~o~
Sunday 31st 558F/14.4C [7.10] A rather cloudy day is promised. With sunny periods and rain this evening.
Up at 6.30 after a quiet night. I woke at 5am and dozed. The fish in the greenhouse pond start swimming around. When they hear me moving about in the kitchen. I am not so deluded that I don't know they just want their breakfast.
7.15 A beautiful, golden light is playing on the staged landscape through the gap in the
trees. Highlighting the marsh grass in the foreground and stubble
fields in the distance.
My first images, with the phone camera, had the Morris spoiling the view. As soon as I moved the car the light was gone. I still brought out my Lumix G9. To take some snaps with the 20-60mm Leica. Just framing the view as I saw it. Zoomed in from the dining table window but from just outside.
The light coloured, gravel drive is 110m away. The thin, darker wedge, at 230m and just below centre, is a steep bank recently cleared of weeds. The middle distance trees, at centre, are seen end on and 450m away. While the trees on the horizon are 1000m distant. On the far side of the fields I often refer to as "the prairie."
7.45 Time for a walk. My lower back and wrists are aching.
8-8.35 Back from my walk. I wonder how a fire engine would get anywhere near my house. With those two, huge, rubbish skips blocking the entrance to my drive. No sign of the workers this morning. The back of the roof has now been stripped of thatch and covered in vast tarpaulins.
It was warm and sticky with veiled sunshine. Without a couple of swallows and a solitary wood pigeon. One wouldn't know that birds existed this morning. Silent late summer? It doesn't quite trip of the tongue.
The fields were dry enough for another tour and I took lots more photos with the Lumix G9. Now sporting the 50-200mm Leica lens. [100-400mm full frame equivalent.]
On my return I noticed a patch. Taped onto the trunk of the central tree in the gap. With a note asking me to contact my newest neighbours before doing anything else. Politely and in English too! This should be interesting. They have never shown any interest in my existence until now. Is it four years now?
They demolished the traditional farm buildings. Dug out the hillside. Built vast industrial style, steel buildings. Followed by a massive embankment across "my" back field. To form a smart new drive. Not a word on their plans. Apart from the auto-notification from the council's planning department.
Their sudden interest in the decorative quality of their natural surroundings seems distinctly odd. Particularly given the hideous mess left by Scrapman. The property developer from Hell. Over whom they seem not to have the slightest control. Any more than any other of Scrapman's desperately unfortunate neighbours. Spread over a wide area.
I have to be careful what I say online. Even serial killers get off with a fine. While those who mention the perp online can be sentenced to long jail terms. Which is why I never directly mention my location. To protect the guilty and myself from revenge.
Later I walked up to where my neighbours were working on their fencing. They agreed to come down and have a chat about my gap half an hour later. There followed a friendly chat onsite. I unburdened myself on the racism and our being ignored by my previous neighbours for over 20 years. The years of illegal production of firewood with a chainsaw just outside our windows.
I also pointed out that my ambitions were limited. To the narrow view through the gap which I had already obtained. They promised to come and help me lift the carport when the foundations are completed. They own diggers and tractors.
During the afternoon I moved 16 foundation blocks up to the edge of the gravel. I also removed the mounds of weeds collected over the last week. Including the contribution by my sister. I am dripping with sweat again.
Now I'll have to drag the recycling bin along the drive. Where to put it to save the driver having to reverse even further back down the drive? There is no room to turn his huge lorry around. Anywhere else but my presently blocked drive. I left the bin beside my neighbour's carports. Well short of the skips/containers.
It is Sunday. So I am making an effort: Salmon pastie, boiled potatoes, peas and Bisto gravy. With a very small glass of apple juice. No coffee.
~o~
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