The Scotch mist came down, and when Algy looked out in the morning he could tell that after a relatively dry winter the wild west Highlands of Scotland had reverted to its more natural sodden, dim and hazy state. In fact, the landscape was exceedingly wet once more, although fortunately there was little risk of the flooding which Algy's friends in other areas experienced, for the peat bogs had a magical way of dealing with any quantity of water which the sky chose to throw at them… no doubt as a result of thousands of years of practice.
However, despite the fact that it was relatively mild (as usual when dense Scotch mist blanketed the land), it was not the kind of weather which invited adventuring, nor did it suggest lazing around outside, unless a fluffy bird happened to be in need of a shower…
So Algy decided to try a strategy which many of his smaller feathered friends adopted when the weather was inclement… Flying over to the big brash wall, he pushed his way in behind the dense mass of twigs and stems until he reached a spot that was dry. He had to admit that it was a rather scratchy experience, but once he was settled inside his wee hideaway he really felt quite comfortable and completely sheltered.
Algy had heard some folk refer to this structure as a dead hedge, which perhaps it was when first constructed, but there were now many climbing plants growing beside it which very soon would cover the entire "wall" with fresh green leaves, providing an even safer refuge for the smaller birds. In fact, Algy could see that the stems of the climbing hydrangea beside his refuge had turned a rich red, and leaf buds were already forming in many places.
But for now the hedge remained almost bare, and as Algy reclined in his shelter and looked out through the tangle of twigs and stems, he felt as though he had slipped inside a fairy tale… He idly wondered whether, if he happened to fall asleep in there, some adventurous prince – or princess – might be so bold as to come and awaken him, but then he recalled that such events usually occurred only in April, so he was probably safe for now 😀
