Gaps

Didn't do much today except potter about the house, some tai chi, stand in the field across the road taking pics of clouds and discuss animation with Campbell for a presentation he's putting together for a talk he has to give at school.

During this conversation I realised that growing up in Orkney does give you a big gap in experience when it comes to trees. We've got a few woodlands about here and plenty of trees in town and gardens - albeit a bit stunted compared to their cousins south, and Campbell is very familiar with tall pines and bigger trees from wandering the forests of the Scottish Highlands. The gap is his knowledge is where those tender trees and seasonal things like blossom comes in. We were talking about Japanese animation and he was describing common imagery used such as cherry blossom trees.... which he only knew the Japanese word for!!!

He had no idea that these trees grew in Scotland or had ever seen one in bloom so had never had need of the words to describe them. Maybe one day we'll take him to Japan to see the cherry blossom... or maybe a visit to see his brother in Edinburgh when the ones in the Meadows are in full bloom is more likely.