Christine's walking & birds blog

Mid-afternoon, despite a sore throat, I decided on a good long walk in case I'm struck down by flu tomorrow; and I headed along the road to Cliveden. A lovely winding road this, but not pleasant to walk along because of the morons who use it as a race track.

I turned into the main entrance, and as I approached the "sentry box" a woman with a dog crossed the drive ahead of me and started to speak to the man there - which I thought was rather rude. A car then approached from behind me, and the man impatiently waved me away as I held up my membership card.

Well, thanks, I thought - the National Trust is always trying to get people to visit its properties without their cars - and when you do, they treat you as though you're second best. However, I soon forgot my rage. Because just along the Green Drive I heard and then saw a singing firecrest. I watched the bird for some minutes until it flew across the drive into a tangle of ivy round a tree trunk; there was a lot of "sisisisi-ing" and I thought there might be a nest. Fearing I would disturb them I retreated.

I emerged onto the pathless road again at rush hour. Bugger global warming and bugger the National Trust. Next time, I take the car.