Tuesday 14 July 2015

A Walk With A Red Cap

It being good day weather-wise and having very little to do or, to be more precise, having finished the tasks set for me by Mrs H, I decided to go for a stroll with my irascible friend Hazel (name changed to protect his real identity). He lives in the hedgerows for most of his time although he has been known to enter our home to use my computer causing me a few problems by leaving odd comments here and there on blogs and by trying to go further into the system and typing in the wrong passwords.



So I stepped across to his known sleeping place at this time of the year and found him amongst the blue flowers gently snoring away. The flash from my camera awoke him as 
I knew it would. 
Sleepily he said, 'What in ****'s name do you want ?'
'I thought you might like to go for a walk with me as it is a warm day.'
Hazel replied 'OK so, just give me a moment to wake up.'



Within the blink of a human eye Hazel was wide awake and looking for adventure. Together we went for our walk with him leading the way. 
You may well be familiar with Yeats' poem about walking with a faery hand in hand ? 
Let me assure you this is certainly not the case with Hazel and I, for as well acquainted as we are, neither he nor I would ever dream of holding hands as his skin is closer to that of an amphibian, quite cool to the touch and has a very different texture to ours.
I am sure he feels the same way about my skin as he shies away from all human contact. 



We had not walked more than two hundred yards when Hazel spotted this toadstool in the grass. He instantly decided that it would make a tasty snack so he plonked himself down giving me only a few seconds to take out my camera and take this photo which, I am sure you will agree, is a very rare shot.

With a great deal lip smacking, he devoured it within seconds as to him it was a great delicacy but very likely harmful to humans.
After his snack our journey together continued along the road uneventfully apart from Hazel jumping into the hedge every time the sound of a vehicle was heard. 
As he wisely said it would not bode well for him or me to be seen together. 


Our walk took us towards the entrance of a fine old house where Hazel stopped briefly to stroke a lantern dog 'for Luck' he told me. 



Here he is again within the meadow which his tribe have occupied for hundreds of generations or so said Hazel. To be honest I have no idea how old he is in human terms
and I would certainly not want to offend him by enquiring, for I have my own private thoughts about Themselves.
I can tell you this though, on the hillside above him is one of their cities and the field just behind him is where, on moonlit nights, they dance and make merry.


Our perambulation continued down a narrow road, a perfumed road, where the combined scents of wild honeysuckle and meadowsweet gave an aroma of honeyed toffee.
We both breathed in deeply and licked our lips. 
I could see that Hazel was just a little intoxicated as he jumped up to sit on a concrete stile and peering at the house beyond I heard him say 'I wonder if the woman of the house is baking today?' He hopped down and we continued along together in silence.


Our walk together ceased when Hazel lay down near a bed of richly scented roses saying
 'This will give you a fine picture and me a place to stay for the rest of the day.' 
So I left him and turned to head for home carrying about me a strong perfume of roses. Just as I went through our gateway, I glanced in my top pocket to see a rose head peeping out and this I gave to Mrs H.

24 comments:

  1. Pretty cute... and his skin feels like an amphibian. Guess I'll hold off on that too..

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    1. Thanks Gwen and yes I think you are correct :)

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  2. Lovely story, funnily I have a neighbour who looks just like him.

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    1. That is most kind of you Sir and am not surprised about your neighbour for have often considered there has been some intermingling going on.

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  3. Ah, Mel, you've made my day with this post. Hazel is a delight, and a welcome breath of fresh Faerie air in these troubled times. Just wonderful. And how photogenic he is too!

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    1. Thanks Val,I was hoping that some people would enjoy a giggle .

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  4. Looks like a very interesting walking companion.Wonder where he would take you if he led the way.

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    1. Ah Janet. What are you suggesting that he might take me down a rabbit hole or worse ? :)

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  5. Haha, wonderful, anyone watching you would have thought you were completely mad! Xxx

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    1. Thank you Fran and is't that the best of living in a thinly populated area, that you can with guile do virtually anything :)

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  6. Ah now all is revealed! I thought I heard a rustle in the hedgerow & spied a wee red cap between the whitethorn the other day ;)

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    1. Many thanks Jane B. For your comment substantiates the fact that they are about. For we have all heard those mysterious rustles.

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  7. Oh this little tale and delightful photos made my morning! Thanks Mel!

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    1. You are very welcome Carol and am glad for you!

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  8. Aww, he's a cute little fella. I like his little waistcoat too. :-)

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  9. Yes he is, in fact I have yet to meet scruffy one.

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  10. Sent on behalf of cedar .. hazels cousin ..
    "Dear Hazel lovely to see your recent pics, you're looking well & enjoying life near the big people, you appear to have them well trained!! Life here is good in a different way, the little big person i was assigned to watch over is growing in so many ways, my days are spent helping him learn although he doesn't always know ;) i'm careful the other big people don't catch me helping out! One day i will return to sniff the sweet honeysuckle but until then i bid you soft rain & sunny days much love Cedar"

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    1. Very good to hear from you Cedar. Glad to know that you are keeping busy with you-know-who! He was over here a while back and have heard that He and his folks are coming again in the tenth month for a bit of a knees up :) I will send a drop of white whisky over with them for you. For am sure you can't get any over on the big island. Take care of yer self twig of my twig Hazel.

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  11. I adore Hazel. He can come and live in my roses any time. Although it all sounds like a bit of the blarney to me.

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    1. Blarney!
      Goodness gracious Pat, never surely not - ha' ha' ha'
      Thanks for the comment lass.

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  12. We have lost most of these fellas in the states as a result of cutting hedgerows. Glad to learn that you still have them.

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    1. Harlow, I am very sorry to read this about your Red Caps, that is indeed a tragedy.
      You will no doubt be pleased to read that Hazel's tailor is to supply him with new outer garments, a new hat, waistcoat and boots. This is all due to new found fame.
      Thank you for your comment.

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  13. Mmm - I sense a book, then a film deal....

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    1. Would not one have to be away with the fairies though ? :) :)

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