MonthMarch 2010

3BT – in the woods

(From my lunchtime walk with Lily in the woods at the back of our house. We took a slightly extended version of our usual route, which goes along the main path and back alongside the beck. I walked about a mile; Lily ran considerably further.)

1. In the forest of birch, oak and rocks, the trees are evenly spaced without crowding or saplings in between. The weighty trunks grow tall and true but their still-naked limbs twist and gnarl. Underfoot is still golden from last year’s leaf fall. In just a few weeks, this scene will be transformed.

2. There is a glade in the woods just off the path above the other path, which looks like it’s from Fable. Two rings of stone, probably a century old, adorned by just one young tree each in the centre – like unactivated cullis gates to other worlds. Nearby, a stream has cut its way under a stone ledge and a set of steps leads excitingly off into the distance.

3. The sides of the beck, from here to the canal and river at Apperley Bridge, are covered with glorious green wild garlic (Ramsoms). The smell is divine. I collect a handful of leaves for my lunch.

3BT – maybe one day they won’t all be about animals…

1. We hug and feel paws stretching out against our waists, the hound trying to join in.

2. We go into the hills to the south, following the tributaries leading from our beck. One stream opens out into a quagmire and John stomps up it, the proud owner of wellies for the first time in nearly two decades. Lily – who is now allowed off lead in the woods and runs at top speed EVERYWHERE – creates muddy waves as she bounds back towards from her distant travels and we take that as cue to return to dry land.

3. Bums touch as they curl up next to me on the sofa.

4. The dog likes on her back, feet twitching in dreams, as the intruder (John) enters the house. She wakes – finally – when he calls her (“Crap guard dog! Crap guard dog, where are you?”) and runs at him, ball in mouth, ready to play.

Last week’s Tweets (up to 2010-03-21)

  • Completely forgot I had a meeting with our IFA: plasterers working in two rooms, all the furniture from those in the other room = chaos #
  • I'm just glad I decided to get dressed this morning, else it could have been really embarrassing… #
  • Had a lovely walk at lunch with @johnleach & lily: lunch in apperley bridge then around the marina. now want to cry with frustration. gah. #
  • Grabbed the extendable lead string of the bolting dog, now index finger is one big friction burn. Going to be blistery in the morning. #
  • @johnleach damn right i was. in reply to johnleach #
  • Anyone want to do a sausage making course this Sat? Places booked & paid for but no way to get there (Ripon-ish) now John is on dog duty… #
  • Despite it generally being chaos & the kids looking like they're going to kill themselves during happy songs, i rather enjoyed drama today. #
  • I can hear a horse clip-clopping but can't see said animal. How can something so big be hiding? #
  • Found some cool coral-crested fungus while walking the dog in the woods today – first time I've seen it, it's well weird #
  • Run! Run! Run! Run! Thunk! reminds us that the cat flap is still locked (the dog shouldn't have been trying to use it anyway). #
  • Got all excited about an evening of WoW. Dinner in the oven, a drink in my hand, logged in, took 2 steps in-game then the laptop broke. Gah! #
  • Yet another phrase I never thought I would type: "although i think the hamster might be a little more bitey than a tampon" #
  • I always find it slightly disarming when the kids at drama talk to me like a human being. Had a fab chat about politics w/ one of them today #
  • The cats and dog have switched shifts this evening: the cats are now on 'entertaining the humans' duty while the dog is snoozing on the bed. #
  • Anyone got a woodworkers' lathe we could borrow? Want to try some stuff to see if it's worth getting our own :) #

3BT – happy hug, fungal find, pleasing polish

1. Carla purrs loudly: an early morning hug on the bed and in the sun. She doesn’t even care that the dog is on the other side of the bed: hugs, bed, sun – it’s all good.

2. I can’t remember what drew my attention first – the vivid orange of the rotting wood or the sight of a giant fungus growing on the dead stump – but I call Lily to go cross country (downhill between the two main paths) so we can check it out. The orange wood easily pulls away in chunks and is spongy to the touch. The giant fungus is hard – last year’s growth. Then out of the corner of my eye, I spot something more interesting – a twig dangling down, caught on two small branches, covered with coral-crested fungus. From a distance, it looks as tactile and solid as actual coral but it’s more delicate than that – each branch is flat, 2-D like it’s papercraft art.

3. The plasterers have gone but their dust remains throughout the house. It’s so thick and pervasive that I sometimes forget it’s there: assuming the whole world is just matte and dulled. Then I polish the shelves, the soon-to-be-fitted alcove units, and the grey turns into glossy conker brown. Colour and shine will return.

3BT – go south, we’ll get there, sense pleasure

1. Instead of going north into the woods as normal, we decide at the last month to go south instead. We explore the delightful enclave of cottages in the hidden dell, cross the ford – the first I’ve ever seen – and head into the other woods instead.

2. Amidst the chaos of the rehearsal, progress is being made. Some of the good kids from the group are really great, a lot of fun.

3. The air is full of scents and sounds: the fish & chip shop, the curry restaurant, the take-out chinese … and a pipes & drums band playing a concert at the school.

The hierarchy of the Peach household, according to Lily

From top dog/alpha male/pack leader down to general dogsbody.

  1. Boron
  2. John
  3. Carla
  4. Lily
  5. Me