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| Cottam Power Station looms in the distance |
Nine miles of tramping along through Nottinghamshire countryside. That was how I spent a good deal of yesterday. Some of the fields were soggy but I have known much worse. No muddy quagmires to contend with.
Clint decided to come to rest in the village of East Drayton, next to the now deceased "Bluebell Inn". It is so sad to witness the death of any village pub. Once "The Bluebell" would have been a home from home - a place to meet friends or to seek refreshment after a hard day at work. A place of darts and dominoes, pub quizzes and laughter - the secular heart of any sizable village. Far too many village pubs have died in recent years. It is a quiet national tragedy.
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| Unnamed fungi in the hollow of a tree near Hawksley Farm |
From East Drayton I headed for Askham. My path was neither well-trodden nor well-signposted and at one key point there was no sign whatever of a path that was clearly marked on my map. It caused an irritating detour but at least I found an old wooden footbridge over the stream I needed to cross.
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| St Nicholas's Church, Askham |
From Askham to Upton and thence to Headon. All four of the villages on my walk were peaceful and seemingly quite affluent. I entered three medieval churches and in one of them found a little kitchen in which I was able to quench my thirst with a drink of apple and blackcurrant cordial.
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| Medieval carving in St Peter's Church, Headon |
The walk began in glorious sunshine under a sky that was bluer than a robin's egg. I didn't bother with my fleece jacket. However, after two hours had passed, grey cumulo-nimbus clouds appeared in the heavens and I feared a soaking but fortunately the rain never transpired.
"You took yer bloody time!" said Clint when my circle was complete. "I have been bored stiff just sitting here!"
"Never mind old boy - we are homeward bound now," I sniggered, turning the ignition key.
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P.S. I am heading down to London tomorrow to join The People's March for a second referendum to end Britain's Brexit nightmare. Back Sunday evening if the cops don't apprehend me.
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| Cottage in East Drayton |
I do think you should get a couple of little matchbox cars and leave them with Clint every time you desert him for hours on end!
ReplyDeleteDo you have a good lawyer within easy reach...on call? Behave yourself while in London. We don't want to have to go and bail you out!! Take care. Bread and water becomes pretty damned bland and boring after one day!
When it comes to imprisonment it is clear that you are speaking from experience Lee!
DeleteRemember, take a clean hanky and don't talk to any strangers.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your wise advice Auntie Jackie!
DeleteGood luck with the referendum walk! I d wish Brexit (and Trump) would go away!
ReplyDeleteCould we put the whole planet in a time machine and go back twenty years? I for one would like that.
DeleteExcellent. Perhaps you could give your an MP a lift and get him to vote. Idle useless twat he is but his vote could make all the difference as long as you managed to drum into him to vote the right way. We don't need another referendum. We had one remember.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck at the march. I admire you for doing this.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been on political march in a long, long time but this is something I feel strongly about.
DeleteBravo for going to the march! I may be there myself! Looks like a great walk -- I love the medieval carvings in some of these village churches. And although I hate to see the demise of a pub, I read somewhere that it's actually a sign that British people are drinking less these days than they used to. Do you think that's true?
ReplyDeleteI think you are probably right but there is a lot more drinking happening in people's homes these days. If I see you on the march I promise to say "Brexit Out!"
DeleteBehave yourself once in London and no climbing on top of tube trains!
ReplyDeleteI am just hoping I don't get stabbed!
DeleteNice scenic walk, and good to know the churches were all open and one even offered refreshments.
ReplyDeleteYes, I believe people drink a lot more at home these days than at pubs. When my parents were young, they only stocked up on booze when they were hosting a party. Nowadays, they always have sparkling wine, red wine, whisky and other booze at home, and drinking does not only happen at parties but almost every time they have a visitor.
O.K. and I often share a bottle of wine on Friday nights to ring in the weekends, and Saturday nights are often made even nicer by a G&T if we're staying in. None of this is consumed at a pub; in fact whenever I really am at the pub, it is for the pub quiz, and I only have ginger beer - have to have my wits about me!
Sounds like every day is party time for your mother and father!
DeleteWhat a great walk!
ReplyDeleteYes it was Red. Lots of variety. I wish I could share some more pictures.
DeleteA nine mile walk is a good workout and the beautiful scenery makes it worthwhile. Good for you for standing up for your beliefs and joining in the march.
ReplyDeleteIt may be a waste of effort. Sometimes democracy seems like an illusion Bonnie.
DeleteOur newly refurbished village pub is up for sale. It's been closed ever since we arrived.
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame! I guess your village has had at least one pub for many decades. Will it ever rise again? Doubtful I am afraid.
DeleteCenturies - it's over four hundred years old.
DeleteSay hello to London for me. I'll be back next year ... And well done on your protest. 'The road to hell .. ' etc.
ReplyDeleteThink there will be many behind you on that march in London. Thanks for going.
ReplyDeleteI am so happy that you have never gotten yourself really and profoundly lost on one of your long walks. No phone, not much food or water....ever. A good mind and luck have been your companions lo these many years.
ReplyDeleteWish I could walk alongside you to help you people make your voices heard in protest of the mess your country has gotten itself in by lack of proper leadership. As usual, brother, I would bring the wine! My first walk/protest was the March on Washington, as it came to be known. I think I was 16 or 17 and made my way there by hook and crook. Then Viet Nam. Then Women's Rights. And, Roe vs Wade. The latest was the Pink Hat march after Donald stole the election. When Bush One went to war in the Middle East and I was a woman with growing children, I couldn't believe that I was still protesting cruel and unjust and wrong wars! I will probably die out in the cold or wet marching for what I think is right and humane . Not a bad way to go, I guess.