The gravel crunched softly as Redly left the house.ÌýIt was still early, the dew sparkling in the clear spring sun as the rays slanted across the lawn.ÌýA pigeon flew up suddenly, with a clatter of wings, and a squirrel dashed across the drive,Ìýdisappearing into the shadow of the horse chestnut trees. Redly paused at the junction with the lane, and then pulled out, leaving the sun behind him.ÌýThe road was quiet, only a solitary dog walker to be seen, out for early morning exercise. Pulling into a space between parked cars outside the row of terraced houses beyond the church, Redly allowed a bus to rumble past in the opposite direction, devoid of passengers at this hour.ÌýThe driver squinted into the sun as he acknowledged Redly's action. At the roundabout with the dual carriageway, Redly swung onto onto the road and headed west.ÌýA milk float up ahead was causing the light traffic to slow, bunching up as it passed, then Redly, too, was able to press on, revelling in the spring morning.Ìý The fields to either side were luxurious in their spring green, with the occasional splash of bright yellow where an early crop was in flower.ÌýThe may trees had broken into bloom, in shades of creamy white and palest pink, almost frothing at the roadside. On leaving the main road, Redly joined a queue behind a dust cart, on its collection route through the village.ÌýThen the lorry turned off, and the traffic was once again free to proceed at the pace of the leader.ÌýNo room for speed on this road, unless luck was on your side in the two or three gaps available, so Redly proceeded sedately for the next ten miles, between more lush fields and verges of grass and yarrow.ÌýThe birds taken the spring morning to heart, and were singing as though their lives depended on it.ÌýRabbits dotted areas of short vegetation, safe in the knowledge that cars rarely left the road - only in exceptional circumstances were they disturbed.ÌýNot so, however, for the several squirrels and pheasants, who had lost the match with metal, leaving gory remains to be picked over by crows and magpies. At the last roundabout, the leader of the now substantial line peeled away, so those who were continuing on down the hill gave vent to varying degrees of frustration by accelerating rapidly. In a lay-by a police car lay in wait, and at least one driver had his day upset by the sight of a blue flashing light in the rear view mirror. Then into the myriad of grid roads and roundabouts.ÌýSometimes cited as a fine example of ‘coffee cup planning’, the city confused the uninitiated but pleased those used to traffic jams in towns with narrow streets and pinch-points. Redly coasted along, not in any hurry, enjoying the sight of spring blossom on the trees which had been thoughtfully planted by those city designers who had had visions of green spaces amongst the buildings.ÌýOn a minor road, three woodpeckers flew up from the short grass, flashing yellow-green in their undulating flight. A jogger in red shorts and baseball cap showed another colourful splash against the verdant hedges edging the road.ÌýHe disappeared into the entrance of an apartment block, no doubt to shower and breakfast before leaving home again.ÌýRedly speculated on the jogger’s day ahead - office worker? shop assistant?Ìýwho could tell. A bus had stopped at the side of the road, and a man wearing a fluorescent jacket stepped down on to the pavement.ÌýHe waved to a hazy impression remaining on board and then turned away, to walk across the car park. Redly drew to a halt at the traffic lights.ÌýThe bus was in the outside lane, preparing to continue on its route through the city centre.ÌýAs the lights turned to green, Redly pulled away before slipping off in to his own parking space.ÌýHe stopped, the engine noise dying away.ÌýIt was still early, still quiet despite being in the city.ÌýRedly smiled to himself. He had arrived. | 
