Please (cough) excuse this (cough, cough) ridiculous, hacking cough (cough), but I’ve had (c… you get the idea) a chest infection for the past week, and I sound like I got lost in a cigarette factory as it caught fire.
The second-worst thing about this has been not being able to go running, and the worst thing has been not being able to do much of anything else, either, NOT EVEN KNITTING!
I did make it as far as the back garden the other day, where a certain feathered someone let it be known that she was not impressed by my absence, or rather by the absence of the mealworms that I usually provide. Sorry, Robyn-the-robin.
On a plus note, one of the twinnage sat very quietly beside me on the garden bench, and Robyn took some mealworms from his lap, much to my ever-patient son’s delight. This is real progress, because Robyn usually scarpers as soon as anybody else comes into the garden. As you will observe, we can’t afford knees for our children’s trousers:-
Anyway, even prior to contracting what is clearly the worst lurgy ever to visit humankind (and I’m not at all melodramatic/self-pitying/deluded), it was difficult to get on with all the sensible things that needed doing indoors, because the wildlife outdoors at this time of year is just so freakin’ busy. And much of that busy-ness is happening in and around water.
Every time I forced myself to look at Volumes I-III of the to-do list, I’d be kidnapped by my own feet and would end up in the garden, peering into the pond to watch the mad beetles and wavy worms and lazy snails and nervous froglets, and the huge dragonfly larvae that are so fearlessly ferocious that they’d probably take a swing at the Stoic Spouse if he looked at them funny.
That underwater scene I knitted? I’m working on recreating it in photography, but give me a bit more time to get the hang of my underwater camera before I show you the results…
There was some messing about in a rowing boat (pre-lurgy), with the Stoic Spouse and the twinnage:-
But for a whole week in late May, we ventured further afield, to a rented cottage beside a reservoir in East Sussex:-
This was the view from the bedroom window at 4.30am. (Don’t judge me, I sometimes keep weird hours.)
There was plenty of hilly walking, quite a lot of running, and just a little knitting…
It was also a watery week (in a good way) . Some family members may have rolled their eyes and gone off to look at steam-trains instead, but I was never happier than when poking about looking for fairy shrimps and water lice and tiny beetles in the sludge. In the rain:-
Since we were so near the coast, we popped down to take a peek at the sea, too, including the lighthouse at Beachy Head:-
…And the old pier at Eastbourne, which didn’t really move me (I confess)…
…until I had a proper look at its underneath through my camera lens:-
…as well as:-
Come on in, the water’s lovely… by which I mean it’s toe-shrivellingly cold. The twinnage are just out of shot, laughing at their mother as per usual. They loved messing about in the sea.
But it was the Stoic Spouse who found the best spot for watery life that whole week, a well-over-one-thousand-year-old pond (mentioned in the Domesday Book) in a sleepy village quite near the house that we were renting.
Within moments of arriving, we watched a grass snake wriggling through the water in search of supper, and the twinnage spotted this tiny stickleback:-
It was one of those pools where at a quick glance, you’d assume nothing is happening, but once you start to stare, you notice creature after creature after creature going about their business.
Anyway, enough of that. The lurgy-of-doom has lifted to the extent that at last, I’M GOING TO GO AND DO SOME KNITTING!
Happy yarnery and good health, my friends.
Take care, health is important. Knitting can wait. Robin not though. So sit with her and enjoy that water life. x
Exactly – Robyn is NOT prepared to wait. (But thank you for your kind words.)
Sorry to hear about your health issues. I really like that first photograph. Could stare at it for hours and the last one is pretty amazing!
Thank you! I do worry that people might get fed up with Robyn spamming every post…
Very impressed with your taming of the Robin. Fascinating to hear about it.
Thank you – I got lucky with the timing.
Get completely well soon. Not being able to knit is horrible. Maybe knit yourself some new lungs even?
Would never tire of your pics, whatever the subject, but do tell – by what means did you manage that last one? One-handed, balanced on one leg on the garden bench?
One-handed, standing with arm outstretched. My phone camera is very forgiving!
Oops – and get well and back up to full knitting (and running) strength soon…love the suggestion of new knitted lungs. Just recovering from lurginess myself and knitted and crocheted a digestive system earlier in the year (doesn’t everybody?) so I may give lungs a go!
That sounds like some seriously cool knitting/crochet.
Sending you healing energy, Phil. Xx
Thank you, much appreciated.
You do make me laugh! My legs kidnap me too usually away from housework.
If the lurgy is like the one I had it cons you into thinking you are better then when you are not looking hits you again.
Now to dig my pond!
I fear that yours may indeed be the same lurgy. Hope you’re properly over it. (And well enough for pond-digging!)
Great blog Phil, as usual it had me chuckling away! ???? Sounds like a good place you found in Sussex & some lovely photos> Good to hear the lurgy is starting to lift, hope you feel properly better soon – it must have been bad if you’ve been skimping on the knitting!!! ???? Take care x
I know, the Stoic Spouse was practically suggesting an ambulance when he tealized I wasn’t knitting!
Lovely post!
You had me giggling aloud with the Volumes I – III of the to-do-list 🙂
And I hope you’ll get well soon.
Lovely post…been lurking for a while but not got up the nerve to comment! As a long term Sussex resident I’m glad you enjoyed your break down South, although given the rain we’re currently experiencing, it’s just as well it wasn’t this week! Still, more knitting time, although I’m currently languishing in the doldrums of the plain stockinette body of a jumper which could drive me to drink. Splitty cottom yarn too. I’m off to the garden centre to get some mealworms to see if we can tempt our own Robyn to come closer.
once again, gorgeous pics and fascinating storyline…
thanks so much.
btw, are those lupines in the pic of Beachy Head lighthouse?
i have a whole meadow (3 acres) of lupines just starting to flower and i can already smell them inside my house!
It’s viper’s bugloss and there was masses of it in flower in Sussex last week when I was staying there.
I’m sorry you’ve not been well – there seem to be lots of nasties doing the rounds at the mo.
I would just like to say thank you so much for sharing your creativity and musings – I find you inspirational in equal measure!
❤️
The “yarn bombed” old pier. I like it!
Lovely post as usual. Made my day!!
Oh you are such a scream Phil, a real tonic, perhaps you should have a tonic too! New yarn perhaps?! Look after you, and dont get chilly (and soaked) feeding that darling Robyn he/she is so demanding, please keep writing and delighting us with your oh so clever knitting, just adore your blogs x
Love your photography. How blessed you are in creativity and being surrounded by such earthly beauty.
Hope you are better soon! Really enjoyed this and particularly catching up with Robyn again! Was that socks on your needles?
I hope you feel all better soon! I love, love, love all the photos of Robyn, but that one with her wings spread is my favourite. It’s hard to believe such thin feathers can support her through the air
I have had a cough that won’t quit now for weeks also, so I can sympathize with your frustration.
Your photos are just perfect, and I wish I could visit all of the places where you have gone. And I laughed out loud at the comment about not being able to afford pants with knees for your children!
Take care and feel better.
Get well soon. Loved the photos of the Sussex pond and your view of the Beachy Head lighthouse. I live near there. Where is the pond? But I have to say your robin shots are just amazing.
My eldest was over from Tokyo two weeks ago and spent a considerable amount of time looking for ripped jeans. No luck. We then headed to the local car boot sale where she nabbed a pair for £2:00. She was thrilled to bits. She plans to wear them on casual Fridays in the Tokyo office. Lord knows what they will think!!
I love your view and hope you feel healthy and hope you are yarning again soon 🙂
Hope you feel better soon! Really enjoy your stories about Robyn but… what makes you so sure that she is a she ;-)?