Southend Utd 2 v 3 Aldershot Town - Tuesday 14th September 2021

 

"One swallow does not make a spring, nor does one sunny day; similarly, one day or a short time does not make a man blessed and happy."

From Nicomachean Ethics; Aristotle (384 BCE - 322 BCE) uses the term ἕαρ which is Greek for ‘springtide’ and ‘spring’.

Despite Aristotle’s own interpretation of his phrase displaying a minor challenge to our common understanding, the basic metaphor is that the end of winter will be the end of hard

times, but that more than one piece of evidence is needed to prove that it has been reached.

For many birdwatchers, the spring migration period is the most exciting time of the year. It is a time of change, with the departure of winter visitors and arrival of summer migrants.

The average arrival time recorded at Portland for Swallows, is March 29^th, but for us, high up on Exmoor, in north Devon, we very rarely have our friends back until the middle of April. The Swallows arriving just as we turn all of our horses out into the summer pastures.

And so, it was this year, despite the freezing cold nights of late April and the month of May, the boys were going to be outside for 24hours a day, from April 16th.

I remember very well the group reaction to the first evening of taking off the lightweight day rugs, and replacement with heavyweight turnout ones. ‘’ Excuse me’’, I could see etched in some of their faces. ‘’I’m a racehorse, and I go in at night’’, the expression appearing more exaggerated as the buckles were tightened up under each of their necks.

I took hold of one of the 'big boys', ‘’Look Claude, you were a racehorse, but as soon as you dropped down the ratings, and could no longer keep up in Grade 1 races, we retired you. You are now a retired racehorse. You’re staying out now, with all of your mates until the end of October.’’

The next day, the hay and straw barns received their spring clean, and as if scripted by the producers of Springwatch, in swooped the first of our 2021 Swallows. ‘’I’ll just rest here a bit, it’s been a long flight’, the Swallow perched on its own, high up in the roof looking somewhat wasted and forlorn.

For the next four weeks, and as the cold spring nights brought the desolate feel of winter back to Exmoor, all alone the Swallow remained.

Aldershot secured their first points of the season at Roots Hall, Southend on Tuesday night. A victory, the result of plenty of effort and bundles of team spirit. 3v2 the final score.

I wonder if a few more Swallows will return over the coming weeks, starting with Wealdstone on Saturday 18^th?