Badger Poo

Linford Lakes

I got very excited seeing Badger poo this week. There are thought to be well over half a million badgers in the UK and because they are shy creatures, I have only ever seen them as road kill and because this was fairly fresh poo, the badger couldn't have been far away. Woohoo. I think it is the Wind in the Willows characterisation of Badger than made me fall in love with them a long time ago. 

I saw this very special poo when I went on an escorted wander around Linford Lakes where the area is off limits to the public. This was the highlight of my week. Loads of other interesting things were identified for us along the walk: a badger sett, a fox hole, birds, plants and other animal poo. I have been watching David Attenborough's Secret Garden on Iplayer so I have been imagining what might be happening in my little courtyard garden when I am not looking. I know that something or some things are eating the leaves. But who or what? I am tempted to get a night camera just to find out. 

Slightly less exciting, but nonetheless fun, was a surprise visit from my son, Sammi. He turned up one morning around 9am and as I didn't immediately get to the door, he thought I was out and was on his way out of the gate by the time I showed myself. He has been between jobs over Easter so has taken the opportunity to get on his bike; first around Brittany and then locally. He cycled up from Brighton and then when he left me, he set off for Cambridge where he was going to get a train back to his home. He travels light with a couple of neat paniers. I am quite envious of him. 

Sammi cutting up Sophie's tree

The twig breaker in action

Being a kind uncle, he took Ezra-Mae to school on her bike. On the day he left, I picked her up and promised to cycle her home to Mum and Mattaya. She has no gears so her legs have to work very hard. She did the trip no problem and then cycled back from Stacey Bushes to her home with her Mum - All on the same day. She is shaping up to be a super-cyclist...If a five-year-old can do that, I am sure most other children could to, and through exercising to get to school, I'm sure they'd be more focused in class. Just a thought.

As for Sammi, he managed to eat large quantities of Kofta at Naser's house -his favourite - and even had time to chop down a couple of trees for Sophie before setting off. As for me, I still potter around on my bike even though I have got caught in sharp showers once too many times this cruel month. Apologies for the misuse of the quote. I know that T.S.Eliot didn't think April was cruel for soaking cyclists.