All alone: Quite happily of course because it means I won't have to worry who is coming home at what time and I can eat when I want. Lillie is going up to London to visit her preferred uni. She is going first class, paid by the uni, apparently they pay first class if your disabled. Lillie is not but it was a late request.
My daughter will go tomorrow morning to see her two other children and Andrew to see his child (all grown up of course). What magic does London offer our young I wonder. I did think of having a flutter on the Omaze charity site, there is a London home being given away as a prize but I doubt it would have fallen my way, so saved my £10, which I think is rather exorbitant.
I am actually donating to the Folklore group round the corner, which I think is a brave attempt to make a venue to entertain people and also gather knowledge through books, it can't all happen on the internet after all.
There was a painting I saw today, the Clapper bridge in Dartmoor which was taken from a book and was painted by an artist called E.W. Hazelhurst (12th November 1866 to 3rd July 1949) for a series of books on 'Beautiful Britain' brought out by Blackies.
It reminded me of another painter who also lived about the same time Heywood Sumner (1853 to 1940) you can find him here. There is a certain similarity in colouring. Bucolic Britain romantised.
We paused briefly at the Clapper bridge at Posbridge on a sunny September day this year (we were on foot) and it was so busy with tourists we quickly moved on. I know we were tourists too but I remember when we last sat by this bridge almost 30 years ago and watched the dippers without a constant stream of cars passing by. It made me realise that Dartmoor is much busier than my quiet corners of the South Downs. For instance Chagford was heaving and much more frenetic with many more fancy pants coffee shops and delis even than Petworth! I read Stargoose and Hanglands this morning too and his Norfolk sandy heaths resonated with me too. We live a stone’s throw from the Serpent Trail, a long distance path that winds its way through the lowland sandy heaths of Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire and is a Godsend for us walkers in a wet winter. London will always hold an attraction for the young and young at heart. I still find a day in London exhilarating - but exhausting! Sarah in Sussex
ReplyDeleteOver the years we have got richer and tourism has sprouted because of it. To the detriment of the countryside unfortunately but the protest about non-camping seem to have won a victory on Dartmoor.
DeleteBucolic and beautiful and that pretend peaceful we all want as this world spins along.
ReplyDeleteYes Tabor a slight irony there. But this time between the wars was considered a good time, Orwell of course wrote differently.
DeleteI have recollections of that packhorse bridge from a week spent on Dartmoor nearly sixty years ago now. I was with school cadet corps, so not much time for sightseeing but we did get to roam over some of the mor famous features including Yes Tor and High Willays.
ReplyDeleteI always remember Dartmoor as a child travelling over and seeing the grim hulk that was Dartmoor prison. I suppose the Prince's Trust awards use Dartmoor as one of the challenges Will.
ReplyDeleteWe were based just outside Okehampton, but spent one night under canvas out on the moor. Even in July it was pretty cold, and the following mornings must was very disorienting, I can easily understand how people can get lost as some of the rocks were magnetic as well so compases would play tricks on you too.
DeleteOops - should have read mist
DeleteMagnetic rocks and high tors all add to the mystery of the moors down in the South-West. But the Cornish moors and also Dartmoor have the most evidence of prehistoric times. Some would say they created these wastelands because of burning down the trees.
DeleteOnly seen the Dartmoor clapper bridge during a rain storm - not quite as picturesque then!
ReplyDeleteRain and Britain go together Sue and we seem to be having more as we go into the future.
DeleteThank you for mentioning my blog. Despite the military training area and the exploits of Lakenheath airfield I'm rather fond of Breckland; there are plenty of peaceful areas if you search them out. London must once have held some attraction to me - I went to uni there, but I've seldom visited since.
ReplyDeleteI think London can be a nightmare for those who do not know it. I spent part of my working life up there but hardly venture there now.
DeleteSo long since I went to London I almost have to say London ? where's that? As to the mind when one gets older - mine is so crammed and darts from A to B or even Z at the drop of a hat. If I get an idea for a blog I have to drop everything push my trolley through and get typing otherwise my mind has gone off on another tack. I agree with you that Star Goose John has excelled himself as usual. I keep telling him to find a publisher - a book of his posts would be first on my Christmas list.
ReplyDeleteThe reason I thought to try for the house in London Pat, was somewhere for all visiting family to see each other. Paul and I went up occasionally, to the auction rooms such as Christies and the British Museum when something exciting was happening, but I get lost on the underground and find it terrifying. I find it weird how the mind works.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy time alone. I also enjoy time with people, although I really like to be able to disengage if I feel the need. I think that would be hard to do in a busy place like London. That said, I loved my visit there.
ReplyDeleteWell I have always loved having my family around me Debby like you, and at one stage I looked after language students for several years so company hasn't been wanting. But I do love being alone occasionally and not having to socialise.
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