MACBETH AND I took a walk up the Westwater together. It was a great favourite of my Father's, especially at the Meeting of the Waters which is where the Westwater flows into the North Esk.
EASTER SUNDAY was a family day for the Doyenne and me. We drove to join son Robert and his family who were holidaying again at Portknockie, for Easter lunch. We had a colourful, interesting journey driving over high passes, through wide glens and along sparkling riversides.
THREE MALLARD drakes and a duck were unconcernedly stepping out along the road in that distinctive rolling sailor's gait that they have, as the dogs and I stepped out of the wood. I wondered why they chose to walk just there as the pond is a hundred and fifty yards in one direction, and the stream much the same distance away, in another.
THE DOYENNE can be pretty eagle-eyed at times, usually when it's least convenient for me! She was in the middle of a meaningful telephone conversation with a friend recently when she broke off to say – “a wren has just flown out of the old swallows nest”.