We had bright sun and blue skies for the first half of yesterday. The robins were singing and other little birds were chasing each other around with possibly amorous intent. It's too early (and too cold) to say it's spring, but I got the barest hint that our darkest days of winter are over.
As I may have mentioned, I've arranged with a gardener to come and help us get our ivy under control. They're also going to prune our roses and some of our other plants. This won't happen for another month but at least we've got it on the books. I still don't know what's happening with the front garden -- I haven't heard a peep since writing the landlords last weekend.
I spent yesterday morning doing laundry and reading "The Bee Sting." I think I ought to finish it today. I really like it, except for the parts with minimal punctuation, but it's been hard to find time to read more than a few pages here and there which is why it's taking me so long -- and it's a 600+ page book.
In the afternoon, inspired by the sunshine, Olga and I took a walk and went...
...to the cemetery! Just weeks after lamenting that we may never get there again, I was happy to see her willing to make a go of it. We didn't walk the whole thing, partly because we ran out of time -- the cemetery gates close at 3:30 p.m. at this time of year, and we got there a little after 3 p.m. At the speed Olga walks, we had time to do just a small part of the back area. But still!
Olga did pause as we were walking there and look at me as if to say, "Are you sure this is a good idea?" But I gave her leash a soft tug and she came willingly. I think she did it for me, to be honest. She'd be just as happy sniffing trash bags closer to home.
Here she is on a woodsy path, passing the partly-buried headstone of Charles Absalom Bromige and his wife Eliza Margaret, which I've discussed on this blog before.
And here she is with the grand grave marker of the Banister Fletchers.
She seemed confused when we didn't follow our usual circular path through the cemetery but as I said we just didn't have time, and in the end she relented and allowed me to walk her home early. Surprisingly she didn't seem particularly achy last night, either. She's a tough old bird!
We have just completed the darkest 10 weeks of the year.
ReplyDeleteYour self-portrait at the end is astonishingly accurate though I cannot make out what you were wearing on your head. Is it some sort of turban or perhaps a fez? Anyway, it seems a shame to just to toss it on the ground unless it was to honour deceased Bromiges.
ReplyDeleteThe house at the top has battlements! Are they afraid of raids by Northern hordes, I wonder?
ReplyDeleteYay for Olga! I'm glad you both enjoyed your cemetery walk. I think we have a while to wait before we can declare Spring around here in Illinois. At least the temp has climbed above 0°F!
ReplyDeleteCheers for Olga and her stamina! The terrace houses in the top picture are hopefully not the inspiration for the Russians on how a front "garden" should look like??
ReplyDeleteOlga looks very spry in those photos. So dangerous to have the Russians involved in any decision!
ReplyDeleteSweetness! Olga made it to the cemetery again. She is a tough old bird. You are right. I am starting to feel a bond with Olga that I never felt before- the bond of older age and trying/wanting to do what i used to do without a thought.
ReplyDeleteMinnie does that, starts out on a walk willingly enough and then halfway down the street will stop and look at me as if to say are you really making me do this? I let her decide and we turn around and go home.
ReplyDeleteIt's always a joy to see a burst of energy from old bones, whether they be Olga's or my own! I really enjoy walking through cemeteries, reading the stones and googling them on my phone to see if I can get any information on them.
ReplyDeleteI like the look of the houses in your first photo. It's great that Olga was up to a cemetery walk. You got some great photos there. I love the overgrowth. That last photo must be someone's portrait of Banister Fletchers.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me happy to see Olga in the cemetery again. I hope she makes more trips there...
ReplyDeleteIn this case the dog owner is probably much happier for the walk than the dog.
ReplyDeleteGood on Olga for taking the cemetery walk again!!!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a lovely day! I've pretty much given up reading books - I just listen to audiobooks (which I also consider reading). I really should devote some of my time in the evening to reading.
ReplyDeleteOlga is so sweet. It pains me to think about her "old age" and what comes next.
ReplyDeleteI love that top photo, looks very London. My goodness, they made those houses skinny and tall. I'm glad Olga and you had a nice walk in the cemetery.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to see Olga in the cemetery again.
ReplyDeleteOlga is having a good look around. The walks will keep her in good shape.
ReplyDeleteI get the feeling Olga is glad you went to the cemetery and I'm happy to hear she would have liked the longer walk around in there. She's feeling the hint of spring I think.
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