Wednesday 12 March 2008

Sutherland Road, clockwise. 8.30am.

The gales have put things out of step. A blast ruffles the feathers of a feeding crow, making him jump; and a commuter, mack belt flying, jogs for his train.

Sunday 9 March 2008

Claremont Road, clockwise. 4pm

Half-a-dozen little boys kick a football on the sodden grass, spattering mud on faces and clothes. A dad looks on, unconcerned by washing and muddy footprints on the hall floor.

Friday 7 March 2008

Sutherland Road, anticlockwise. 8.30am.

He wrests each painful step from his ill-balanced body. I rejoice at the easy swing of my hips, but I notice a twinge in my back and I am afraid.

Thursday 6 March 2008

Claremont Road, anticlockwise. 4pm.

Both the light and air are flat but for:

  • Burning orange indicators
  • Ranked daffodils
  • Red edging on a schoolboy's blazer
  • A treeful of starlings dropping trills and pips and whoops.

Wednesday 5 March 2008

Belgrove, anticlockwise. 10.30am.

A greyish toy lamb enjoys the sun on the warm tarmac while a little girl swings. Her mother on the next swing waits for her family to grow up.

Tuesday 4 March 2008

Compasses Passage, anticlockwise. 2pm.

A jackdaw, stretched beak to tail and wingtip to wingtip, folds, bounces once, bounces twice and lands. It walks on across the grass as if it has always been there.

Monday 3 March 2008

Claremont Road, anticlockwise. 1.45pm.

Behind me on the path smart hard shoes tap-tap-tap and a quiet conversation carries on. Ahead, a man stands at the pub door, pint in hand, enjoying sunshine and cigarette.

Sunday 2 March 2008

Sutherland Road, clockwise. 10.00am.

I am halfway round when I see that my own sad thoughts have totally driven the park from my mind and I have to tell myself firmly: 'Be here now.'

Saturday 1 March 2008

Sutherland Road, anticlockwise. 2.30pm.

The sun slaps down shadows, falling criss-cross and anyhow across the lawns. A passing cloud sweeps away light and shade, flattening contrasts and the park is tidy once more.