I was eager to get out after torrential rain prohibited an overnighter and I was up with the proverbial larks this morning.

I packed up the day sack and on the spur of the moment, reached for the pocket cooker to cook breakfast on. I also took the small frying pan from the civilian trangia unit to make things easier.

The woods were very damp and thehumidity seemed high as I set up the hammock to sit on. I had trouble selecting enough dry wood to start off the cooker. Little did I know this was the start of my problems. I seemingly forgot everything I'd learnt about properly preparing a fire, thinking that the pocket cooker was somehow easier to light and maintain.

I selected some bark which was still damp and tried to light some maya stick shavings with the firesteel. No luck here. After a good 5 minutes, the hungry side of my brain started to send signals to my hand telling it to reach for the Primus lighter. The bushcraft side of the brain told me to rest, think, find another solution and persevere.

I shaved some finer slivers of maya stick and after a few more strikes the shavings at last caught. I gingerly fed the small flame into the burner and...it went out. I started over again, this time reorganising the wood in the burner. This time I was in business and bacon and egg was on the way.

Things didn't get much better as I placed the Crusader cup on the cooker for a brew. I covered the top with the frying pan to speed up the boiling process. Not the brightest thing to do as the bottom was covered with wood fire residue which promptly fell in the cup!

 After a well deserved rest, I wandered about identiying some plants that were appearing. I found another Bee orchid, Perforate St John's wort, Biting stone crop, Black medick (this was a first for me), Ox-eye daisies and Self-heal. I also managed to get a shot of a Cinnabar moth.

I checked up on the Barn owl nest and was suprised to see a couple of pigeons eyeing up the premises. I'll have to check to see if the Barn owls are still in permanent residence tomorrow.

I wandered home about 4 o'clock to a surprise Father's Day welcome. I'd completely forgotten and the clan had gathered in my honour, complete with huge bar of chocolate, and a bottle of brandy. Best of all was the Sunday roast, which made the breakfast fiasco a distant memory.

Pablo. 

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