Week beginning 30 March 2020
Monday 30th March. A lovely day outside as long as you were out of the bloody cold north wind, ironically this wind makes covering the Slap a piece of cake even for the duffers. 1’7” and 40 degrees as well as squeaky clean (see Tweedbeats on instagram). Took the dogs and myself for our daily exercise upstream this morning and sitting on the bench high above the river south facing of course it was pleasantly warm in the sun and you could smell the ground warming up along with the wild garlic that abounds at this time of year. There were 3 pairs of goosanders sitting mid river so they just need to drop back a half mile or so tomorrow morning. Fed the hens on way back but have to keep them locked up for time being due to people and their friendly dogs going about. On return home hid in garden avoiding Sally who would no doubt have some of those jobs for me that I never seem to have time for. The whole garden is basically ready for the season; just need it to warm up a wee bit more. Clancy your onions are doing fine, some in polytunnel in the beds and some still in pots, all show winners but I doubt if there will be a show this year, going to start the dahlias off next week see what ones made it through the winter. Also have all my bedding/hanging basket plants arriving in next few days (luckily ordered online months ago), I also do two neighbours baskets as well so they all need potted on, at least I have something to keep me busy. Keep washing your hands.
Tuesday 31st March. Well that's goodbye and good riddance to the second worst month of the year, 2 fish landed this year firstly due to high water and gales and latterly to the Corona Virus, last year was 5 landed and 2018 was zero due to the “Beast from the east” it can only get better. 1’7” today and 44 degrees when I was round on my morning constitutional to walk dugs and feed chooks. The chooks are laying well getting 5-6 eggs a day from what’s left of my hens after drowning in the floods and dog attacks, a couple died of old age as well. Dug over my last bed in the garden received an email from my online supplier about the order saying that they are experiencing a 10 fold increase in orders, they will be as all the garden centres are closed but my order should be on time, phew! I’ve planted a load more tomato seeds so might be able to make a killing on roadside sales with tomato plants and flowers, every cloud and all that. Mike from the Hogweed people text to say that they are hopefully going to be allowed to get out and spray, it would be a great shame if not as to miss a year would let the horrible stuff bounce back. Only two sandmartins seen this morning, one egret, a pair of kingfishers, one otter and a pair of cormorants on the Cauld which buggered off before I got window open.
Wednesday 1st April. Not really in the mood for an April fool’s joke with all the Corona shite going around. 1’6” this morning and 44 degrees with a cool North West breeze blowing down the river. No craic today, nothing much happening round the beat, I did see a decent splash in the Bags but didn’t see what made it. There was a lone male Goosander in the Lower cauld that isn’t there anymore. Planted a load more tomato seeds and more flower seeds, my electric bill is going up with three propagators going. Sally (wife) is now honking and coughing like a demented goose so it looks like she may have caught the lurgie, I’m hoping not, to say the least.
Thursday 2nd April. Sally (wife) has definitely got Corona virus so we are now self isolating which isn’t easy in a wee house. No shopping now or walks along the street, I drive to hut feed hens let dogs have a run then home without meeting anyone, which is best I can do, we can’t even get an online delivery slot for shopping as they are only for the elderly or vulnerable, it’s just as well we have a good neighbour. 1’6” and 44 degrees with a stiff North West wind blowing down the river (see instagram for photos and clips. Emptied all my pots from last year and checked bulbs and tubers then refilled them and put into shed and polytunnel. Lots of flowers arriving tomorrow so I’ll at least have something to do.
Friday 3rd April. 1’5” and 44 degrees with a North West light wind. Fed hens, checked rat traps and mole traps. Swans were knocking lumps out of each other, a pair of kingfishers sat on the back of the Slap boat. A few sandmartins flitting about but no sign of a swallow, another week before they arrive. Sally has developed terrible cough, I am amazingly symptom free and hoping to stay that way. If you haven’t already put instagram on your phone and follow tweedbeats for clips of the river to keep you going whilst none of us can fish.
Saturday 4th April/Sunday April 5th. It’s warming up and had we been fishing the Sunray/Collie dug/Skimmer would be coming in to play. 1’4” squeaky clean. The sandmartins have disappeared, maybe there were migrant ones or just not there when I am there for my brief visits. Much warmer today and the sun came out by 3.00pm, I managed a load of isolation logs from Learmouth and got them split and stacked away, hens fed and rat removed from trap, thats 5 from same hole, get one every other day. 3 pairs of goosanders and a cormorant chased away. A potter round the garden and water all my seedlings which I’m very pleased with. I saw tomato plants online £12 for three plus postage so someone is on the rip off game, also paraffin for my greenhouse heater which was £8 last year is now going for £19, It’s a scandal. Keep washing your hands and bide away from everyone.
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©M Campbell 2020
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