The Egg Collector

 [Image from Pixabay]

I spent three hours on Tuesday morning ferreting around in a hedge on a nearby nature reserve collecting eggs. The blackthorn at Chesworth Farm needs to be flailed in a couple of weeks before it blossoms and the nesting season begins. A third of the hedges are treated in this way every year to stop them from growing out of control and destroying other important habitats. For the past few years Warnham Nature Reserve [another council owned green space and one of our favourite haunts] has been trialling a policy of searching the blackthorn for the miniscule single white eggs laid by the Brown Hairstreak butterfly on it before it's cut back. When found the relevant branch is removed and stored for a short while and then after the cutting has finished, the branches are tucked back into the hedge so that the insect can resume its life cycle. The feedback from adopting this method has shown a year on year increase in eggs found and numbers of this endangered species counted, so the warden and his team have decided to try it at the farm this year. It was slow going at first and after an hour I was beginning to feel a little despondent as I had only found a single egg, but after a restorative coffee and biccie we moved onto a new area and the eggs were everywhere. The two rangers and us five volunteers found over 200 in the end and the lady leading it was amazed. She'd had a quick scout round the day before and only located two. At the end of our session she admitted that she'd hoped to find maybe 30 or so, but this has given her not only more information about the biodiversity of the area, but also where the butterflies are favouring. It was so successful that another session was hastily arranged for next week.

As for me, I absolutely loved the experience [a new one for me], but in many ways it has felt like a return to my roots. Just before I finished my degree in 1988 I paid a visit to the college careers office in Winchester. Imagine my surprise that on a table of leaflets I found one about the National Trust Conservation Volunteer groups and listed amongst them was one for Horsham. I knew that I would need to join groups and create a new circle of friends once I returned home and at the beginning of 1989 I did so. Frankly it was one of the best decisions I've ever made [that and joining Mythago] and through it I made many friends with like minded people and had lots of adventures. It also gave me a love of nature which has remained a strong thread over the years. Oh yes and one of the members was called David and the rest is history as they say! With all the commitments you get with working and raising a family I've had no time to do any conservation work for years, but that period is now past and it is a joy to drop back into it. I am looking forwards to becoming more involved once again.

Have a good weekend folks.

꩜Aril꩜

No more knitwear.

"No more knitwear" are words I never intend to utter. We've just finished redecorating the TYM's old room and as usual I have chosen a non bog standard border.

 In my hunt for a terracotta throw for his bed to cover up his blue bedding which now doesn't go with the decor I found myself on Vinted. Well there's a reason why I don't venture onto these sites unless I'm looking for something specific...because this is what happens 🧡💛

100% wool and all for £20 including postage and yes I did find the perfect bed cover too!

Arilx

A blue day in January

January is traditionally the month for having the blues and I was intrigued to read recently that the phrase originated from 'the blue devils'. It can be a hard month for many with the shorter days and the challenging weather. I have gone ever so slightly rogue this year and left all the fairy lights up and it cheers me up no end to be able to switch them on if it's grey and drab outside. I try to get out of the house even when it doesn't seem very inviting and without fail I return home feeling lighter of spirit. During treatment cycles we live a five day week because David must stay home the first day and he needs a second day to recover. I'm quite good at coming up with places for us to visit on a Wednesday that don't involve travelling far. On our most recent foray I even managed to line up some blue sky to ensure that any lurking blues were firmly banished.

It's been at least twenty years since I last stepped foot into Tilgate Park and I have no idea why I haven't been back since. Thank goodness I have now made amends. These days the area is publicly owned, but the lakes and walled garden once belonged to a large Victorian house. The owners' fortunes were ravaged by the two world wars and it was eventually demolished. This is what we have left today to explore. It is the venue for the weekly Park Run and in the summer there are lots of different water sports you can try your hand at on the lake. When the weather is more clement and it's drier under foot we'll come back and tackle some of the walking trails round the woods. At the moment a lot of it is under a sea of mud and I could really understand why all the dog owners might want to avail themselves of this dog bath before transporting their pooches home.

Within the walled garden there are a couple of rather nice bits of artwork. There was a big old fanfare back in November when the sculpture with the boy and the sturgeon [known locally as the boy and the dolphin] reappeared after many years in storage. Back in the early 1950s it had pride of place in Queen Square in Crawley which was the jewel in the crown of the new town development, but tastes change and it's much more suited to being here I think. The bird bath is another piece called 'The Vessel' by one of my favourite local artists, Janine Creaye, although I wasn't aware of it at the time. I did my usual and gave it a proper check over and found all manner of things to please me😊

Apparently today is 'Blue Monday', but it sounds like you can take that with a pinch of salt as social media [so it might still be a load of old bunkum] is claiming that it was actually invented by a travel firm back in 2005 to get us all booking more holidays. Your day can be any colour you choose as far as I'm concerned💙

꩜Aril꩜

Another day, another wassail.

Two wassails down and one to go. The tradition is seeing a significant revival. The chance to dress up, sing, make loads of noise and come together with others for a goodly dose of raucous fun...I'm in!! Have a great weekend.

꩜Aril꩜

Aril woz 'ere!

 'Aril woz 'ere'..yes she really was and yes she has been writing on walls [well one anyone]. There is a first time for everything, but perhaps if I reveal that I was at a Banksy exhibition at the time it might make more sense.

I am a great admirer of Banksy's work and was lucky enough to see a few pieces in Bristol a while back. 'Banksy Limitless' still has a few weeks to run and was superb. My sister and I were totally immersed in the experience for at least two hours and it showed a huge range of his pieces both over time and different mediums. As an artist who operates on the edges of society and freely comments on what he observes about us and how the state operates his fame has been a bit of a double edged sword. It has opened up his platform, but also brought him into the mainstream as his works fetch ridiculous sums or are stolen within hours of appearing presumably to be sold on to make money for somebody else. His reaction to such a conundrum was to set up an anonymous market stall in New York where originals of his were sold for $60. People had no idea what they were buying so negotiated a discount and very few sold. With a maverick like Banksy you never know where his next public art installation [remember Dismaland in 2015 which took a very dystopian view of the world of Disney]  will pop up or what he will comment on next. I hope that he never stops being subversive and shining a light on the dark underbelly of our world. He's controversial, but he got his political message out by the artwork he left on the standing ruins of Gaza and Ukraine and he uses his money to do good. The purchase of the former French Navy vessel [painted pink and renamed the Louise Michel] to rescue refugees is only one example of his philanthropic work. Long may he continue to provoke and challenge. He makes me stop and think.

In the words of the Rebel Poet Benjamin Zephaniah " We need troublemakers to challenge the Establishment". I would argue that it's the case now more than ever.

꩜Aril꩜

The Curley Wurley Bridge

Monday is currently treatment day so whilst David is being given his stuff at the hospital I thought that I would take myself off and amuse myself for a few minutes. I mean why wouldn't you when the Curley Wurley Bridge in Crawley is a local landmark and has received many five star reviews on Google. Here it is in all its glory....yes I even took time out of my day to go up it to admire the view of the roundabout and passing traffic in the drizzle!

From the very much tongue-in-cheek comments online I have gathered that it's like a rite of passage to either skateboard or cycle down the thing at great breakneck speed, but it's hopeless if you are in a wheelchair because the gradient is too steep. On a really clear day you may have the joy of watching the rats gamboling around in the nearby playing field or even the special welcome signal that certain motorists like to greet you with involving the use of their middle finger. It is apparently is a top-tier sign of respect😏 I am pleased to report that I did not encounter the troll Bruno who lives beneath it and I quite enjoyed the sensation of walking down in a big fat spiral. On the way back to the car I wondered idly whether the bridge or the confectionary of the same name came first. I now have my answer in case you were wondering [which I'm sure nobody is]...the chocolate was 1970 and the bridge followed on in 1972/3.

You can blame my sister for the content of this post as she highlighted it for me a few months ago. My friends and family are on a mission to send me photos or info about anything quirky they encounter which, of course, I completely adore. Only one more week to go and then David's treatment drops down to every six months instead of three and we can sally forth getting up to proper mischief on Mondays again. I have plans.....

꩜Aril꩜

 

Crazy patchwork

I was really quite sad when I had to admit that my pair of much loved Indian cushions had given up the ghost back in the Spring. I'd got them second hand a decade ago and they had become too fragile for me to mend. My lovely sister-in-law made us a gorgeous hare cushion for Christmas 2024 so I really had only one space to fill. I sourced us a free one to use these past few months until I saw the right thing. For £4 in the charity shop I wasn't going to leave this utterly gorgeous crazy patchwork one behind yesterday. It's rather more subtle in real life, but the lack of light has made it look rather lairy💞💕

Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend. As ever I will keep this blog as a safe refuge from what's going on externally on the global stage. I can't control that, but I can be in charge of the content here and so it will remain a quiet breathing space for anyone who feels in need of it.

꩜Aril꩜

Apres ski

Walking home from town in a light snow shower I was rather delighted to see how our local Swedish cafe has transformed itself into a lookalike chalet for the season.

My experience of skiing has never gone beyond watching it on the television. A good friend of mine once revealed that she had been skiing. I was quite startled as I think of her as one who is a city soul. She laughed out loud at my obvious confusion and went on to clarify " Darling I had all the gear, but never set foot on the slopes. I was rather marvellous at the apres ski though!". I strongly suspect that my strengths would lie in the same area.

Aril

 

Under the wolf moon.

 As the wolf moon rose with Jupiter at her side, the good folk of Sussex gathered. With blazing torches held aloft, the Bonfire Boys of Lindfield led the raggle taggle procession down the icy dark country lane to where one and all could raise a glass of cider to the new year in front of the fire. We howled at the moon and drove the evil spirits away from the orchard to bring forth a fruitful apple crop. Our work done it was back to the village pub for a top up of cider and the traditonal folk music session.

Another average Saturday night.

Arilx

As we were passing....

I saw someone's photos of a walk they did last year round the tiny Sussex village of Lodsworth. It piqued my interest and I made a mental note to pay it a visit if we were ever passing that way. As it turns out it was only 2 miles off the main road that we were travelling on back from time away with family earlier this week. Made perfect sense to drop in and appreciate its treasures in the misty ethereal weather we were all enjoying that day.

So why did I bother? Was it for Bamford's Covered Chain Pump?

Well no. Was it for the biggest monkey puzzle tree I have ever clapped eyes on. Impressive though it was...no.

Perhaps the peace of the church or its beautiful stained glass inside tempted me?

No. Maybe the lure of the ancient well of St Peter to which Medieval pilgrims beat a path or the nearby house of the same name with its gate and the crossed keys of the saint detail?

No again. Could it have been the fabulous array of properties [with a Sussex price tag to match]? Maybe. This one's got a blue plaque on it so we're definitely getting warmer.

The once famous resident of this particular house is now buried in the churchyard and I felt it was time I paid my respects to the legacy that the artist E H Shepard has left us. His illustrations for the Winnie the Pooh books and 'The Wind in the Willows' underpinned my childhood and gave me a love of reading that I have carried on into adulthood.

Technically this was the final day of 2025, but I am claiming it as the first adventure of the New Year. Hope everyone has a cracking weekend.

꩜Aril꩜