Wednesday 16 March 2011

If we heard seagulls outside when we were little, we were told it must be rough weather at sea.  I could hear them this morning, I had the window open and the sun was shining, picking out all the dust motes dancing like midges, whilst the plaintive cries of the seagulls reminded me of the seaside.  The gulls follow the canal or the rivers from the sea mouth inland searching for easy food, then they swoop and whirl on the air-currents until they  catch sight of a ploughed field or landfill site alighting in the rough earth to jump and squabble over insects or worms.  This morning there was a light aircraft buzzing around as well, we are not that far from an airfield called Barton Aerodrome, the first municipal airport in the U.K.
   It seems to me a sure sign that we have turned away from Winter when I hear the drone of the small aircraft engine weaving it's way on a lazy spiral just below the clouds. It comes from a memory of lying hidden in the long grass of fields near our house, shading my eyes to watch a biplane drawing lazy circles against the blue summer sky, with the song of a skylark in my nine year old ears and the delightful knowledge there was no school for the rest of the summer.

5 comments:

Lesya said...

I think I never was so glad about the fact that we are turning away from winter. I think it's nice that you can hear seagulls from where you are, even though you aren't at the seaside :)

WOL said...

We have "seagulls" here and we're 600+ miles inland. They form part of the playa lake crowd along with kildeer, gallinules (jsp?), coots, ruddy ducks, blue herons, etc. It's supposed to get up to 90 F/32 C here tomorrow. I hope it's not a harbinger of a long hot summer.

June said...

I love coming here and getting your perspective on things. You have many memories to share and reading your posts take me back to my own memories somehow. Soon the farmers will be turning the soil here as well, and though I live far from any coastline, the gulls still come and I love to hear and see them following the tractors while they tear up the earth. Then I know Spring has come to my part of the country.
sending hugs

Susan McShannon-Monteith said...

It would be wonderful to lie in the grass gazing up into the sun and recall the memories of childhood... long enough to forget the sadness in the world today.
Have a wonderful St. Patrick's Day.
Susan x

Virginia said...

Such sweet memories. A lovely photo as well.
V