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| St Mary's Church, Greasley |
On Monday I visited "The Country of my Heart". Not the country of my own heart but the home territory of the Nottinghamshire writer David Herbert Lawrence or D.H.Lawrence as he is better known. He was born in a small coal mining town called Eastwood in 1885 and died in Vence, France in 1930, a long way from "The Country of My Heart". These days it is administered by Broxtowe Borough Council to the west of the city of Nottingham.
This landscape, close to Eastwood, was the playground of Lawrence's youth and it coloured many of his early writings including "The Rainbow", "Sons and Lovers", "Women in Love", "Lady Chatterley's Lover" and the early short stories. Often he changed place names but the places themselves are often only thinly disguised.
I was in the area for another long circular walk. Clint had his handbrake yanked near the ruins of Beauvale Priory. "Ouch!" he protested but he was happy to spend a few hours dozing in January sunshine as his master plodded along a pre-planned route, determined not to get lost nor to plunge suddenly into a badgers' sett!
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| Beauvale Lodge and a small red car |
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| View to Brooksbreasting Cottage |
Four hours later, the circle was complete. I had seen many things - including the M1 motorway, the villages of Watnall, Greasley and Moorgreen, a sugar beet field, snowdrops in St Mary's churchyard, two unkempt ponies, a running hare, streams and woods and a memorial bench..."Forever In Our Hearts".
Where Felley Mill once stood just north of Moorgreen Reservoir, I stopped to talk to a local man. He was aboard his silent mobility scooter with a front basket that held binoculars, dog treats, snacks and a bottle of "Lucozade". He was accompanied by two faithful Jack Russells. The rotund fellow had known the area since childhood and loved to see the comings and goings of birds and seasons. It was the "country" of his "heart" too but unlike D.H.Lawrence, he had never left it.
Neat comparison. It says more about each one of them.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you caught that Red.
DeleteRed said it first; I second it.
ReplyDeleteYou Canadians have to stick together!
DeleteI am so jealous of your walks but you are inspiring me to visit some of the many walking trails within my driving distance. Thanks, Mr. P.!
ReplyDeleteWalking is good for us in several different ways. It is good that you have so many walking trails within shouting distance of Moon Palace.
DeleteClint had his eye on that little red-head. I bet he is urging you to return to Beauvale Lodge, where he might have a chance to become her beau!
ReplyDeleteYou are right to imply that Clint is a randy devil!
DeleteWhat a lovely walk! I can't imagine having such wonderful places to walk.
ReplyDeleteHappy to take you with me Bonnie - even though you were puffing and panting all the way round!
DeleteThe first photo is my favourite of this lot - so many snowdrops! I have not yet seen a single one here, nor are there any aconites out, although we've spotted crocus and even some colourful primroses in gardens on our walk on Sunday.
ReplyDeleteThose snowdrops were not fully out but they were so lovely in the sunshine.
DeleteBeautiful photo of the church and snowdrops.
ReplyDeleteThat scene stopped me in my tracks Sue.
DeleteExcellent adventures out and about! I remember reading Lawrence's "Women in Love" many years ago, and my mom saying, "Hmph! A lot HE knew about it!"
ReplyDeleteI wasn't aware that your mother had had a relationship with D.H.Lawrence!
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ReplyDeleteI envy you your walks in the countryside though I could never keep up your pace. Another holiday to the Dales and Peak district is in the planning stage though not for this year I'm sorry to say ( though you never know !!!) so some walks there to look forward to. Norway in May though.
No way! Norway! I was in Oslo once. You must see The Viglen Sculpture Park and The Kon Tiki Museum and the Viking Ships Museum. I found Norway to be a very quiet country. Where was everybody? Shhhhhh!
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