1 Year ago today

Over Ratley way it's raining; the clouds have given up to the north wind's bluster. Desi meets me at her gate, soft-nosed and excited-eyed. I tell her she is beautiful and it is lovely to see her. She sniffs my hand with warm breath, and wags her tail. She lets me rub her ears. They are soft as bats' wings. It is the closest thing she can do to pierce my blindness. Penny comes up and their noses brush, barely touching; ears relaxed, eyes averted.  Small micro-signals, but it is all that is needed. Contentedly, they turn and trot away. Meanwhile, behind them, the lawn mower silently glides and then turns, following its own unseen, unheard syntax.

5 Years ago today

Lazy sunny morning under a cauldron sky. Two young rooks dunk a piece of dried bread in a puddle. First sighting of house martins that arrow knee high over the grass. Later we go down to wind the clock together. D, Penny and I walk through a snow globe of cherry blossom.