I’m writing this quickly, late for the deadline, and from memory – before it fades – though some images will stay for a long time. I did make a few notes on the day – words and phrases in my ‘walking’ notebook – but where is it now when I’m in the mood to write? Lost! So ……. what were those word I jotted down – the ‘triggers’ for inspiration?
‘Quintessential’ – I remember that one well – a summing up of Lynne’s walk around Sevenoaks in Kent on the 1st day of August this year. We chatted about that word when it ‘came’ to me – my ‘dyslexic tongue’ struggling to pronounce it correctly. So, what made it so – so …….. “quintessential?
The weather – bright sunshine with a gentle, cooling breeze; dappled light – made by the many, varied trees – appreciated oases from the sun. The silence – no traffic noise (so common in our London walks). The country lanes and pathways – so ‘English‘ – the houses beautifully old (or pretending to be) the pleasant, varied architecture of country life and living – for those with the means to live there – the resources to ‘buy or build a dream’.
Waving wheat fields – not rape – almost singing, heavy with seed. Hedgerows, some coming into fruit – most not quite ready yet – but promising a good harvest. A lavender farm – rows cropped into neat mounds with a few flowers still remaining for the bees and butterflies. The horse-tails (ancient plants) – I hope I remembered the name right. A cheeky parson-in-the pulpit thrusting through a mat of green. The copse nearby – with cob nut trees? We didn’t see any hops that I remember but there were a few oast houses and at times, a hazy smell of brewing – or was that my imagination?
Then there was that incredible tree in One Tree Wood (or was it One Tree Hill?). In a place bristling with trees – but perhaps not for always – as evidence of their ‘fate’ was very clear – looking down into the ravine. There a massive tree clutched soil between its roots, helping it hang on to the side – an anchor – stopping the soil itself from being swished down as well – when heavy rain (we saw the evidence clearly) sent flowing rivulets down the hillside.
The parakeets? Perhaps not ‘quintessential’ – yet? But there were other birds (none of us were that brilliant at recognising their calls), a few lovely horses and several deer – and of course the unicorn which turned out to be a llama – remember that one Jenny!
Quintessential images hinting at timelessness – or at least scenes which could have been from centuries ago – young stags ‘playing’ at being ‘adults’ – other deer grazing quietly in glades or moving in unison away from strangers. Some, of course, at the café, eating from human hands. So much to see on such a glorious day.
Finally – two “stately homes” of England – Igtham Mote and Knole House (nestled in the deer park through which we walked ). Some of us promised ourselves we would visit these ‘properly’ another time (we could do both in a day – but would need to have cars). Put this on the next programme, perhaps?
Thanks to Lynne for organising such a dream of a day – and to my other fantastic EFOG companions for their company.