry was clearly enjoying the afternoon sunshine as he was moving about at quite a pace across the browned grass and then seemed to make a break for it into the deeper undergrowth before being retrieved.

We also found some small bird eggs, blue tits and a heron.

It’s a curious thing but at a time when death is so prevalent in our minds, our daily walks are become somewhat paradoxical as the fine weather and beautiful sunshine reveal a healthy abundance of natural life.

Stay healthy.