Todays tandem ride was slightly spoilt at the end.
Picure the scene: We leave the local canal and heading home up a well used lane. At the start of the lane there’s a footpath.
Over the wall I spot some children picking daffodils in the steep field next to the footpath and politely ask would they mind not picking the flowers as they are for everyone to enjoy. These children haven’t just picked a few, they have a whole armful each.
An adult voice a good few metres away tells me to ‘f’ off.
I get off the tandem and walk over to her, saying that’s not a good thing for young children to hear!
Woman: I’ve lived here 38 years, all me life and those flowers are wild.
Me: It would be better if you left them for everyone to enjoy.
Woman: Get back on your bloody bike.
Me: I don’t think you’re setting a good example to your children speaking like this.
Woman, gets up and storms off and shouts to me ‘gerrra life’.
Me: Got one thanks.
Yes, as a small child I too picked wild flowers, however my grandfather explained that it’s against the country code and to leave them for everyone to enjoy.
Those daffodils have gone now for another year and will probably only last a couple of days in water at home, whereas if left they’ll be there for all to enjoy for a couple of weeks.