Unable to branch out

This is one of my Woodland Trust Sentinel Trees - one I pass on my way to the Wildlife Trust. Two birds; one stone.

It's a lovely tree. But I am a little frustrated. Yes, my animal cultures paper is to be published. Yes I am presenting it at two conferences. BUT there was a call out for papers about plants and I saw it too late to be able to submit anything. I considered writing "Tree Dialogues" and editing together my conversations with trees... It's all recorded here... just some copying, pasting, editing... What's the worst they can do? Reject it? So what? Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

I haven't had quite enough time with trees as I have been commuting and writing far too much about football. One of my friends tries to TALK to me about it - but all information is erased from my brain as soon as my voice is recorded and the show signed off. Between you and me, I have minimal interest and care even less. That's not true when I am actually working: then it is the single most fascinating subject. Fortunately, I am not always working. Otherwise, imagine, no time to talk to trees!

I had a red-faced moment at work. A colleague came in with a photo of a bird seen in his garden and everyone was super-impressed when I said peregrine falcon. It seemed unlikely, in a garden, but I thought: grey. It's not a peregrine. It's a sparrow hawk. My work colleagues don't care, but I feel such a fraud.