Free-Range Living

Seasonal progress here on the organic eco micro-holding (small smallholding) in the UK midlands has been held up significantly due to the east-wind cold, frosty weather lasting throughout March and well into April - at mid-April it's still a pretty wintery landscape. The grass in the nearby fields looks pretty unhealthy - dark, brownish, yellowish - and the clover's been hard hit by both pigeons and frosts. The prolonged cold wintery weather has mean't sawing up more wood than usual for the woodburner, at the same time, though, fortunately avoiding the significant increases in heating costs that many have had to  pay. Many are apparently reverting to 'protective freerange' mode, reportedly looking to grow their own food and have their own fowl, for instance. There's been a heavy media focus on the passing of a former UK prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, with opinion as to her effect being pretty split, and with some discontent regarding the scale and cost of her funeral. Divisive to the end, it would seem, as in public life in the UK, with current contention between politicians and Church leaders. 'Small', non-public life, though, can offer calmer waters - ?

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