Tim Dowling's Spring Signs: Tortoise Awakes and Dung Men Arrive
In the heart of a damp, grey morning, the sudden appearance of a tortoise in Tim Dowling's kitchen marks an unexpected shift in the household's rhythm. After six weeks of hibernation, nestled against the sofa leg, the reptile emerges with a slow, deliberate presence, poised as if to join the ongoing skirmish between the family dog and cat.
A Sudden Awakening in the Kitchen
Watching the pet fight become tiresome, Dowling glances up to find the tortoise suddenly there, a testament to its unhurried nature. "Where have you been?" he queries, though well aware of its hiding spot. The tortoise, with head raised, seems ready to bite an unguarded appendage, but misses its chance as the cat retaliates fiercely, dragging the dog across the room.
As the tortoise meets Dowling's eye, a simple offer of lettuce is made, but the real conversation begins when his wife enters, noting the reptile's activity. "Spring is here," Dowling declares, despite the cold rain and sepulchral light outside, acknowledging the rapid thaw that has stirred the tortoise from its slumber.
The Premature Signs of Spring
This premature appearance isn't the only harbinger of the season. Later, while his wife is out, the doorbell rings, heralding the arrival of the manure men. Dressed in flat caps and worn jackets, they offer farmyard manure from the back of a lorry, a biannual visit that Dowling views as part of a lost, deeply English tradition.
Preferring his wife to handle the negotiations, Dowling finds himself making tea for the duo. One talks incessantly about ailments and life updates, while the other works quietly. Over mugs of tea, they chat about the ups and downs of door-to-door manure sales, with Dowling learning they visited six weeks prior, instructed by his wife to return in January.
Negotiations and Domestic Dynamics
When his wife returns, they survey the neatly mulched beds together. She probes for details on the manure men's visit, and Dowling shares snippets about hospital stays, a new truck, and a daughter's conversion to Islam after moving to Dubai. His wife deems him useless for the vague recollections, but he defends the encounter, noting the good job done.
The cost remains a secret, too soon to disclose, adding a layer of domestic humour to the scene. This blend of wildlife antics and traditional commerce paints a vivid picture of an English spring's quirky onset.
