Highlights of lock down

It is true what they (the mass media) say! Lock down makes one use one’s eyes.

Close to home, we’ve had time to admire the succession of flowers in the garden, from snowdrops through to roses and from apple blossom to jasmine and winter box – with 14 species still in bloom.

We now have an intimate knowledge of the shrubs and flowers in the front gardens of our neighbours. Also, alas all the rusty old cars, piled up builders’ debris and overloaded dustbins.

There has also been time to watch the wildlife in our house and garden:

‘Pigeon down chimney’ – (corralled with a towel and one skinny bird released unharmed);

‘Squirrel steals the food of our avian friends’ – (dissuaded by hand clapping, and shouting – not very effective);

‘Fox gives humans the evil eye’ – (we give a long, captivated stare - fox steels quietly away)

The Archives REOPEN and REOPEN again and possibly will REOPEN yet again! Volunteers return … and return … and will return! Suitably masked with twice cleaned hands and at a social distance, we greet old friends and return to cataloguing!

Sal and Russ Self, Cheltenham Local History Society www.cheltlocalhistory.org.uk/

December 2020