STILL ON MY OWN!

Today was dry, with a bright slice of moon, and as the morning wore on, a sunrise that promised a good day.  It was still difficult getting up without the incentive of meeting Jenny!  I noticed that on my own, without the talking, the time and the distance seemed much longer!  On the plus side, I was much more aware of sounds - birdsong, especially a robin on a nearby tree, the fluttering of bird wings as they flew through the trees, the cries of the carrion crows and the distant hum of traffic, which noticeably increased the later it became!

My walk took me down narrow lanes, footpaths, muddy fields and through a delightful wood with my first sighting of flowering snowdrops and a fabulous treehouse (see below).  The only farm animals I saw were sheep, as the cows are now confined to barracks!  I saw a hare leaping across a field - the first on an early morning walk, and some abandoned rubbish including a used Christmas tree which was just left on top of a hedge (see below right)!

There has been a lot in the news recently about how loneliness and depression is so bad for your health - mental and physical.  One way to help, if you are prepared for the responsibility, is to get a dog!  Not only does it force you out in all weathers for a walk, which as we have discussed before is so good for you, there is the camaraderie of fellow dog owners...

I had a disabled friend, who lived on her own, on our estate and is sadly no longer with us.  She had a rescue lurcher and developed an active social life with other dog owners in Collett Park.  She was in her mobility scooter, and her dog Miranda used to play with other dogs, while she got to know their owners!  So much so, that she was able to ask one of them if he would look after Miranda, if anything happened to her.  It really put her mind to rest when he said yes, and indeed that is what happened...

On a more cheerful note, I often get inspiration for artwork from flowers.  Here is a pic of the snowdrops I saw this morning and some gift bags that I have just decorated!