Bino's lost!

24th November 2013

    There was a cold northerly, laced with light rain driving into my face and blurring my spectacles as I walked up through Oxen Hoath. Greylag geese arrowing for Clearhedges, a regular morning thing, met another skein, banked and turned and made a new noisy formation before continuing to the water there. I wondered where the night was spent. Fieldfare chattered over the orchards; they are back from Norway and Russia for a British winter holiday. On Gover Hill, looking south, visibility was 100 metres maybe, the whole valley concealed in mist. Even Hadlow Tower was obscured. Along the Wealdway, in Hurst Wood, I took the path by the old gamekeeper's cottage. There, in a paddock, a grey pony greeted me, a Thelwell type, dumpy, with long mane and tail. I scratched his muzzle and he spoke. The path took me to Mereworth Woods and Ministry of Defence property. Troops have exercises there. There are public rights of way through the woods, however, and as long as no one strays off the path, all is well. There are signs: WARNING Troops training! And, WARNING Do not touch suspicious objects! And, Keep to marked footpaths or bridleway! There were no troops this early, so no explosions to disturb me. I came out of the woods near Platt. Through Pigeons Green, and north of Crouch, at the stables, a girl was standing on a bucket to groom her pony! I made my way to Long Bottom Wood for a cuppa, out of the wind. I collected some Crab apples for a sauce to have with dinner later. And the rain had stopped.
    Along the Bourne from Basted, the peace allowed my mind to stray, and I drifted back to conciousness, annoyed with myself. Familiarity allows this to happen. I decided to change my route for home. On the path to Yopps Green, looking across the valley, the North Downs was bathed in sunlight. Ribbons of cerulean blue made a patchwork in the grey sky. I stopped for a breakfast of hot soup under the Copper Beech. Old motor cars on a rally (old Fords, Austins and others from bygone days), were taking the lane to Dux Hill. I decided to go that way. On Grange Hill, Nut Tree Hall, a 16th century timber framed house, stands behind a low wall. A beautiful house and garden. From Dux Hill, I took the path to Old Soar Manor, the old 13th century knight's dwelling. The Culpeppers lived here until the 16th century. On then, back to Oxen Hoath via Hamptons, through fields of Raspberries (under polythene in pots!) and orchards, and a peaceful copse of Lime trees. Another cuppa was drunk on Joan's bench in the park overlooking the Medway valley. The horizon under the dark blue-grey sky was pale strawberry. Hadlow tower now dominated the valley.
    At home, I discovered that I had lost my binoculars. A pair of circa 1965 Nikons. Oh despair!