As the first grains of light pushed their way out of the darkness we rubbed our eyes and peered at Spring so far. No real improvement there then! A cold north-westerly wind with rain. Very miserable. A look across the big waterlogged wheat field confirmed the situation. Plenty of worms and insects by the look of it. A small army of jackdaws marched purposefully side by side over the muddied soil. In the far distance Mr Buzz plodded and hopped like a giant prehistoric starling and a cock pheasant strided quite nimbly in a straight line from one side of the field to the other. A tiny pied wagtail jumped and scurried in some fresh soil that had been moved to the edge of the field and a huge flock of two or three hundred fieldfares alighted out of nowhere. They are one of the many bird flocks migrating at this time of the year and will soon move on again. They rose and fell like autumn leaves, a swathe of blue grey feathers turning and twisting and landing, like a flag caught in a breeze. At one point they surrounded the cock pheasant who, unfazed, continued his determined quest to reach the other side.
Little Suzy trotted over to us, quite breathless with excitement:
"Uncle Gordon! The primroses are so very pretty! I would love a dress in marzipan and lemon colours!" And with that, she wistfully settled down next to Sylvia and Mrs White, her quilly pen and notebook in her claw.
'I wish I had a wardrobe
With gowns of Nature's hue.
A frilly little cocktail dress
Of the richest cornflower blue.
And an ivory satin ball-gown
Trimmed with fairest green.
A tribute to the Snowdrop -
Our very first sign of Spring.
I'd razzle-dazzle in Violet,
And pizzazz in primrose shades.
Have a sundress in the brightest gold -
Like the Gorse on heathland glades.
And a dress made of chiffon,
In pink and coffee and cream.
Like the fragile early blossom
On the hedgerows to be seen.
But for all the organza and chintz.
And all the taffeta and satin.
For all Nature's most vibrant colours -
It really doesn't matter!
For in my dress of diamond white,
With finest black lace and all,
I no longer want a new wardrobe -
I am truly the Belle of the Ball!'
Suzy Sebright
Little Suzy trotted over to us, quite breathless with excitement:
"Uncle Gordon! The primroses are so very pretty! I would love a dress in marzipan and lemon colours!" And with that, she wistfully settled down next to Sylvia and Mrs White, her quilly pen and notebook in her claw.
'I wish I had a wardrobe
With gowns of Nature's hue.
A frilly little cocktail dress
Of the richest cornflower blue.
And an ivory satin ball-gown
Trimmed with fairest green.
A tribute to the Snowdrop -
Our very first sign of Spring.
I'd razzle-dazzle in Violet,
And pizzazz in primrose shades.
Have a sundress in the brightest gold -
Like the Gorse on heathland glades.
And a dress made of chiffon,
In pink and coffee and cream.
Like the fragile early blossom
On the hedgerows to be seen.
But for all the organza and chintz.
And all the taffeta and satin.
For all Nature's most vibrant colours -
It really doesn't matter!
For in my dress of diamond white,
With finest black lace and all,
I no longer want a new wardrobe -
I am truly the Belle of the Ball!'
Suzy Sebright