bunn

Some years ago in a fit of enthusiasm, I made elderberry wine.  The enthusiasm lasted long enough to get it into a demijohn, and then faded away, so in the demijohn it had sat ever since.

Today we attacked the Things that had built up in the library, one of which was the 'wine'.  I almost poured it away untasted, but then that seemed wussish, so I drank some.  To me at least, it actually seemed quite palatable, though it's bloody heavy on the alcohol.  Sadly I cannot drink a whole demijohn of it at once...  Am off to the village show shortly, where I have a vague memory last year someone was flogging off old bottles cheap.  Fingers crossed!

Cool slightly rainy morning, I allowed Rosie to choose our walking route.  She chose a path that led from the old Clitters mine along the valley into the woods, turned into a deerpath and ended abruptly at a truly magnificent Badger Palace with a great many exits, all of which had to be carefully inspected and puffed down, so the badgers knew the Terrible Hound had come upon them and would surely slay them if they only dared to poke a nose above ground*.

There were horseflies and I got bitten twice, so I hauled Rosie away through the bracken in the direction of the road, where we found a deer-track, which sadly was more suitable for her than for me, being designed for people with four feet not two.  But I made my way along it bent double till we got to the road, which was bedecked with nettles and we both got stung.  Then she was cross because I'd made her go through the nettles and planted her feet in the middle of the road and adamantly refused to move, causing two cars to have to sit patiently while I tried to move her, and eventually gave up and had to pick her up bodily to get her out of the way.

She thought this was hilarious and wagged and danced in triumph afterwards, the minx.

Much head-wagging among people I met on my walk about the Terrible Road Closure in the next village, which has cut off one of the bridges that connect Devon to Cornwall.  The signage set up was very minimal, and therefore many people, including caravanners and people driving large lorries, have charged onwards regardless until they actually hit the road closure in the middle of the village, and are left with no option but to try to turn down Under Road (slightly wider than a horse and cart) or do a three point turn and go back whence they came.  If they go down Under Road, they then get taken on an exciting tour of the back lanes and not to any of the other bridges.  This is an excellent source of entertainment and gossip for all who do not need to visit Devon at present.

* a total lie.  I hope she never gets within reach of a badger because she's made of gossamer and sticks and is also a complete coward.