RICHARD NEGUS IS A PROFESSIONAL HEDGE LAYER AND WRITER. HE IS A KEEN WILDFOWLER AND HAS A PASSION FOR GREY PARTRIDGES
Do you know what today is?” I asked, bursting with theatrical excitement into my son’s bedroom. I switched on his dazzling main light in the style of a Guards Depot barrack room instructor. “Rejoice, it’s the best day in February,” I added to the shape lying motionless under a duvet. It let out a muffled mutter, “Go away, Dad”.
I left the lump to stir himself, exiting the room, carefully stepping over the man traps he had set — strewn books, crisping rugby socks and spent AA batteries liberally littered the floor. I made my way downstairs to make coffee.