Yesterday morning I left the house before breakfast to sort out the horses. As I approached the stables I saw that there were shepherds in the field. Abiding. You know how they do. It was of course Jane and her partner, checking the sheep in the field next-door, because sheep, like horses, don’t take days off. We humans exchanged greetings, completed our morning chores and went back to our families.
I was back inside drinking a cup of tea and admiring things that had come out of stockings when the angel of Lord came down. Or a pretty good substitute: perfectly perfect white wings and a flight so buoyant it seemed that the ground repelled him, like the unlike poles of a magnet. This surely was not a creature of the earth.
It was a barn owl, a creature built for silent nights and especially for silent dawns and silent dusks, and it pursued its business in plain sight for some minutes before drifting off on some errand, having made a present of himself to us. Glory, I happened to notice, shone around.
It was a little later in the day when a Chinese water deer appeared in the garden and he was sore afraid. Or so it seemed: he rushed into sight, performed a 180 and then rushed straight back in the direction he had come from. It was like Harpo Marx.
By the late afternoon my head was full of cold and it felt as heavy as a bowling ball, but I went out to do the mucking-out all the same. I saw another or the same barn owl on one of my passes with laden wheelbarrow; I’ve seen two together in the last fortnight and the signs are good.
I felt pleasingly virtuous as I did the jobs, the hay, the water, the short feed. But to tell the truth, mucking-out is the one chore I’ve never for a second resented, not even on Christmas Day. After all, horsey jobs are all about keeping the horses alive and that has always seemed to me a good thing. Besides, it’s no bad thing to spend time in a stable at Christmas. I believe there’s scriptural precedent.
Chris williamson says
26 December 2015 at 1:19 pmI too have seen our local barn owl/owls more in daytime recently as the worst of our Cumbrian weather seems to have been ain the night. Quite worrying really that they may starve just because of the weather and not everything else that conspires against them . Always enjoy your articles,thank you.
Simon Barnes says
21 January 2016 at 5:11 pmThere’s always a touch of anxiety in watching ones local patch. I wish you and the owls best of luck.
Jane Pottas says
26 December 2015 at 4:03 pmA sensitive and thoughtful piece. Thank you.
Mrs Andy Lloyd Williams says
26 December 2015 at 5:55 pmBelated happy Christmas greetings, together with get well wishes! Loved the blog today.
Simon Barnes says
21 January 2016 at 5:11 pmThanks for kind words.
Ann Adeney says
26 December 2015 at 8:29 pmThank you. Perfect end to a lovely Christmas apart from your cold. Hope 2016 is a good one for you and your family
Simon Barnes says
21 January 2016 at 5:11 pmThanks for a nice message.
Linda Hull says
27 December 2015 at 9:48 amLove it. A very soothing scene in the mayhem of a family Christmas. Many good wishes for the New Year.
Anthony Bird says
28 December 2015 at 1:01 pmWonderful!
wes pickering says
29 December 2015 at 11:48 amThanks Simon, an enjoyable present of words and pictures for Chrissie for us all.
all the best to you and your family for 2016,
Simon Barnes says
21 January 2016 at 5:12 pmThank you very much and the same to you.
cloverjoGail Volans says
29 December 2015 at 1:09 pmI’m so glad I’ve found your blog, Mr Hughes. I loved your writing in The Times and was wondering where and why you’d gone. Now I know. Such a shame. Happy new year.
Simon Barnes says
21 January 2016 at 5:12 pmGood things come from setbacks. Fingers crossed i’ll have some more good news soon.
alisonrhodes2013 says
29 December 2015 at 3:21 pmThank you I enjoy your posts.seasons greetings
Alison Rhodes
Christine Wickham says
29 December 2015 at 7:34 pmLate reading this blog, as I’ve supporting sick elderly relatives over Christmas, so this was a welcome uplifting read on my return to 21st century lifestyle. Cheers, and all the very best to you and the family (humans & animals) for 2016.
Simon Barnes says
21 January 2016 at 5:13 pmSounds like a difficult but thoroughly virtuous and worthwhile Christmas. Well done and I wish you a great 2016.
Angela Pavitt says
31 December 2015 at 3:11 pmOnly just read this beautiful blog. Thank you. Wishing you and yours every blessing in 2016
Simon Barnes says
21 January 2016 at 5:17 pmThanks for your kind words and the best of years to you too.
Brianne Reeve says
3 January 2016 at 12:12 pmJust joined you all. I loved the delightful teasing in this message. A happy New year with many memorable wildlife sightings.to share!
Simon Barnes says
21 January 2016 at 5:20 pmWelcome, and thank you for your kind words.