The Fallen~Sparrow~Hawk; four Seasons in One Day

Four Seasons in One Day April 26 2002

The wind blusters around the caravan this morning and the wind turbine howls

healthily. Vans have turned the car park into a chaotic drive-in. we have new arrivals

in the form of Andy and his two sons Ryan and Kean. Jeff left with Alison for

Edinburgh and returned with a new van and his daughter. Alison returned after

nightfall with her purchase from the auction at Talamh. And there is Stuart’s van.

I have become close to Stuart since his arrival several days ago. First of all, it was
the relief to have another man to hang out with, though this man had a very real
side, a messed up, boisterous and a no-nonsense-get-on-and-do-things side; an absolute enthusiasm for other people and life. He has an avid curiosity for local history and has begun reading my library book, Highways and byways in Galloway and Carrick to me. I stopped him every now and

again to ask questions. He’s read to me a couple of times, once in my caravan.

He is not gay having three daughters with three different women. He is a sensitive

soul and is having a hard time with the mother of his daughters. There is

love, but it sounds a very destructive relationship involving violence. I can see how

drink might turn Stewart belligerent and add to his innate bullish nature.

Capricorn gets on with his Taurus sign, and Tiger, which I am, gets on with Horse.

It was Stuart who persuaded me not to high-tail it back to London. Taken to the brink

by the return of Jeff, the Dagda, aka Kurtz/Quixote and his tyrannical ways, (which he

hasn’t lost), I had the notion I would find emotional solace down south. Stuart simply

said, “If I was gay, I think it would be ideal for you”. This was in a pub in Wigton

with hours to go before I was due to step on a bus bound for London.
I admitted it was what I needed at the Doon, companionship and there and

then, we established our friendship when Suggs’ It Must be Love, Love, Love came on

the duke box. We said it would be better without the sexual side and agreed deep

friendship and agreed that sexual, emotional involvement only spoiled things.

The leaves are beginning to fall unfurl. Brett has been digging up new potato patches;

the seeds in their trays have sprouted seedlings. The slash and burn fires have ceased,

and since my arrival we have acquired four hens, one cockerel and a pot-bellied pig.

children are in abundance; Jack and Evey have playmates in Kean and Ryan and

Jeff’s daughter Ishtar. Damnait and Jeff’s boy pushes wheeled toys, and Ruby, Alison

and Brett’s youngest, grinds her four teeth together in her carry chair.