March and April

This year Candlemas (February 2nd) was ‘dry and bright’ which unfortunately means ‘winter will have another flight’, so beware especially in March when with
the slightly warmer longer daylight hours tempt us into thinking spring is hereand winter has gone. These olde country sayings have been around far longer than
the Met Office and those weather balloons that keep being shot down, so ‘never shed a clout until May is out’ either.

The great thing about weather, especially in this country, is that it makes up its own mind and at writing we actually haven’t had a drop of rain for over a month. This generally means that when it does eventually rain it probably won’t stop for a while. Spring heralds new growth with livestock, birds and plants all competing for their first glimpse of sunlight. There has been some newborn lambs, bunnies and a few daffodils already seen around the Vale and the snowdrops showing their bravery by being amongst the first to show themselves off.

As we look around our beautiful Vale of Aylesbury we have every right to be concerned about never ending price rises, strikes and our plans of coping but at least
we are miles away from the devastation caused by the deadly earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria where over 40,000 are feared dead. One wonders why these natural disasters have to happen and I’m sure there are no quick answers or solutions apart from building stronger buildings in these areas. Russia is still waging its war in Ukraine and with no end in sight to stop them the effects are causing more misery around the world.

Our wildlife can be cruel and merciless too with the natural food chain progression, I have witnessed thrushes and blackbirds pulling up and eating earthworms, then magpies and carrion crows searching for their nests, where they love to eat the newly laid eggs, and then our beautiful Red Kites along with the other birds of prey that mercilessly kill the garden birds that are feasting on our bird tables.

Foxes indescribably kill anything, so it really is a miracle that so much survives in our countryside at all. One thing we can do to try and help tip the balance is to maybe put a little bell on our domestic cats as they like to go hunting wildlife too and also to stop dogs running wild off leads while in the countryside as they can easily disturb nesting birds, hares and deer.

Beware around cattle and sheep as your family pet can easily turn into a wild animal around these creatures. The most dangerous situation can be cows and calves that should be avoided at all costs, as some cows, which can weigh over half a tonne, get very protective and have caused serious damage and even death to walkers who came too close.

Easter is soon advancing and as a movable feast this year will be on Sunday April 9th. Someone tried to steal 200,000 cream eggs but was caught (with egg on his face!). I’ve always loved Easter with the hot cross buns and chocolate eggs, both of which are now for sale almost all year. Legs of English lamb are always in demand so look around for bargains and use your freezer.

I wouldn’t bother buying any new potatoes as Easter is the time for planting not harvesting and I wouldn’t think they would be very new as mostly the smaller older potatoes renamed as baby are new.

We have a Coronation to look forward to on Saturday May 6th where King Charles III is crowned in Westminster Abbey. He has suggested that we all get together on the Sunday to promote a community spirit similar to when we all celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee last year. After the Sunday get together we have been awarded an official day’s holiday on the Monday where it is been given a volunteer theme for us all to help out with something. What a thoughtful selfless King we have telling us all to take the day off to help others. He has an enormous task to follow in his mother’s footsteps but seems okay so far with his intentions of cutting back the monarchy to a more sustainable level.

Polls show that the younger generation are not so keen, so we have to try and avoid a future rebellion. I’m not sure if Prince Harry’s book has done the monarchy any favours and as for Prince Andrew, well he wasn’t called ‘Randy Andy’ for nothing!

Aylesbury is becoming a real food hub around the cinema area with an excellent selection of restaurants, a real go to destination. Unfortunately I thought how tired the Market Square is looking, a dreadful shame but not sure how to improve it. It looks better when the market is on but very empty otherwise. I’m sure the local council have plans but let’s hope they get it right like the cinema area.

Just heard some great news, Nicola Sturgeon has resigned. She was intent on breaking up our union and her thoughts on gender were quite challenging. I love the fact that we are Great Britain and I think it’s amazing we are the only country (apart from a few little islands) that got away with naming our country Great!

God Save the King.

The Countryman