This morning, bright and early, as always, I set off for my morning swim. Have I told you I swim in the mornings, I mean, six times a week? Oh, I have! Several times! And you're sick of hearing about it! Alright, alright, won't mention it again, but anyway, this morning the sun was shining in a cloudless sky and the light was pellucid in that way you can only experience early in the day. My usual route was blocked by road works and so I had to take to the country lanes on which you can only drive at 10 mph because there are blind bends every 30 yards. But that gave me time to take in the countryside glimpsed through the gaps in the burgeoning hedgerows. This is an area of variable farming so the fields falling away in the gentle valleys and rising up to distant ridgelines are a mix of wheat and corn, or sheep, or grazing cows, or just grassland. None of the views are spectacular, just an easy-on-the-eye and gentle-on-the-soul composition of English countryside at its understated best. Then, turning yet another bend in the road there in front of me was a sight to gladden any true Englishman's eye and heart - the local hunt! Three or four huntsmen in their scarlet jackets and a pack of 30 or 40 waggy-tailed dogs. There was no chance of getting past or through them, not that I wanted to anyway, so I idled along behind and thought that what we all witnessed last week was only a small part of England. There is another England, gentle, traditional and civilised, and I am so, so, lucky to live in it. I must cling to that thought in the future!
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Monday, 15 August 2011
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We were in a supermarket car park this morning and suddenly realised that it was like being in Oz or NZ: beautifully cloudless sky and a low density of people. Ain't it lovely when the masses go on holiday?
Posted by: dearieme | Monday, 15 August 2011 at 13:05
Yes, if only they would stay there! One of the joys of my particular part of our 'septic Isle' is that the holiday maker/tourists rush through it in order to reach Devon and Cornwall!
Posted by: David Duff | Monday, 15 August 2011 at 13:48
Chin up!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vio-TjMi5_s&feature=related
Posted by: dearieme | Monday, 15 August 2011 at 14:22
Thank you, DM, feelin' better already!
Posted by: David Duff | Monday, 15 August 2011 at 15:50
Oh dear DM, thanks so much for that.
Made my morning too.
Like big bands? If you can be in Cairns by Thursday night the Cairns After Hours Big Band is appearing at our local Jazz Club. If you can't get here in time for that one they will also be appearing on Saturday afternoon, 27th. at Novotel Resort, Palm Cove, just north of Cairns.
This band consists of 27 YOUNG people, most of them music teachers in the local schools and they swing!!
I think it is the biggest jazz band in Queensland.
Possibly you can find something of their on Youtube....I dunno.
And thanks again for Mr Jelly Roll today.
Posted by: Andra | Tuesday, 16 August 2011 at 00:34
I've not been in Cairns since '88, Andra, and am now on the other side of the world. Still, Cairns in the dry is pretty nice, eh?
Posted by: dearieme | Tuesday, 16 August 2011 at 18:58
DM: Cairns is pretty near perfect right now.
Nights around 20 c. and days around 28 c.
No humidity, blue skies and we are going into a month of Festivals as of tomorrow.
Lots and lots of music, food, drinks, parades, etc.
Something for everybody here.
Posted by: Andra | Wednesday, 17 August 2011 at 00:35