Departure

It is always difficult to leave on holiday. Particularly now with the spring bulbs pushing up in our garden - blue hyacinths and yellow daffodils recalling the flag of Ukraine. 

In the pond, frogspawn (see pic).

In the nestbox, blue tits.

In the dove cote eggs have been laid - there will be chicks by the time we return.

We will miss Easter at our church.

There are some climate events we won't be there to support.

But I guess the regrets attendant on parting are a good thing. They mean we inhabit our lives enthusiastically, rather than constantly seeking to escape.

At least we know our lovely guests are house-sitting for us, watering pot plants and seedlings, refilling the wild bird feeders.

As we prepare to depart I soothe myself by visualising our return. Our rooms in the house are tidier than usual so we can come in and relax. 

And we'll be back in no time.