"You can see for miles and miles and miles and miles . . . "

  

Well, the motley crew of mourners departed, leaving behind the usual detritus: empty glasses, cigarette butts, a discarded car or two, and an unpalatable taint to the air. For a brief 24 hours, they had injected this unremarkable village with their seediness. They won't be missed.

These occasions have, thankfully, become increasingly rare as the éminence grise behind them is no longer a permanent resident. These days he lives elsewhere, inflicting his own particular brand of unpleasantness and lawlessness on some other location, a very long way from here. But when such occasions do occur, I am always grateful to have a dog because I can get out and away and walk.

And it was out walking that I had a chance encounter with one of the pleasanter residents, a passionate horsewoman and animal-lover (the antithesis of Mrs Double-Barrel), whom I hadn't seen since I returned last October. We caught up with news and then talked about spirit of place. She reminded me of some of the qualities that make this part of the country so special and on which fleeting events have no impact whatsoever.

"We can feel the silence and we can look up and see the stars." 

Which we can; stars in abundance. At night I often stand on the terrace above my garden to look up at the Milky Way. By day there is a parallel abundance of wildlife, on the doorstep and beyond.

And then there is the moor; one of its best vantage points is just a few minutes away in the car and it's where the Edinburgh Boy and I head for whenever we can. So, because the sun was being as kind to us as it had been on Friday, we went up there again yesterday afternoon. Apart from another dog-walker, out with his retrievers and a pair of binoculars - for the bird-watching - we had the place to ourselves. 

We could see the village of Hawkridge in the distance, veiled in the palest of grey-blue winter hazes:

 

but, above us, the sky was more intensely blue; a lone glider, borne on the thermals, headed south-eastwards.

 

We were too early to watch the sunset but I promised the Edinburgh Boy that next time we'll be proper Brits and bring tea in a flask and sandwiches and some of his favourite home-baked dog biscuits. And we'll just sit and watch the horizon . . .

By the time we were back home, all trace of the Long Bad Friday had vanished, even the discarded cars. 

Comments

[Wendy R]

Dear Boots, what a thoughtful and inspiring post, reminding me how the nature of a place can be suffused (or is it imbued?) with people who inhabit it. It reminds me also to look up - always to look upwards.
Thank you
wx

[materfamilias]

I've never found another view I love as much as my own waterfront view of the islands and distant mountains seen across the saltwater from my own home. EXCEpt for the Yorkshire moors of my father's childhood. Last time I was back there was 8 or 9 years ago, and I've been thinking I should go again soon. meanwhile, thanks for this glimpse -- your dog must think he's already in heaven!

[Teri and the cats of Furrydance]

A very heartfelt post, full of what life is all about...

[tish jett]

Why don't you have a "followers" thingie, gadget, whatsit? I'd follow you anywhere or is it any where?

Have I already told you how extraordinary I think your blog is. No, of course it's not your blog, it's your writing. If I did, I'm just repeating myself as usual, if not I should have. And if I forget this time I'll be back to tell you another time.

There's nothing quite like a woman who writes like a dream and loves her dogs.

Warmest regards,
Tish

[60 Going On 16]

Whoops - apologies everyone, I didn't thank you for your comments.

Materfamilias: I'm sure if I lived on your island I would be equally passionate about that amazing view.

Tish: I am so touched by your kind words, which remind me why I write this blog - because of the connections it has enabled me to make with like-minded people. You can indeed follow me: go to the right-hand sidebar, just scroll down a little (to just below Tweet Tweet) and you'll see a heading 'Don't Miss a Post'. you can receive posts via e-mail, in a reader, such as Google or Yahoo, or via RSS, whichever suits you best. I'll email this info to you as well.