Foraging

Rather later in the month than is usual, we went looking for brambles this afternoon. We passed three figures deep in the undergrowth as we drove along Loch Striven, but we were heading off-road to where there were newly-ripened berries on north-facing bushes. Some of my best pickings came after a crazy climb up a tussocky bank, others from out-of-the-way corners at the far point of our walk.

It was a still, grey afternoon and there were no people anywhere near, but it was far from silent. Hundreds of neurotic pheasants whirred and squawked from cover and ran dementedly along the road, reminding us that they are there for a purpose and will soon have something to flee.

And, joy of joys, a red squirrel loped along the verge in front of us.

We got about 3lbs of brambles, by the way.