Bucolic Plague 3

Arty Artichoke and Busy Bee

The Wink-a-choo Bird

We have been here in the foothills of the Suffolk Alps for nearly four years. When we first arrived it was a real contrast to life in Lower Clapton. One sound seem to greet us every day. It was the song of a bird which neither of us recognised. I must admit being a townie I only knew that birds came in two varieties, big ones - probably pigeons, and little ones - probably spadgers.

The bird song consisted of a trill followed by a phrase which sounded for all the world like 'Wink-a-choo'. Enquiries of more experienced twitchers and country persons drew a blank.

It took some time, determination and a good pair of bins to determine that the wink-a-choo bird was the common chaffinch. Birds with a Suffolk accent?

Jill's Day

An early start for a journey to a crematorium in London. It is a celebration of the life of a friend who died of cancer after 59 years. Great sadness but in the large group of family, FSC and friends very young children play unconcerned with loss and grief. I am smiling at the thought that Jill would have loved seeing them and choking back the thought that she will never do so again. I asked A what her fondest memory of Jill was. She remembered Jill arriving with her son and the twins for an impromptu picnic on the lawn.