"Happy Stories Of The Past" From The Wren

As Mish and I got the newspaper from the gate early this morning a convoy of brightly painted, classic Minis drove past. I felt happy for the smiling drivers and sad that our early Sunday morning car club runs have come to an end as the leader has sold his Honda S2000. We used to love getting up before sunrise and driving the empty country roads in company between Rickmansworth and Towcester.

My garden birds were in full song and I managed an image of a wren singing in the wooded area of the garden.

The Wren

Why is the cuckoo’s melody preferred

And nightingale’s rich song so fondly praised

In poet’s rhymes? Is there no other bird

Of nature’s minstrelsy that oft hath raised

One’s heart to extacy and mirth as well?

I judge not how another’s taste is caught:

With mine, there’s other birds that bear the bell

Whose song hath crowds of happy memories brought.

Such the wood-robin singing in the dell

And little wren that many a time hath sought

Shelter from showers in huts where I did dwell

In early spring the tennant of the plain

Tenting my sheep and still they come to tell

The happy stories of the past again.

John Clare

The asparagus has started to come through in the glasshouse. MrQ wasn't able to clear the haulms with the tractor and flail so I went over them with the ride-on mower. I should have worn a mask, it was very dusty.

The funeral directors sent a blotting paper heart impregnated with flower seeds with their receipt. I tore it into pieces and sowed them in a couple of pots. It will be interesting to see what comes up.

The smart Airbus H160B in extras belongs to Tom Morris who owns Home Bargains. It was on its way from North Weald to Wolverhampton.