Examples they give are things like volunteering for charity, or giving blood regularly. I already have two volunteer roles and no time to take on another, but I’d like to give blood. I’ve emailed the National Blood Service to check I’m eligible (I’m on medication). If they say yes, then I’ll sign up to Resolution Revolution and book myself in for a donor session.
I hope everyone had a great Christmas. I was ill with the requisite cold, but had a good time nonetheless. It was good to spend some time up in my parents’ house. They live in Lancashire, in a house surrounded by fields. They’ve spent the last 30 years or so cultivating the wildlife there and have ended up with wonderful richness of birds.
Five minutes brings to the table tree sparrows, reed buntings, great tits, blue tits, blackbirds, robins, goldfinches, collared doves, starlings and field fares. Incredible to a grey-faced Londoner. (Although I’m lucky in having a tree outside my kitchen window which is sometimes perch to a beautiful Jay: one of my favourite birds, and normally quite shy and hard to see, but of course he doesn’t realise I’m watching him from between my kitchen blinds …)
The cold, snow-bound winter has brought the birds to my parents’ garden in unusual numbers. It’s probably the only place keeping them alive – with plentiful food and open water. Even the normally territorial robins have learnt to tolerate each other. I saw three sitting on the same branch. One of them, my parents told me, is very friendly and always comes to say hello when they go out. I was lucky enough to meet him too. I went out to take some pictures of the snow, and immediately he came and sat only a metre or so away. I only had my mobile phone camera, but I still love this photo. It’s the perfect Christmas image:
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2 comments:
Now that's a post.
Lancashire is beautiful, at least in the parts I've seen. I agree that a tree in a city is a precious thing, and I've seen a London street or two with next to none, which is tragedy, and would only be comic if the residents had done it themselves.
Your photo is a strong image - the branches are just as dynamic as in the warmer months and will bud again. Orwell puts it well too - if you haven't read "Some Thoughts on the Common Toad", you can read it here:
http://orwell.ru/library/articles/Common_Toad/english/e_ctoad
As for the big beasts in your reply, I'm hoping to do as much outmanoeuvring with the next post as I reasonably can.
I think I grew up in one of the uglier parts of Lancashire, but it does have its charms - particularly towards the north (where it becomes more like Cumbria!).
Thanks for the link - I will read it as soon as I can.
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