Tuesday 4 March 2014

East Hertfordshire to Papworth, Cambridgeshire

Our senses are assailed by so much white blossom on bare branches, but even this is not as white as the frost on the fields.

Two crows sit basking in the early morning sunlight, high on the topmost branches of tall bare trees in the middle of a roundabout.

Along the verges bright white trunks on birch trees stand out from the conifers and the dark green lichen covered bare branches of other trees.

Dark brown teasels stand high and firm above creamy, golden grasses both left over remnants of last autumn.

I have just seen my first hawthorn decked out in fresh, bright green new leaves.

The numerous brown green and yellow catkins which have given us so much pleasure, have now been superceded by pussy willow, some silver in colour, smooth and sleek to touch, others are large powder puffs of pollen, ready to explode at the nearest touch.

We pass newly ploughed fields with their ridges and furrows and many flat fields covered in light, green new growth.

On some left hand verges and field edges there is still a covering of frost, and road edges have shallow rivers of flood water, still gently moving along

Past Arrington we see a fine old oak, prostrate on the verge and I wonder if it would still be standing if it weren't so heavily cloaked in ivy. Many old oaks on this journey are in this condition and I wonder if they would be stronger and survive longer if the ivy were to be removed.

To Papworth Hospital today for a procedure, I am seen by two more of the very fine Doctors at this Hospital, Dr. Alex Wilkinson and Dr. Lydia Mariner. All the staff here are exactly as one would expect people working in the caring profession to be.

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