Been a month since last here. But I have been away for two weeks to South Africa! It’s winter there, very dry and parched looking but very warm. So the lushness of my woods in summer is a total contrast. However, there are signs that it has been very dry. Quite a few prematurely fallen leaves and the ferns look pale and sickly. I am sure they will be ok long term though.

The brambles don’t seem to suffer though and my first job was to clear the track where I park the camper. I used an old antique scythe. Quite hard work especially on the back and hips as the action is a twisting one. Works well though, quiet and no smelly two stroke smoke.

I also cleared the path down to my camping/fire area where I planned to spend most of my time there doing some spoon carving. Just a lovely mindful way to relax and enjoy the ambience of the woods. I had two that I started some weeks ago that just needed finishing but I mainly wanted to carve a small coffee scoop for my daughter. I have made one for myself at the last spoonclub at Ellekers Wood where we meet once a month. She loved it and requested one for herself. It still needs a bit of finishing. That’s it with the apparently massive handle. It will be cut down by more than half. Because it’s a small thing, it can be hard to hold while doing the tricky bowl so leaving a long piece gives something to hold onto.

This is the original and I am basing it on that.

Not much else to tell. Just a nice simple day in the woods, doing something I enjoy. The next path to clear is here, belief it or not. Overrun with nettles and brambles since I last cleared it in spring.