Len Mitchell started 2007 moving through three worlds in one day. His day started with a solitary drive on empty new year's day roads from the Midlands to the North. Racing his satnav he picked up 3 minutes including a petrol stop, arriving at the sleeping Old House in plenty of time.
Len walked round the wind damaged garden noting the emerging shoots of spring bulbs. Bulbs he had planted over the years. Shutting the open shed door he gazed at the dried out seed trays in the adjacent greenhouse, time frozen. Though the climbing plants had been ruthlessly hacked back along with the shrubs that lined the path, the wooden archway lay collapsed like the rigging of an abandoned sailing ship.
The cats followed him to the back door and as he turned his key they nudged each other to enter first. The house was silent, assorted remnants of New Year's Eve littered the dining room, clothing, toys, chocolates, glasses.
He carefully walked upstairs to where his son slept in the upper bunk.
Len walked round the wind damaged garden noting the emerging shoots of spring bulbs. Bulbs he had planted over the years. Shutting the open shed door he gazed at the dried out seed trays in the adjacent greenhouse, time frozen. Though the climbing plants had been ruthlessly hacked back along with the shrubs that lined the path, the wooden archway lay collapsed like the rigging of an abandoned sailing ship.
The cats followed him to the back door and as he turned his key they nudged each other to enter first. The house was silent, assorted remnants of New Year's Eve littered the dining room, clothing, toys, chocolates, glasses.
He carefully walked upstairs to where his son slept in the upper bunk.
