A Little White Dog

What a year its been so far over at LWD. We were due to move in early March but eventually after lots of starts and stops we’re all finally in our house in the lovely village of Saughall. Ironically I grew up here! Its taken a few more weeks to get everything settled and for Willow to learn where in the house her favourite things to pinch – socks (or “snocks” as well call them) now live. 

Having been used to walkies from the house being on the lead with proper beanies further afield it we’re loving the peace and quiet. Its also wonderful to be able to womble out of the front door and for the dogs to then beanie, beanie, beanie! Willow however is still a little unsure of their new swimming spot.

We also have a new family member. Meet the lovely Betty, a seven year old jack russell who my mum adopted a couple of years ago. She’s a gorgeous cheeky little character who is already best friends with Willow, Chewy & Bizzie.

This year it really feels like the lines between summer and spring have blurred. We went from cold, wet mornings to Mediterranean feeling morning walks and having our own family of sparrows cheeping in the eaves above our bedroom window. 

Its been a joy watching the buzzards soaring and it can’t be too long until their youngster(s) fledge the nest. Whilst many dismiss them because they’re a “common” sight they’re one of my favourite raptors and hearing their haunting call always makes my day.

Also providing us with a wonderful natural soundtrack are songthrushes, robins, the ubiquitous wood pigeons, chiff-chaffs and goldfinches. The much maligned magpies chatter echoes across the fields and despite their bad reputation there is something about these most intelligent of corvids that is a joy to watch. Incredibly social, with a capacity for their own language and grief you can see their intellect sparkling behind their eyes. We also have a local bat population (which we assume to be pipistrelles) active at dusk as well as at least one barn owl hunting in the fields behind us. The margins of these are thankfully left fallow and as the herb robert, buttercups and daisies disappear into the rapidly growing meadow plants they are already humming with insect life. 

There are signs of foxes, both via their scat and the remains of unlucky pigeons and active badger setts amongst the last patches of garlic onion. It is probably only a matter of time before one of the pups rolls in a patch of mustelid muck!

June 2021, Mark, Cat, Chewy, Willow, Betty & Biz