Throughout history, powerful figures have established dynasties, enabling their influence in a pre-Instagram world to continue beyond their own mortal years. The Nehru-Gandhis in India, the Ming dynasty in China, plus my personal faves, the Plantagenets.*
But more ambitious and proud than any of these is the dynasty in our own back garden, right here at Twisted Towers. Many of you will remember Robyn-the-robin, the four-inch-high adorable tyrant who stole hearts and mealworms around here in equal proportion. For two summers she ruled the garden (and increasingly, our house, though we gently discouraged that), demanding snacks from all four of us whilst vanishing from sight whenever we had visitors. Ahhhh… visitors… remember those? I do miss visitors.
Robyn would let you know that she wanted food by zooming past your head at scary speed, or by standing in the plum tree staring at you. We all loved her, even though she was bossy and feisty. Probably because she was bossy and feisty.
I miss her, and I know that many of you became very fond of her, too. One of the last times I saw her, she brought her children to see me, and my cold old heart melted. (She was a twin-mum, too.) She’d always chivvied her babies away from me before, but this time she decided to risk trusting me with her own twinnage. These were her babies, not yet red in chest:-
But this past fortnight, there’s been a new kid on the block, and I have reason to hope that it’s one of Robyn’s children, all grown up. Seriously, hear me out. Looooook:-
European robins are cheeky by nature, but this young whippersnapper is ridiculously confident, and follows me round the garden until I fetch some mealworms. Almost every time I go out there, he – I’ve decided arbitrarily that he’s a he – appears, standing in the apple tree or on the fence, screaming far louder than any of the other birds hereabouts.
This fella is off-the-scale loud. And quite tuneful, too. I didn’t capture many photos of Robyn open-mouthed because her style was more to silently stand and stare until you did what she wanted, but at least half of my shots of this chap are MOUTH OPEN, YELLING.
He hasn’t fed from my hand yet, but he comes quite close, and usually eats the food that I scatter on the wall for him. It’s difficult to be sure whether he’s yelling “GET ME MORE MEALWORMS, WENCH!” or – since robins are so territorial – “GET OFF MY LAAAAND!” Or possibly both.
Time and mealworms will tell whether we can become friends. Having had the privilege of knowing Robyn, it’s fascinating to observe how different this chap is, in appearance, in voice, in behaviour, and personality. I guess it’ll take a while for us to get used to each other’s quirks.
But I promised you some yarnery.
Thank you for your kind words about the Covid Cowl. I’ve designed an accompanying hat (pattern available soon) and crocheted hat (ditto). They’re all worked in Stylecraft Highland Heathers and I gotta tell you, one ball of each shade is going a long way. And if you follow my Instagram, you’ll know I got a tiny bit carried away when it came to designing the bobble for the knitted hat:-
Fortunately my friends are sound of mind and they quietly let me know that this was perhaps a gimmick too far, so I’ve also worked a more conventional pompom into the mix. But I did wear the crazy version when I went to get the first dose of my covid vaccine two weeks ago. Maybe I should have made a little knitted syringe to add to the hat…
Anyway. I hope you’re doing OK. I hope that you have enough yarn. We’re still in lockdown, and the School Of Parent is proving to be a woefully inadequate institution, where too many lessons are on subjects such as NOT LEAVING BISCUIT CRUMBS ON THE SOFA, or HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU GO AND TURN THE BATHROOM LIGHT OFF. Pupil engagement is poor. Pupil attainment is worse. Pupil tendency to sneak off to watch weird videos and eat chocolate is predictable. Teachers’ need for wine is ongoing. (Teachers should probably be sacked.)
And last week, I finally returned to (part-time) work after months of cancer treatment by wonderful NHS clinicians. Gotta say, that was a shock to the system. In surreal times, it feels strange to be doing something ordinary. Honestly, if a plague of pink giraffes rained down from the sky I’d scarcely bat an eyelid, but doing normal, regular, stuff like earning a living? That’s just weird.
Stay safe, my fine fibrous friends.
Phil x
* Mostly due to my obsession with Eleanor of Aquitaine, wife of Henry II, who ruled this oddball land from 1154 until 1189.
I enjoyed your pics and reading about your new friend, please keep it up.
Thanks for writing.
Thank you! I’ll try my best!
Love the new robin, definitely offspring xx
Yes, I’m almost certain he is. π
The Plantagenets are my favourite dynasty, too ! – but nothing to do with EofA, it’s my passion for Richard III.
Anyway ..
Of course this little bird will come under your spell: it would be impossible for it not to. Like all of us ! π
As for your latest bit of impossible knittng, Phil, it causes me to ask a potentially insulting question: do you knit anything other than strandwork or fair isle ?
I love that so many of us have favourite dynasties! And wasn’t it fascinating when they found Richard III’s remains at last?
And yes, I do knit things other than stranded work, but less and less frequently. It’s not that I dislike knitting other things, it’s just that there are SO many stranded motifs jumping the queue in my brain.
You are an amazing woman, Phil ..
Your new friend is adorable! I share your admiration of Eleanor of Aquitaine, wife of two kings, and a true badass woman!
She really was. And no fool, either.
I think the covid hat is perfect and I do hope you’ll be able to make friends with the new kid. ????
Thank you, for both parts of this!
So glad to hear that you’re feeling better and doing ordinary things. Sometimes ordinary can be wonderful.
My family is also infatuated with Eleanor of Aquitaine, particularly as portrayed by Katherine Hepburn in the Lion in Winter. My daughter (now grown and a teacher herself), won a grade school history prize with a poster of the Plantagenet reign featuring the King and Queen playing cards with a cartoon bubble above Henry II’s head containing the following:
“I love your beautiful face and form,
Your hair the color of honey,
But most of all my blushing bride,
I love your land and money”
How wonderful! I hope that she still has the poster now?
Oh my, a baby of Robin! And a loud baby XD Love your hat, including the virus bobble on top. Friends like that, saying it’s over the top, are not needed. Please be over the top. You returned to work! That’s very fast in my view (does it got to do with twins needed home schooling, flight reaction there?). Take care and take your rest. Hugs.
Thank you. It was hard to know when to return to work. Fortunately my boss is understanding and supportive, and is encouraging me to take a little time to get back into a full caseload of patients.
I had a lovely little Robin pal when I lived in Wiltshire. I used to collect vine weevil grubs and keep them in a flower pot. He used to make this funny chirrup in his throat to tell me he was there so I would get grubs. He never fed from my hand but would come very close and buzz me. I am telling you this because I think his offspring also did the same which I assume was learnt behaviour as Robin’s do not live as long as these that visited me. I am now in Norfolk and I have a Robin who visits the garden so mealworms are on my list! In Kent I had a lovely friendly blackbird I chucked worms to and she used to bring her babies to me to babysit.
I am so pleased to see you have finished your treatment. My sister had a similar episode and finished her treatment earlier this year she like you has a feisty attitude and I wish you both good health, fun and happiness in 2021. Love your amusing musings, not to mention your fabulous colour work.
Yes, it does make sense that younger generations of robins would learn from their parents how to boss the humans about. I hope you’re soon befriending the robins of Norfolk!
Thank you for your kind words. I’m glad that your sister has finished her treatment too. It’s been a crazy year or so for all of us, hasn’t it?
You have a very active brain Phil, and very artistic. I think you could easily write a novel, your stories on here are so interesting and your writing flows. You remind me of me, until illness took lots of things I loved away, now I am left with my knitting and I am not giving that up for anything. My nan taught me to knit in the 60s. I had three boys in the 80s and I used to knit all of their school jumpers, fifteen in total, a different one for each day. I also absolutely weird robins. I am so envious of your ability to make the beautiful birds come to you. That baby boy is so bonny. Sorry to ramble on, my mum always says to me I could write a book, especially about my life! Good to see you are on your way to getting back to normality. Take care,
Sharon xx
What a beautiful, colorful bird! And a beautiful, colorful hat. (Not sure Iβm quite ready for covid virus bobbles, though. . . )
You’re definitely not alone in not needing a virus bobble, hence the inclusion of the saner version! And yes, he’s an extremely colourful little robin.
PS. John of Gaunt is the man for me after I read Kathryn ( not from his likeness!)
So pleased to find another John of Gaunt fan! I’ve read ‘Katherine’ so many times my copy is threadbare, if you know what I mean…
Is that the Anya Seton novel? Might have to wander off and have a read…
It certainly is! By Anya Seton I mean. I read it many years ago a few times but is a book I remember, I don’t usually. I
And me! I never read books twice usually or watch a film twice except The Help.
Hello from across the pond! So glad to hear a new bird buddie has come to beg for food in your garden and that you are feeling up to going back to work! The hats are lovely! Take care of yourself and update us when you can.
Karen
Thanks Karen! I’m keeping everything crossed that son-of-Robyn will stick around. π
How privileged to get to know a robin – or maybe robins – with any luck! I always have this strange feeling that when a robin comes to visit my garden and I am out there myself it’s ‘someone’ who used to be earthly popping back to say ‘hello’. I am not religious, don’t believe in the afterlife nor in the supernatural – it’s just a comfortable feeling every time it happens. I even sometimes say ‘hello’ out loud – they don’t seem to mind – they cock their head, stay around a bit, don’t fly away in horror! One another note – a bit of a giggle to make a covid pompom but like someone else said here, not sure I am ready for them! Nice to hear you had your first jab – hope the jabber thought your hat was amusing. And good luck being back, better healthwise, ready to face the world as it is right now x
Yes, there is something very special about robins, and they do seem quite relaxed about letting us humans into their territories.
Oh and yes, the jabber noticed the hat and laughed! Which was good, because she’s probably working relentlessly hard at the moment.
So nice to hear those working so hard still can find a little laughter amongst the traumas
I think that you are in training by Robyn the Robin’s “son” and that you will be enjoying the Spring and Summer with him by your side, Uh, er, on your hand.
I hope so. And don’t worry, I’m under no illusions about who is in charge here, i.e. not me. He packs an awful lot of personality into that tiny body.
Many thanks for the story and beautiful pictures of Robin-the-robin. He really is amazing! Take care of him and yourself!
Love from a South African Robin (should have been Robyn but my mother, bless her soul, decided that it looked pretentious so Robin it was!)
Not sure whether a ‘y’ would be more or less pretentious than an ‘i’, but both are lovely names anyway. π And yup, the robin in my garden is amazing.
So nice to read about your friends wish I had a robin friend sounds like your doing well. Be safe
Thank you. I hope a tame bird or two starts visiting you too, wherever you are.
I say keep the COVID bobble, but maybe on a 7-8 cm cord attached to the hat?
Ahh, good idea. Like it. Thank you. Scurries off to ponder…
Your photos are stunning! And isn’t your new robin a looker! He will soon need a name – Robert the Robyn? Cheeky Ricky? Have fun! And thanks always for sharing! Wishing health and joy!
He so is a looker, and boy, doesn’t he know it! Someone on Facebook suggested Robinson as a name, which is genius! (Maybe that should be Robynson.)
One day, back when we were allowed to go out a bit, we came across a juvenile (probably teen equivalent) Herring Gull. It had clearly been given everything it had ever asked for by it’s parents, and was now going round making squeaky ‘baby gull style’ begging noises. And annoying the heck out of other gulls and people in the vicinity.
Parents! All the best with the Home Schooling. Have you taught the Twinnage to knit yet?
Also, very glad to hear you’re feeling so much better.
That’s adorable (re the herring gull), even if it was annoying the other gulls!
The twinnage have done a bit of knitting a while ago, but nothing since. I’m not pushing it, because I don’t want them to push back against it, if you see what I mean.
Guess I’d better go look up Eleanor of Aquataine. Sounds interesting. π And I do like the covid topping for your hat. That’s also badass! Admittedly, the pompom alternative is a bit more elegant…
Oh she really is (or rather was). If time travel was a thing, she’s the person I’d want to meet.
Phil, how is it that so many of your βfollowersβ(?!)/online friends like me also love Eleanor of Aquitaine?! And Robins of course, and knitting…..???? In 2011 when we visited Europe and the Uk from Australia I made sure we went to Fontevrault just so we could visit her tomb and of course Richard the Lionheart! I love the covid pompom and would have worn it as is, but perhaps not to hospital! ???? Regards, Lynley ????
I know, isn’t it brilliant?! She was one rather unique and inspiring woman, though. I’ve been to Fontevrault too! Isn’t it amazing standing there, seeing her actual tomb?
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the people who come and here and comment/chat – you included, of course – seem like a fabulous group of witty, wise, kind, inspiring, mostly-women. It’s a privilege sitting here reading these comments.
Loved seeing Robin – son of Robin! Definitely the offspring! Wonderful photos so more please!
Thank you. I’m completely convinced that this is Robyn’s son. He’s certainly got the attitude…
“In surreal times, it feels strange to be doing something ordinary.” So true.
So glad there’s another robin asking for mealworms in your garden. I missed Robyn too. Great photos, by the way.
The Covid topping made me laugh so much! You’re a genius.
This whole past year has been surreal, hasn’t it? Crazy times for all of us.
Meanwhile, I’ll continue to stalk new-robin with camera and mealworms…
Yes! In March I moved from my old house to a new one. Here in Italy we were in full lockdown at the time, every little thing had become difficult. But I still feel lucky – didn’t have to go to work so I had all the time to put everything (well, almost everything) in order in my new home. And all the things I had to do kept me from thinking too much about the world outside.
Now it’s back to normal (more or less) and yes, it feels strange.
A great hug. And my best regards to new-robin and the twinnage.
Yup, totally understand. Normal is a abnormal right now. Please, stay safe. (And hugs to you too.)
Hi Phil, so pleased that youβre feeling more yourself, mind you having said that Iβm not sure who I am anymore. Happy to see that Mr Robin is visiting look forward to seeing more of him. I too love Eleanor of Equitaine a legend in her own lifetime and so powerful for a woman who wasnβt supposed to have any power in her time.
Stay safe.
Thank you. And absolutely re. E of A: just imagine how many men would have loved to cut her down to size throughout her life.
Oh Phil, thatβs so exciting to have a new robin visiting. Wishing you both well in the βmaking friendsβ stakes. Congrats on getting back to work. Hoping good health prevails (despite the necessity of increased wine intake) and that students and teacher alike can progress too.
DNA aside, your new friend will bring his own personality to your garden. He is adorable as all babies are. He has stolen your heart and soon will be eating out of your hand. Our Robin’s will not be back until spring and everyone will get excited since we are already sick of winter. Your hat is a perfect statement and your pompom may require moxie to wear, but your are a kick-cancer survivor and dear woman you have moxie to spare. I envy your beautiful projects and have been intimidated by the stranded colorwork until you mentioned that more than two colors in a row wasn’t something you wanted to try now. I remembered, and it seems my brain resembles a knitted garment with lots of dropped stitches, that I made my oldest grandson a sweater that was the globe and used 11 colors and 14 color changes for two rows. If only Europe, Scandinavia and Russia weren’t all on the same latitudes. I just might be ready to try one of your patterns after all. Stay safe and remember that when normal becomes too much, there’s always wine and the garden.
I love your Dynasty! I’m so glad for you that Robyn’s son has come to you. You make me happy!
So happy to hear that you’re able to return to work & life (normal COVID era life that is). I’ve read a lot about Eleanor of Aquitaine. She’s definitely one of my favorites as well even though I’m a 5th generation Canadian whose roots are more Celtic that Anglo-Saxon!