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GST Voles day at Sandy Smith NR, Nr Clophill, 8/4/2014 Dear GST Staff & Fellow Voles

 

Here is this week's news:

In the absence of the "Master Baker" somebody had better fill you in about our day. So if you are sitting comfortably:

 

It was a beautifully sunny morning but I think the strong breeze blowing had come from the ice-fields of Greenland. Therefore it was good to have my liberty boddice on under my GST fleece, the other layers were helpful too as we started the main task of the day, removing the old plastic tree guards and canes from the hedging east of the third oak. While our softy crew were bending and grovelling we could hear the distant tonking of the posts at the start of the path where the big boys were playing.

 

While stuck with my head in the middle of a hawthorn bush I heard the dulcet tones of Stevie J whisper in my ear that he had found another natural wonder in the form of a curled up brown and white ball of a large caterpillar he had found. That was good as it made me stop bending and I could have a rest while Baz and all the other de-gaurders kept their heads into the hedge, not a pretty sight all those b....s. This furry bundle of animation I think must be the caterpillar of the Oak Eggar moth. see ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?bf=1637. This find was the first of many caterpillars of the same type and at one stage I had a nice collection all wrapped up in one of my mouchoirs for subsequent snapping and ID.

 

After first tea break, it isn't the same without the TWF, I decided to give my back a rest and my legs some exercise, preferably out of the confounded cold breeze. So I headed up the edge of the "dark dark wood" and delighted myself with my first spread of bluebells in the wood.

 

Come walk with me through

bluebell woods,

and see the proof of God’s

sweet love.

Long rays of sunlight

trickling down,

among the trees in search

of ground.

A piece of heaven here

below,

creation at its best on

show.

With perfume drifting on

the breeze,

to guide us through this

deep blue sea.

Bright sapphires dance in

flickering light, (can be seen on my flickr pages too) www.flickr.com/photos/pitzys_pyx/

while silent butterflies

take flight.

And echoes of a distant

thrush, (Only Skylarks today and the rattle of gunfire)

we know that He is here with us.

 

By Elizabeth Mason, KMC

 

That was especially for dear Wendy :)

 

Well I have rattled along far too long. Suffice to say that while I played in drifts Bluebell blue and cavorted with Peacock and Brimstone time went away. So I was late for the tea wagon parade and missed my hotpot (I am led to believe it was as excellent as ever) but did catch the last scrapings of Rhubarb crumble custard and I have to say it was the best I have ever tasted. ***** five Michelins = heaven

And then Big Steve said we could go as we had finished all the planned tasks and afternoon tea-break was not necessary which left TWF with a slight frown as you know he likes to make sure we are all fed and watered adequately every Tuesday.

 

We did miss Jock and hope that he is getting adequate sustenance during his master's sickness or nursing duties and look forward to his return next week.

 

Hopefully I have covered a bit of the day and not upset anybody other than Jock's feeder.

 

The Snitch xx

 

Done