As quoted in October, Larkin's message to diarists was to observe "when the flowers come

  ...and when the birds go".

Duly noting this, I went out to observe and found things are not as they were for him in in the 1960's and 70's. 

 There are no seasons only variations of weather.   The flocks of fieldfares and redwings that feasted on the hawthorns and the infrequent, but recurrent gangs of waxwings on the cotoneasters seem to be a thing of the past.  No sign of them.  Whatever prompted their winter migration doesn't seem to be happening now. The days of seeing four members of the thrush family - fieldfare, redwing, song thrush and black bird all feeding on windfall apples in the garden at the same time are a distant memory.

Flowers.   Yes, we expect winter flowering jasmine on its trellis and in the hedge but winter flowering geraniums and fuchsias?   Strange times.

Medlar jelly - supplemental

 After my October post, I did manage to make a single jar of medlar jelly from the tree I discovered in the medieval Priory garden.   The  fruit bletted unevenly so my haul was even more diminished by the time of  cooking.   It had a vague, difficult-to-pin-down taste.  Pleasant, maybe slightly floral, certainly subtle.  I tried it as an adjunct to cheese, a simple Cheddar as that seemed to chime with the medieval vibe. It was a bit like quince but without the heavy scent.    Next year, I will try for a bigger haul of fruits.