Both me and the dog are back home once again, melting in the heat. Ani appears to have been having a fair bit of fun… she has evidently been helping with a bit of house-painting; the black and white animal currently grinning at me from the sofa is, in patches at least, whiter than usual. I, on the other hand, am…at least in patches… redder than usual, having been caught unawares by the heatwave. While much of the exposed flesh has turned a nice golden brown, ‘driver’s arm’ was inevitable and the tan is a tad lopsided.
But that is fine. Between the workshop and our bit of a holiday, we have seen some amazing things, visited some incredible ancient sites and breathed in some of the most beautiful landscapes you could imagine.
First and foremost was the workshop…our main reason for going to Wales. But there was time for Stuart and me to meander a bit too… which was perfect as neither of us have been in the best of health lately. A proper rest, we thought, would do us the world of good.
And we rested well. We descended deep within the earth, climbed hills to reach unimaginable caverns, visited ancient churches and even older stones. We played with the waves, walked in the woods and climbed the odd mountain just for good measure.
And the odd thing is, that although we arrived home physically tired… we are rested. The beauty and silence of the land and the song of the ever-moving sea heal the soul in ways that a simple lack of movement cannot match.
We do not realise just how much we are assailed by artificial noise in our daily lives, or how aggressive and stressful it can be, until we listen in silence to the sounds of the earth.
The cry of a gull, the whisper of the wind in the grass, the buzzing of bees or the laughter of a stream, crystal clear and icy cold, falling from the mountainside… They echo and answer something within us that is overpowered and drowned by the noise of the modern world.
It is not until we step beyond the encircling walls of necessity and duty, taking time to just breathe and be, that we realise how far we are driven from our own essential nature by the demands of the world we have constructed. Although a few days ‘away’ may recharge the batteries, like any other battery that charge can only last for a limited period without being renewed.
But there are photographs…lots of photographs…and memories… and I get to share them. In doing so, I relive them and smile as the feeling and the inner silence return. We cannot live in the past…even one so beautiful as the past few days… but it does feed the present and for me, at present, there is a rich vein of renewal into which I can delve…
A very good post and nice pictures. I enjoyed reading it. Thanks for sharing!
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My pleasure, Henrietta. I a glad to be able to do so 🙂
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You are welcome!
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Lovely pictures as always Sue, I’m so glad my country offered you rest within if not without.
xxx Massive Hugs xxx
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It would have been such a waste to curl up and do nothing with so much to see and feel, David 🙂 xxx
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Beautiful photos. I love the shot of the water lapping against the shore. xxx
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I may have gone in a little too deep taking those…at least fully clothed 😉 Still, the sun soon dried everything 🙂 xx
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It was worth it for the pic. xxx
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It was… on such a hot day too 🙂 xx
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Reblogged this on Anita Dawes & Jaye Marie.
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and the best bit of all, is that we can feel this peace and tranquility too and feel refreshed…
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It was a beautiful break… and I will be sharing it with you too 🙂
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So looking forward to it…
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🙂
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Sounds perfect. When I go to Allihies the silence is deafening. As you say it’s only then I realise how much noise I live with. Not only traffic and people, but inner deadlines and internal never ending conversations.
I’m more than ready for a break but I’ve s few weeks to wait yet.
Great photos too.
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Thanks, Tric. It is everything from whirring computers and fridges to the constant demands of ‘I must…’ It does you good to get away for a while.
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Lovely post and great photos – are you going to take us on some of those visits to caverns and ancient stones?
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But of course, Mary 😀 How could I resist 🙂
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Oh good 🙂
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😀
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Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
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Thanks, Michael 🙂
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We have such beautiful countryside to take advantage of in Britian, and I can see from your photos that you have enjoyed some of the best of it, Sue 🙂
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It barely matters where you go… it is all beautiful…. but some places speak to us more than others 🙂
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Yes, we all have our favourites 🙂
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We do 🙂
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Sounds like the perfect healing journey. ❤
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It was 🙂 Just in the process of catching up a bit now 🙂
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I feel rested just reading and looking at the photos! 💗💜
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There is so much to share, Willow 🙂 ❤
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I shall look forward to 💝
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I’ll be posting over on the Silent Eye…but reblogging extracts here 🙂
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Thanks Sue I shall be following both. 💜
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I hope you’ll enjoy the journey, Willow 🙂 ❤
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I am sure I will
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There is a quietness in Wales unlike any I’ve experienced elsewhere. Sounds as though you had a wonderful trip for lots of reasons – love the photos and am quite jealous! xx
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I’ll be sharing a good bit more of it, I expect, Helen… you would have loved some of the sites xx
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Oh, I’m sure I would have. I need to get back to Wales soon… 🙂
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Knowing how much you love the place…. 🙂
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Oh, I do… 🙂
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🙂
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I am so glad you got a much needed break. Getting out into nature is such a blessing. 😊
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It did me the world of good, Brigid 🙂
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Welcome back home. It has finally warmed up here. Ironically, it’s less hot here than there and that does not happen often. I’m glad to hear you tan. I always wished I could.. Wonderful pictures, as always!
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I never used to…and never try to, but it is one of the compensations of a changing skin 😉
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Thanks for sharing your descriptions and lovely pictures from your trip, Sue. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Much more to come. 🙂
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I am so glad that you and Stuart got a bit of a break, Sue. Nothing quite like it for rejuvenating the soul.
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Ah, it was wonderful, Robbie…and we saw so much too 🙂
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