The weather is wrecking havoc across the world with a typhoon of never-before-seen strength buffeting the Philippines and now heading north. It almost beggars belief at the destruction wrought.
Closer to home I am beginning to feel human again after a few days laid low with flu, which visited uninvited and is slow to take its final leave. However one can be thankful that this isn't Christmas week when time is of the essence.
Over the last two or three weeks we have observed a mudlark building its nest high in the gum tree above the house. I was a little concerned that once the chicks hatched we may be subjected to dive-bombing as the once-friendly willy-wagtails turned nasty after their chicks hatched. I need not have worried. The baby mudlarks are growing, the parents spend endless hours feeding their brood and last evening I am sure one of the babies tested its flying powers flitting, haltingly, from branch to branch.
The photo was taken before the flight. I must admit the best part of living in the country is the closeness of nature; one cannot possibly be bored when watching the life cycles of the creatures we share this space with. [Must admit spiders do not fall into that category!]
When one reads of parents driving their offspring to school and giving them mobile phones to keep in touch I do wonder how the youth of today will cope when they finally are given their freedom. Yesterday, the newspaper featured an article about a girl who at the age of nine, and after a 'run through' was allowed to go to school on the train carrying no phone. She did take the wrong train, but it was her common sense that sorted that problem, and she learned from the mistake.
I recall allowing our children [from age 10] to travel to Dunedin [50 miles away] by bus with enough money in their pockets to go to the movies, buy a lunch, and a small amount left over for spending. They always arrived home on the bus and were rather perplexed when their classmates admitted they would not be allowed to do the same. Our children grew up knowing how to use public transport, and be in charge of their decisions. To me it is sad that so many children are not presented with the same trust today.
Yes, the situation in the Philippines is truly horrific, Shirley.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry you've had the flu and hope you'll soon be completely well again. I so agree that we over-protect our children, often until they leave school and go out into the world. How can they learn to look after themselves if we never give them the opportunity?