The Wind Bucket

We keep a big dirty plastic cement bucket in our back garden to tell us which way the wind is blowing. If it’s up near the gas tank we know it’s a westerly. If it ends up at the edge of the gorse then that means cold northerlies. My father in law is away for a couple of weeks. When he gets back I know the first thing he’ll say is “Where is my big dirty plastic cement bucket?” and I’ll point to the centre of a mass of gorse bushes and shout “Northerlies!” I’ve taken to thinking that each wind has a different accent. South westerly is a Corkman and northerly a strong Ulster voice. “There will be NO playing in the garden today!” says the Rev. North Wind.