Sounds of frantic buzzing caused me to stop typing and look up. I scouted round then saw a hapless wasp and spider locked in combat by the handle of a window that is rarely opened above a line of well-thumbed books.
I looked closely. The web consisted a net of random trip wires. A smallish but stocky spider had a hold of the wasp by its antennae. The insect was on its back but thrashing like a bucking Bronco.
This was nature red in tooth and claw. It happens millions of time and every day. Such life and death realities are still unsettling though, especially when they occur literally in front of your face. I watched for a moment then sat down again and re-read the paragraph I was writing about pest and disease control and was proving to be really difficult to articulate.
Looked up again. Only the wasp was visible, dragged to the edge of a recess where the latch slots in to wood. The buzzing had stopped but not the struggle.
Next time I glance over there just the movement of dusty cobwebs give a clue to the titanic battle now in its death throes.
I am still finding my article an awkward piece.
Copyright, Joe Hashman www.dirtynails.co.uk