Early (though not crack of dawn which is about half four at the moment) and up the hill on a bright and breezy day: beasts are out in the fields, lambs growing fat, grass suddenly ankle deep and a cacophany of bird song.....must be late Spring - oh, hang on, we`re only 3 weeks away from the longest day. Shouldn`t it be just a tad warmer?
No should about it of course, it is what it is.
Zen and the art of weather-forecasting.
Wednesday 29 May 2013
Sunday 26 May 2013
Saturday 25.05.2013
A heart-healing, spirit-salving three hours or so this afternoon, around and on Bennachie.
A path-less-walked offered new angles on a familiar landmark in one direction
and fine views in the other.
And it was hot, really hot, hot enough to bring out the coconut scent of the gorse flowers and make shade actually welcome!
More stunning beech trees (yes, we have them up here too!)
before starting the climb up through the forest
towards the welcome fresher air above the treeline. The kind of view to put a few things into perspective really.
Hey ho:balm for the brain,sustenance for the soul - and it really is time to get back to work........
A path-less-walked offered new angles on a familiar landmark in one direction
and fine views in the other.
And it was hot, really hot, hot enough to bring out the coconut scent of the gorse flowers and make shade actually welcome!
More stunning beech trees (yes, we have them up here too!)
before starting the climb up through the forest
towards the welcome fresher air above the treeline. The kind of view to put a few things into perspective really.
Hey ho:balm for the brain,sustenance for the soul - and it really is time to get back to work........
Friday 24 May 2013
Thursday 23.05.2013
Last walk for now in the gentle woodlands of the Cotswolds before heading back to the wilder spaces of the north.
Last pub supper too, in the kind of pub they just don`t do in my neck of the north and a walk back up through the village under a "a jolly full moon.**
Time to go home.......
** A Soliloquy Of The Full Moon, She Being In A Mad Passion
by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Last pub supper too, in the kind of pub they just don`t do in my neck of the north and a walk back up through the village under a "a jolly full moon.**
Time to go home.......
** A Soliloquy Of The Full Moon, She Being In A Mad Passion
by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Wednesday 22.05.2013
Life eh? And the vicissitudes thereof, defined thus:
mutability in life or nature (especially successive alternation from one condition to another)
So there`s been all the uplifting experiences in Zambia tempered by the sadness of having to leave; there`s been a funeral tempered by the knowledge that at least the death meant an end to pain; and there`s been the inevitable sorrow tempered by the comfort and company of family and friends and the lovely tributes paid.
To repeat: life eh?
And in between there`s been walks in Middle England in the Merry Month of May - all wild garlic and bluebells
shade and shadow
and magnificent trees
There were some pretty amazing trees in Zambia but maybe nothing quite so heart-soaring as an ancient beech tree in all its Spring finery.
So onwards and upwards: and the quote for the day - lifted from Nietzsche via the Independent so can`t vouch for its authenticity but it`ll do for now:
"without music life would be a mistake"
Well quite.
mutability in life or nature (especially successive alternation from one condition to another)
So there`s been all the uplifting experiences in Zambia tempered by the sadness of having to leave; there`s been a funeral tempered by the knowledge that at least the death meant an end to pain; and there`s been the inevitable sorrow tempered by the comfort and company of family and friends and the lovely tributes paid.
To repeat: life eh?
And in between there`s been walks in Middle England in the Merry Month of May - all wild garlic and bluebells
shade and shadow
and magnificent trees
There were some pretty amazing trees in Zambia but maybe nothing quite so heart-soaring as an ancient beech tree in all its Spring finery.
So onwards and upwards: and the quote for the day - lifted from Nietzsche via the Independent so can`t vouch for its authenticity but it`ll do for now:
"without music life would be a mistake"
Well quite.
Tuesday 7 May 2013
Tuesday 7.05.2013
A day, nay a week, to remember in different ways: I believe the term emotional rollercoaster genuinely applies.
Satiated here on the sights, sounds and smells of Africa which despite the fact that Livingstone has as many fully stocked supermarkets as any small town, not to mention an excellent Italian restaurant, nevertheless really is very different,not least in the diversity and magnificence of its wildlife which we witnessed at first hand in the Chobe National Park over the weekend.
On top of this there is news that the Pan America Roadtrip has been successfully completed after a year of adventures and fantastic stories so well done them (see link on the right - Deadhorse to Ushuaia)
But then comes news of two deaths. Neither was unexpected: one was a good friend who I didn`t see nearly enough of; the other a much loved father, husband and grandfather who himself made several trips to Africa in the 50s and 60s. Somehow it seems only right to be staring up at this amazing sky when the news comes through.
R.I.P JTA xx
Satiated here on the sights, sounds and smells of Africa which despite the fact that Livingstone has as many fully stocked supermarkets as any small town, not to mention an excellent Italian restaurant, nevertheless really is very different,not least in the diversity and magnificence of its wildlife which we witnessed at first hand in the Chobe National Park over the weekend.
On top of this there is news that the Pan America Roadtrip has been successfully completed after a year of adventures and fantastic stories so well done them (see link on the right - Deadhorse to Ushuaia)
But then comes news of two deaths. Neither was unexpected: one was a good friend who I didn`t see nearly enough of; the other a much loved father, husband and grandfather who himself made several trips to Africa in the 50s and 60s. Somehow it seems only right to be staring up at this amazing sky when the news comes through.
R.I.P JTA xx
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