Basking and Droughts

Jack Russel Maud: Basking

We’re all at it.

Basking.

The dogs, the chickens, the pigeons. the moorhen. Not in the same place I hasten to add –that would be a miracle. But we are all enjoying the sunshine and warmth after a few cold grey days.

But I am worried.

I love the sunshine, don’t get me wrong, it’s just that we are in a drought area and while it may be glorious today I am concerned that in a few months’ time it will look more like the Navarro Desert out there.

I am not looking forward to it. It was bad enough last year with me spending up to 3 hours a night watering the newly planted hedges and trying to keep the vegetable plot alive.

This year we already know that we have a hosepipe ban starting on April 5^th – just in time for Easter.

So I am strategically planning and I can add another 10 water butts to the 8 we already have round the barn. I dread to think of the capital outlay but in order to keep my precious plants alive I think it will be worth the investment. It is going to be a lot of hard work fitting everything and then praying for a little rain.

If we don’t get the rain then I’ll just fill the butts up with water from the condenser in my drying machine the washing up bowls and of course the bath. I had better change my cleaning liquids to organic ones so my plants don’t die when I use the water.

I am trying to think ahead.

While trying to remember the Drought of 1976.

I am that old.

I do remember it being very hot. Hot all day and hot all night.

I remember having to share baths and having a plumb line which we couldn’t go over.

I remember going to the seaside.

I remember the great big cracks in the ground and everything drooping and being brown.

The ponds and rivers drying up and the dead fish.

As I said I am not looking forward to it….but damn me I am going to be prepared!

Sunshine

It is glorious here. The sky a perfect washed out blue with nary a cloud in to mar its perfection.

It’s still cold and there is frost on the ground but I am smiling because the sun is shining so strongly and I really feel that Spring is making a bid for it.

The fat chaffinch is pecking at the window furious that there is another male in his territory, he’ll do this all season and I swear one day he’ll actually break the window.

The Starlings are beginning to return and make rude noises down the chimney sweeping and swooping whistles that annoy the dogs no end. They have an unholy sense of humour.

The Rooks are pairing up nicely and I have a new nest in the Ash tree by the drive. In fact all my Ash trees are occupied this year. They make so much noise and mess but I love it and I stand in awe of their aerial displays in the summer.

The violets are peeking through the grass and dead leaves in the wood, drifts of mauve, purple and white. A bewildered bumble bee flies past hazily making its way out in the sunshine, I fear  it’s journey will be cut short for it seems so sleepy and the rest of the wildlife certainly isn’t!

The ducks make raucus laughter in the moat and Mrs Duck waddles officiously up the bank quacking at me for food clearly in a pother with her three suitors this year. It will all settle down in time and the garden will cry out for attention demanding thing that it is and I will not notice quite as much as I have done this afternoon.

But for now everything seems to be on the cusp…