David Abram was telling me last night (through his book) about how certain tribes languages sounded like birdsong - or that bird song influenced the way these tribes spoke. Birds would utter phrases warning of bad weather, or at worst of the (pending) death of a specific loved one. The people and their environment were in deep synchronicity.

I had a single piwaiwaka follow me around all afternoon yesterday. Wasn’t looking for food. Was as if it had lost it’s mate - some birds do that - call around all evening if they are alone until they find another lone friend they can sleep with - they don’t like being alone.

This creature and I went on throughout the afternoon - collecting the cut branches of the fruit trees, making paths through this rambling garden and whatever else that took me gainfully outside till the end of the day. Days feel slow and long here lately - I am pacing my emotional energy to not get too caught up in what I have or have not done - what rollercoaster of grief I might have to again ride at any given spot.

The children arrive back today and time will speed up - their instant community and the regularity of meals, bed times and the new school term will hold my Taurian self against something other than myself, time and this land. I miss them. And no doubt they miss me - what better place that this for us to not be missed - to be together.