Next month That was a relief.
Two chosen with 3 votes each Sue and Rosemary.
Rosemary's story
Sue's story
I WAS HAPPY
I was happy - I am happy, so happy. I nod in agreement with myself and feel completely content with the world. Well, why not? It’s a beautiful day, the sun is shining and at last the air feels balmy and very spring-like. I look around me and feel totally at peace in this moment.
I was happy - I am happy, so happy. I nod in agreement with myself and feel completely content with the world. Well, why not? It’s a beautiful day, the sun is shining and at last the air feels balmy and very spring-like. I look around me and feel totally at peace in this moment.
I
turn my gaze from the field towards the wood on whose edge I am
standing. It looks so inviting, with a meandering path winding
through it, just beckoning carefree walkers to wander along it in the
dappled sunlight filtering through the trees. The sky, glimpsed far
above, is a brilliant blue, as only spring skies can be after rain,
and provides a Technicolor contrast to the bare branches reaching for
it. Some branches are not so bare, though, I think, as I glimpse
catkins gently swaying in the breeze and, dotted around, great
splashes of reds, whites, lilacs, purples and pinks of every shade.
Of course, the camellias and rhododendrons are bursting into bloom to
greet the new season.
Alongside
the enticing path are less showy carpets of flowers, but no less
welcome for that. I can see crocus and late snowdrops, the latter so
graceful as they nod in the light breeze. They are joined by patches
of celandine and – is that the first of my favourite friend, the
wood anemone – yes it is – just one so far and so delicate, but
soon to be joined by many more.
As
I gaze at the scene, I also spot more signs of life – a thrush
bustling about in last autumn’s leaves, soon to be joined by a
blackbird. There are robins going about their business too and
there’s a tree creeper on the trunk of the tree nearest to me. At
its base is another of my favourites, a hedgehog, who has survived
the winter and come out to find food. My senses identify the
different noises, the songs of the birds and the soft rustlings they
make as they hunt for food on the ground or in the undergrowth.
As
I lift my head and gaze into the distance, I can see the first of the
more formal flower beds, with great clumps of hellebores in every
shade from white to deepest purple, together with pulmonaria and
drifts of stately daffodils, nodding their bonnets as if they are
having a good gossip with each other.
Dropping
down towards the river, the field I am in is green and lush after all
the rain through the winter and now there are daisies littering it in
patches of sparkling white, nodding their heads and promising they
will soon be joined by lush yellow buttercups. These are almost
overwhelmed by the wild daffodils spreading out in every direction
and a great favourite with visitors, who can wander amongst them and
absorb their delicate perfume.
It’s
still early morning and there is no-one on the path yet, but I know
the visitors will soon come, to wander the woodland paths and
lakeside walks, drinking in all Exbury has to offer. In the
meantime, I gaze once more across the field towards the river. There
are one or two intrepid early sailors gently motoring downriver
towards the estuary, before filling their sails and enjoying another
day on the Solent.
Yes,
I sigh contentedly, lapped by the freshening breeze, I am looking
forward to seeing the pleasure our visitors will get and watching the
children running freely over my field. I just hope one of them
doesn’t decide to pick me or treads on me by mistake. I’d like
to see another spring day dawn before I fade away ‘till next year!
