The Amazon Trip – Sailing up the Amazon!

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I was once again up at daybreak. I had my usual routine.

It is a murky day. Very misty – but a nice temperature. I Found some moths and had a cup of tea on deck. Liz slept – feeling groggy.

She was feeling a bit better when I went off to my writing group.

The day is still murky as we wend our way along the Amazon. This river is pretty big!! There is a lot of rainforest out there!

I just hope Jair Bolsanaro doesn’t have it all burnt down! It is far too precious!

The water is like liquid chocolate.

Hopefully Liz will be feeling better soon! We are heading for our last port of call in the Brazil. Another day ‘at river’ and we’ll be there!

Well, we are out of the Amazon now and into the Atlantic. The boat was no longer covered in interesting insects.

Tomorrow we hit Belem. Liz is still a bit poorly but on the road to recovery!

A third English walk – To Lowthorpe – Photos

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As I set off on my walk today the sun shone, though there was a cool breeze coming from the East. A ring dove watched me from the boughs of a tree.

The flowers in the garden shrieked Spring!!

I walked through the village and out into the countryside.

Above me a buzzard swooped, circling, looking for his next meal.

There were lamas in the field. One seemed pleased to see me and expressed her joy in a strange manner.

I headed off down the lane.

This is the point where I took off down the other lane on the last walk. This time I went straight on.

The hedges were full of all manner of little birds though the little buggers would neither sit still nor come out where I could take a photo.

There were strange growths in the silver birch trees.

Looking out over the fields.

Up the lane. This used to just be a cart track. You find yourself thinking about these kind of things as you wander along.

Like a bird on a wire. Like a drunk in a midnight choir.

I have tried.

I thought this was a pretty horse.

Past the farmhouse with cherry blossom and off along a track.

There was something about this dead trunk that I loved – the texture and pattern of the grain.

I loved this skeletal tree – still not coming to life, intricate filigree against the sky. I wrote my poem about this tree.

Past the hedge with trees and ivy, alive with small birds.

The track took me across the fields with the yellow rape in the distance. I always find that alluring.

The trees and the dung heap!

Approaching Lowthorpe now.

Past the farmhouse and on to the lane.

I thought I would check out St Martin’s church. It dates back to Saxon times but is mainly 14th Century. The ruined chancel at the side is a result of the dissolution of the monasteries.

There is a fabulous tomb and Saxon cross in here but, due to the Corona virus, it is shut. Another time.

Another nice tree – and forget-me-nots on the graves.

A beautiful gnarly tree. That went into my poem too.

I set off back. A walk is always different on the return journey. By now the wind had got up a bit, the sun was disappearing in hazy cloud and it was much colder. Fortunately the breeze was behind me.

Back down the track. The dandelions shone to me.

There’s my tree again and a wind turbine – clean energy!

My tree trunk.

My horse, still grazing – he refused to look up.

I could see a glimpse of the church down the lane.

Past the drifts of May blossom.

A great tit was feeding in the birch trees.

I liked this brown sheep.

And I’m nearly home again.

A Very English Springtime Walk – Photos

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Come and take a walk with me! I’ll take you on my daily exercise walk.

I’ve got my camera with me to record the walk. I’m on the lookout for colour, shapes, weird things and nature.

My eye will take me to a variety of things. I’ll tell you why. I’ll tell you my thoughts.

It started in the front garden where Spring has set the plant aflame with flowers.

We had just reached the end of the road, by the church when I remembered I did not have my fitbit on. So I went back for it. Liz walked on. I said I’d catch her up. I never saw her again!!

But she would have got fed up with me stopping to take photos so it was probably for the best.

The church is on a flat topped mound. I reckon there used to be a stone circle there. The church was probably plonked on it.

The pub is unfortunately shut. We are social distancing.

There are lots of rainbows outside the school. The kids are telling us that this will soon be over and we will be alright!

The dandelions are loving it.

Rainbows in the windows.

And off down the back lane. Many of the trees are coming into bud. The new leaves create a beautiful green.

There are white drifts of May blossom.

I continued walking up the lane.

There were batches of daffodils and a hawk hung on the wind.

I was hurrying, trying to catch up with Liz. She walks too fast!

The track took us across fields towards the woods.

I just loved the shapes of the new buds.

Through the gates and into the woods.

Some of the kids had built a den (or was it a Gruffalo house?).

The birds were chirping but I couldn’t catch them. They were too quick.

I got the squirrel though.

I reached Driffield. Arriving at Riverhead – the start of the canal, lined with warehouses. The canal used to be a major thoroughfare for commerce.

Here’s the Bluebell Pub in Driffield. Bluebells are popular.

I started walking along the canal.

A couple of kids were fishing! One told me he’d caught two fish – 1 lb trout.

The first of the locks.

I love trees. They are still largely skeletal at the moment.

The path went alongside the canal.

I managed to get a few shots of the many birds.

That’s the oxbow of the river that runs alongside the canal! I liked the reeds.

The canals were choked up with waterweed. Great for wildlife! I could hear frogs croaking but could not find one.

Another bird!

The track took me past some lovely trees and down hedgerows.

It’s a bit like fairyland!

I arrived at the next lock with a fish farm to the side.

I was walking along a path sandwiched between the canal and the road.

I love the moss on the dead wood.

Across the fields is the church at Wansford.

At the lock in Wansford. I liked the reflections!

This is the old hollowed-out elm tree that our kids used to play in. I’m amazed it is still there.

I liked the patterns of the waterweed and reflections.

Crows nesting in the trees.

I loved the patterns of these waterweed and reflections in the sunlight.

At Wansford.

This is the old watermill.

More great waterweed. There are trout darting around here. Some are big!

There were flowers on the banks.

I was very taken with these. I think they are wild orchids.

I was now walking up the beck. It is quite fast flowing and the water looks crystal clear.

I really liked these buds – the colour and shape.

Skeletal trees, banks of May blossom, old tree-trunk festooned with ivy.

Beautiful patches of yellow celandine.

I really liked the patterns creating by the drilling of this field.

This old brickwork bridge was now crumbling and covered in ivy and creepers.

A couple of days ago there was no yellow. The flowers have opened.

Reed banks and ivy on trees.

In the distance I saw these birds on a telegraph line.

I was very impressed with their numbers. Were they waiting for the farmer to plant their seed?

There was something about this plantation with its floor of yellow celandine.

Snowdrifts of white May blossom.

Across the railway lines. Through the gate.

The banks, blackthorn and crystal-clear water running over the chalky stones.

Even the sheep are becoming punks and dying their hair.

Into mole city. I’ve never seen so many mole-hills. The whole field was full of them.

Celandine, sheep and moles.

More rainbows!

The mere and the church. Nearly back – knackered!

I hope you enjoyed your walk! I did.

Now for a nice cup of tea!!

The Corona Diaries – Day 28

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Well that’s it – we’ve managed 4 weeks of isolation! It’s not been too bad. We just miss our normal way of living – friends, gigs, family, cinema, theatre, eating out.

We’re OK – we’ve got lots to do!

Today has been productive. My new novel – Farm 703 – The Human Project – has been published (both digital and paperback). The new cover on my last book – Schizoid – is now active.

I’m feeling good about that.

I am now starting to work on – Ebola in the Garden of Eden – I’m going to edit it and put it out with a new title and cover as a Ron Forsythe book. It is part of my attempt to put all my best work out under the Ron Forsythe name.

I went for a long walk before lunch. The day was day with hazy sun. Nice for walking.

Great to see all the rainbows!!

Now I’m sorting out my blog, answering emails and ringing friends.

There doesn’t seem to be enough time to fit everything in!!

This evening we will binge on some TV box set – we’ve been watching Spooks! It’s quite good but not the best!

I’m not sleeping brilliantly – about six hours a night – but we’re eating brilliantly.

It’s good to have the two of us. We spend a lot of time apart but also a lot of time together.

Even in isolation life is quite full and satisfying.

Tomorrow we decorate our bedroom!

Water or Savannah Apes? Where did humans evolve from?

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Water or Savannah Apes? Where did humans evolve from?

As you can imagine the debate is getting heated. After Attenborough did his programme on humans evolving from marine apes the conservative human evolution establishment is up in arms. They do not like their current theory being challenged.

Human beings evolved from apes in the Rift Valley area of Africa about two million years ago. Not many, apart from the flat-eithers and creationists, are disputing that. We have the fossil evidence.

It is widely believed that we became bipedal on the African savannah in order to hunt and hold tools. The development of intelligence, along with binocular sight and the opposable thumb, necessary for tool manipulation, is well documented.

What David suggested was that we did not become biped on the savannah for hunting but developed this from wading in water to live off molluscs.

So what is the evidence for our aquatic past?

a. Evidence that primitive man ate a lot of bivalves

b. We have blubber (a thick layer of fat under the skin)

c. Babies are born with an immersion syndrome. They naturally hold their breath and can swim under water.

d. We have a physiological change when immersed. Our peripheral blood system shuts down and there are changes in metabolism and brain activity.

e. The hair deposition is of an aquatic animal.

f. We have an affinity for water. We love it.

It is an interesting idea. I look forward to seeing where it goes.

John Fowles – Quote from The Tree – the real tragedy of the destruction of nature.

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John Fowles – Quote from The Tree – the real tragedy of the destruction of nature.

I have just finished reading The Tree by John Fowles (writer of the Magus and French Lieutenants Daughter and one of my favourite writers). It was a splendid little book. It encapsulated his feeling of oneness with nature and trees – the wild – something that cannot be captured by science or art but that is a state of being.

While reading it I was particularly struck by one paragraph that resonated with me and would like to share it with you.

‘There is a spiritual corollary to the way we are currently deforesting and denaturing our planet. In the end what we must most defoliate and deprive is ourselves. We might as soon start collecting up the world’s poetry, ever line and every copy, to burn it in a final pyre; and think we should lead richer and happier lives thereafter.’

That sums up the grief and anguish I feel inside at the constant cruelty and destruction we are wreaking around the world. Each tree and creature is a poem in my world – a poem lost forever – and one that makes me all the poorer.

Poetry – The Sun was Shining

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The Sun was Shining

 

I woke up this morning.

The sun was shining.

It made the trees dance in their dappled green dresses.

A mellow breeze

Carried the scent of flowers

Across the unending forest.

I watched the birds

Flying between the branches,

Building nests and impressing each other with their song.

Beneath the canopy

Creatures nibbled

On the verdant undergrowth.

The whole of nature

Put on a show

Of interconnecting magic.

 

But, as the bulldozers started up

And the chainsaws began to scream

I realised it was merely a wishful dream.

 

Opher – 6.3.2020

To try or not to try – that is the question.

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To try or not to try – that is the question.

To try, or not to try – that is the question:
Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles
And by opposing end them.
I have been told that there is nothing we can do to take on the powerful who are presently destroying our planet, sowing the seeds of war, exploiting the poor and desperate and controlling us for their own greed and selfishness. That they are too big and too powerful and we are helpless. These massive global corporations who control our media, and through them our thoughts, buy our politicians, are funding both candidates in the USA election, are funding all parties in the UK, are running war for profit, creating inequality for profit, are too big to oppose.
I am pissing in the wind.
So we have two choices:
  1. We give up – retreat into the safety of our comfortable homes, despair at what is going on, feel helpless and acknowledge that the future is lost. There is nothing we can do but carry on our own lives and try to blot it out. Give up on our children’s children, the chimps, gorillas, elephants and all of nature. Accept the planet will be bulldozed for profit – to suffer the slings and arrows.
  2. We try – we oppose the wrong we see around us. We speak out. We protest. We campaign. We shout! WE SHOUT!!!!  WEEE SSSHHHHOOOOUUUUUTTTTT!!!!!!! as loudly as we can. We take up arms and oppose them.

I’m not one for giving up. I’m one for shouting. I’m taking up arms!

It may all be a gesture. There may be nothing we can achieve. But that does not matter. You do what is right with all your might.

Who knows? There are millions of us out there. The internet connects. Together we are strong. They told Ghandi he was nuts. They told Martin Luther King he couldn’t win. They told Nelson Mandela it was futile.

Sometimes – against the odds – great things can be achieved.

For the sake of the chimps, elephants, rhinos, starving people, the sweat shop employees, those in the filth of the shanty towns, the gorillas and polar bears, the rainforests and coral reefs, the climate and those being bombed, gassed and executed – we have an obligation to try.

Poetry – How Much is Money Worth?

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How Much is Money Worth?

 

How much is money worth?

Is it worth a single tree?

A forest? Or a stream?

 

How much is money worth?

Is it worth a single whale?

All the gorillas?

Or an orangutan, or a tiger?

 

How much is money worth?

Is it worth a hurricane?

A flood or a drought?

Perhaps a forest fire?

 

How much is money worth?

Is it worth a lung?

A plague?

A kidney or a life?

 

How much is money worth?

Is it worth a single family?

Or a country?

A people or a planet?

 

What is the price of money?

 

Opher – 1.3.2020

Poetry – A Green Lung full of Fire

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A Green Lung full of Fire

 

A great green lung full of fire.

Nature consumed by greed,

Killed by inequality.

Despite the fact that there’s more than enough

They always want more.

It’s an addiction.

 

While eight billion mouths need feeding

There are those

Who seek to exploit

Without a thought

For their effect on the planet.

It’s complete madness.

 

As climate changes and species die

The deniers

Ignore experts and scientists

In the face of overwhelming evidence.

It’s a tragedy.

 

Opher – 1.3.2020