Saturday 6 December 2014

Advent calendar 6 - And what will poor robin do then poor thing...

Well, the North Wind has blown today, it's been bitterly cold, and when I got up this morning the little robin, who visits my back yard occasionally, was perched upon the rotary washing line.

I'm not sure what he was doing there. Maybe the walls surrounding my tiny garden offer him some protection from the cold, maybe he came to peck at the meal worms I leave out for him, or perhaps he simply came to say hello.

He always seems to turn up when I least expect him and it wasn't until quite recently that he began turning up at all. In over 25 years living in this house I'd never seen a robin in the backyard, and then this one appeared just a  few months ago, dropping in a couple of times a week for a few minutes or so.

Some people believe that when a robin visits and perches by your side that it's the spirit of a departed loved one bringing you comfort. Well, try as I might I can't think of a single departed loved one who would come and sit by my side, let alone offer me comfort. In fact most of the living so called loved ones wouldn't turn up either, not that I'd give them the chance.

The robin keeps coming though and, regardless of why he comes and who he might be, I'm always pleased to see him. There's something about his bright read breast, his soft snowy grey underside and his delicate red-brown back that seems to fit very well into my backyard. He makes me smile and, if I'm honest, he does give me comfort even when the coldest wind seems to blow.

NB- He was back again this morning.

15 comments:

  1. The North wind doth blow and we shall have snow,
    And what will poor robin do then, poor thing?
    He'll sit in a barn and keep himself warm
    and hide his head under his wing, poor thing.

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  2. Jayne Butterworth on fB
    This is a story for my mum andrew. She also a few yrs ago had a robin visit every day and of course it was her robin her visitor. To this day its her fave bird as u might have realized hence robin enhanced gifts we have purchased for her. A robin does bring a smile and in this world thats a gift in itself. X

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  3. Tim Preston on FB
    You are truely honoured. There's something special about Robins. I never get used to that vivid orange breast. It lifts the soul. If you've got one that is

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  4. Carmen Robinson on FB
    Apparently a Robin signifies that someone ... a loved one is watching over you x

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  5. Bernadette Doyle on FB
    Fab photo

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  6. Jayne Butterworth on FB
    Brill photo.

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  7. Samantha MacAree on FB
    The robin is auntie Lena x

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  8. Paula Braham on FB
    Great photo

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  9. Maggie Patzuk on FB
    What a dear little fellow!

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    Replies
    1. Of course Maggie your robins are much bigger and very different, I forgot.

      Delete
  10. Kathryn Salthouse on FB
    Yes ours was there too

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  11. Steph Rogers on FB
    Beautiful bird

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  12. Lindsey Messenger on FB
    Oh wow such a beautiful photo....xx

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    Replies
    1. Andrew Height
      He's a lovely little thing Lindsey. Just sits there and bobs his head about. I turn my back though... and he's gone.

      Delete
  13. Lindsey Messenger on FB
    well you know how much I love Robins xx

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