Day nine. Is it really April already? I started the day as I have done on 1st April for the last 35 years by telling my brother he has bird muck on his shoulder. He looked the first year. He’s humoured me every year since. These little traditions, as silly as they are, remind me just how strong and unbreakable the bonds are among families and friends. Even when the situation is this unbelievable, we can laugh and buoy each other up, grateful that we’re safe at home and that we’ll see each other when we can.
Ian and I had our daily walk- Skipton Woods again. On our way, we passed the primary school where Poppy and Harry went. It was there, at the school gate, where I met my group of Skipton friends. I’ve known them longer than 13 years. We don’t do the school run any more, most of the children are at university or sixth form, but we still socialise regularly. We have a WhatsApp group which keeps us connected and, some might say, sane. Others might debate our definition of sanity. Either way, one of the school’s external walls has these lovely chalk rainbows. I know they’re there to celebrate our wonderful NHS, but it seems appropriate for our friendship too. These girls make me laugh and are there rain or shine.
Even though we’ve been going to the woods most days since lockdown, we still notice something new each time. Today it was these beautiful hellebores among the abundance of wild garlic.
I don’t know if we’re allowed to forage this garlic, but I can’t help but think it would go very nicely in soup or perhaps in a pesto. I didn’t forage any, instead I made carrot and coriander soup when we got home.
Stay safe x
2 comments
I am enjoying your daily diary as, although we live in Kent, we often come to Skipton to stay with a friend.
I cant believe we have never walked in the woods. Something I plan to do when we come out the other side of this.
Stay safe
X Linda
Hi Linda, first of all thank you. I’m really glad you’re enjoying these diaries. It gives my day some structure and I think it will be something to look back on in years to come. The woods are lovely and there are different loops of different distances. I feel very fortunate to have them here on our doorstep. Often people have to drive somewhere to go for a nice walk- I’m lucky that we don’t have to. Stay safe and thank you again xxx