IN THE WHITE COUNTRYSIDE

A scarlet band of sky with streaks of amber decorated the eastern sky. The first snow of the winter had fallen. Alf donned a few fleece layers and walking boots. He quietly locked the front door and silently ghosted into the new white world outside. No human being had set foot on this new earth surface . He would be the first.His breath went before him in grey clouds. The chill of the cold still air was already making him feel more alive. There was a great sense of freedom being the first person up and about in these conditions. He soon found his way to the old wooden gate and the white ribbon of path between fields of snow-laden corn stubble that led to the canal. He could see the white hills of Derbyshire many miles away .The light was clear, sharp and true and walking in this new peopleless landscape gave him a great sense of pleasure, possession and privacy.Perhaps three or four inches of snow had fallen but it was fluffy,light and easy to walk on making that neat crunch underfoot.The branches of the oak and birch had been perfectly white-traced by the artist in the sky. A disturbed pheasant took to the air with clumsy flight and sore-throated cry. Then two more birds followed suit. Something or someone had frightened them.