Accomplished

The days are accomplished! November is ending on a spectacular note up here, with wind blowing last night's snow into exquisite drift sculptures in the afternoon sun. Sadly I forgot to take the camera out on my walk, having become preoccupied with an important envelope I was taking to the post box, and a spot of snow sweeping in front of the door. I walked along the road and up the lane a few paces behind a man with a hat with earflaps, pushing a pushchair, accompanied by two dogs, Piglet and Chillie. Piglet was a Jack Russell with a gammy back leg, careering gamely along in the snow, being verbally corraled regularly Piggy! when vehicles passed (two or three on the road, one each way on the lane - four wheel drive vehicles, otherwise thy'd have had no chance.) Only as I turned into the howling wind going up the lane, and wished I'd put my long johns on under my waterproof trousers, and saw the light on the windswept snow, only then did I realise I'd forgotten the camera. I will try, dear readers, to return to that place with it tomorrow, but who knows if the conditions will preserve the extraordinary curved banks of snow, their tops curling over like wave crests, touched with the pink of the afternoon sunlight, that met my view some distance up the lane, past Keelham Farm. There were ponies too, in the snow, in the field above the lane, looming over me, the tender hairs of their muzzles sillhouetted against the bright sky, their eyes placid, enquiring. I'll go back if I can...

But I must also tell you about the contents of the envelope because they are important! I have today sent four poems off to the magazine which has previously published three poems of mine (on separate occasions). It turns out it is almost three years since I sent the last batch to the editors, and I am immensely proud and excited to have at last got to this point... The letter I sent with the last poems was dated February 2008, just three months before I started the infamous job. Draw your own conclusions.

In other news, we really do have mice, and braved the elements this morning to go out and block all possible entry points, where pipes go in and out of the wall. Suspected culprit a disused sink waste pipe, which is now comprehensively stuffed with one of those metal scouring pads - like coarse wire wool. Next step is to set the humane traps (sic), baited with peanut butter (yes we have experience...), because it is more than possible we have a nest somewhere behind the kitchen cupboards, and then be willing to go for a walk or a drive in the morning to deposit the trapees at a suitable distance from the house (also anyone else's house). I fear in this weather they may not survive long, so exacly how 'humane' this method is I don't know, but I like to think it gives them a sporting chance. Any views or experience?

To finish, a couple of pictures, courtesy of L, from around our manor this morning.


And the second amaryllis whose splendour has brightened our days for a week or more.

I cannot say what will happen now. Au revoir, not goodbye!