This post is inspired by the Haiku heights prompt word “Stone”
Golden meadows bound
With dry stone walling. Built by
Cotswold craftsmen
The Cotswolds, where I live, is a very beautiful area in the heart of England, which covers the counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire.
Beyond the hedgerows
As far as the eye can see
Yellow rapeseed glows
Rapeseed field
There are gentle hills and wolds, meandering rivers rich with salmon, trout, roach, bream and eels, a coastline along the Severn Valley, ancient woodland in the Forest of Dean complete with wild boar and roaming deer, beautiful market towns and unspoilt villages, gorgeous thatched cottages, magnificent country houses, fertile farms, and even several castles!
One of the outstanding features of the Cotswolds is the beautiful stone which is used for building. During the time of the enclosures act in Britain it was cheaper for farmers to enclose their land with dry-stone walls than to plant hedges, and to this day one of the special features of the Cotswolds is the golden dry-stone walls about a metre in height which border country lanes and lush farmland
The limestone found in the Cotswolds is from the Jurassic period about 150 million years ago, a time when dinosaurs roamed over the earth and the area was once below the sea. It is still possible to find fossils in the rocky cliffs and quarries. In fact Huntsman’s Quarry has a superb collection of large fossils that were unearthed during quarrying.
Fossilised features
Of prehistoric creatures
In limestone preserved
You can download a fascinating fact sheet about the quarry here
Quarrying has been carried out in the Cotswolds for many years, for sand, gravel and clay as well as stone. Some of the old quarries have been turned into the Cotswold Water park which covers an area of 40 square miles and has 150 lakes. All sorts ofwater sports go on here and it is a beautiful area to walk around enjoying the nature and wildlife. You can read all about it here
At the weekend I took my grandchildren to Warwick castle to enjoy the Horrible Histories. It was a great day out in wonderful weather. The castle was sold by the Greville family in 1978 and is now owned by the business group that owns Madame Tussauds. This has enhanced the visitor’s experience as every room is filled with models of the famous people who lived in or visited the castle. It must cost millions to maintain the structure of this impressive building. The walls are so think and the building so huge, that the bedrock is groaning under the strain. But there is 1000 years of history oozing out of every stone.
I am constantly amazed at the pace of Stanley’s development. It seems that every week he has acquired a new skill and grown a bit more aware of the people, places and things around him.
He is now rolling over, trying to crawl, giggling at his toes or anything else that waves around in front of him! He is also getting very sociable, going to ‘bounce and rhyme’ at the local library as well as ‘Little Fishes’ at the swimming pool.
He has started eating a variety of fruit, vegetables and cereals that his mum purees for him. All in all I am delighted to say he is a healthy and happy baby and a joy to be with.
This post is inspired by haiku heights word prompt. The word is ‘Betrayal’. It is a bit negative to be thinking about betrayal on such a lovely peaceful day, but there are always issues highlighted in the press which come under this theme. Today I saw a front page article in the Independent Newspaper about a 92 year old man who died waiting for a bed on a ward, having been left in a side room for 11 hours. This has got to be a betrayal by the NHS as an institution which is now seriously understaffed.
Unaccountable
Neglected, alone
Forgotten on a trolley
Died a lonely death
I read recently of workers in Bangladesh who died when the overcrowded and substandard factory building they worked in collapsed. They worked for little wages to produce garments for sale in our shops.
Unacceptable
In squalid sweatshops
They labour for a pittance
Dying for profit
Due to the Government’s austerity measures we are having to make lots of cuts in every area of society. But I was shocked to hear that soldiers returning from fighting (or peace keeping as it is referred to these days) in conflict zones around the world will lose their jobs when they return.
Unpatriotic
Returning from war
No thanks were they given, just
Redundancy notes
Of course the world’s problems have been largely caused by injustice and greed which in no little part has been fuelled by the big financial institutions. It seems strange to me that the ordinary people have to suffer the consequences while the rich continue as if nothing has happened.
Unabashed
Arrogant bankers
Brought their business to ruin
But took their bonus
The world’s political classes are of course most guilty of betrayal whether intentionally or not. They are the only people with the power to do something about the injustices in the world so what do they do?
Unbelievable
At summits they meet
To discuss the worlds’ starving
At black tie banquets
I could go on about betrayal of innocent, defenceless children who have been abused by their “carers”; +about animals that are kept captive or treated cruelly; about the sick and disabled who are being vilified in this country for needing benefits to live a basic existence; but I will finish with a heartfelt betrayal:-
This post is inspired by the haiku heights prompt for today ~ “Story”
This was the comment made about me at the age of 10 by the Headmaster of the school I was expecting to go to when me moved across the country for my father’s job. I had missed a lot of school due to illness so was way behind others of my age. I also had a Geordie accent which he equated with being uneducated. These factors led him to believe I was stupid and not worth educating! My determined parents decided to move me somewhere else thank goodness!
His words have stayed with me always and inspired me to become a teacher. Eventually I became a Headteacher. My aim was to value every child, to educate them to the best of their ability, and to develop in them self confidence and high self esteem so that whatever their talents they could go out into the world prepared to lead full, rewarding and satisfying lives.
Inspired by this week’s prompt from haikuheights which is the word Daredevil I was reminded of my nephew who is in the Metropolitan Police. He faces possible danger on a daily basis but manages to stay calm and positive in the face of it all.
Lured into their trap
Alone he stands his ground as
Gang gathers round him
My son too is unflappable whether riding his motorbike across the world, diving deep under the oceans or climbing up devilish rockfaces.
Under a fishing umbrella by the side of a lake in the pouring rain with husband and grandchildren, heaven happens. There is nothing quite so exciting as being at the mercy of the elements but safe! It appeals to our most basic human need for shelter and protection. All our needs are met. We are together, warm and dry and we have a picnic. We are relaxed and at peace. There is nothing we mustdo but enjoy ourselves. It is a precious gift ~ time to be. Grandchildren learn how to fish. They watch the fluorescent tip of the float marking the place where the line enters the water. The bait of sweetcorn gently drifts in the depths as we throw more corn in to attract the fish. And it does. The float waggles then dips down ~ a bite! Ben gets the landing net ready and Rosie slides the…
Hope you don’t mind if I sneak in 2 days worth of haiku as I missed yesterday! So my open prompt comes today when ~ I heard my first cuckoo!
Loud and clear cuckoo sings, summer’s early warning. Nesting birds beware
~~~
Xerox inspired ~ Before I retired from my job in education, I was linked with Kianja Primary School in Nyanza Province, near Kisumu in Kenya. The first time I went there I was amazed to see classes of up to 80 children in what were effectively large mud huts with no windows or doors ~ and no resources! The teacher was using water to write on a wall to illustrate his lesson. Sometimes teachers would take lessons outside under a huge mango tree. The children were bright, keen, polite, well-behaved, friendly ~ and learning!
They had no electricity so a xerox machine would have been of no use to them.
The grandchildren have been breeding butterflies and moths in a cage. When they are ready the children release them into the bushes in the morning while the sun is shining. It’s a serious business and Rosie worries about them with maternal zeal.
William Shakespeare was born on April 23rd 1564 and died on 23rd April 1616. 1964 was the 400th anniversary of his birth and I was living in Stratford on Avon, which was certainly the most exciting place to be at that time for a theatre mad teenager.
The highlight of my acting career had been the part of Mole in Toad of Toad Hall at St Gabriel’s Convent in Carlisle. Cardinal Heenan was the honoured guest in the audience. My part was memorable as it involved a tea party at Toad Hall. We had real cakes and biscuits. I had never seen those pink and white marshmallows with a biscuit base and coconut all over the top. I became so engrossed in examining and eating them that I forgot where I was and had to be prompted to continue my lines. “Oh, you silly ass, Mole”…
Looking after the grandchildren during the Easter holidays we stayed in a cabin by a fishing lake. It was freezing cold, as you can see from the snow on the hills, but the children had fun. Ben used the stone owl as a goalpost!
To celebrate National Poetry Month this April, Haiku Heights is hosting a month-long Haiku writing journey. This journey will take Haiku lovers through the alphabet one day at a time. Today’s letter is B and the prompt word is Butterfly.
This post is inspired by haiku Heights prompt word “Breeze”.
On of my favourite places is London. There is nothing so inspiring as the city skyline viewed from the South Bank of the Thames on a summer’s evening. Imagine feeling a gentle breeze drifting over the river at sunset and listening to the birds singing in nearby trees ~ magical! Do click on my link to hear the fabulous Glenn Miller Band playing one of my favourite songs ~ the inspiration for this haiku ~ with a nod to one of my favourite poets too ~Thomas Hardy.
One of my favourite times of year in the Vale of Evesham and generally in the Cotswold, is Spring, when the blossom covers the fruit trees and the ornamental cherry is out.
Boughs bend to the breeze
Covering the earth in a
Blanket of blossom
Ornamental cherry
Watching butterflies
Their beauty borne on the breeze
Children barely breathe
Butterfly in captivity
There are times when a gentle breeze can have a powerful effect, as can a still small voice.
Gazing on Taize
Sunflowers bow to the breeze
And my spirit soars
I will never forget the time I went to Taize. In the 1940s Roger Schutz was appalled by the violence and suffering he saw across Europe. Throughout the war years, he sheltered political refugees, especially Jews, whom he helped cross the border into Switzerland from the occupied region of France. He began to develop the idea of a community based on mutual understanding and respect for all. He found a suitable site at Taize near Cluny in the Burgundy region of France and on Palm Sunday of 1948, seven men took monastic vows. They dedicated their lives to working and praying for ‘outsiders’ of all kinds; especially those living in extremes of poverty, hunger, or disease. Taize is now famous for its gentle and powerful worship built on meditation through repetitive chants, a model of worship which has spread around the world. Brother Roger’s work continues; to bring reconciliation, unity and peace to all the peoples of the world. www.taize.fr
There is a beautiful icon of Mary in the Church of Reconciliation in Taize. I would recommend anyone who travels to France to make a detour so that they can spend some time there and see this Icon.
Icon of Madonna and child from the chapel at Taize
When I went to Taize one summer I had an amazing experience. I stood alone in a field full of sunflowers, at the foot of the hill looking up towards the church, as a gentle breeze blew. The wind caused the flowers to bend and the sound they made was so strange. It reminded me strongly of the beautiful words of one of my favourite hymns:
Be still for the presence of the Lord
Be still for the presence of the Lord The holy one is here
Come bow before him now With reverence and fear
In him no sin is found We stand on holy ground
Be still for the presence of the Lord The holy one is here
Be still for the power of the Lord Is moving in this place
He comes to cleanse and heal To minister his grace
No work too hard for him In faith receive from him
Be still for the power of the Lord Is moving in this place
Written for the Haiku Heights prompt word “Rescue”
High tide rushes in
trapping cows in the mudflats
Call in the coastguard
The cows got stuck in the mud
Stuck in sinking sand
In danger of drowning, cows
unable to move
We watched this drama unfold on a day at the seaside and I just had to write a little account of it for the grandchildren. I used to write little stories down for them with photos to encourage them to read. Now they write stories of their own and are fluent readers at 7 and 9 years old.
Ben and Rosie’s adventure at the seaside
In the Easter holidays Ben and Rosie came to stay at the caravan in Burnham on Sea with grandma and grandad. The weather was bad and it rained a lot but they still went to play on the beach.
Rosie built a sandcastle with her bucket. Ben dug 99 holes with his spade. Grandma caught a shrimp. Grandad looked for crabs. We were having fun. Then Ben saw a little boat and he said, “That boat is sinking grandad”.
Grandad said, “I found a crab but it is dead”.
Again Ben said, “That boat is sinking grandad”.
Grandma and grandad looked but they could not see the boat.
Just then a small rescue hovercraft came along and Ben saw it. Then a big rescue hovercraft came along and Ben saw it. They were both orange and black. The big one was called Light of Elizabeth and the small one was called Spirit of Lelaina. The small hovercraft started to make a loud noise and a cloud of smoke came out of it. Then it stopped moving.
Ben said, “The rescue boat is sinking grandad”.
This was getting very exciting so grandma said, “If we hurry along the beach we will see what happens”.
Ben let Rosie ride on his orange two wheeled bike, because she could not run very fast. But the bike was too big and Rosie could not work the pedals, so grandma pushed her along on it. Ben and grandad walked quickly along the sand, up the steps, over the slipway and down onto the other beach. Then we all stood at the edge of the water and watched the big hovercraft, the little hovercraft, and the white fishing boat that was sinking. It was very exciting!
The black rubber skirt around the bottom of the little orange hovercraft had torn.
The belt that drives the big fan on the little orange hovercraft had snapped.
The engine on little orange hovercraft had flooded.
The little orange hovercraft could not move!
First the big hovercraft rescued the little white fishing boat and helped the fishermen get their boat onto a trailer. Then a 4 wheel drive car towed the trailer and boat safely away.
Then the big rescue hovercraft went to help the little hovercraft. They put on a new fan belt and tried to start the engine but it would not work because the engine was flooded. So they tied a long rope to the little hovercraft and pulled it slowly to the beach. Then all the rescue men pushed and pulled until the little hovercraft was put on a trailer. Another 4 wheel drive car came to tow the little orange hovercraft away to be repaired. Ben and Rosie were sorry to see the little hovercraft so damaged and covered in mud.
At last the big orange rescue hovercraft was ready to get out of the water and go back to its home next to the coastguard station in Burnham. It sailed right to the edge of the beach and the men and a little white dog climbed out. They tried to get the hovercraft onto its trailer. They pushed and pulled but it would not move. Ben said, “The men need help grandad”. So grandad took hold of the hovercraft and pushed with all his might. The men pushed, grandad pushed and the little white rescue dog barked. Then the big orange hovercraft slowly moved onto the back of the trailer. The men were so pleased that they all cheered and patted each other on the back. The little white dog was so pleased that he jumped up and down wagging his tail. Ben, Rosie and grandma were very pleased, and proud of grandad for helping to save the big orange rescue hovercraft.
The rescue men told us they had just rescued a herd of cows that had wandered out of their field and into the River Parrett which flows into the Severn Estuary! The poor cows were frightened and got stuck in the mud. That is why the rescue men were covered in mud.
Everyone went home for tea very wet and very muddy ~ but very happy.
The cows were safe.
The little white fishing boat was safe.
The little white dog was safe.
The rescue men were safe.
The little orange hovercraft was safe.
The big orange hovercraft was safe.
Ben can tell his friends at school about it. Rosie can tell her friends at nursery about it. And grandma can tell the story to Ben and Rosie over and over again ~ and the story will get better and better!
Tonight I sat and watched as Stanley slept unable to take my eyes off his tiny form ~ a miracle of perfect proportions.
ilovesmallstones
A small stone is a short piece of writing (prose or poetry) that precisely captures a fully-engaged (mindful) moment. The process of finding small stones is as important as the finished product – searching for them will encourage you to keep your eyes, heart and mind open.
I can’t believe how quickly my grandson, Stanley is developing. he is 5 weeks old today and he is already smiling! I went for a long walk with him, Jenny his mummy and my little dog, Dayna today. It was wonderful as the weather is dry and mild again. The fields all around Gloucestershire are still waterlogged though with lots of flooding near the rivers. But for me there was only one thing that mattered today ~ Stanley’s smile.
No gold nor jewels Could be as precious to me As Stanley’s first smile
I picked up this small stone on Chesil Beach and when I saw it today it reminded me of a blogpost I wrote called Finding the Still Point. If you have not read it you might enjoy it and the pictures that go with it.
Heavenhappens 