All fools day 2020

All fools Day, or hunt the Gowk Day.

In the 17th Century, the best method of making April Fools was to send them on pointless errands. Such as a glass of pigeon's milk, or fetching striped paint or a jar of elbow grease.

Gowks are Cuckoos, and the chicks appear in other birds nests around this time. Gowk was a word also used for jokes. They used to pass the "Gowk" on, as one was fooled with a prank another had to think of one to do to someone else, and so it passed on.

Such an old tradition that in my father's day apprentices were sent to look for a left handed spanner, (you can probably get them nowadays) or a skyhook!

Today no-one has told the natural world that we are in the middle of a disaster. Our apple trees are blast of leaves and flower buds. Goats in Llandudno have decided to visit the town now it's less busy! In France wild Boars are rummaging through village streets.

Magpies and crows have been busy breaking twigs off the huge oak tree at the bottom of our garden to make nests. I saw a red admiral butterfly yesterday.

The swamp of our flooded garden is starting to dry out and Rhubarb, Chives, Rosemary, Lavender, are growing like mad. Even my perfume rose has got leaves.

In these dark times it shows life goes on. Spring will come every year, lambs will jingle about on their new little legs, birds will nest. The urge to get Spring Cleaning and get out and about will be strong. Do the first not the last.  Keep safe and well everybody.