Oh F**k or let's forget the Uffington Horse

Following on from my post about the charms of quaint rural town and villages like Colwall, I have to report on the latest addition to the hills around Ledbury. We all know the Uffington horse carved in the chalk hillside, and the Cearn giant even more, but Ledbury was obviously feeling left out. So a kind farmer has carved the words "OH F**K" in the hillside as you come down from British Camp. You can just about see it from the road but the best viewpoint is from the hills or on the train. I have tried to capture a photo of it, but they all come out a bit blurry due to the movement of the train and the use of a zoom lens. To help see it better I have posted two photos of which one has the lettering overlaid to make it clearer. So, next time your bored on a weekend, take a trip to the hills and feel the warmth of a truly rural welcome.

Beautiful Wytch

As it is almost into minus shopping days to the 25th, I decided to open the shop even though its Sunday. I was not looking forward to doing it and would rather have had a snooze in bed. However, after dragging myself through the fog and ice, I arrived at the Wytch Cutting in Malvern to be greeted with a spectacular view of Bredon Hill poking out through the Dragon's breath that had descended into the valley below. What with the Solstice sunrise yesterday and this display of Mother at her best, I feel full of good expectations for the days ahead.

A Merry Yule and the Solstice sunrise.

I have just got back from the British Camp on the Malvern Hills after watching the Solstice sunrise. I got there at about 7AM to find the whole place in pitch darkness with a heavy fog. Finding my way to the top was eventful to say the least and twice I nearly fell A over T down the hills. My visibility was down to about 3 foot and, having forgotten my hat, freezing as well. I think the first photo of the pathway shows how bad it was. I reached the top and hailed the four watchtowers, hoping that it would warm up and clear a little in time for the sunrise. Just before sunrise I met two people called Anne & Jane who introduced themselves and waited alongside me. The wind by now was picking up and I could feel one side of my body getting number and wetter by the second. Then, slowly, the fog began to clear and a tinge of pink spread across the skyline. We weren't able to see the sun on the horizon but all the same the colours were beautiful. The fog began to lift and the sky was a deep blue behind us. By 9AM we thought we had seen the best of it and retired to lower ground and shared some of Anne's most excellent coffee. All in all, a nice sunrise and, more importantly, a feeling of grounding and a new beginning to the year. It was nice meeting Anne & Jane who, by the way, are from London originally and maybe I shall see them again, either at the shop or on the Hills.

A Merry Solstice to everyone and a Happy New Year.

Rain, rain and more rain.

Will it ever stop raining? I got the train today, because the car and van aren't working, and tried to find cheer in my surroundings. Fat chance of that! As you can see, British Camp disappeared under a cloud and the hills at Malvern looked like they had been edited in photoshop. Oh well, at least I don't have to water the garden or cut the grass!

That Monday morning feeling

This morning I did indeed wake up with that Monday morning feeling.Tree and I didn't get out yesterday, as we hoped, mainly due to the weather being so horrid and I wasn't too well stomach wise. Instead I slouched on the sofa for most of the day, apart from the odd dash to the loo. However, the plus side of the day for me was that Herbie shocked us both by sitting on my lap. Now you might not think this strange but, if you knew him you'd know, he NEVER does that.He'd rather chew your face off. I have been working for months now trying to get closer to him and bit by bit he has warmed to the idea. Over the past couple of months he has sat between me and Tree, but never on our laps. He may be mellowing at last !! It's only taken 5 years!!!
Anyway, as i say, I wasn't feeling good this morning either and was 50/50 whether I should open the shop or stay at home. In the end I thought what the heck and came anyway. A good decision, as on the way we saw the Malvern Hills capped in snow from last night. We stopped to get a photo (which doesn't do them justice) and watched as everyone else rushed by with anxious expressions, oblivious to the beauty that lies all around them. Life is too short to get stressed to the extent that some do. This made me feel a lot better and I look forward to Beltane even more.