Hi there.
Walking is ongoing as I continue building back to full strength again. Hoping every one is managing to get some walks in too!
Today, I went down to spend the day with Small runner in training, Mama and Alice the dog. Poor Dada was in his study working!
Friday is a day when Small one arrives, usually, for an extra day, with us with Mama in tow. But today I had an invite to lunch. Mr OF was safely ensconced back home, sorting his study and with lunch all prepped for him in the fridge. Today, also, meant a day off for me, where I get a short respite from some of the worries and little stressy niggles, that arise from Mr OFs mild dementia issues.
The day had dawned with a glorious pink-streaked sky, the portent of bad weather to come , maybe, but nevertheless, so beautiful. An early trip to my Butchers and back for breakfast... chores done, warm clothes, and everything else, bagged and off. The journey down to where the family live is a 10 minute walk or a five minute run... they have what was our home, where my daughter grew up, and small one now, runs in the garden and fields where her Mama did.
Unfortunately, I had a computer to carry... and all the trappings; donated to small one for her Educational work... and a duffle coat, cleaned and fresh, after an incident with a stream, a small one and a mud slide! So car it was. Unfortunately again, the railway crossing in the village is closed until the 18th MAY..no access to them from that road anywhere, so the journey down takes at least 15 minutes and longer, at school and home coming times. The lanes are filled with drivers who are so used to main roads, that I have got used to driving on top of the hedges
I got there and morning was spent with drawing and playing , some science and lots of reading! Lunch as ever, healthy and appetizing and so much tastier, when you do not have to prepare it yourself!
Then... off for a walk. Across the fields, which as those folk who read my running posts know, are so dear to my heart, We moved there when my daughter was 3, and when we moved in., I could not believe how lucky I was to live with the countryside literally outside my back door.
I know most of the area like the back of my hand, Nature and the passage of time has meant some changes, but none that impact on any one too much. We set off through their garden and their little field. Alice the dog, like a streak of gold, as she bounded through the unbolted gates, only pausing in her madcap gallop, to check that her small companion was following and responding even more quickly, when my daughter called her back; her throw balls on our pockets and off we went. Their field, a tad bedraggled and battered after the winter storms, but resting, safe in the knowledge that Spring will bring the family out, with spades and forks to restart the growing season that bears so much fruit over the year.
Down through the small trees, not so small now. The two apple trees that were bought for me on my 60th Birthday by my Mum, and the Pear tree bought for Mr OF, have grown a lot... and borne fruit for many a year now, to the delight of a certain small person who can reach that fruit quite easily now. Down past the Frog pond... no frog spawn yet...through the little gate and into the big fields.
The well trodden path takes us over the trail from the lane and down towards the old single track railway line...sidings for the small Narrow Gauge railway on the far lane...the wagons stored there, have succumbed to wind and weather and any night-shelter they provided for a passing Man of the Road, has long gone. The fields have dried up after a very muddy phase and we all expend a lot of energy throwing and retrieving the balls which Alice, continues to chase after , with sheer joy! She is only 8 months old but is a very big dog, already. Her energy is boundless and her enthusiasm is infective!
We wander, we chat , we hold hands and we walk apart. Our own thoughts, or shared thoughts, three generations, all in harmony. The birds wheel high overhead in a sunlit sky, the fog forecast, never came and we see the signs of a new season everywhere.
A shout goes up... “ First Dandelion”! Small one has keen eyes...Alice has made her way through a small, deep pond into the next fields, we take the slightly less, deep route, wet though, and very muddy...walking at the edge of the field, towards the railway line, overgrown and silent. The railway is only open at weekends and the iron dragons are sleeping. We are moving slowly, apart from the ball throwing now, easing back to let Alice ease back to... she is only a puppy, despite her size!
The silences are companionable. Sometimes, there is no need for the spoken word.
Another cry goes up. “ There's that ball we lost”, and my daughter, rummaging in the undergrowth by the overgrown track appears triumphant with a rather gaudy neon yellow and bright blue ball held aloft! Small one and Alice are delighted in equal measure!
Thus we proceed, and at length, turn for home...we are all ready for a drink of water and a warm by the fire...the sky is darkening slowly, as we retrace some of our steps, pausing only for a muddy paddle in the puddle and a photo or two... back over the field and through the gate. Alice, straight into the frog pond... she loves an after-walk dip... !!!
Small one and I dawdle, to marvel at the green, yellow-tipped leaves which hide those trumpeters of Spring. The horse chestnut branches are all ready tipped with fat, sticky, glossy mahogany buds, and the first catkins hanging from the nut tree.
We wander back up through to the garden, a small hand in my own.
Back to the yard, wellies tugged off and a toweling down for the dog. A final glance back and into the warm kitchen.
Home. It really is, where the heart is.
Oldfloss x
