June 11 - Day 72 - Progress Report 2 - 'If there is no struggle, there is no progress.' Frederick Douglass

Without wanting to upset anyone, I did check how many goslings there had been when I took the first batch of photographs - and there were six. We won’t, therefore, dwell on the fact that there are now three, and instead focus on the positive and look at what progress they have made. To see this, you need to look at the accounts from 5th May and 24th May. With signs of the black markings on the heads and definite feather patterns, it is clear at this stage what they are.

Dwelling on the positive, we should also focus on what Geese behaviour can tell us about the importance of mutual help and social groups, rather than believe it is just survival of the fittest. It has been found that if a goose gets sick or is wounded, a couple of other geese may help and protect it, staying with it until it dies or is able to fly again. That would seem a good lesson for all of us to learn from the natural world.

Goslings are apparently able to fly when they are about 2-3 months old but stay with their parents and follow them back next year to the place where they were born. They then form flocks with young geese. Hopefully by then I won’t still be trying to complete the challenge. As I approach the half way mark next week, I could say ‘only the half way mark’ and feel that I could still be doing the challenge next year, or I could say it will be great to have done half and know that I have less than half to go by the end of next week. At St Wilfrid’s Centre and while completing the challenge, it is easier to think positively and understand the true importance of mutual support, particularly the need to stick by the weakest and most vulnerable. With your generous donations and encouraging words, we will certainly be determined to do just that.