It's Still Life

1. Lots of birds are coming into the garden because of the heatwave (temp 38C /100.4F). Food and water are scarce. Blackberries have dried up on the vines, most rivers are nearly dry. The pond in the village is still full but only because it’s spring-fed, so at least the aquifers are okay. .

This lovely bright bird is a Blue Tit, and I’m thankful that he found his way into my garden.

2. A new series of observational poems centred around travel (holidays, road trips, anywhere that is considered “Elsewhere“)

3. Thankful for a footpath nearby. It has no roots to navigate or fallen logs to climb over, or rabbit holes to disappear into.

Oddly there’s a lack of birdsong. I bit unnerving, actually.

4. The crow returned last week. I think he was ghosting me — fed up that I was gone for so long. I’m thankful he’s returned.

He makes me laugh.

5. One morning I woke at dawn, couldn’t fall back to sleep, so walked down to the village pond with a bag of frozen blueberries and grapes, and fed the ducks. I was surprised to see mist rising from the water — that’s usually an autumn or winter thing. I suspect the pond water is very warm.

I am thankful for cool mornings.

6. Eclipse on Wednesday!!

Do I need to say more?

Well, maybe I do. 95% coverage. We won’t have another like it until 2080.

I don’t think I’ll be around then.

7. The green woodpecker returned to my garden. I’ve not seen him all year. I keep the birdbath topped up with fresh water every day, and I reckon that’s drawing the birds in…

and word of mouth, assuming birds do that.

8. The traffic to the coast (and beaches) was horrendous, to be expected in this heat, but no one was interested in a walk across Beachy Head.

I admit I had second thoughts as well — it was really hot.

9. A walk, and nobody around for hours. Just me, Spotify, and lots of grasshoppers.

10. Thankful for tomatoes from the greenhouse. I made tomato and lentil soup, and then threw some gold fish into the bowl. I’m thankful that they knew how to float.