I found the skull of a young sheep on the moors above the reservoirs at Redmires. I placed it on a rock where a clump of heather was newly sprouting. It seemed like an appropriate symbol for what is happening all over the planet right now. People dying.
Construction of the reservoirs began in 1833 after another epidemic. Cholera swept through the booming industrial city of Sheffield in 1832 killing 402 unfortunate citizens. Creating a clean, reliable water supply became an urgent priority.
Overlooking the three reservoirs is this carved marker stone. I am surprised that I missed it on previous rambles in the area. Shirley and I walked by it on Monday afternoon. It was her birthday and the day was beautiful apart from that horrible phantom with which we are all now painfully familiar. "S.W.W." stands for Sheffield Water Works.
Heading up to a rocky area of the moor known as White Stones I saw this crustone lichen clinging to the west face of a large boulder. Lord knows how long it has been growing there, year upon year, millimetre after millimetre.
I took a photograph of the upper dam that separates the top reservoir from the middle one. See how it curls in an "S" shape.
Shirley enjoyed her birthday walk in the sunshine with a breeze blowing over the moors and meadow pipits bobbing about the heather exchanging their sweet songs. We went home knowing that we would be unable to go out for the customary birthday meal. Instead, I ordered takeaway meals from "The Greedy Greek" delicatessen at Hunters Bar.
The owner asked me to wait outside. He brought the chicken souvlaki meals out to the street tables in white plastic bags and insisted that I paid with a contactless card. That's the pandemic for you. I said "efharisto" and he smiled, replying "parakalo" which means - you're welcome!
Co-incidentally Monday was also Jennifer's birthday over at "Sparrow Tree Journal". Bless her and bless us all. Let's hope that when Shirley and Jennifer are another year older this thing that is amongst us will have been returned to its cage.
The skull you found is a gruesome symbol of what's going on at this time. What a nice way to spend a birthday. Happy birthday to Shirley.
ReplyDeleteThank you and bless you Red.
DeleteOut of curiosity, how did you know that was a skull of a young sheep rather than an old one? Perhaps we lack the perspective of size that might have been a clue.
ReplyDeleteThat lichen looks like an ancient symbol to me.
Belated birthday wishes to your wife, YP. I share your heartfelt hope for howt things will be this time next year.
Birthday wishes to Jennifer too!
I knew it was a young sheep because of its size. It is not the first sheep's skull that I have handled but I have never handled a donkey's skull. They must be massive!
DeleteYes they are, it's because of all the brains we have - lol
DeleteHee-haw!
DeleteThank you Neil. I thought about Shirley yesterday, as well as my little friend P. Yesterday was his birthday, too. He turned 7. His mom told me he cried when his plans to visit family in Atlanta as well as his birthday party had to be canceled. Poor little guy. We've made plans to go out for pizza and ice cream when this is over.
ReplyDeleteI, too, hope that next year we will all be rid of this horrible virus.
Of course it is not a big deal according to The Great Prophet with the fake orange hair. For he seeth everything and knoweth everything.
DeleteHappy Birthday to Shirley! I'm glad she enjoyed her walk and at least you could pick up a nice meal for her birthday dinner.
ReplyDeleteIt is strange trying to get used to this crazy new world. I have a bad feeling that this might not be the last time we have an occurance like this in our lives. Too many in our world now put money over people. Our "president" is already talking about opening things up much sooner than the medical and scientific authorities recommend. He just sees the dollar signs and does not care about lives lost.
I notice that you put the word "president" inside inverted commas. Quite right too!
DeleteThe skull is a different kind of photo for you. I like it!
ReplyDeleteA walk in the countryside sounds like a lovely diversion from the woes of the time and who can argue with Greek take away.
Happy Birthday to Shirley
For a brief moment I thought you said it was a different kind of photo "of" me! I am pretty ugly but not that ugly Kylie!
DeleteI know I've said this many times, but your part of the world is just so beautiful, and I pity those who live there but can't or won't go for walks.
ReplyDeleteThis time around, clean and reliable water supplies have not helped (much)...
You are right there Meike and you are also right to suggest that there are many Sheffielders who do not know the simple joy of walking in the countryside even though it is right here on their doorstep.
DeleteOf course you washed your hands. Wouldn't want to catch any kind of encephalopathy.
ReplyDeleteI did not wash my hands. That sheep did not die from a brain disease.
DeleteBelated birthday wishes to Shirley. What a beautiful place to spend the day.
ReplyDeleteThere was a mother with two small children. Now off work, this was the first day of home schooling. We stood two metres from her for a chat.
DeleteQuick question, YP. I have noticed that, over at John's - the Saint, you will reply, more often than not, to some anon's repeated crap over baby boomers. Why? Why do you give them the time of day? Since you are/were a teacher I'd thought you know that, sometimes, ignoring bad behaviour/ill manners is more effective than paying any attention to it.
ReplyDeleteStill, your various wordings do show how clever/witty you are. So, maybe, I have just answered my own question.
U
I know that the spam trolls will never see my responses so I just do it for a bit of fun Ursula. To amuse regular blog visitors who customarily never give these spam trolls the time of day. It is a kind of sport. By the way I have noticed that John and some of his flock are rather nasty to you. Why is that?
DeleteAh, the Master of Deflection asking the big "why John and some of his flock are rather nasty to [me]". The same reason that you are now beginning to dislike me.
DeleteAs a Yorkshire man you should understand that a spade is a spade. Alas, if the spade is on you, you wish it weren't.
To put it another way, hot off the press, can't remember source this minute: "Johnson (as in Boris) likes to be liked so he tells people what they want to hear".
See, difference between me and you, lots of bloggers and Johnson, that I have no need to be "liked". So I call a spade a spade and tell it how I see it. The rest is up to you.
U
I am not beginning to dislike you. That's wrong.
DeleteHappy belated birthday to your lovely wife. I love the photo of the lichen and I love coming here to read a little of normal. Thank you.
ReplyDelete"Normal"? I am definitely not normal Lily. I am as mad as a hatter. Thanks for calling by.
DeleteBelated Happy Returns to your wife and Jennifer. Chris Packham is doing an identify a skull each day, animal of course. One good thing reservoirs should be full of water this year.
ReplyDeleteFull of water till the summer drought which will come after the plague of locusts but before the meteorite bombardment.
DeleteI see that lichen as a white chrysanthemum with a single leaf on the left side. Or, maybe, a crop circle on a rock!
ReplyDeleteLOL
I am new to your blog from John's blog! 😊
You have a vivid imagination Marcia! Thanks for calling by.
DeleteAnd that is my fervent wish as well! I forgot to say happy birthday to Shirley so please give her my belated greetings.
ReplyDeleteI'm really glad you got to eat some good Greek food. I find myself missing the Mexican food, the Indian food that my kids and I go out to eat. I have a box of falafel mix though. Maybe I'll make that soon for a touch of the more exotic. I am grateful these days that I do know how to cook and rarely do I cook out of boxes but sometimes, well, it's okay.
From what you have told us about your cooking Glen is a lucky man. Delicious, wholesome meals are presented to him day after day. I hope you wear a little white apron and curtsy when you serve him.
DeleteNot to worry, my friend. Donald says we will all be well in a couple of weeks and that when the church pews are filled on Easter Sunday, it will be a "beautiful thing to see." What a crock!!!!!
ReplyDeleteBig Bear and I have isolated ourselves for a week already and tomorrow morning, our county will be ordered to self-isolate. Doesn't bother me as I rarely get bored but the Bear is becoming a bear about it!!
Is he growling and sharpening his claws on tree trunks? You should give him some honey as bears like honey honey!
DeleteAmen to that. And a belated happy birthday to Shirley! I'm glad you were able to get out for a walk and some sightseeing. I think I would have been tempted to keep that skull. It's very Georgia O'Keeffe!
ReplyDeleteI already have one sheep's skull that I found years ago when my children were small. I see what you mean about Georgia O'Keeffe.
Delete"Stay on the road. Keep clear of the moors". A quote from An American Werewolf in London YP.
ReplyDeleteLichens only live where there is very clean air. Super photos.
I like that quotation NS though of course I never saw that film.
DeleteJenny Shutter in her nurses uniform? She also appeared in the Railway Children filmed in Haworth.
ReplyDeleteJenny shutter? Agutter even autocorrect.
ReplyDeleteI do not understand why you randomly referred to Jenny Agutter. I enjoyed her swimming scene in "Walkabout".
DeleteShe's a nurse in Amercan Werewolf In London YP.
ReplyDelete