Tranquillity

CPRE regularly calls for more tranquillity in the countryside. It can seem like whispering in a room where everyone else is shouting. They should go on calling for it because without it we might just as well be in the middle of a city.

Blacka has many advantages but is not always tranquil. Road noise and aircraft noise on certain days can be too much for some of us. This morning we had tranquillity and more than that. All came together after a series of cold mornings when Blacka was positioned on the north sea coast feeling the bite of a sea wind. Now it was not only sunny but warm. The road traffic was calmed by the single lane imposed for the wall repairs. (Please God let them take another six months on this).

Deer were basking genially in the sun reluctant to move off as we approached. Some were making competitive darts at each other, unable to use antlers so resorting to rising onto two legs.

Velvets are already well advanced on some stags while others have only just shed their previous set. Bird song this morning was excellent. Thrushes and warblers were well represented although no sign yet of the blackcaps and the cuckoos. But the best feature was the peace and tranquillity. It was like being transported to days gone by when this was normal. Now it's unusual and you wonder if a time will come soon when it is just a distant memory.