We had a wet September, but last Saturday the sun came out. Along with many others I and a friend strolled through muddy paths we’d avoided during the rain. We didn’t rush. Simply enjoyed what we’d been deprived of for several weeks. The rain had stopped and we could relax.
The variety of trees, the beauty of the leaves, again lifted my spirits during a walk in Walton Hall. I and friends had discovered the beauty of walking and talking among the trees there during lockdown. The risk of catching Covid 19 indoors, persuaded us to meet outside. Four years later, though we can buy a coffee inside the hotel, we continue to enjoy each others company outdoors.
Walking, and looking for images to photograph, encourages me to notice more. To spot what I might have missed. In among a tangle of leaves, twigs and branches two ducks doze. I stand and marvel for several minutes.
Between Ryton nature centre in Warwickshire and a single vehicle road, there are allotments. From the boundary, I scanned a field of winter wheat. It’s started to grow, will rest as the weather gets colder. In spring it will grow again. At this change in the season, I slow down. I don’t do all I think I should do, and instead enjoy a more of what I am doing.
Reading: The Man Alone – Michael Laskey I continue to enjoy reading this book, reading aloud many of his poems.
The Ghost Road – Wendy Pratt I finished this during last week. I liked the mix of landscape and stories about her life. I was sorry to reach the end.
The Fortune Men – Nadifa Mohamed I finished reading this. It was harrowing in places. Very moving, but an excellent read. A novel, it was based on a true miscarriage of justice.
Killing Floor – Lee Child. The first Jack Reacher novel. I heard Lee Child talking about his writing life as I was driving. He was born in Coventry, brought up in Birmingham and moved to U.S.A. with his girlfriend after university. He started to write in his 50s. A definite page turner. I’ve nearly finished.
Weathering – Ruth Allen I’ve only just started it. It’s about the landscape of Derbyshire with which I’m quite familiar. Allen is a therapist who undertakes her work outside which seems an interesting way of working.
Was that the This Cultural Life programme you heard Lee Child on? I’m halfway through that. The Margaret Drabble episode was also VERY illuminating!
Thank you, Fran. I was driving to Kenilworth and just caught it. I’ll look it up and Margaret Drabble. What he also said – which encouraged me – was that it’s good to start in later years. He was in his 50s. The idea being that you don’t have the maturity before that. Margaret Atwood, Barbara Kingsolver prove him wrong, but I look for crumbs!