Truths of Old

There's a lake outside the hospital I work in. It frames the entryway to the hospital, and is chocka with ducks, geese, seagulls and a weird turkey-looking thing which occasionally floats, but spends most of its time impersonating a rather garishly coloured log. It's, I confess, the reason I applied to, and the reason I accepted this job. Sitting by the lake gives me a sense of quiet tranquility, which, believe me an A&E casualty officer Needs. And since I don't have a laptop to empty my mind with, the next best thing is a whole multi-cubic gallon lake filled with cute fluffy white birds. (although sometimes I wonder about the comparative merits of a large swimming pool filled with long, tanned birds. yknow.)
Most of the lake froze over last night. It was kinda surreal taking a warm, (probably because of my overcoat and scarf) sunlit stroll on a winter's day (a product of insomnia and an unfortunately-timed mis-call on my mobile) in to the hospital to see the ducks forlornly paddling in a tiny four-by-four waterhole in the ice, and the seagulls skidding around on what would make a nice skating rink. The geese wouldn't even Go there, and preferred to sit on the banks making disparaging noises at the ducks.
For one of the few times in my life, I'll admit that words simply can't do it all justice, and I wish I had a camera with me here in Essex. (When was the last time camera-phobic me said that, I wonder?)
Hopefully the ice will stay till I return on monday.