Wet Wet Wet!

Ah. I am a faux surrey housewife who is both lucky & spoiled. No hubby hasn’t been down to Hatton Garden (shame) or gift wrapped an Aston, no not that but almost as good; a lovely neighbour - who is also a very good friend - invited me over for a swim this morning. Yes a proper swim in their wonderful outdoor pool. What a way to start the day. As the hottest April in living memory unfolds, there I was swimming decent laps in a 2m deep pool, (average temp 82 degrees Fahrenheit), with views of fields & horses & countryside to greet me each time I lifted my head. Then after an hour of splashing we lay on teak loungers taking in the view & pondering the universe before I had to head back & do some of that work stuff. And also do some necessary weeding. Hey, it really is a hard life you know....

The Fox & The Woodpecker

No it’s not the name of our local pub (I wish ... for a local pub that is ... despite living in faux country we are driving distance from the nearest decent boozer. Hey ho.) No, rather it describes my faux country morning perfectly. There I was, having a bucolic moment with the KC purring & rubbing herself around my ankles as I sat drinking coffee in the glorious spring sunshine at 7AM in our faux temple (oh yes there’s a temple!!) when I spotted in front of me, ruining my view of a pink Rhododendron a hideous clump of weeds. Crikey I thought better get the trowel & secateurs & have a go before I lose impetus.

So there I was digging & chopping & pulling huge lengths of brambles out of the undergrowth when suddenly, an enormous dog fox (honest was 8 foot if he was an inch ... oh OK 4 foot then) leapt up from where I had just been weeding, gave me a filthy look as I had clearly disturbed his slumbers, jumped onto the back fence & disappeared over it in a fluff of red brush as quickly as he had appeared. Leaving me & the KC suffering small heart attacks! Standing back all still & quiet, checking he really had gone, I suddenly heard a loud “drrrrrrr” noise. Looking up into one of our oaks, I saw the distinctive red bum of a Great Spotted Woodpecker! Pecking away wildly. Then my BlackBerry beeped & I had to rejoin the commercial world but my, nature was fun whilst it lasted!