Just Beverley - Latest Issue - Flipbook - Page 10
I've BEEN THINKING... SAYS COLIN RAYNOR
We heard them before we saw them and then
they were a sight to behold. Now I am not an
ornithologist but I do believe that a flock of
geese are known as a ‘conversation’ and this
group were certainly living up to their name.
going quicker, and achieve more, than those who
try to go it alone. If people had as much sense as
geese they would realise their success depends
on working as a team, taking turns doing the hard
tasks, and sharing leadership.
As we watched one group pass overhead and
fly quickly out of our view another group came
along in their traditional v formation. Hundreds of
them and who am I to say they were not having a
conversation as they set off on their journey to a
warmer climate.
When an old goose gets sick or weary, or a young
one can’t keep up the pace, the other geese
sense it and drop out of formation, fly alongside
giving help and protection. I hope I don’t stretch
the imagination too far but I do feel that we
humans have much to learn from the geese we
see flying above us.
Have you ever wondered why migrating geese
fly in a V formation? As each bird flaps its’ wings,
it creates uplift for the bird following it and in a V
formation the whole flock adds at least 71% more
flying range than if each bird flew alone.
Whenever a goose falls out of formation it
suddenly feels the drag resistance of trying to fly
alone and quickly gets back into formation.
Like geese, people who share a common direction
and sense of community can get where they are
Putting aside the obvious one that we, who have
had to cancel our holidays and have had no real
break for the last nine months would love to be
flying off to a sunnier climate if only for a short
time, here are a couple of thoughts to be going
on with.
The first similarity is the art of conversation. So
many folks have not had the opportunity to talk,
sometimes for days or weeks, to another human
being. So when we can all meet, stop and talk,
without any restrictions, make sure you do it.
‘Don’t be backward in coming forward’ was one of
the old sayings I was brought up with. Develop the
habit of saying hallo to someone you pass in the
street. You never know what might develop from
such a chance acquaintance.
Secondly that opportunity you were given to help
another, did you enjoy it? The tired geese, or
the younger geese, know they can rely on their
friends to support them.
I have written before in this column about the
‘kindness of strangers’ over these difficult months.
Maybe, whatever your age, what you did to help
another, may just have opened a door for you to a
type of activity, voluntary or paid work, you didn’t
think you could do.
Go on, try it again, and make sure that, for you,
that old year wasn’t just a waste of time after all .
Happy New Year.
Wishing
everyone a
Happy,
Healthy
and safe
2021
10
DOG
FRIEND
LY
Tel: 01482 869040
www.tigerinnbeverley.co.uk
Lairgate, Beverley HU17 8JG
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