I had planned to write a bookish sort of blogpost but I was sidetracked after spending the day singing at nearby Coombe Farm: 100 acres of steep-sided, wooded and semi-wild Devon. A rather joyful way to spend a Sunday.
In the morning, we sang in a circle inside an African tent, while taking occasional glances outside at the intermittent sun, rain, cloud and grey skies. The weather gods were kind to us and the sun came out for our al fresco vegetarian lunch, three delicious courses, all prepared the night before by our choir leader, Claire Anstee. (So talented!)
And the sun stayed out all afternoon, as we walked round the farm
stopping under various ancient trees to sing, taking in views across the Exe Valley en route
and thinking about all the wild creatures who share this land and live here in complete safety: badgers, foxes, Exmoor's red deer and, with a nod in the direction of Edward Thomas, all the birds of Devonshire.
Most visitors and holidaymakers head for Devon's south or north coast but the county's heartland has a quiet, timeless quality, which is perfect for people who want to withdraw from the world, even if only for a short while. For those of us who live here, today was a reminder of what drew us to this place and how fortunate we are to wake up to this landscape each morning.
The highlight of our walk - apart from the singing and the food and the views - was this old beech avenue. Trees planted long before any of us walked the earth and that will outlive us all. Who planted this avenue, we wondered, and why . . . ?
We did our best to tread lightly on the ground . . .
and I began to think how satisfying it would be to run a 'writing in landscape' day in this special place. Maybe, just maybe, next summer?
What a wonderful, uplifting way to spend a day. Fab!
Posted by: colleen | 19 August 2013 at 11:02 AM
Love the group photo of the singing group walking along.
Posted by: sybil | 19 August 2013 at 01:09 PM
Thinking, just recently, about coping with sadness, I wrote a bit about exercise in the outdoors as an antidote. Similarly, I've been wishing I could find time to join a choir, resolving at the very least to have music playing around me more often. And here you are, brilliantly combining the two. Lovely, lovely, lovely! And yes, I think that writing in landscape, plein air writing, would make a great focus for a workshop!
Posted by: materfamilias | 20 August 2013 at 03:24 PM
Colleen - yes, it truly was uplifting. We were, of course, very lucky with the weather. For once the frequent and heavy Devon rain, which ruins many an outside event, stayed away.
Sybil - we all agreed that the afternoon walk, with the musical interludes, was one of the best parts of the day.
Mater - I love singing with a choir but should warn you that it quickly becomes addictive! (I think it's my equivalent of running.) Meanwhile, have sounded out the idea of a writing workshop and it looks like a distinct possibility. All I have to do now is plan it and agree a date . . .
Posted by: 60 going on 16 | 24 August 2013 at 06:06 PM
What ho from bonny Scotland! Lovely photos of Devon and beech trees - two of my favourite things in life! Looks like that was a really wonderful day and I bet the sung notes are still wafting around in the treetops! A xx
Posted by: Amanda Graham | 28 August 2013 at 12:24 PM