It’s easy, have two kids and not enough sleep.

I have been sleeping better.  The solution was easy, don’t go to bed until you feel like you’re going to die.  Then you sleep like a stone.  Funnily I feel much better doing this than going to bed early to try and catch up.

So here I am, now with a bit more time (as I’m not allowed to go to bed early).  I’ve had a botany day today, the time was used only semi-productively as I’m a bit rusty.  I had a go at identifying trees without leaves, but as there are few trees at 3 Chapel Terrace and I’ve already identified them, I have committed an act of treachery.

I LEFT THE PREMISES!  ARGH!

I adventured into the field behind the house.  I’ve had a go at winter tree identification before, when I lived in Musselburgh.  I went out with the best of intentions with my AIDGAP guide to broadleaved trees and shrubs in winter.  I then discovered a flaw in the plan!  The guide relies solely on twigs and buds and I couldn’t reach any of the bl**dy things.

This time I aimed for trees with reachable twigs and ‘hey presto!’ this guide is suddenly a nifty piece of kit.  The leaf buds and scars started to look pretty distinctive.  Check out the sinister looking leaf buds on an ash tree:

Ash bud of doom (Fraxinus excelsior)

In the howling winds and driving rain I actually found myself slightly (OK, quite a bit) freaked out by these evil looking baby leaves.  What is wrong with me?  The branches were waving at me like sinister claws aiming to capture me and turn me into a tree, or maybe eat me or perhaps it was just planning to fall on me.  I nicked a twig off the ground underneath and ran away in to the middle of the field where it couldn’t get me.

I’ll be keeping an eye on that one in future, I can see it from Izzy’s bedroom window. I might keep checking it to make sure it doesn’t get any closer!