Anonymous Tribute

Friday 6th November, 2020.

Lots of firework displays last night across the Tay from where I live. I have no idea if they were public displays or not but they were enjoyable if less spectacular than last year. It was a clear night and remarkably cold. In fact I think there was frost this morning. I did a little gardening, pulling up old courgette plants, sweeping leaves and generally enjoying the exercise in the brilliant sunshine. The dustbin is full and to be collected Monday. That collection schedule galvanised me.

I then headed off on my walk, first finishing a couple of letters to friends. I was responding to their correspondence. I was delighted that one had had a cataract operation. I was surprised with all the negative news at present about hospitals overwhelmed and in trepidation of hundreds of Covid patients.

I popped in to the usual store looking for reduced bargains. So a large pot of raspberry yogurt for lunch reduced from £2.50 to 27p. Sadly I ate the whole pot and recognised the added calories to my burgeoning stomach. Worth it...! Then I bought a truffle and fungi pizza reduced from £5.50 to £1.45. That will do for supper.

Walked my usual new way past the apple tree where I did a St Augustine. Then up behind the next village encountering dogs galore. The sunny day had brought many more people than usual out, yet they remained distanced and sensible. We are not in lockdown but nor do we want to be and most people are sensible. The dogs were not quarantined and three of them were very friendly demanding attention and ball throwing.

I passed the usual 'help yourself ' to apples and took four eaters. I ate two and they were delicious. How kind the owners are to pick and put out.

As I have done for the last four walks I sat on a bench which has intrigued me. It is fairly old and part of the seat is mouldy, rotting and crumbling. It is placed next to a narrow but much used road. It has old beech trees behind it. Opposite is a wall surrounding a private park. The park has old tall majestic trees again mainly beech. The colours are still vibrant but losing their iridescent Autumn glow. The sun highlighted them. What fascinates me is the brass plaque on the bench. It is a sturdy heavy plagued and well carved with the words " Everywhere but inaudible". There is no date, no names written, no indication of who put it there nor why nor what it means.

I sat and listened. Crows, a car or two off and on, childrens' voices in the distance, rustling leaves, the occasional sound of different birds and also, at times, silence. I sat and fantasised. It is suggesting God? Is it suggesting the dead? Is it suggesting the cry of the poor? A wonderful gift from whomsoever, a gift to make one go deeper.

Thank you.

Then back along the Tay. A couple of skeins of geese, birds on the water, a setting sun, sounds of people. Finally as I reached home so I noticed a circling flock of birds. They circled the Tay Road Bridge which is nearby. I thought they must be starlings as they had that mass movement and synchronised dancing in the air ever copying and imitating each other. Then under the bridge they went and settled to roost. The traffic continued overhead of them. I though of a friend who has a house in the flight path of Heathrow airport. So the starlings have the road from Fife to Dundee, from tier 2 to tier 3.

And all the while the American Presidential election takes its weary way forward. At this moment in time I would quite like to be a starling! Yet I would be missing out on bargains at the Co-op and musings on the meanings of words and of life. I might also be missing out on appreciating all around.