Back to green

One of the big things I miss when I leave England is the green. I guess if I lived in the inner city or near some Dark Satanic Mill, it might be different but given where I live and the fact that I often travel to cities, the coming home is definitely a pleasant assault on the senses.

Green, green, la la la la…

Of course it’s always better when it isn’t raining, as it wasn’t today, and the sun can provide a snippet of warmth to the possibly chilly day.

Obviously I miss the girls as well and being able to take them up to the park is the more than delicious icing. Today was just such a day and while it made me want to wax lyrically and poetic, it also provided Freya with an awful lot of new friends.

Speaking of being poetic, while in Naples, Lex told me that an Aussie colleague had called him the Man from Snowy River when he wore his Drizabone and Akubra to work. He wanted to know if it was an insult or a compliment. I told him the guy was probably taking the piss because, although rangy and tall, Lex does not look like the sort of chap to mount a horse and go galloping off across the Snowy Mountains in search of a colt.

I then explained where the Man from Snowy River came from and started to recite the poem. Sadly I’d forgotten the first line so I didn’t get very far. Today, while wandering the park and throwing the ball for Emma, I went over and over and over it and, finally, managed to get through half the first verse.

There was movement at the station for the word had got around
That the colt from old Regret had got away
And joined the wild bush horses – he was worth a thousand pounds
and all the cracks had gathered for the fray.

That might have a few words out of place or misquoted but it does scan so I reckon Banjo would be happy enough.

It’s a pity I couldn’t remember it because it sounds excellent when recited with an Australian accent as I’m sure quite a few Farnham Park crows could attest.

Other than our walk in the park and a trip into town for essential supplies (like lo-carb food to counteract the Italian assault on my insides) and a Skype with mum, the day was basically spent in recovery mode.

Over the hill

The green helped with that.