Life is hard walk 5

Good morning!

Quite some action today:

• lots of dogs, walking their humans

• ducks diving in the river for breakfast, their silly bottoms up in the air

• birds flying, birds fighting, jockeying for position on tree branches, wires and roofs

If I block the stream of consciousness

going on in my head and

listen carefully

I can hear them, the birds

It’s like a sloppy choir competition.

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Ah, yes, the photo.

When I moved to this little corner of the world, 23 years ago, this bench and table were in much better conditions. Not new, but you could actually sit on the bench and put your bag or thermos or book on the table.

I did it more than once, sometimes just for the sheer pleasure of sitting there and do nothing but taking in the sights and sounds of this unremarkable, beautiful place.

To me, they are the surest sign of time passing; people and things getting old and decaying. They remind me of friends and family who are no more.

For some reason, Xmas always puts me in a strange, gloomy mood.