Tuesday 30 November 2010

It snowed in the night.  When I awoke around half past four there was an orangy-glow in the gaps of the window blinds and my first thought was, 'It's snowed.'  Funnily enough only yesterday evening W and I were 'crowing' because the map of the weather on television showed swathes of Britain covered in the stuff, whereas Manchester area was unaffected. Big laughs all round, because it's nearly always us who gets the lot being bordered by the Pennine Hills the clouds need to rise up to fly over and ooops they dump the lot on Lancashire and Yorkshire.  It's been really bitterly cold for the past few days even the magpies have been staying in their nests.  When we were children you hardly ever saw magpies in the towns, you felt really lucky to be able to shout, "Morning Captain!" Or "Morning Mr Magpie, how is your Lady wife and family?" and salute  if you happened to spot one, now you'd be thought as mad as a hatter in a sock factory if you went about saluting all the time.  There are so many of them chattering and bounding around you'd have repetitive strain injury!  They're beautiful colours if you really look at them, iridescent blue, green and purple.  My brother had a friend at school who kept a Jackdaw as a pet, it used to talk he tells me.  I have a very vague memory of seeing it one day, it was upon the boy's shoulder out in our back yard.  Was it speaking?...I can't remember.  I wish I had a pet jackdaw now or even a pet crow.
'Krahe'  Artist: Rud Hurzlmeier

7 comments:

Lesya said...

It have been snowing here for two days, and tomorrow will be a very cold day. I don't ofeten see magpies or crows here, in the city. To see them, I probably have to go to a park. This art work is absolutely amazing.

Half-heard in the Stillness said...

I really love this quirky crow, what a talent to be able to paint like that!

christine said...

we have magpies every where... maybe our magpies are different to yours? i live in australia, ours are black with white markings and are quite common.. dangerous in spring when they are nesting as they often attack. this has led to the curious habit of wearing your cap back to front and sunnies on the back of your head! not me... i just run. :)

Half-heard in the Stillness said...

Hi Christine,
Wow I don't blame you for running they sound manic! Our magpies have a black head and back, white chest and on their wings but their tale feathers are a mix of scintillating colours.

Ruthie Redden said...

WE haven;t had too much snow here, though it is all around us up in Scotland, its because we are so close to the sea i think. Mr O and i are off walking to find some this afternoon i hope, taking my camera of course. I love the story of the magpies! We used to always hoped to see two or more for luck, when we were children. The jackdaws feathers are especially beautiful aren't they. Keep warm x ruthie

Christmas-etc... said...

Oh my... we really are so similar! I love magpies too! They play in the trees in the park across the street from me and I act like a cat in the way I move my head as I try to keep them in my vision!
We still have very warm weather here - I think the only area of Europe that is so warm! But that's Greece for you! When it's warm up in GB it will be cold here!
Blessings!
Ann

L.P. said...

Oh my. I love love love this. I have a weakness for crows... they are so punky and so smart!