Seen through a lens

Seen through a macro lens, as he pounds his way towards you, Reg can be a terrifying prospect.  He doesn't take prisoners, his only interest in us humans is as a source of strawberries, and today I didn't have any.

He does seem to like the shorter lawn and the fresh growth of clover.  He was out at 0830 today and yesterday, enjoying the sun, as Gus and I came back from the morning walk over the Knott.  It was a strange weather day, very windy yet warm and with poor visibility.  Then the clouds darkened in the afternoon as I was trying to finish the lawn, and the lightning, thunder and rain came back.

I am mindful that at this time a year ago, there was a month to go before Reg did his disappearing act, digging himself into the garden unknown to us when we were away for the week. And then there were 7 months of fretting wondering where he was, had he escaped from the garden?  Had someone regnapped him (I was told that someone in the village did have 2 tortoises stolen recently).  Then the mighty relief of his re-emergence in Spring on the first really warm day.  This year we shall have to corral him more effectively as the weather begins to cool, last year he escaped his pen, presumably bridging up a corner.  He really dislikes being confined in a small enclosure.  But we daren't risk him overwintering outside again, in case of a prolonged and deep frost, last year we were lucky it stayed fairly mild.