The Clocks Go Forward

At one am, on the morning of Sunday 26th March, clocks in the UK go forward to give us an extra hour of sunlight. Mentally, this is a major turning point as I feel that summer is waiting on my doorstep and about to ring the bell.

As I drive along, the hedges are full of the white blossomed blackthorn, another messenger of warmer weather and longer days.

Blackthorn hedge plants, also known by their Latin name Prunus spinosa, produce pure white flowers against dark stems in early spring, followed by attractive mid-green foliage, and finally, sloes appearing in the autumn. Often devoured by birds, these sloes can be collected and used to make Sloe Gin, or when left to adorn the branches, they provide wonderful seasonal interest. Prunus spinosa hedge plants are covered in thorns.

We are told that in English tradition, it was thought to have been the main component of Christ's crown of thorns. Blackthorn is much prized for walking sticks. Only blackthorn or oak wood may be used to make an authentic sail eille (shillelagh in English), the stick of Irish folklore. It is also said that Parliament's Usher of the Black Rod's knocking stick is made of it. It is steeped in folklore related to witches, used both in their wands used to curse pregnant women, and as fuel for their execution pyres.

A ‘Rant’

I woke up this morning and felt a bit of a ‘rant’ coming on. I am perfectly aware that I live in this world but on the other hand sometimes I simply do not feel a part of it anymore.

I wonder if I am the only person who feels like a stranger in the modern world of ‘speak’. It seems I am just a ‘person’ although I know perfectly well what and who I am. As an example, it seems that suddenly the first person singular has become the first person plural etc. I know my wonderful English mistress would be in frenzy and foaming at the mouth. Where have all the commonly listed English parts of speech gone? Wikipedia comes to the rescue and tells us there are twelve (I could only find eleven) -- noun, verb, adjective, adverb, pronoun, preposition, conjunction, interjection, numeral, article, and determiner. I wasn’t too sure what a ‘determiner’ might be and on looking it up, this is what it is. ‘In the English language, determiners are used before a noun to introduce it or to provide more information on the noun, such as how many there are. If there are any adjectives before the noun to describe it then the determiner will also come before them.’ Well, there we are. I wonder how many are in general use today?

In case you are uncertain of how you should converse with anyone, I have a very helpful link for you given out by the reputable Oxfam. Surely they must be right? But please don’t try it out as I might not understand you.

Oxfam --Inclusive Language Guide

My second rant was regarding the censorship of any language/word that might be considered offensive in any book with or without their authors’ permission - such as Roald Dahl’s wonderful children’s books. The little darlings might be scared - that reminds me of Noel Coward's song ‘What's Going to Happen to the Tots’. Salman Rushdie, who has had problems himself reacted fiercely: ‘Roald Dahl was no angel but this is absurd censorship. Puffin Books and the Dahl estate should be ashamed.’ Roll on the debate. No more controversies!

Gobekli Tepe

I am delighted that the world famous Gobekli Tepe temple still remains unscathed after the devastating earthquake in Turkey.

I have long been intrigued by this amazing temple and its craftsmanship, created by unknown people of that time who were involved in its construction, architecture and intricate stone carvings etc. Historian Tom Cox tells us:

Gobekli Tepe Temple (Xerabreshkê/Girê Navokê) “Called the Gobekli Tepe Temple, located six miles from Urfa, an ancient city in south-eastern Turkey, it had previously been surveyed by the University of Chicago in 1963, and it was not until 1994 that German Klaus Schmidt made one of the most startling archaeological discoveries of our time: Having seen the first report by the University of Chicago, he decided to do a further excavation and recognized the possibility that the rocks and slabs were prehistoric. The following year, he began excavating there in collaboration with the Şanlıurfa Museum, and soon unearthed the first of the huge T-shaped pillars.

“The massive carved stones, about 11,000 years old, were crafted and arranged by prehistoric people who had not yet developed metal tools or even pottery.”

The megaliths predate Stonehenge by some 6,000 years. It is considered to be the site of the world's oldest temple and contains the same geometry as is found in crop circles!

Rather like Avebury, many of the stones were taken away by the locals for building material. It was an agricultural area.

“For the old Kurdish shepherd, it was just another burning hot day in the rolling plains of eastern Turkey. Following his flock over the arid hillsides, he passed the single mulberry tree, which the locals regarded as 'sacred'. The bells on his sheep tinkled in the stillness. Then he spotted something. Crouching down, he brushed away the dust, and exposed a strange, large, oblong stone.

“The man looked left and right: there were similar stone rectangles, peeping from the sands. Calling his dog to heel, the shepherd resolved to inform someone of his finds when he got back to the village. Maybe the stones were important.

“They certainly were important. The solitary Kurdish man, on that summer's day in 1994, had made the greatest archaeological discovery in 50 years. Others would say he'd made the greatest archaeological discovery ever: a site that has revolutionised the way we look at human history, the origin of religion - and perhaps even the truth behind the Garden of Eden.

“The site has been described as 'extraordinary' and 'the most important' site in the world.”

“A few weeks after his discovery, news of the shepherd's find reached museum curators in the ancient city of Sanliurfa, ten miles south-west of the stones”.

“The age of the temple predates the Pyramids, Avebury, Stonehenge and other early sacred sites by many thousand years, taking us back to a time before man became settlers.
Tom Cox also suggests that “…at the date in history when the temple was constructed, that the surrounding area was a verdant place with trees, shrubs and rivers.”

Who were these immensely skilled people and when and to where did they disappear? Could there have been an earlier as yet unidentified civilisation?

Herdman Healing Sanctuary

I am going to tell you about a wonderful healing centre not far from where I live. It is run by two people who have long had a dream. For Martin and Libby Herdman (old friends of mine) who had moved out of London to the country and after settling in, started to work on their dream. Not knowing quite how it would turn out, it seemed as though their dream was developing of its own accord. Last summer Martin and his brother set about building an octagon structure to be used for healing work, but somehow the powers that be decided that their original plans should grow into a magnificent 16 sided (hexadecagon) building. Between the two of them the building gradually came into being. An electrician, to install the necessary electric power, was their only outside help.

I visited the now completed sanctuary a few weeks ago. Sadly Libby was in London. I was aware they had been working on a building, but I could not believe my eyes when I saw the amazing construction and learnt of all the hard work involved. It is on a slight upward slope and Martin took me up and opened the door. Stepping inside was like stepping into another world. A world of serenity. I was enveloped in a warm feeling of awe, well-being, peace and security, rather like entering a church. ‘It is a Temple’ I said. ‘O, we didn’t quite know what to call it’, said Martin.

They are both fully trained, and together with Shamanic Healing and Reiki, they offer yoga and healing, yoga, Meditation Sound Healing, and gong baths etc.

I can strongly recommend you visit the Herdman Healing Sanctuary. It is run by two special people.

May the dreams you hold dearest

Be those which come true

May the kindness you spread

Keep returning to you.

I send you my love and best wishes

Lucy.

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Despite cold frosty and sometimes foggy mornings, spring seems to have been knocking at the door. For the last ten days, the sun has been shining for a few hours almost every day. Snowdrops and crocuses have arrived.

Early one morning, I got up to see the most spectacular sunrise. There is an old saying “Red Sky in the morning, shepherds’ warning.” This time it was wrong, as within a few minutes it had faded, and we had a gloriously sunny, but freezingly cold, day!

Sunrise in Hampshire

The birds have also recognised the change and are singing different songs, as they dust off their vocal chords in preparation for their full orchestral chorus in the months to come.

I have two bird feeders containing sunflower hearts, and from my kitchen window I have a grandstand seat. I have my camera at the ready, but as most of them - apart from the gold finches who love to pose - dart in and out so fast, it is really difficult to capture one in focus. They all have their own personalities and it is surprising how fierce some of the robins and blue tits can be. They are the bossiest birds scaring away the finches, nuthatches and blackcaps. There is a definite pecking order between the species and indeed between the very members of each species.

I send you a selection of pictures I have taken, including an out of focus image of a bullfinch. I am determined to get a picture of one in focus eventually! I have a pair of them; the female is very dowdy in comparison to the male. Robins find it hard to purchase on the feeder, but are training themselves to cling on. I also have a pair of nuthatches and a family of eight goldfinches made up of several different generations.

I came across a fascinating story just recently about the unlikely alliance between two totally different species. The wildlife film shows the plover (cyknie bird) protecting her nest of eggs when a monitor lizard - famous for its love of eggs - appears and starts creeping towards the little bird’s nest of eggs. Raising an alarm call, the bird dances around wildly trying to divert the lizard, then suddenly the crocodile, having heard the bird’s distress calls, comes to her rescue, driving the monitor lizard away. Is there a reason for this strange friendship between two of the most unlikely creatures? It appears there is - it seems that the little plover performs an invaluable service to the crocodile by giving the crocodile a thorough tooth flossing. The crocodile opens its mouth and the plover diligently picks the bits of meat from between the crocodile's teeth and generally cleans all its teeth on a regular basis.

The bird is sometimes referred to as the ‘crocodile bird’ for its symbiotic relationship with crocodiles. According to Herodotus, the crocodiles lie on the shore with their mouths open and a bird called 'trochilus' flies into the crocodiles' mouths so as to feed on decaying meat lodged between the crocodiles' teeth.

On the other hand, even stranger and more amazing is the way the bird reciprocates, and there is a film of first one and then two birds defending a nest of crocodile eggs. This film shows a nest of crocodile eggs and a monitor lizard - one of the fiercest and ruthless of all the lizard family - coming out of the bushes and creeping stealthily towards the nest, when all of a sudden the Egyptian plover (cyknie bird) appears and darts forward with outstretched wings, to attack the monitor lizard. So fierce is her attack and so determined is it that the lizard is stopped in its tracks. However, he clearly weighs up the situation, and size of the plover, and creeps forward once again, when suddenly a backup in the form of another cyknie appears and between the two of the them - not even afraid of tweaking the monitor’s tail - they drive the fierce monitor away, thereby protecting and saving the crocodiles eggs. They are enormously courageous little birds.

The Cambridge English dictionary tells us the Symbiosis is:

1. A relationship between two types of animal or plant in which each provides for the other.
2. The conditions necessary for its continued existence.

A relationship between people or organizations that depend on each other. Siamese twins would be an obvious example.

On searching the Internet, I found many similar instances of symbiosis among the natural world including the plant world.

As I write to you, it is impossible to ignore the devastating news about the huge earthquake in Turkey that has already killed over 20,000 people and is growing, with many more injured - leaving children as orphans, families, missing loved ones, and many more, homeless. And at this time of year, people are digging with their bare hands in freezing weather trying to locate survivors. A gigantic and indescribable disaster of huge proportions. Lying on one of the most seismically active areas of the world - the Anatolian fault system - its vulnerability is ever present.

Major fault lines

Turkey’s two main fault zones - the East Anatolian and the North Anatolian - is one of the world’s most seismically active areas.

With these and other happenings in different parts of the world, I am reminded how incredibly fortunate we are living away from these areas; living in countries with temperate climes; including free speech and freedom of movement.

Climate change is here for good and we should pay attention and play our part in a positive, constructive manner. Sometimes we take our good fortune for granted, and we are reminded that this is something we should never do.

Please remember to check your diaries as crop circle tour bookings are already coming in. The days and evenings are getting lighter and my heart fills with joy and optimism.

As always I have great pleasure sending you Pam Gregory’s latest reading.

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I wish you a wonderfully happy, peaceful, healthy and fulfilling New Year 2023.

This past year, 2022, has really been largely dominated and overshadowed by the Russian dictator Putin’s attack on Ukraine in a 'military exercise' that was to only last a few days! Little did he expect the valiant resistance that followed his invasion. The ensuing result of this conflict has had a worldwide effect, with trade links cut, food and other shortages, and astronomical price rises. This part of the world - Central and Eastern Europe - has been in constant turmoil going back centuries. So I decided to investigate more fully to try and make sense of what has happened and found myself exploring an ever changing and troubled region of the world.

We are told that 'The history of Kyiv, also spelled Kiev, officially begins with its founding in 482, but the city may date back at least 2,000 years. Archaeology dates the site of the oldest known settlement in the area to 25,000 years BC. Kyiv was the historical capital of medieval Kievan Rus' from 879 to 1240, and is now the largest city and the capital of Ukraine.'

I also came across an excellent article in the Spectator written by Norman Davies who has helped clear up many of the questions I have been asking regarding present day Ukrainian’s determination to retain their own individuality and identity as a country, as opposed to being engulfed by their eastern neighbour Russia. In order to remain separate, the spirit and determination they have displayed, has been truly remarkable. Despite superior numbers of manpower - and watching their homes crumbling around them as they fall beneath the intense shelling of Russian missiles - their spirit remains unbroken. Classical, elegant, ancient buildings, once standing proud over city squares and elsewhere, now lie in rubble and dust. A cultured civilisation shattered on the surface but belying a steely inner fighting spirit. An enactment of the David and Goliath story.

He tells us that: “Since the outbreak of war in February 2022 there has been an overwhelming focus on the historical links between Russia and Ukraine, partly to counter Putin’s grand assertions that Kyiv belongs to Moscow. But this spotlight on Russia has meant the important history of Poland and Ukraine has been fatally overlooked.

Ukraine was part of the Polish state for longer than it was inside Russia – and this is key to understanding why Ukrainians are different from Russians. In other words, it is impossible to comprehend Ukraine’s history without examining the impact of both Poland and Russia.”

So what is the history behind all this? Far from being 'an upstart' country, Ukraine had a long and important role to play in this arena. I urge you to read the above article.

So what is my feeling about this? In a way I believe that, quite remarkably and unexpectedly, sometimes amazingly wonderful happenings or results may come out of what may seem a hopeless situation, rather like the legend of the phoenix rising from the ashes; symbolising immortality, resurrection and life after death, and in ancient Greek and Egyptian mythology it is associated with the sun god. According to the Greeks, the bird lives in Arabia, near a cool well.

Lockdown visitors

Thinking of birds, my elder son who lives in Sydney told me a lovely story this morning. Sloane has an extraordinary wonderful affinity, understanding and love of birds and one time when he was very small, he was on a river bank and on spotting a pen with her cygnets, went straight up to them, sat down beside her and one by one put her cygnets on to his lap. And there sat Sloane, the pen and her cygnets all quite happily together for some considerable time.

The story he told me this morning:

“Lockdown took us all by surprise. Our concept of freedom and space changed, and we all had to make the best of the new limitations imposed on us.

I live in Sydney very close to both the ocean and inner harbour. Coastal walks and the water itself are a significant part of my day-to-day life, so when we went into lockdown, I had to find other things to do.

I have always had a keen love of nature, and Australian animals are inherently wild, very wild, and for those that have reared a Kookaburra, Magpie (the Australian Magpie is very different from the European and American variety, and more like the crow) or Rainbow Lorikeet will know the immense joy and wonder that comes with it. They are all very playful and rather naughty!

The tables were turned and now nature was free from our interference, and we were restricted to the spaces within our own homes.

The birds in particular realised this too and came in for a closer look at the humans within!

Living on my own, I was thrilled to have any company available, and after a little Google research, established what was best to feed the birds, and like us, not everything they like is good for them!

I dug up bugs and ordered in mealworms for the Magpies and sunflower seeds and apples for the Rainbow Lorikeets.

My flat has mosquito nets on all the windows, and not all accessible, so my kitchen window seemed the best option, especially as it is often where I sit and eat, and so we could all eat together.

I soon realised that birds have no etiquette or table manners and my kitchen soon filled up with escaping Mealworms, and the fine shelled skins from the sunflower seeds, and with regularity, everything getting scattered everywhere when there was a punch up between the birds, something I later managed by creating dividers for the birds.

I decided to build a makeshift bird table for my windowsill in order to contain the food and limit how far the birds came into the kitchen, with some success.

The latter didn’t always work, and I would often find birds of all descriptions in my kitchen looking outside of the box so to speak!

There is a special feeling when a wild animal shows trust. It takes patience and time.

Since lockdown has finished, the birds still visit, and at this time of year they are well into their 2nd batch of fledglings, so the bird table is busy.

Amongst many, I currently have one family of Lorikeets who introduced me to their two youngsters, and feed from time to time at my kitchen window.

Along with the more glamorous parrots, we have two breeding pairs of pigeons, generally not the most popular of birds and I’m somewhat frowned upon for feeding them, but they hoover up all that’s left behind by the other birds so serve me well and illustrate that there is balance in nature.

I had one of my regular pigeons arrive on my windowsill the other day with both his feet tangled in the fine cotton thread. She found it hard to walk, and I could see it was very tight on several of her toes. I knew it could only get worse and possibly lose her toes.

I caught her with ease and albeit she struggled initially, after a while I think she realised what was going on and calmed down. I noticed how soft and pink her feet were, and clean too and I guess this comes from living a rural life.

After about 20 minutes with only one hand to do the snipping, cutting and untangling, it was done and I let her go, and she flew a full circle in the sky and came back through my window into my kitchen landing on my hand.

As I write this, I’m looking out of my other window where I have my office (the same side as my kitchen window) and there is a large Gum tree, and I can see the birds preening and winding down for the day.

Soon the Magpie will sing and lastly the Kookaburra will say goodnight, I have a family of nine.”

As usual, I attach Pam Gregory’s latest findings. I think you will find them encouraging.

As I ended my last letter, the devastating news of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth had just come through. She served our country and the Commonwealth with distinction for over 70 years. It was the news many of us had been dreading - somehow, no matter what happened, we thought all would be well as long as the Queen was there.

Many of us had known no other monarch. She was the United Kingdoms of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. She died in Scotland, the country she loved so dearly, where she could relax and be herself away from the affairs of state. However, even there she read the contents of the Red Boxes sent to her daily by Parliament.

She was steady, resolute and reassuring in bad times, and in good times, she rejoiced with us.

The outpouring of grief was of such magnitude, not just from the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and our European neighbours, but from countries such as America, Thailand and others worldwide.

Despite their grief, the Royal machinery immediately went into action and almost seamlessly Charles, the Prince of Wales, became King Charles III. Regardless of his grief, his concern was for his people. Putting aside his own sorrow, day after day, he was seen walking up and down throngs of people who gathered outside Buckingham Palace in London, and Holyrood House in Scotland, reassuring and thanking them for their support, which in turn he was giving them. He visited the four countries of the United Kingdom, stopping to visit, mix, console and reassure throngs of grieving people. Other members of the Royal family did likewise, and Princess Anne, who also has never wandered from her royal responsibilities, was also seen, along with the new Prince and Princess of Wales - William and Catherine. Harry and Megan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, were also present, having returned from their home and lives in America.

Charles’ address to the nation was just what was needed. He spoke with such sincerity and dedication, acknowledging the task ahead of him and realising that much of the work for his many cherished charities would now be in the good hands of trusted people while he devotes his time to the duties of sovereign.

As Prince of Wales he was the President of The Prince’s Charities, which is an umbrella group of 17 charities, all of which focus on one of the following four areas: the built environment, responsible business and enterprise, young people and education, and international sustainability.

The funeral arrangements were flawless, and the pomp and ceremony was spectacular. Day after day people passed the coffin of Queen Elisabeth in sorrow and respect for all she had given us of herself. Of the queues and queues of people gathered, sadly there were some who never managed to get in before the date of the actual funeral when the lying in state ended. Monarchs and Presidents from all over the world attended together with others.

Following the religious service in Westminster Abbey, the main procession of the day lasted 45 minutes and travelled through the centre of the city, with the line of those taking part stretching for over a mile and a quarter along the Mall with the gun carriage carrying the coffin to Buckingham Palace.

And so ends the Royal House of Windsor, as we continue once again with the Carolean Era.

The term Carolean is derived from the word Carolus which is the Latin for Charles.

The reign of Charles I came to an unhappy end due to his frequent quarrels with Parliament, which ultimately provoked a civil war that led to his execution on January 30th, 1649.

Triptych of Charles 1 by Sir Anthony Van Dyck

Charles II fared better. Wikipedia tells us 'Traditionally considered one of the most popular English kings, Charles is known as the Merry Monarch, a reference to the liveliness and hedonism of his court. He acknowledged at least 12 illegitimate children by various mistresses, but left no legitimate children and was succeeded by his brother, James.'

Charles III will be crowned King at Westminster Abbey on the 6th May 2023. When he becomes king at the age of 73 years 298 days, he will be the oldest monarch at the time of his coronation. Before Charles, William IV, who became king aged 64 years, 308 days, had held his record since 1830.

Supported by Camilla (Duchess of Cornwall), I feel Charles will be a good King. Queen Elizabeth II made it clear that on her death, Camilla should be known as ‘Queen Consort’. To reign with the same dedication and excellence as our beloved Queen Elizabeth II is a weighty task, so just as Prince Philip supported our Queen, so will Camilla lend vital support to King Charles.

Despite becoming King at the moment that his mother, Queen Elizabeth II died, Charles as Sovereign will have to take the Coronation Oath. The form and wording have varied over the centuries. Queen Elizabeth II undertook to rule according to law and to exercise justice with mercy - promises symbolised by four swords in coronation regalia (the Crown Jewels) - and to maintain the Church of England. It is thought possible that additional wording may include ‘all Faiths’ in some form.

Moving on to other matters, despite all that is happening around us, I still maintain my feelings of optimism. It seems that we are in a state of chaos experienced by every strata of life, from everyday personal matters right through to global affairs. However, I believe that green shoots are on the horizon, that we must take heart no matter how difficult life can be at present, hoping we have learnt our lessons through these troubled times. I feel we must try and be resolute, and look forwards not backwards. We must be kind to each other and ourselves. In contrast to these problems, there is so much kindness around us that seldom sees the light of day as the media constantly feeds us negative information. Just stop for a moment and you will be surprised what happens when you ask for help.

Ipuacu, Santa Catarina, Brazil

Anxious not to be left out, Brazil has been graced with the final circle of the year.

The report came in on the 4th October. We are told that 'it appeared overnight along the side of a steep hill, just outside of the small town of Ipuacu, where many local people could see the field from their homes. No one there heard anything or saw anybody.'

The formation contains interesting and playful geometry. In the centre of the circle, there is a triangle containing a small circle and outside the circle, there is a pentagon. The triangle has three sides and the pentagon has five - making a total of eight.

In Pythagorean numerology the number 8 represents victory, prosperity and overcoming.

Ipuacu, Santa Catarina, Brazil

Ipuacu is famous for its waterfalls and Wikipedia tells us that 'Iguazú Falls or Iguaçu Falls are waterfalls of the Iguazu River on the border of the Argentine province of Misiones and the Brazilian state of Paraná. Together, they make up the largest waterfall system in the world. The falls divide the river into the upper and lower Iguazu.'

There is also a legend that 'that a deity planned to marry a beautiful woman named Naipí, who fled with her mortal lover Tarobá in a canoe. In a rage, the deity sliced the river, creating the waterfalls and condemning the lovers to an eternal fall. The first European to record the existence of the falls was the Spanish Conquistador Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca in 1541.'

Pam Gregory
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