Every day while I was away I thought I would post a picture at least of some of the wonderful places I have been with people I love. Apparently, that didn’t work… only a few images made it from the phone to the screen. Which is a pity… but not to worry. I appear to have taken around 1500 photos, which is about one per mile I have driven, so there must be a few I can show you….
It is late. My friend and I have just arrived home after the long drive south. I have things to share… stories to write, laughter, music and magic to remember and a few inevitable tears too. There has been much work done for the School and for the books… there has been much hugging and many smiles; time shared, joy consumed and long, leisurely meals where more conversation was drunk than wine…. And for a few more days one much-loved lady remains with me, resting a little before her flight home.
Where to begin? The beginning, I suppose…
Once upon a time I yearned to travel the world, to see all the far flung places I have dreamed of. Yet, a few days in May have confirmed what I have understood for a while. My roots go deep in the earth and stone of this land… my heart is here in these blessed isles… they are enough for a lifetime. To paraphrase my friend, now asleep in the guest room, love sees only beauty and I love this land I call home with all my heart.
Ten days ago I left work in the morning and drove a couple of hundred miles north to meet friends from the US not seen for a year. I found them at Little Moreton Hall near Congleton. The beautiful old house, begun in around 1504 has survived almost perfectly for over 500 years and is simply incredible. The weight of the glass in the windows… acres of it, or so it seems, and very unusual for the period… has buckled the floors and the building undulates like the hillsides beneath which it shelters.
I crossed the moat, later than expected, and hoping my friends had not moved on to the next possible venue for our meeting. A quick word with the attendant established that the tall Americans and the beautiful little lady with them were still present. All I had to do was find them. Which proved easy, as Robert’s distinctive profile was easily spotted through the window of the tea room and within a few minutes I was doing what I had been waiting to do… hugging the lot of them.
So lunch took a while…
I can’t tell you what we spoke of… we were catching up. Eyes spoke more than voices… smiles held more than touch and when they finally sent me off for a whistle stop tour of the glorious old house, I could hardly wait to rejoin them.
The house itself is incredible in every way… from the glass to the wall paintings and the first of the green men, to the carvings, construction and sheer beauty of the place… you would have to see it for yourself. The craftsmanship that created something both functional and lovely that has survived for so long is simply stunning. Breathtaking. I could not do it justice in the time I had there.
Going out to rejoin my friends in the knot garden there was another unexpected meeting and hugs from an old friend from SOL (Servants of the Light). It was wonderful to see her smiling there and the chance meeting seemed to set the final seal on what was to be a very busy few days with many meetings yet to come.
It didn’t matter that I was later than expected, or that it was going to rain yet again… or even that time flies too quickly, that things seldom go according to plan… or even that all things end. Sometimes we get the chance to meet a moment of conscious perfection, a period of simple delight that forges a memory that is sharp, clear and enduring. The past few days have been such a time. The history and beauty of a land I love, the company of people I love and see too seldom, learning, exploring, discovering and sharing… together. There are times when life simply sparkles like the jewel it is.
Sue Vincent's Daily Echo 
Beautiful!!!
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Thank you
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you had me at moat and knot garden. what stunning pictures )
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It is a fabulous place, Beth
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welcome back my friend.every word you wrote i have drunk and enjoyed with that feeling of having the first clean glass of cold water after a long walk in the desert sun on arriving in an oasis.the whole of me from head to toe as they say was for the time quietly sucked up and infused with a feeling of being there and yet so distant.i felt the two parts and the depth in me stirring in a silent but warm thrill.Some how i miss all the places you describe,may be and just may be because of the words and poetry in your description.i know you have enjoyed writing this very much as i have also enjoyed savouring the juice and essence of those words and story but i must tell you dear friend that you have and do and did make me “jealous”,and i hope that part of my brain that keeps things does not keep that aspect of “jealousy” for too long.Once when i was a little boy my mother travelled away for one week,you can guess how i felt when she came back.i remember i was so happy i could not sleep.bien venu ma tres chere amie.and we thank the Heavens for journey mercies.And to your friends from America,HAI as they would say back home I think.
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Thank you Obi… I am back to a sunny morning with much to do.
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Please visit my new blog, hope you like it 🙂
http://ajaytaobotanicalblog.wordpress.com/
thank you so much dear 🙂
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I already did Ajay… and it is lovely!
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oh sorry dear Sue
thank you so much 🙂
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🙂
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🙂 🙂
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Wonderful, Sue – and welcome back; great to ‘see’ you again! xxx
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🙂 xxx
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Good to be back at a computer and online, Ali… very frustrating without that connection… but the time with friends so special xxx
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Awesome place! Give to Wolfe!
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Ani possibly thinks the same…. x
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Ah Sue, these photos are magnificent. Thanks so much!
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It is a superb place.. I need to go back with time to really enjoy it, I think.
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How often this happens! But it certainly seems and sounds like ‘your’ sort of place.
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It is… though at present seem to be largely concerned with prhistory rather than anything as young as Tudor 🙂
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Times to treasure for sure. Beautiful photos. The grounds and the area are so lush and beautiful. Hope there are more photos and stories to come.
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There are, Fransi… oh there are 🙂
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Lovely post, amazing building! We don’t find those in my part of the world!
😉
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I can imagine 🙂
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150 years of window tax on this building must have cost a small fortune 🙂
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Doesn’t bear thinkng about, does it? 🙂
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