Swans and non-weddings - 21st May 2010
23rd May 2010
Swans on the River Dart at Totnes: one uses the rapids under the bridge to get up enough speed to take off. The sound of his wings sound like a special effect from an SF film: mechanical and metallic. Once he is airborne some other swans join him. There is more of the strange creaking noise, and big wing-shadows on the water.
I’m on my UK book tour, spending what feels like days and days on trains. I feel like a decrepit rock band. What I can vaguely see from train windows is the hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) coming out everywhere – more little white confetti-flowers. I bought a dress today and the assistant asked me if it was for a wedding. Then a bag to go with it from a different shop – again: ‘For a wedding?’ I think I have only been invited to one wedding in my entire life. Housemartins are back from South Africa and nesting near my parents’ place.
