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| The photo fades, but capturing the deer and unsure Moss always brings this wood to mind and the crispness of a cold frosty morning |
Paul is to go to London next week, there is an event at the Barbican organised by his friend - The Joy of Sake, and then there is a visit to his son to see Leo his grandson, a weekend away, and he seems to be dreading it, probably because a) it is London and b) because of the travelling.
Michael Morpurgo was doing 'tweet of the day' this time he talked of the buzzards in his part of remote Devon.
And I remembered the story of my buzzard, high on the Bath downs. He was deposited by his parents one Sunday on the Bath race course, I came over the stile, and there he was wandering around as if afraid to fly. Parents sat on the fence watching over this youngster. Eventually he took to the air, and I was to see him many times over the next few years. I knew his places where he hunted for worms and would always look out for him as I would wind my way to the North Stoke fort. Once, I had parked in the pub's car park, he sat in a tree about 50 yards away, the race course was being used for some function and I decided to drive down to the woods. On arriving at the track way, my buzzard flew into the tree as well, as if following me, also tired of the crowds.
Moss was my constant companion then, happy to walk any distance and a Sunday walk always had a special feel to it, sometimes I think the weather is always better on a Sunday and the trek over the Cromwellian/Royalist battle ground on the Lansdown brought back memories of fighting men overlooking the ridge towards Bristol.
Someone, once met on a walk, had the 'eye' he saw into the past, and told me he had once seen someone stumbling back from the battle up on the ridge, believe that as you may. My only encounter with ghosts from the past, was one very foggy early morning up on the Downs, Moss became very agitated and started to bark and out of the fog this sight appeared. A man in a kilt with a beret, true Scottish attire in the middle of nowhere, he bade us a good morning and strolled off, okay I was scared too, had he fallen asleep after some party and then decided an early morning walk would clear his head, or was he really a vague memory from the past;)
I loved this post - happy memories of Moss and past walks. My dad nearly moved to Bath after the war (they'd moved from Devon to Frome in the 1930s, and that's where my gran died). I often wonder what I'd have been like if dad had moved there rather than Hampshire. A different mum for sure!
ReplyDeleteI know you have no faith in things which are "other", but believe me there are atmospheres, good and bad, and connections to be made with those that have gone before us. I don't seek them, but they come to me, only when I am relaxed and "open". Hard to find an explanation for the "hows" of this, but perhaps it is just a talent you are born with (being a medium I suppose) and perhaps sometimes the veil is thin and you can pick up on another dimension of time. I have had some unusual experiences down the years - sometimes from touching belongings too - which defy explanation.
I don't believe there is nothing there Jennie, only that some people can and others cannot pick up on things. I actually do believe that parallel existences do move alongside us and that occasionally such places are revealed.
DeleteMy only scary moment was in an Essex house, when I felt a distinctly unhappy presence, we learnt later that someone had hung themselves from the bannister.
Just the nicest of memories. I do wish we could get a dog, but the tick diseases are so abundant here I would not want to be exposed to even more ticks.
ReplyDeleteWe have ticks in this country but not in great numbers, they are loathsome but have only seen them on hedgehogs.
DeleteBeautifully written, as usual.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe in ghosts but .......
"I do not believe in ghosts but" .....
DeleteI know it would be really lovely to have positive proof, but they keep disappearing!
Lovely writing Thelma and beautiful picture. I am astonished to hear that the wind has deserted your part of Yorkshire. I came back from the Lakes this morning and literally couldnt stand up when I got out of my friend's car. I amnow waiting for my son to come and take Tess for a walk because I dare not walk, it is too rough.
ReplyDeleteI take it all back, the wind developed later and now there is a scatter of garden furniture and pots with shrubs fallen over. Hope you enjoyed your stay in the Lakes.
ReplyDelete