Well, this is one section I couldn’t have predicted having to write about! What strange times we are living in. A deadly virus, national lockdown, isolation and strict social distancing measures mean that the only form of daily exercise available is an hour in the local park each day. One positive is that I am also using the ‘walking hour’ to learn Portuguese, so hopefully when we return to Madeira I will be able to communicate more effectively.
You would think that walking around the park several times each day would get boring, wouldn’t you? Repetitive yes, and a change of scenery would be nice, but it has provided the opportunity to observe the passing of spring into emerging summer time, and also to get to know – from a distance of course – like minded individuals. A guy on crutches, then a leg brace and eventually a boot, recovering from ankle surgery, seen as often on a bench as on his feet. The dog walkers, the couple who run together, the lady with the spotty pram, a rather dashing elderly man with headphones who always nods as he passes, the mums with their kids and the illicit teenagers pretending to be brother and sister – nobody is fooled; and finally, the community police officer making sure everyone is behaving themselves.
I have to say that everyone has been friendly – a nod, a smile or a hello – and very well behaved, crossing the path to pass each other, keeping children close and not stopping to chat; funny how you can feel that you know someone just by passing them on a path every day.
The weather throughout April has been glorious, with sunny warm days and hardly any rain, so there has been no excuse for missing that daily walk. Another thing that has been nice is watching the flora and fauna emerge as the days grow longer and warmer. First watching the blossom emerge into riotous colour on the cherry and apple trees, and then watching the leaves of the horse chestnut unfurl – ever so slowly – until they spring into life and spring becomes summer. In the garden, we have enjoyed watching a pair of nesting wrens; we first noticed them busily collecting twigs and moss and transporting it into the dense ivy to build their nest, then came the quiet of waiting for the chicks to hatch, followed eventually by the flurry of activity as they collected and delivered food for their young. A few weeks later, following a rainy few days, they were gone. Hopefully they will return to the bird feeder with the many tits and finches, robins and one greedy pigeon who visit daily, or maybe to nest again next year.
As the lockdown was eased, we were able to resume our longer walks, but unfortunately the weather deteriorated through June, restricting how often we could go out. Hopefully we will be able to make our planned trip to Madeira for a month over the summer holidays, and enjoy the walks and outdoor life that we have planned.
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