Happy New Year…

The first snowdrops are peeking through the ground in a warm, sheltered spot against a south facing wall.  It is mild and the birds are singing away as if it was spring.  In theory the days are lengthening, however it is still extremely  dark these gloomy mornings.  I am not complaining – this time last year we had just come through our first heavy snowfall and doing anything outside was very hard work.

After lunch today, whilst GOS was having a nap in front of the TV,  I walked up onto the hill.  The sun had broken through the low cloud throwing rays of sunlight onto the distant hills creating a patchwork of gold across the grey green landscape.  The scene looked very spring like; most unlike the January of last year.

As I wound my way back home along the downward lane I met a neighbouring farmer on his way home with his stock trailer.  We stopped to exchange New Year greetings and have a general “catch up”.  Our conversation encompassed a wide variety of topics – the weather, the fact we were both waiting for another neighbour to do some ditching for us, my horse and his father’s suggestion regarding her lameness  ( about which the vets are still mystified ) Christmas,  “incomers” etc, etc. By the time we parted the light was starting to go!  Too much talking and not enough walking!

My neighbourly exchanges this afternoon resonated very strongly with a book, a Christmas present, which I am about half way into at the moment. “Under the Tump” by Oliver Balch.  A reflective piece chronicling the authors move, with his family,  into the the close knit, rural community of the Hay on Wye area.  Compelling, and perhaps a bit uncomfortable, reading as I know several of the characters he has encountered so far.  I look forward to more reading later this evening.

Meanwhile happy new year everyone.  Thank you for following.  May 2019 be kind to you and yours….. best wishes to you all. 🌼 🌼 🌼 🌼