A Northumbrian Diary
Fuel
Agustín Fernández activism, Fuel price hike 0 Comments
Today Northumberland basks in the unwonted luxury of a two-digit temperature: ten, to be exact. The thaw was slow but in the last week or so it was hastened by a another type of precipitation: rain. Wet in the morning, wet in the afternoon, wet through the night. Oh and windy too. Right now I […]
Snow
Agustín Fernández Snow 0 Comments
Yes, as everybody knows, we are snowed in in Northumberland. It happened last winter, and at the time the local council explained away its not coping, assuring us that next time they would be better prepared for extreme weather. Well, this winter came early and is much worse than the last, but relief is less […]
Rain
Agustín Fernández Cochabamba, confluence, rain, river 0 Comments
In an unwelcome contrast to sunny Cochabamba, the Northumbrian heavens have been open almost all the time since my return, and without a moment’s pause in the last four days. The unsightly stables on the side of the house have now been dismantled, allowing an unobstructed view of the river. This in most circumstances would […]
Maverick alone
Agustín Fernández hens, Miranda 1 Comment
Bob Johnson, Delilah and Miranda before the last-named was left on her own Miranda’s life in our midst had a difficult start. She was mistrustful of people, to the point that she would baulk at approaching humans even at feeding time. You had to drop the grain on the ground hoping that the other hens […]
Bales of hay
Agustín Fernández bales of hay, The Farmer 0 Comments
Bales of hay, not on my field. Below, right, The Farmer taking them away. The inclement weather forced The Farmer to return a second time to turn the grass he had previously cut and turned once. I did not observe the work, but the result struck me as artistic. The grass, quite dry by now, […]
Falstone Show
Agustín Fernández Dunterley Farm, Falstone Show, N, photography, W 1 Comment
Following his fall from grace at last year’s show – when I had to fumble frantically for the poo bag in front of the dog judges and circled by a mortifyingly sympathetic audience – Fluffy was not allowed back to Falstone Show this time. Instead I took the family. There was no shortage of things […]
More on the cascade of lights
Agustín Fernández cascade of lights, meteor shower 0 Comments
Thanks to Bella for the suggestion that the cascade of lights may have been a meteor shower. She rightly points out that there has been activity around this time and, sure enough, even a superficial search reveals that around 12 August was the expected peak time for Perseids. What I saw on 10 August was […]
Horse or pony
Agustín Fernández horse 0 Comments
The new resident across the road displays all the characteristics of a horse, including the size, but I am told he is a pony. Somebody will have to explain to me the finer points of equine differentiation; for the time being I call him indistinctly horse or pony when I greet him. Unlike the long-standing […]
No answers
Agustín Fernández hay, The Farmer, tractor 2 Comments
No answers means either nobody reads this blog or nobody knows about the cascade of lights. I would believe that I imagined it if K had not seen it too. Never mind. The Farmer came around a few days ago, knight in shining tractor, to perform the annual shearing of our field. I meant to […]
Sun
Agustín Fernández Sun 0 Comments
For much of the last year or so, Northumberland has looked like the land the gods wanted to destroy: ceaseless rain, thunder, floods, landslides, unseasonal cold and lashing winds; a varied arsenal of destructive forces was mercilessly discharged on us.But not today. On this day the gods are looking down on us with gracious smiles, […]