This morning I walked the circuit around the village. I started off from my home walking at a brisk pace, the sun was shinning high in the sky, but there was a stiff cold breeze to keep the air cool, which was great!
I crossed the main road and turned right, avoiding the big supermarket, and heading towards the industrial estate, but before reaching the industrial estate that stands at the edge of the village , I entered a side road, that led onto a fairly new housing estate. There was a good sized woodland on the right hand side and a lovely green space with a bench to sit on.
Here, I sat for a short while, watching the birds flying in and out of the trees. Wood pigeons still in pairs and some enormous crows. Magpies too, were hopping about on the green grass looking for insects and fallen berries from the nearby trees, and then there was some smaller birds like sparrows, blue tits, goldfinches and chaffinchwere who were flying upwards, to pick at the fruit from the overhanging trees. There was a lot of bird activity at this time.
One poor tree looked very dry and brown indeed. I wondered if it was dying or was it just struggling, being stressed out by the recent heat waves.
A lady passed by me on the pavement, she smiled and said a friendly "Hello".She had a little white terrier on it's lead trotting along happily beside her. It was a lovely spot in the sunshine. I could have sat there for hours, but of course I had to carry on walking to do my exercise.
This time I got onto the black tarmac path, a rather steep hill ( making me huff and puff quite a bit) an incline running upwards alongside the town hall, and leading onto the road into the market place.
I walk briefly past the market place at the side which was not too busy at this time, I branch off towards post office lane, then Fox street, a narrow street of town houses. At the end I cross another road turning left at Pools lane., so called because there was once a swimming pool here behind the school, but it now has town houses and a housing office. I carry on walking still quite briskly, to the end of the lane, because I know I will soon be able to rest on a bench in my favourite spot.
I found myself behind the theatre where in the past I had spent many a happy evening here, but it is currently being renovated, this is covered in scaffolding at the moment.
I walk quickly along the road, into church street at the end of this little road.
It is a bit busy now here, being the main road into the market place and shopping area.
Having safely negotiated the build up of traffic, I pass one of three churches on church street, the little catholic chapel. Here I can sit on a bench in the lovely peaceful garden that has a beautiful border of bright and colourful flowers. It is quite peaceful here, considering there is a road just behind the wall. I rest a while catching my breath, as I watched the birds perching on the little statues. Lovely trees to the sides. A good place for meditation!
The last part of my journey is a stroll down tree lane, so called for obvious reasons, of having some magnificent ancient trees there, also there are plenty of benches to sit on! In this quiet lane, I cannot help but admire the trees and to feel at peace. This is almost like being inside a wood because of the branches are overhanging forming a large canopy, heavy with foliage, the smells are divine, rich and earthy, with the faint smell of blossom from the tree's yellow flowers.
It is here that I feel I am most at home!
Mark Rothko
