Saturday was miserable, weather-wise, with blowing rain and cold temperatures -- Olga and I took a walk to the cemetery that made us both question our sanity.
Yesterday was much more pleasant, and even a bit sunny. (Still cold, though.) We seized the moment and went to Hampstead Heath for a couple of hours.
The after-effects of the rain were everywhere. The paths were muddy and some had deep puddles. Olga, surprisingly, didn't roll in them. I think they were too chilly.
In one area, ground-up Christmas tree mulch had been spread on the mire, making it much firmer. It smelled wonderful. What a great use for old Christmas trees!
The perpetrator? Colonel Mustard, on the Heath, with the green plastic squirt gun!
Lots of people were out and about, but lockdown tempers were short. I passed one family with a whiny small child, and overheard the man (presumably Dad) telling him, "You are ruining this walk."
Then, about an hour later, on another part of the Heath, I passed the same group and the man was saying to the boy, "I am sick of your face." Which seems unduly harsh.
I think some people are at their wits' end, being cooped up together all the time.
Perhaps they need a bit of calming Biblical wisdom. Or not.
That clump of snowdrops I photograph every year is once again doing its thing. Here it is last year and in 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016.)
Someone lost their cheerful little gloves.
This was the found pottery shard of the day.
Despite the puddles and the cranky Londoners, we had a good walk. The squirrels were less abundant than usual in this cold weather, but Olga still found a few to bark at. She does love it out there. And miracle of miracles -- she didn't lose her tennis ball!
A father to his young son "I am sick of your face"? Well, Dad, wait till I am old enough to bolt, sick of YOUR face. Being charitable I suggest it was not his real father. Mind you, that isn't particularly charitable either. And what of the mother? Hope Olga barked at the bastard. Or at least gave him a look full of disdain.
ReplyDeleteYour snowdrops are divine, heralding spring. Indoors, bunches of daffodils give me much joy.
Olga seems in fighting spirit again. Though, don't tell her, being so white she wouldn't be much good at camouflage - unless she took a mud bath.
U
The mother (or a woman, at any rate) was there, but she didn't say anything that I heard. Probably didn't want to incur any wrath herself.
DeleteYou should have intervened with that frazzled father - "I say old chap! That is no way to speak to a small child. You have to be kind to them - and tolerant. May I suggest that you purchase a copy of 'Be Prepared: A Handbook for New Dads' by Gary Greenberg and Jeannie Hayden and follow its guidance. Glad to be of service. Have a nice day!"
ReplyDeleteYeah, I was NOT going to step into the middle of that.
DeleteJoy to see the arrival of the Snowdrops.
ReplyDeleteBriony
x
I agree. They bring me cheer every winter.
DeleteThe pressure and depression has been awful, and I can't imagine what it's like when compounded with having children at home. HOWEVER, that father deserves a good slap. Poor kid will never forget that his father was sick of his face, and I'm sure that's not the worst that's been said. Anyway, I saw the mud puddle and immediately wondered if it was too icy cold for Olga.
ReplyDeleteI hope the father wasn't haranguing the kid the entire time between my two sightings!
DeleteI do think tempers during Pandemic are frayed and I'm certain Domestic Violence in some households has escalated, and Mental Health Issues, from the strain of it all. I am so glad the Grandchild we're Raising is 15, if she'd still been younger or we still had her Older Brother at Home, we might have been climbing the Walls ourselves?! *LOL* Pretty much The Man and The Grandchild are Coping magnificently thru this, and as their Full Time Caregiver that is a huge relief to me tho' I do worry about their high risk factors. Especially now we have been exposed to our Son, who Tested Positive and has been Hospitalized, so we're now awaiting the results of our COVID Tests and holding our Breath!
ReplyDeleteI do think people are struggling, but as others said, there's really no excuse for talking that way to a small child. Why didn't they just turn and head for home if the kid was so cranky? I'm sorry to hear about your own potential exposure! Yikes! Hope your son is OK and you are too!
DeleteEveryone has less than perfect days, but if the man talks to his son like that where ears can hear, imagine how he speaks to him when there are no ears to hear. Very sad. I hope the child has an advocate. The silent woman attests to a potentially dangerous dynamic.
Delete.
I agree. It looked like a bad situation to me. Hopefully someone was just having a bad day and isn't like that all the time.
DeleteYour photo of the snowdrops is balm to the soul. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. They're always so good to see at this time of year.
DeleteIt is way too easy for people to become parents. There is no excuse for saying such things to children. None. Ever.
ReplyDeleteI agree! I was shocked. I wondered whether he meant it in some kind of darkly funny way, or if he said something else that might have tempered that remark, but I couldn't come up with anything that made it more tolerable.
Delete30 minutes and my little dog is done, ready to be back at the house. that poor kid. what a terrible father to say something like that. if he can't handle a whiny child, how much worse it will be when the kid is a contentious teenager.
ReplyDeleteWell, your dog's legs are shorter! I can see how a longer walk would be more of a challenge for her! I was astonished at how harsh that father was talking. (As Ursula said, maybe he wasn't the kid's father, but I'm not sure that makes it any better.)
DeleteThat child is going to remember that walk for a very long time, may even repeat it every now and then to a counselor, but hopefully not to his own child in the future. Other than that, sounds like you and Olga had a nice muddy walk.
ReplyDeleteThe child was very small. I don't think he'll remember much of it. But I wonder what will come in later years that we WILL remember.
DeleteIt even looks cold in your photos! I do have to say, that was a terrible thing to say to that boy no matter how frustrated he was. I love the snowdrops. They are so happy looking. A great contrast to the irritable people.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, it WAS a pleasant walk, aside from the cranks!
DeleteSteve, my sister got angry at me yesterday because I held my criticism of her husband complaining about her grandson (a baby crying) last week pretending he is so sick and he can't stand the noise. He can get his ass in that car and drive all over town all day but you can't stand to hear a baby cry. I told her not to let anyone take her away from her babies. She texted me back.....now what are you talking about because he love those children. I told her not to ever tell me anything this bastard say because if I don't like it, I will tell you. Children are going to be children. Just like we get irritable or tired, they do to.
ReplyDeleteI agree -- people have got to show some patience with kids.
DeleteI second Mary on this. There's no excuse for talking to a child like that.
ReplyDeleteI agree! Maybe he's bargaining that the kid won't remember it. But kids absorb a lot more than people think.
DeleteI was saddened to hear what that father said to that child. No excuses for that behavior. It is the mean phrases that stick in your mind for a long time. I hope for better days for that child.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you! Unfortunately, if he's being treated that way now, the harsh words probably won't magically disappear when he gets older.
DeleteWalks give you lots of things to photograph.
ReplyDeleteThey do! There's so much out there!
DeleteI have had that water pistol (squirt gun) if that's what it is. Finders keepers.
ReplyDeleteIf it's still there the next time I go I'll pick it up for you. :)
DeleteI was anticipating a much more revealing post after I mis-read the title as "Wintry Walk with Short Trousers"! Still, perhaps revealing of the English temper. I wonder where all those found pottery shards have come from and are the Romans to blame.
ReplyDeleteNo short trousers here yet. Check back in June! I'd like to blame the Romans, because that would be more interesting, but I think it's actually the Victorians and Edwardians who bear responsibility.
DeleteThat mud looks nasty; I admire you for taking your walk. I bit my tongue MANY times as a parent because children don't forget the words you say to them. I still do at times and my kids are 34 and 31. I ache for that child and hope the dad later apologized. My older daughter, husband and baby have been taking walks most days, no matter the weather, but now there are several feet of snow. :(
ReplyDeleteI imagine knowing what NOT to say as a parent is every bit as important as knowing what TO say.
DeleteI have been enjoying your blog for a while from here in Virginia. This made me laugh out loud--"Olga and I took a walk to the cemetery that made us both question our sanity." Thanks for writing bits of your life and outlook. I appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteI have no doubt that Olga was questioning her sanity as much as me. I could see it in her eyes! Glad you're reading and thanks for commenting!
DeleteI’ve noticed a bit more road rage recently
ReplyDeleteEverybody's tense. I'm glad I'm not driving here!
DeleteNot the way to treat a child...they will remember...and not an easy thing to say anything either.
ReplyDeleteThe pandemic is stressing us all and bringing both the best and the worst to the surface
It's true. It's just a trying time, though probably not as trying as some of what our ancestors dealt with.
DeleteThe snowdrops are lovely! Makes me miss my Ohio fen rambles (not that there were snowdrops when I went, but there were pretty clumps of flowers). I've really got to find a place here to take a nature walk.
ReplyDeleteI bet you could grow snowdrops in North Carolina, don't you think? Your climate isn't a whole lot different from ours. Maybe a little colder and snowier...?
DeleteOlga is in such good shape! Her distant cousin is the same age, maybe a bit younger and is a total spud! Walks to the Heath are paying off for Olga. You are a good Dad! Not sure if I find the tin lid comforting, if god was fortifying someone in distress why is that god not helping that dear child with the cranky-assed Dad? I call god shenanigans!
ReplyDeleteIsn't that how it often works? God promises a lot, but often seems to hang back when the going gets tough.
DeleteGorgeous pics. My favourite part of the 'eef is Spaniard's Inn. Yet, it was choc-a last time my gf and I were there a couple of weeks ago.
ReplyDeleteApparently the Heath has had so much use in these days of lockdown that the management is worrying about wear and tear on the paths and forests.
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