What you see in the image is a fallen tree sprouting upwards with new growth. Now, if that tree had fallen on the ground, the new growths would have reached up as in the photo and down through the trunk into the soil. This is how willows walk. A sallow is a willow.
This was more wonderful information from Ian the Reserve Officer, who also told me about the moss piglets.
The heading offers a not so neat segue to my actual purpose today. When I was walking... well, Ok, I was running... I met a lot of people and spoke to them - as I am wont to do. And it struck me that there is something special about speaking to strangers. A freedom from fear somehow. The... randomness and never-again-ness.
First I met a man who was running faster than me. We spoke a little while walking. He said he used to run 90 miles a week but now he's happy to walk if the need arises... he's just glad to be out. I can relate to that. He had with him a rather lovely small dog. It was a Jack Russel type, but had long legs. He said they thought there was some whippet in it somewhere. I could see that. It was very lean. Nice and small, I thought. And very loyal. It wasn't interested in me. Maybe because I referred to him as it.
Then I met a woman I'd seen before with her friend and her friend's rather vicious dog. This woman, on her own this time, told me that she makes stained glass things. I immediately decided to commission things. I need to draw pictures and send them to her. Turns out, the other woman was a top, and I mean TOP, ice skater - on television regularly. How odd! Here in the sticks! And now she teaches. I had thought that the ice lady was deeply... hurt, traumatised... just a feeling I had when I met them before. The glass lady said she's very shy - and hasn't had good luck with men. So maybe I wasn't so very far off. though it did make me doubt my intuition.
Later I met a young lad with a cute spaniel and I said to him, 'I think I saw you when she was a puppy!' He said, maybe but that was three years ago. But I am sure that I recognised him. Sweet faced young man. He felt the same to me. As it were. However, let's note that my intuition might not be the most reliable indicator in the world.
Anyway, after this, which reminded me of my talks-on-walks during lockdown, I felt... energised... This reminder of my affection for people. This reminder of the kindness of strangers. This reminder that in a sense we are in something together. Whatever that something may be.
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