Elmet

I am pottering as usual

I have always been intrigued by the period after the Romans and before 1066 AD, often called the 'dark ages', only dark of course because we have no information on them,  and especially about the small kingdom of Elmet. The vale of Caldervale is also part of Elmet..  But as you can see on the map probably Roman Eburacum, or York as it is now known, would have been in ruins. Also on the map you can see the first Roman wall called Antonine Wall built against the Picts was soon to be superseded by Hadrian's Wall and that is why the 'practise camps' written about earlier is of interest.

Ted Hughes was born in the town of Mytholmroyd which lies in the valley of the Caldervale (I have as much problem spelling that word as I do saying it) and which probably gives him the right to call one of his books - Remains of Elmet, but obviously this small Brythonic kingdom got subsumed into its larger neighbours of Mercia and I think Bernicia and became part of Northumbria.

This book is somewhat dark in word and photography.  Bleak is of course the word to use of Fay Godwin's black and white photos, they strike sombre notes in one's soul.  Ted  Hughes words even more so.  You can see why such mournful fiction as the Bronte's writings would stem from these cruel landscapes, Jane Eyre especially.  So Ted Hughes captured the mood of the moors, with the despairing lives lived out in a poor farming landscape.

I have always loved Pike and  Thought Fox.  The poem Pike of course because I fished as a child, sitting by the river's edge watching the lazy movement of trout.  Water has that power to lure you into it's depths.  In the shallows it rippled over the stones.

But that reminds me of the following You tube video of Japanese Gardens in Kyoto.  It is the most restful video to watch.  A classic Japanese garden has no need of flowers, it rests on moss, stone, water and greenery.  Trees and shrubs are shaped for harmony and also for a quietness for meditation.  I am not sure you lose yourself in 'nothingness' but the meeting with nature must surely calm the self.  I found the link on Bensozia's blog, for which I thank him.