Warm ‘good mornings’ are now accompanied by wary smiles as we take our daily exercise

In the latest of his reflections about place and pathway, Will Gore finds reminders of disease even in woods filled with birdsong

Maintaining our distance can make the daily trip out tortuous at times (Reuters)

Never have I felt so fortunate to live close to open countryside. The government’s instructions that we must take our exercise from our front door, rather than driving to an alternative location, creates a bleak outlook for many in cities and big towns.

Even so, the requirement to maintain our distance makes the daily trip out tortuous at times, doesn’t it? Crossing roads to avoid other people, fearful of the hidden virus; holding your breath after turning a corner to find yourself almost on collision course with another human. Cheerful “good mornings” are accompanied by wary smiles.

Last Sunday I woke early, 6.30 or so. I fed the cat and made tea to take back to bed. It had been cold overnight, enough to leave a frost, but the sun was rising warmly in a meticulously clear sky. Stir craziness stirred.