the crimson petal and the white

Last night's bivvy went well...I woke at 5am, listened to the glorious dawn chorus and then slept for another three hours.

Later on, I went for a walk around the Dalswinton Estate, which was looking beautiful in the May sunshine. Lots of wildlife, including lapwings, swallows, hare and deer :-)

A new person joined our family yesterday - wee Arlo, 6lb 2oz and looking very cute in the photos. Sadly, we also lost a family member - Mum's sister Auntie Pauline died this morning.

The mower stalled, twice; kneeling, I found
A hedgehog jammed up against the blades,
Killed. It had been in the long grass.


I had seen it before, and even fed it, once.
Now I had mauled its unobtrusive world
Unmendably. Burial was no help:


Next morning I got up and it did not.
The first day after a death, the new absence
Is always the same; we should be careful

Of each other, we should be kind
While there is still time.


Philip Larkin


Today's walk: Dalswinton Estate 4.24 miles