tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57237975188584512392024-03-18T10:37:46.350-07:00Life in the English CotswoldsWRITER, GARDENER, COUNTRYMAN, EXPLORER - the last's a bit of an exaggeration...JOHN SHORTLAND, Cotswold Hills, England.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11702000270961029986noreply@blogger.comBlogger280125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723797518858451239.post-66400342707171445372024-03-01T13:49:00.000-08:002024-03-08T13:53:55.466-08:00Nature Notes 9<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I remember learning this poem as</span> a small child . I’d forgotten all about it until I heard the weather forecast mentioning high winds when I remembered the line <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">March brings breezes sharp and shrill…</em> I had no idea that the poem was by Coleridge’s daughter or that it was written so very long ago. I can’t imagine a book of children’s poems these days being given a title like this one!</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; text-align: start;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/march-1st-2.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6601" data-attachment-id="6601" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="march-1st-2" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/march-1st-2.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/march-1st-2.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/march-1st-2.jpg" data-orig-size="1110,732" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/nature-notes/nature-notes-where-words-and-images-combine/march-1st-2/" height="675" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/march-1st-2.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/march-1st-2.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/march-1st-2.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/march-1st-2.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/march-1st-2.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/march-1st-2.jpg 1110w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="1024" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pretty Lesson in Verse for Good Children, Sara Coleridge, 1834</em></figcaption></figure></div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add="><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a>JOHN SHORTLAND, Cotswold Hills, England.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11702000270961029986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723797518858451239.post-87347763114356815602024-02-22T03:38:00.000-08:002024-02-22T03:38:09.553-08:00Viewing Planet Earth<div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I think it would be fair to say that the chances of</span> my viewing Earth from the Moon is so improbable that I have never even considered it. That changed when, with an hour to spare <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">en route</em> elsewhere, I decided to explore the Abbey Church of Tewkesbury, little knowing that I would leave having had an out-of-space experience.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3707-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6548" data-attachment-id="6548" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="img_3707-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3707-watermark.jpg?w=572" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3707-watermark.jpg?w=224" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3707-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="572,765" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2024/02/22/viewing-planet-earth/img_3707-watermark/" height="765" sizes="(max-width: 572px) 100vw, 572px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3707-watermark.jpg?w=572" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3707-watermark.jpg 572w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3707-watermark.jpg?w=112 112w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3707-watermark.jpg?w=224 224w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="572" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;">Tewkesbury Abbey</figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The name Tewkesbury Abbey, as it is </span>usually called, is really a misnomer for the church has been the Parish Church of the Gloucestershire town of Tewkesbury for centuries. When, in 1087, Robert Fitzhamon was gifted Tewkesbury by his cousin William the Conqueror, there had already been a monastery on the site for four hundred years. However, in 1102 the building of the present church commenced, its stone coming from Caen in Normandy, France and floated up the River Severn which passes just yards from the door. For the next four hundred years, as part of the Benedictine monastery, it really was Tewkesbury Abbey.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3706-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6549" data-attachment-id="6549" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="img_3706-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3706-watermark.jpg?w=579" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3706-watermark.jpg?w=226" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3706-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="579,768" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2024/02/22/viewing-planet-earth/img_3706-watermark/" height="768" sizes="(max-width: 579px) 100vw, 579px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3706-watermark.jpg?w=579" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3706-watermark.jpg 579w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3706-watermark.jpg?w=113 113w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3706-watermark.jpg?w=226 226w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="579" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;">Ancient buildings line the streets that lead to Tewkesbury Abbey</figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I’ve driven through Tewkesbury dozens of times. </span>It’s an interesting town with some beautiful old buildings and I’d always intended to stop and explore. With limited time, the town would have to wait for another day. I entered the Abbey church expecting to be overawed by it for it for several reasons: it is now almost a thousand years old, it is one of the finest Norman buildings in England, it has the largest Romanesque cross-tower in Europe and contains more medieval monuments than any other church apart from Westminster Abbey in London. I hadn’t however expected to be be confronted, upon entering, by a large, hanging globe – our Planet Earth.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3716-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6551" data-attachment-id="6551" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="img_3716-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3716-watermark.jpg?w=538" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3716-watermark.jpg?w=225" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3716-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="538,717" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2024/02/22/viewing-planet-earth/img_3716-watermark/" height="717" sizes="(max-width: 538px) 100vw, 538px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3716-watermark.jpg?w=538" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3716-watermark.jpg 538w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3716-watermark.jpg?w=113 113w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3716-watermark.jpg?w=225 225w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="538" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;">Planet Earth as seen from the Moon</figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Rotating slowly, the seven metre diameter Earth </span>sculpture is as seen from the Moon. As Luke Jerram, who created this Gaia exhibit states, “man has been gazing at the moon for Millenia but it was only in 1972, with the Apollo 17 mission, that man was able to see our planet floating through space – a sight that changed our perception of Earth forever.” When standing 211 metres away from the globe, viewers see the Earth to scale, exactly as it was viewed from the Moon.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3733-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6555" data-attachment-id="6555" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="img_3733-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3733-watermark.jpg?w=535" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3733-watermark.jpg?w=225" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3733-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="535,714" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2024/02/22/viewing-planet-earth/img_3733-watermark/" height="714" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 535px) 100vw, 535px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3733-watermark.jpg?w=535" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3733-watermark.jpg 535w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3733-watermark.jpg?w=112 112w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3733-watermark.jpg?w=225 225w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="535" /></a></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3728-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6553" data-attachment-id="6553" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="img_3728-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3728-watermark.jpg?w=572" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3728-watermark.jpg?w=225" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3728-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="572,763" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2024/02/22/viewing-planet-earth/img_3728-watermark/" height="763" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 572px) 100vw, 572px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3728-watermark.jpg?w=572" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3728-watermark.jpg 572w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3728-watermark.jpg?w=112 112w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3728-watermark.jpg?w=225 225w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="572" /></a></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Abbey, of course, has many </span>wonders of its own to be viewed. For me, an unexpected delight was the chantry chapel built as a memorial to Isabella, Countess of Warwick and her two husbands, Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Worcester and, later, (another) Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick. Erected in 1430, Isabella’s first husband was killed during the Battle of Mieux and she died in 1439. It was her second husband, the Earl of Warwick, that excited me the most. For his first marriage to Elizabeth de Berkeley (who died in 1422) is part of a long line that I can trace back to in my family tree: Richard and Elizabeth were my 15x great-grandparents. Over the generations, the women in my ancestry have often been rebellious and married against their parent’s wishes (see <a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2020/01/20/a-rebel-in-the-family/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">A Rebel in the Family</a> for an example) – hence the fact that I am just a plain old commoner! Grandfather Richard commissioned another, more splendid brass tomb for himself in Warwick – another place on my list of ‘must visits’.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3717-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6557" data-attachment-id="6557" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="img_3717-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3717-watermark.jpg?w=531" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3717-watermark.jpg?w=223" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3717-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="531,714" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2024/02/22/viewing-planet-earth/img_3717-watermark/" height="714" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 531px) 100vw, 531px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3717-watermark.jpg?w=531" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3717-watermark.jpg 531w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3717-watermark.jpg?w=112 112w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3717-watermark.jpg?w=223 223w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="531" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;">The Beauchamp Chantry Chapel</figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/richard_de_beauchamp_effigy_warwick_church.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6545" data-attachment-id="6545" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="richard_de_beauchamp_effigy_warwick_church" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/richard_de_beauchamp_effigy_warwick_church.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/richard_de_beauchamp_effigy_warwick_church.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/richard_de_beauchamp_effigy_warwick_church.jpg" data-orig-size="1369,1080" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2024/02/22/viewing-planet-earth/richard_de_beauchamp_effigy_warwick_church/" height="807" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/richard_de_beauchamp_effigy_warwick_church.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/richard_de_beauchamp_effigy_warwick_church.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/richard_de_beauchamp_effigy_warwick_church.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/richard_de_beauchamp_effigy_warwick_church.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/richard_de_beauchamp_effigy_warwick_church.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/richard_de_beauchamp_effigy_warwick_church.jpg 1369w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="1024" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;">Bronze effigy of Richard Beauchamp who died in 1439 [<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wikipedia: Robin Stevenson</em>]</figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">So what caused the Abbey Church to become</span> just a Parish Church? It was, of course, due to the desire of Henry VIII to divorce and remarry brought about his separation from the Church of Rome. His subsequent Dissolution of the Monasteries swept away the buildings and created the spectacular ruins that we find dotted around the English countryside today. A similar fate would have happened to the church in Tewkesbury if it had not been for the argument, fortunately won, that to demolish the church would leave town without a place of worship. How fortunate for us today, for the architecture, history and splendour of the building makes it an almost unique example of early Norman ecclesiastical buildings.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3736-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6561" data-attachment-id="6561" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="img_3736-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3736-watermark.jpg?w=572" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3736-watermark.jpg?w=224" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3736-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="572,766" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2024/02/22/viewing-planet-earth/img_3736-watermark/" height="766" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 572px) 100vw, 572px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3736-watermark.jpg?w=572" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3736-watermark.jpg 572w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3736-watermark.jpg?w=112 112w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3736-watermark.jpg?w=224 224w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="572" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;">The tall Norman arch is unmatched for size in England</figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3709-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6563" data-attachment-id="6563" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="img_3709-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3709-watermark.jpg?w=572" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3709-watermark.jpg?w=223" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3709-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="572,768" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2024/02/22/viewing-planet-earth/img_3709-watermark/" height="768" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 572px) 100vw, 572px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3709-watermark.jpg?w=572" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3709-watermark.jpg 572w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3709-watermark.jpg?w=112 112w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3709-watermark.jpg?w=223 223w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="572" /></a></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Tewkesbury, as has been stated, is built along</span> the banks of the River Severn, England’s longest river which is subject to tidal bores and rapid changes in it’s flow height. As a result, the town is often flooded. Despite being built so close to the river, the floodwaters have only entered the church on two occasions, in 1760 and, more recently, in 2007. It is often shown in news features totally surrounded by the flood waters.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3718-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6565" data-attachment-id="6565" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="img_3718-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3718-watermark.jpg?w=535" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3718-watermark.jpg?w=224" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3718-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="535,717" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2024/02/22/viewing-planet-earth/img_3718-watermark/" height="717" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 535px) 100vw, 535px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3718-watermark.jpg?w=535" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3718-watermark.jpg 535w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3718-watermark.jpg?w=112 112w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/img_3718-watermark.jpg?w=224 224w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="535" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;">Modern stained glass at Tewkesbury Abbey</figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Gaia exhibit</span> has now ended at Tewkesbury. It is being shown as an ongoing exhibition in the <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">UK</span> at UCL, London; International Centre for Life, Newcastle; Dynamic Earth, Scotland. In <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ireland</span>: Trinity College, Dublin. In <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Canada</span>: Canadian Museum of Nature, Ontario. American readers have the opportunity of seeing it in <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the USA</span> at Houston Museum of Natural Sciences 12-28 April 2024.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">To find our more about the Abbey church, its history and other topics in this blog follow the links below:</em><br /><a href="https://www.tewkesburyabbey.org.uk/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Tewkesbury Abbey</a><br /><a href="https://my-earth.org/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Gaia / Luke Jerram </a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabel_Despenser,_Countess_of_Warwick" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">I<br />sabel, Countess of Warwick</a> <br /><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissolution_of_the_monasteries" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Dissolution of the Monasteries</a></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">,</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">,</p></div><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add="><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" height="18" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" width="195" /></a>JOHN SHORTLAND, Cotswold Hills, England.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11702000270961029986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723797518858451239.post-91746864485448215372023-10-31T09:18:00.000-07:002023-11-05T08:18:33.967-08:00in pursuit of the spooky<div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It’s Halloween so when can be a better time to consider</strong> what scares us and what doesn’t? To be honest, I don’t really ‘get’ Halloween. I don’t find any excitement in all those ghoulish faces cut into pumpkins or in the buying of fake cobwebs and skeletons. Perhaps it’s because I don’t care for fancy dress of any kind: for me there is only a feeling of mild embarrassment on other people’s behalf as they don face paint and hideous costumes. Quite why I should feel the need to apologise for other people’s silliness when they are obviously enjoying themselves enormously, as are those around them, goodness knows. After all, it’s just a bit of harmless fun, isn’t it? Possibly, but then again, possibly not.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/huntington-castle-30a-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6297" data-attachment-id="6297" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="huntington-castle-30a-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/huntington-castle-30a-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/huntington-castle-30a-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/huntington-castle-30a-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="968,717" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/10/31/in-pursuit-of-spooky/huntington-castle-30a-watermark/" height="717" sizes="(max-width: 968px) 100vw, 968px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/huntington-castle-30a-watermark.jpg?w=968" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/huntington-castle-30a-watermark.jpg 968w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/huntington-castle-30a-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/huntington-castle-30a-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/huntington-castle-30a-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom; width: 614px;" width="968" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Beneath Huntington Castle</em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Like many teenagers, I messed around with Ouija boards</strong> without any lasting harm, but they can be a great source of trauma and anxiety for others. It isn’t pumpkins and fancy dress that are scary, or for that matter, it isn’t the dead either, it’s the living. And the one that’s likely to scare us the most is our living self for who knows what our minds are capable of conjuring up. Despite my indifference to Halloween, I do like a good scary moment as much as (or perhaps even more than) the next person. There is nothing like exploring a derelict building – especially if you can visit at dusk as I did, the old mansion in the photos below – to get the mind working overtime.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dunmore-park-6-copyright.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6299" data-attachment-id="6299" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1415918410","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="dunmore-park-6-copyright" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dunmore-park-6-copyright.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dunmore-park-6-copyright.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dunmore-park-6-copyright.jpg" data-orig-size="960,720" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/10/31/in-pursuit-of-spooky/dunmore-park-6-copyright/" height="720" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dunmore-park-6-copyright.jpg?w=960" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dunmore-park-6-copyright.jpg 960w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dunmore-park-6-copyright.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dunmore-park-6-copyright.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dunmore-park-6-copyright.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="960" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The abandoned and derelict Dunmore Park</em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My feeling of unease only increased when</strong>, following a maze of passageways, I found myself in the cellars. I had forgotten my mobile phone and the only source of light I had was to trigger the flash on my camera. Of course, that only gave the briefest moment of vision before plunging me into even greater darkness. Extracting myself from the cellars, I made my way through derelict gardens only to find an equally ruined tower. Pushing open the door I chose not to explore further when I realised that I was entering an empty crypt – were the coffins scattered nearby, I wondered. It was definitely time to get back home and to the land of the living.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dunmore-park-30-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6301" data-attachment-id="6301" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="dunmore-park-30-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dunmore-park-30-watermark.jpg?w=472" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dunmore-park-30-watermark.jpg?w=199" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dunmore-park-30-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="472,712" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/10/31/in-pursuit-of-spooky/dunmore-park-30-watermark/" height="712" sizes="(max-width: 472px) 100vw, 472px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dunmore-park-30-watermark.jpg?w=472" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dunmore-park-30-watermark.jpg 472w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dunmore-park-30-watermark.jpg?w=99 99w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dunmore-park-30-watermark.jpg?w=199 199w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="472" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I just couldn’t resist entering the far door…</em></figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dunmore-park-35-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6303" data-attachment-id="6303" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="dunmore-park-35-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dunmore-park-35-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dunmore-park-35-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dunmore-park-35-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1021,766" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/10/31/in-pursuit-of-spooky/dunmore-park-35-watermark/" height="766" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 1021px) 100vw, 1021px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dunmore-park-35-watermark.jpg?w=1021" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dunmore-park-35-watermark.jpg 1021w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dunmore-park-35-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dunmore-park-35-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/dunmore-park-35-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="1021" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I found myself in total darkness</em>…</figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/elphinstone-tower-3-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6305" data-attachment-id="6305" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="elphinstone-tower-3-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/elphinstone-tower-3-watermark.jpg?w=568" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/elphinstone-tower-3-watermark.jpg?w=224" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/elphinstone-tower-3-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="568,762" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/10/31/in-pursuit-of-spooky/elphinstone-tower-3-watermark/" height="762" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 568px) 100vw, 568px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/elphinstone-tower-3-watermark.jpg?w=568" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/elphinstone-tower-3-watermark.jpg 568w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/elphinstone-tower-3-watermark.jpg?w=112 112w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/elphinstone-tower-3-watermark.jpg?w=224 224w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="568" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The empty crypt in the tower was just a little too creepy for me!</em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A few years ago I received an invitation to a</strong> house party and stay overnight in a remote, medieval manor house. Arriving, again at dusk, and expecting to find a throng of people, instead I entered an empty and dark house. Fortunately, the electric lights worked but as I explored the building with its stone staircases and grotesque carvings I half-wondered if I was about to star in a real-life crime drama, tricked by someone with a long-held grudge. My imagination went into overdrive when leaning against a wall of oak panelling, it opened to reveal a secret room. I was glad when my fellow partygoers arrived and the house became a lively and wonderful place to stay.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/wortham-manor-117-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6308" data-attachment-id="6308" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="wortham-manor-117-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/wortham-manor-117-watermark.jpg?w=572" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/wortham-manor-117-watermark.jpg?w=224" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/wortham-manor-117-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="572,766" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/10/31/in-pursuit-of-spooky/wortham-manor-117-watermark/" height="766" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 572px) 100vw, 572px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/wortham-manor-117-watermark.jpg?w=572" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/wortham-manor-117-watermark.jpg 572w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/wortham-manor-117-watermark.jpg?w=112 112w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/wortham-manor-117-watermark.jpg?w=224 224w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="572" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Just one of several staircases at medieval Wortham Manor</em></figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/wortham-manor-051-.-052-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6310" data-attachment-id="6310" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/wortham-manor-051-.-052-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/wortham-manor-051-.-052-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/wortham-manor-051-.-052-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1156,692" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/10/31/in-pursuit-of-spooky/wortham-manor-051-052-watermark/" height="612" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/wortham-manor-051-.-052-watermark.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/wortham-manor-051-.-052-watermark.jpg?w=1022 1022w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/wortham-manor-051-.-052-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/wortham-manor-051-.-052-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/wortham-manor-051-.-052-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/wortham-manor-051-.-052-watermark.jpg 1156w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="1024" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The grotesque carvings with eyes that seemed to follow you…</em></figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/wortham-manor-036-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6312" data-attachment-id="6312" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="wortham-manor-036-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/wortham-manor-036-watermark.jpg?w=575" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/wortham-manor-036-watermark.jpg?w=225" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/wortham-manor-036-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="575,767" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/10/31/in-pursuit-of-spooky/wortham-manor-036-watermark/" height="767" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 575px) 100vw, 575px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/wortham-manor-036-watermark.jpg?w=575" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/wortham-manor-036-watermark.jpg 575w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/wortham-manor-036-watermark.jpg?w=112 112w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/wortham-manor-036-watermark.jpg?w=225 225w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="575" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The panel opened unexpectedly to reveal a secret room</em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Of the various creepy experiences that I have sought out or</strong> endured (depending on the circumstance) perhaps, rather surprisingly, the ones that have unsettled me most of all have been places that are normally associated with crowds, bustle and noise. The ferry to Ireland is a case in point and an unlikely candidate for spooky. Somehow, I became the first person to board and as I walked along empty decks and through deserted lounges, it felt rather as if I had just discovered the Marie Celeste. Of course, it was only a very short while before other passengers arrived but not before I’d begun to think that others must have known something that I didn’t and had decided to stay away.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/isle-of-inishmore-5-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6315" data-attachment-id="6315" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="isle-of-inishmore-5-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/isle-of-inishmore-5-watermark.jpg?w=533" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/isle-of-inishmore-5-watermark.jpg?w=224" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/isle-of-inishmore-5-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="533,715" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/10/31/in-pursuit-of-spooky/isle-of-inishmore-5-watermark/" height="715" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 533px) 100vw, 533px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/isle-of-inishmore-5-watermark.jpg?w=533" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/isle-of-inishmore-5-watermark.jpg 533w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/isle-of-inishmore-5-watermark.jpg?w=112 112w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/isle-of-inishmore-5-watermark.jpg?w=224 224w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="533" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The deserted ferry to Ireland was surprisingly spooky</em></figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/isle-of-inishmore-4-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6316" data-attachment-id="6316" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="isle-of-inishmore-4-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/isle-of-inishmore-4-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/isle-of-inishmore-4-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/isle-of-inishmore-4-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1035,761" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/10/31/in-pursuit-of-spooky/isle-of-inishmore-4-watermark/" height="752" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/isle-of-inishmore-4-watermark.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/isle-of-inishmore-4-watermark.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/isle-of-inishmore-4-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/isle-of-inishmore-4-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/isle-of-inishmore-4-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/isle-of-inishmore-4-watermark.jpg 1035w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="1024" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What had happened to all the other passengers???</em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Perhaps the very creepiest place I’ve experienced was</strong> also the one I would have least expected it to be. Walking home late one night I decided to take a short cut through the fairground which had closed a couple of hours earlier. Associated with noise, excitement, music and flashing lights, the area was silent and deserted. There was no danger but around each corner I expected to find someone lurking in the shadows, not helped by the ghoul I came across hanging from a scaffold behind the blacked-out House of Horrors. Arriving back home in the darkness and silence of the <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">secret valley</em> I was met by the reflection of a hundred eyes watching me. Fortunately, they were real-life sheep and thankfully, not the ghosts of countless Sunday roasts coming back to haunt me.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/sleeping-fairground-12-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6319" data-attachment-id="6319" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="sleeping-fairground-12-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/sleeping-fairground-12-watermark.jpg?w=567" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/sleeping-fairground-12-watermark.jpg?w=226" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/sleeping-fairground-12-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="567,753" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/10/31/in-pursuit-of-spooky/sleeping-fairground-12-watermark/" height="753" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 567px) 100vw, 567px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/sleeping-fairground-12-watermark.jpg?w=567" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/sleeping-fairground-12-watermark.jpg 567w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/sleeping-fairground-12-watermark.jpg?w=113 113w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/sleeping-fairground-12-watermark.jpg?w=226 226w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="567" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The deserted fairground: shadows and surprises around every corner…</em></figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/sleeping-fairground-6-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6321" data-attachment-id="6321" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="sleeping-fairground-6-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/sleeping-fairground-6-watermark.jpg?w=572" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/sleeping-fairground-6-watermark.jpg?w=224" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/sleeping-fairground-6-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="572,767" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/10/31/in-pursuit-of-spooky/sleeping-fairground-6-watermark/" height="767" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 572px) 100vw, 572px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/sleeping-fairground-6-watermark.jpg?w=572" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/sleeping-fairground-6-watermark.jpg 572w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/sleeping-fairground-6-watermark.jpg?w=112 112w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/sleeping-fairground-6-watermark.jpg?w=224 224w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="572" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">That made me jump!</em></figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/sheep-the-eyes-have-it-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6322" data-attachment-id="6322" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="sheep-the-eyes-have-it-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/sheep-the-eyes-have-it-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/sheep-the-eyes-have-it-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/sheep-the-eyes-have-it-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1280,720" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/10/31/in-pursuit-of-spooky/sheep-the-eyes-have-it-watermark/" height="576" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/sheep-the-eyes-have-it-watermark.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/sheep-the-eyes-have-it-watermark.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/sheep-the-eyes-have-it-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/sheep-the-eyes-have-it-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/sheep-the-eyes-have-it-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/sheep-the-eyes-have-it-watermark.jpg 1280w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="1024" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Being watched as I walk home late at night</em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">So, what do you like/dislike about Halloween? What scares you the most? I will be intrigued to know!</em></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add="><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a>JOHN SHORTLAND, Cotswold Hills, England.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11702000270961029986noreply@blogger.com0Cotswold Hills, England-27.5241085 151.8993547-55.83434233617885 116.7431047 0.786125336178845 -172.9443953tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723797518858451239.post-42432905407453876682023-09-24T08:32:00.005-07:002023-09-24T08:34:33.436-07:00moving into autumn<div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The autumnal equinox has just past and </strong>with it comes those rare, clear and sunny days when the outdoors beckons, and your senses become alive to every detail. Perhaps it is because you’re all too aware that soon there will be many days when the countryside is shrouded in a clinging, wet mist that takes hours to lift, if it does at all. An early-start walk is all the better for several reasons: the light is extraordinary, the air clear, and there are few, if any, people out and about. Perhaps, best of all, with the shortening days, early isn’t at some God-forsaken hour <img alt="😉" class="emoji" draggable="false" role="img" src="https://s0.wp.com/wp-content/mu-plugins/wpcom-smileys/twemoji/2/svg/1f609.svg" style="background: none; border: none; box-shadow: none; display: inline; height: 1em; margin: 0px 0.07em; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: -0.1em; width: 1em;" /></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/spetember-morn.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6200" data-attachment-id="6200" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="spetember-morn" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/spetember-morn.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/spetember-morn.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/spetember-morn.jpg" data-orig-size="955,717" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/09/24/moving-into-autumn/spetember-morn/" height="717" sizes="(max-width: 955px) 100vw, 955px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/spetember-morn.jpg?w=955" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/spetember-morn.jpg 955w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/spetember-morn.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/spetember-morn.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/spetember-morn.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="955" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Early morning sunshine…</em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">From our little, Cotswold stone-built house it is </strong>only a matter of yards to the river. Unlike the true days of Autumn, the river is also clear. All too soon, the warmth mixing with the cool will see the vapours rise, often hiding the surface and sometimes blanketing the whole valley. Today, despite the frequent rain showers we’ve been having the water levels are low, there are no birds singing and I have only a sentinel heron to share it with. Dismayed at my appearance, he flies off lazily with a scolding, harsh croak only to settle a few yards further away to watch me as I pass. No sooner have I done so than he returns to his favoured spot to continue his hunt for crayfish.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/heron-8-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6202" data-attachment-id="6202" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="heron-8-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/heron-8-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/heron-8-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/heron-8-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="931,767" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/09/24/moving-into-autumn/heron-8-watermark/" height="767" sizes="(max-width: 931px) 100vw, 931px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/heron-8-watermark.jpg?w=931" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/heron-8-watermark.jpg 931w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/heron-8-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/heron-8-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/heron-8-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="931" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The heron rose with a harsh croak…</em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Although the sun is shining, it is still</strong> set low in the sky, casting lengthy shadows and intensifying the first changes of colour in the trees. As it climbs higher, so the colours will appear to fade and the shadows shorten, and another part of the early-morn magic will be lost for another day.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/september-morn-1-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6205" data-attachment-id="6205" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="september-morn-1-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/september-morn-1-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/september-morn-1-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/september-morn-1-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1017,757" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/09/24/moving-into-autumn/september-morn-1-watermark/" height="757" sizes="(max-width: 1017px) 100vw, 1017px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/september-morn-1-watermark.jpg?w=1017" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/september-morn-1-watermark.jpg 1017w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/september-morn-1-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/september-morn-1-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/september-morn-1-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="1017" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">First hints of autumn…</em></figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/september-morn-2.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6207" data-attachment-id="6207" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="september-morn-2" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/september-morn-2.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/september-morn-2.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/september-morn-2.jpg" data-orig-size="1023,766" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/09/24/moving-into-autumn/september-morn-2/" height="766" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 1023px) 100vw, 1023px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/september-morn-2.jpg?w=1023" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/september-morn-2.jpg 1023w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/september-morn-2.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/september-morn-2.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/september-morn-2.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="1023" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;">The long shadows of early morn…</figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Reaching the plantation, the sun </strong>filters through the still-densely clothed branches, diffusing the light and giving it the look of an Impressionist painting. Perhaps this is how Monet got his inspiration when looking at his waterlily pool. The path stretching ahead just invites you to walk onwards. At its end, where it meets the lane, the first of the stone houses in the nearby village remain silent, as do they all, for their occupants are still either asleep or not yet venturing out. They are missing so much but I relish the silence and glad that it isn’t disturbed by the sounds of civilisation.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/green-eye-way-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6209" data-attachment-id="6209" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="green-eye-way-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/green-eye-way-watermark.jpg?w=536" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/green-eye-way-watermark.jpg?w=224" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/green-eye-way-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="536,717" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/09/24/moving-into-autumn/green-eye-way-watermark/" height="717" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 536px) 100vw, 536px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/green-eye-way-watermark.jpg?w=536" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/green-eye-way-watermark.jpg 536w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/green-eye-way-watermark.jpg?w=112 112w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/green-eye-way-watermark.jpg?w=224 224w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="536" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Almost, if not quite</em>,<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> an Impressionist painting!</em></figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/cleveley-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6211" data-attachment-id="6211" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="cleveley-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/cleveley-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/cleveley-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/cleveley-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1018,772" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/09/24/moving-into-autumn/cleveley-watermark/" height="772" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 1018px) 100vw, 1018px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/cleveley-watermark.jpg?w=1018" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/cleveley-watermark.jpg 1018w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/cleveley-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/cleveley-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/cleveley-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="1018" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Cotswold stone cottages</em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There are four lanes that lead into</strong> the secret valley. The one that I now take is little used and the grass grows thickly in its centre. Another is similar and, with no passing places for a mile should you meet another vehicle, only those with good reversing skills tend to use it. Occasionally a ‘lost’ driver attempts it, thinking it will be a short cut to their intended route, only to end up traumatised by the experience.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/cleveley-lane-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6215" data-attachment-id="6215" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="cleveley-lane-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/cleveley-lane-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/cleveley-lane-watermark.jpg?w=223" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/cleveley-lane-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="695,937" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/09/24/moving-into-autumn/cleveley-lane-watermark/" height="937" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 695px) 100vw, 695px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/cleveley-lane-watermark.jpg?w=695" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/cleveley-lane-watermark.jpg 695w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/cleveley-lane-watermark.jpg?w=111 111w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/cleveley-lane-watermark.jpg?w=223 223w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom; width: 606px;" width="695" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">One of the little-use lanes out of the secret valley…</em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">All along the lanes, the banks and </strong>hedgerows are thick with berries and the fading flowers of summer. Every year I intend to make a note of what I see but, although I never do, I can be fairly certain of seeing the same late bloomers, sometimes right though to Christmas. These single flowers are extra-special, as they cling onto life reminding us of their glories past and giving us hope for the following year.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/001-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6216" data-attachment-id="6216" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="001-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/001-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/001-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/001-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="933,742" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/09/24/moving-into-autumn/001-watermark/" height="742" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 933px) 100vw, 933px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/001-watermark.jpg?w=933" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/001-watermark.jpg 933w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/001-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/001-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/001-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="933" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">l-r top: hawthorn berries, crab apples, campion</em><br /><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">l-r bottom: cranes-bill, prickly sow-thistle</em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I have reached the cattle sheds now at the</strong> top of the hill above my cottage. Large and airy, they are empty and silent now for the livestock is still out in the fields and making the most of the last of the summer grazing. By Christmas if the season is reasonably mild and dry, or sooner if not, they will be brought in to be kept dry, warm and fed. The barns surrounding the sheds are stacked high with straw and hay, their bedding and feed – in a good year, there will be enough to last the winter however long it maybe; in poor summers extra will need be purchased for they will not be returned to the valley’s water-meadows until they have calved and the weather is right.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/cattle-5-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6219" data-attachment-id="6219" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="cattle-5-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/cattle-5-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/cattle-5-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/cattle-5-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1026,623" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/09/24/moving-into-autumn/cattle-5-watermark/" height="623" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 1026px) 100vw, 1026px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/cattle-5-watermark.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/cattle-5-watermark.jpg 1026w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/cattle-5-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/cattle-5-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/cattle-5-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="1026" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Enjoying the last of the good weather…</em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It is a short downhill walk to </strong>home now. Within minutes I will be back, the kettle on and looking forward to a well-deserved breakfast.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/glyme-cottage-3-copyright.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6221" data-attachment-id="6221" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1476553868","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="glyme-cottage-3-copyright" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/glyme-cottage-3-copyright.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/glyme-cottage-3-copyright.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/glyme-cottage-3-copyright.jpg" data-orig-size="1054,684" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/09/24/moving-into-autumn/glyme-cottage-3-copyright/" height="684" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 1054px) 100vw, 1054px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/glyme-cottage-3-copyright.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/glyme-cottage-3-copyright.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/glyme-cottage-3-copyright.jpg 1054w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/glyme-cottage-3-copyright.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/glyme-cottage-3-copyright.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/glyme-cottage-3-copyright.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="1054" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Home sweet home…and breakfast!</em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</p></div><div><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add="><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a></div>JOHN SHORTLAND, Cotswold Hills, England.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11702000270961029986noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723797518858451239.post-82542039505572703572023-07-25T10:53:00.000-07:002023-07-25T10:53:37.438-07:00woodstock and Blenheim Palace<div><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Woodstock, a small town in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, has</strong> a long history. The Domesday Book, a survey of England & Wales completed in 1086, describes it as a Royal Forest – a hunting preserve for nobility. Fifty years later the area was enclosed by a high wall, a shooting lodge built, and exotic animals, lions and leopards kept within. Just short of a century later, in 1179, King Henry II built Woodstock Palace and granted a Royal Charter that established a market on its boundary. From thereon, the town developed and prospered. The palace witnessed several important moments in English history including the imprisonment of the then Princess Elizabeth who became Queen Elizabeth the First, and later, it sheltered King James I who had fled London during a plague. By 1653 the Palace had been destroyed by the Roundheads (Parliamentarians) during the English Civil War.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-palace.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6122" data-attachment-id="6122" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="woodstock-palace" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-palace.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-palace.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-palace.jpg" data-orig-size="667,467" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/07/24/woodstock-and-blenheim-palace/woodstock-palace/" height="410" scale="1.5" src-orig="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-palace.jpg?w=667" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-palace.jpg?w=570" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-palace.jpg?w=570&zoom=2 1.5x" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: 424px; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom; width: 614px;" width="570" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The original palace at Woodstock built by Henry II in 1179 [Source:Wikipedia]</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The ruins of the palace and its parkland were gifted by</strong> the nation to the 1st Duke of Marlborough in recognition of his military triumphs that climaxed with the Battle of Blenheim in 1704. Blenheim Palace, for which Woodstock is now justly famed and visited annually by thousands from all over the world, was built in its place and, with over 180 rooms, it is one of the largest privately-owned houses in England. The birthplace (in 1874) and ancestral home of wartime leader, Sir Winston Churchill, the splendour and history of the Palace was recognised as an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/img_1300.heic-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6124" data-attachment-id="6124" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="img_1300.heic-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/img_1300.heic-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/img_1300.heic-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/img_1300.heic-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1290,772" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/07/24/woodstock-and-blenheim-palace/img_1300-heic-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/img_1300.heic-watermark.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/img_1300.heic-watermark.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/img_1300.heic-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/img_1300.heic-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/img_1300.heic-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/img_1300.heic-watermark.jpg 1290w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Blenheim Palace, one of the largest private houses in England</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">With mixed financial fortunes over</strong> the centuries, the Palace has seen many changes both internally and externally. The parkland was much altered by the eighteenth-century landscape architect, Capability Brown. The River Glyme that runs through the park was dammed and the Great Lake formed, in the process part-drowning the enormous bridge designed by Vanbrugh. Incidentally, the river is the same one as the little winding river that flows in ‘our (now not so secret!) secret valley’ and used in the header of this blog.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/img_1303-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6127" data-attachment-id="6127" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="img_1303-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/img_1303-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/img_1303-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/img_1303-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="952,717" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/07/24/woodstock-and-blenheim-palace/img_1303-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 952px) 100vw, 952px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/img_1303-watermark.jpg?w=952" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/img_1303-watermark.jpg 952w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/img_1303-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/img_1303-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/img_1303-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The dammed tiny River Glyme</em> <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">created the Great Lake at Blenheim Palace…</em></figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/img_1299-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6128" data-attachment-id="6128" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="img_1299-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/img_1299-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/img_1299-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/img_1299-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1025,767" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/07/24/woodstock-and-blenheim-palace/img_1299-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/img_1299-watermark.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/img_1299-watermark.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/img_1299-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/img_1299-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/img_1299-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/img_1299-watermark.jpg 1025w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">…in the process, the huge bridge designed by Vanbrugh was partly submerged</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Despite the centuries that have passed, the town still</strong> clusters outside the entrance to Blenheim Palace. Being so small (only 3,500 people live here), it is a great place to explore on foot – something that is missed by most visitors to the Palace who, if they enter the town at all, stay within the two shop-lined streets at its centre. Behind these lie the church and quaint, timbered houses.<br /></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-17-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6130" data-attachment-id="6130" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1619010660","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="woodstock-17-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-17-watermark.jpg?w=547" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-17-watermark.jpg?w=230" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-17-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="547,715" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/07/24/woodstock-and-blenheim-palace/woodstock-17-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 547px) 100vw, 547px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-17-watermark.jpg?w=547" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-17-watermark.jpg 547w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-17-watermark.jpg?w=115 115w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-17-watermark.jpg?w=230 230w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ancient houses overhang the narrow streets of Woodstock</em></figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-7-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6132" data-attachment-id="6132" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1690231144","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="woodstock-7-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-7-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-7-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-7-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="977,772" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/07/24/woodstock-and-blenheim-palace/woodstock-7-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 977px) 100vw, 977px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-7-watermark.jpg?w=977" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-7-watermark.jpg 977w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-7-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-7-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-7-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">All the old house and cottages differ from one another in appearance</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Of course, it is the Palace that dominates Woodstock despite being</strong> barely visible from outside the Park. The entrance that cars and coaches enter by, is splendid enough, but doesn’t match the grandeur of the town gate. Just past the ‘tourist’ entrance (and so rarely noticed) are the splendid almshouses built in 1798 by Catherine, Duchess of Marlborough. A visit to the Woodstock Museum should be on everyone’s agenda too; it contains a dinosaur garden to keep the children happy.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-5-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6134" data-attachment-id="6134" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="woodstock-5-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-5-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-5-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-5-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1178,762" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/07/24/woodstock-and-blenheim-palace/woodstock-5-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-5-watermark.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-5-watermark.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-5-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-5-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-5-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-5-watermark.jpg 1178w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The gate by which visitors enter is grand enough but…</em></figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-11-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6136" data-attachment-id="6136" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="woodstock-11-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-11-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-11-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-11-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1026,772" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/07/24/woodstock-and-blenheim-palace/woodstock-11-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-11-watermark.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-11-watermark.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-11-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-11-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-11-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-11-watermark.jpg 1026w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">…it doesn’t match the splendour of the ‘town’ gate</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The town has several hotels and makes a</strong> good base to explore further afield; Oxford with its universities is only 15 miles away and there are numerous villages and National Trust properties and gardens to visit within the area. For keen hikers two long-distance trails, the Wychwood Way (36 miles) and Shakespeare’s Way (146 miles) pass through the town and, as in most of England, numerous public footpaths criss-cross the countryside where you can roam freely. Walking is one of the best ways to see the Cotswolds and it is great exercise too. All the footpaths connect with one another so you can easily take shorter walks but, if you have the time, it is possible to walk from one end of England to the other!</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-4-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6138" data-attachment-id="6138" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1690232304","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="woodstock-4-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-4-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-4-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-4-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="953,718" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/07/24/woodstock-and-blenheim-palace/woodstock-4-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 953px) 100vw, 953px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-4-watermark.jpg?w=953" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-4-watermark.jpg 953w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-4-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-4-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-4-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The almshouses in Woodstock built in 1798</em></figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-6-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6141" data-attachment-id="6141" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="woodstock-6-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-6-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-6-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-6-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1027,772" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/07/24/woodstock-and-blenheim-palace/woodstock-6-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-6-watermark.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-6-watermark.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-6-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-6-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-6-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/woodstock-6-watermark.jpg 1027w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">***********************************<br />[If<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </strong>you would like specific details of any aspect of staying locally and/or walking routes, places to visit, etc please feel free to contact me and I will do my best to answer your queries]<br /><br /><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Sources:</span> <br />Wikipedia The Long Distance Walkers Association Cotswolds.info The Making of the English Landscape, W G Hoskins</em></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add="><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a>JOHN SHORTLAND, Cotswold Hills, England.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11702000270961029986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723797518858451239.post-75184277647812806752023-06-18T08:38:00.003-07:002023-06-18T08:38:42.020-07:00A Walk by Stonehenge – part 2 – Woodhenge<div><br /></div><div><header class="entry-header" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px auto; width: 584.263px;"><div class="entry-meta" style="border: 0px; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; left: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; z-index: 1;"><span class="sep" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Posted on </span><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/06/18/a-walk-by-stonehenge-part-2-woodhenge/" rel="bookmark" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="3:18 pm">June 18, 2023</a></div></header><div class="entry-content" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 1.625em 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 584.263px;"><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The prehistoric monument of Stonehenge was built</strong> in alignment with the sunrise of both the summer and winter solstices. For many, it is a sacred time and a moment to connect with our ancestors of 5000 years ago. With the Summer Solstice just days away it seems appropriate to write the conclusion of a relatively gentle walk that incorporates not just Stonehenge but also the nearby and lesser-known Woodhenge. Part 1 of the walk, along with photos, can be found by <a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/03/21/a-walk-by-stonehenge-part-1/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">clicking on the link here</a>.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-10-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6100" data-attachment-id="6100" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1659039308","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="woodhenge-walk-10-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-10-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-10-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-10-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1269,718" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/06/18/a-walk-by-stonehenge-part-2-woodhenge/woodhenge-walk-10-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-10-watermark.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-10-watermark.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-10-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-10-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-10-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-10-watermark.jpg 1269w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The lesser-known circle of Woodhenge</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Access to the stones of Stonehenge is usually</strong> restricted by a fence to prevent the one million visitors that view them every year from damaging the stones by touch, or by eroding the ground the stones stand on. For the solstice the fence is removed so that it is possible to walk amongst the stones and to witness the sun as it rises behind the Heel Stone. Thousands of people will attend the solstice but I prefer solitude for my walks whenever possible. I would choose to stand at the Cursus and to look down on the stones (and the crowds) or even to sit silently at Woodhenge.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-25-stonehenge-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6048" data-attachment-id="6048" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1662538018","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="woodhenge-walk-25-stonehenge-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-25-stonehenge-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-25-stonehenge-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-25-stonehenge-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1280,720" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/03/21/a-walk-by-stonehenge-part-1/woodhenge-walk-25-stonehenge-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-25-stonehenge-watermark.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-25-stonehenge-watermark.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-25-stonehenge-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-25-stonehenge-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-25-stonehenge-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-25-stonehenge-watermark.jpg 1280w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A distant Stonehenge can be clearly seen from the Cursus</em></figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-22-stonehenge-cursus-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6046" data-attachment-id="6046" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="woodhenge-walk-22-stonehenge-cursus-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-22-stonehenge-cursus-watermark.jpg?w=531" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-22-stonehenge-cursus-watermark.jpg?w=228" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-22-stonehenge-cursus-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="531,700" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/03/21/a-walk-by-stonehenge-part-1/woodhenge-walk-22-stonehenge-cursus-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 531px) 100vw, 531px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-22-stonehenge-cursus-watermark.jpg?w=531" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-22-stonehenge-cursus-watermark.jpg 531w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-22-stonehenge-cursus-watermark.jpg?w=114 114w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-22-stonehenge-cursus-watermark.jpg?w=228 228w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">So what is Woodhenge?</strong> The official description is “a timber monument comprising of six oval rings of posts”. Not the most inspiring but the more you explore Woodhenge the more fascinating it becomes. Of course, the timber posts have long since rotted, and now their positions are marked by low pillars of differing diameters. As you walk amongst them and begin to picture the timber posts, the tallest of which reached 9 metres (30 foot) in height and weighed five tons, you realise just how awe-inspiring it must have been, especially if they were coloured or carved in some way.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-6-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6103" data-attachment-id="6103" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="woodhenge-walk-6-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-6-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-6-watermark.jpg?w=251" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-6-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="642,767" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/06/18/a-walk-by-stonehenge-part-2-woodhenge/woodhenge-walk-6-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 642px) 100vw, 642px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-6-watermark.jpg?w=642" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-6-watermark.jpg 642w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-6-watermark.jpg?w=126 126w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-6-watermark.jpg?w=251 251w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-3-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6105" data-attachment-id="6105" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1687103020","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="woodhenge-walk-3-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-3-watermark.jpg?w=573" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-3-watermark.jpg?w=263" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-3-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="573,653" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/06/18/a-walk-by-stonehenge-part-2-woodhenge/woodhenge-walk-3-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 573px) 100vw, 573px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-3-watermark.jpg?w=573" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-3-watermark.jpg 573w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-3-watermark.jpg?w=132 132w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-3-watermark.jpg?w=263 263w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Woodhenge as it may have looked 5000 years ago</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Woodhenge was built at the same time as</strong> Stonehenge and on the same summer/winter solstice alignment. The two henges, two miles apart, were possibly connected by paths, one showing as banks and ditches is marked on maps as Stonehenge Avenue. The Cursus also is in direct alignment with Woodhenge and in those pre-history days the two monuments probably could be seen from these points.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-5-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6107" data-attachment-id="6107" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="woodhenge-walk-5-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-5-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-5-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-5-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="957,688" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/06/18/a-walk-by-stonehenge-part-2-woodhenge/woodhenge-walk-5-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 957px) 100vw, 957px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-5-watermark.jpg?w=957" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-5-watermark.jpg 957w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-5-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-5-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-5-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Excavation of the site took place in 1926 but</strong> it is only now that more detailed studies are taking place. The initial dig discovered the body of a child at the centre of the circle and it was thought to have been sacrificed there. The remains were taken to London for later examination but were destroyed by bombing during WW2 before this took place. The grave is now marked by a small stone cairn. Other remains found within the circle were numerous pieces of pottery, butchered pig bones and, just outside the entrance, the body of a teenager. These finds indicate that activity at the site continued for many hundreds of years, long after the posts had rotted.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-9-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6109" data-attachment-id="6109" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="woodhenge-walk-9-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-9-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-9-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-9-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1018,770" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/06/18/a-walk-by-stonehenge-part-2-woodhenge/woodhenge-walk-9-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 1018px) 100vw, 1018px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-9-watermark.jpg?w=1018" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-9-watermark.jpg 1018w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-9-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-9-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/woodhenge-walk-9-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The site of the grave of the child is now marked by a cairn</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Although the purpose of Woodhenge can only be surmised, the recent interest in it and its relationship to Stonehenge, Durrington Walls and other sites within the Stonehenge World Heritage Site, slowly reveal more connections between them. One such thought is that it may have held a spiritual connection with Stonehenge: the stones of Stonehenge being the enduring place of the spiritual world, whereas Woodhenge, with its feasting and slowly decaying timbers, the transformation of life towards death. Interestingly, similarities with ancient sites in Madagascar, although 4000 years later than those in England, can be found.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/postcard-to-john-from-aunt-edie-1963-1.jpeg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6028" data-attachment-id="6028" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"1.8","credit":"","camera":"iPhone SE (2nd generation)","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1627120871","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.99","iso":"32","shutter_speed":"0.0082644628099174","title":"","orientation":"1","latitude":"50.701788888889","longitude":"-3.2340666666667"}" data-image-title="postcard-to-john-from-aunt-edie-1963-1" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/postcard-to-john-from-aunt-edie-1963-1.jpeg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/postcard-to-john-from-aunt-edie-1963-1.jpeg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/postcard-to-john-from-aunt-edie-1963-1.jpeg" data-orig-size="3558,2303" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/03/21/a-walk-by-stonehenge-part-1/postcard-to-john-from-aunt-edie-1963-1/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/postcard-to-john-from-aunt-edie-1963-1.jpeg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/postcard-to-john-from-aunt-edie-1963-1.jpeg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/postcard-to-john-from-aunt-edie-1963-1.jpeg?w=2048 2048w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/postcard-to-john-from-aunt-edie-1963-1.jpeg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/postcard-to-john-from-aunt-edie-1963-1.jpeg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/postcard-to-john-from-aunt-edie-1963-1.jpeg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When I first visited Stonehenge as a child in the early 1960s there were far fewer people about!</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">To visit Stonehenge for free involves a walk not dissimilar to this one. Park in Durrington village and take the public bridleway path (where it meets Fargo Road) directly south to Stonehenge. The path passes the stones within yards of the public viewing path so you will still be separated from the stones. Public footpaths continue southwards, criss-crossing an area rich in more barrows and other ancient earthworks. With the help of an Ordnance Survey map it should be quite possible to make a longer, circular walk.</em></p><p class="inline-ad-slot" data-adtags-visited="true" data-adtags-width="584" id="inline-ad-0" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 0px; margin: 0px auto; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 584px;"></p><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">**Click on any of the images to enlarge**</strong></p><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sources:<br />English Heritage Wikipedia</em></p></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add="><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a>JOHN SHORTLAND, Cotswold Hills, England.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11702000270961029986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723797518858451239.post-52831425441046189292023-04-15T08:12:00.000-07:002023-04-15T08:12:08.804-07:00Here, Take It, and Don’t Cry [Nadir Un Vayn Nisht]<div><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The evening of Sunday 8<span style="border: 0px; bottom: 1ex; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">th</span> February 1942 saw an elite group of</strong> actors, writers and singers come together to celebrate the work of their friend and colleague, <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jakub Obarzanek</em>, then at the height of his fame as an editor, comic writer and satirist. Within months all of them would be dead, shot or gassed in the concentration camps of Poland, executed because of their Jewish heritage or political comment, or both.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakob-o12-1942-poster-polish-evening-event-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6060" data-attachment-id="6060" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="oberzanek-jakob-o12-1942-poster-polish-evening-event-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakob-o12-1942-poster-polish-evening-event-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakob-o12-1942-poster-polish-evening-event-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakob-o12-1942-poster-polish-evening-event-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1126,765" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/04/15/here-take-it-and-dont-cry-nadir-un-vayn-nisht/oberzanek-jakob-o12-1942-poster-polish-evening-event-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakob-o12-1942-poster-polish-evening-event-watermark.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakob-o12-1942-poster-polish-evening-event-watermark.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakob-o12-1942-poster-polish-evening-event-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakob-o12-1942-poster-polish-evening-event-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakob-o12-1942-poster-polish-evening-event-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakob-o12-1942-poster-polish-evening-event-watermark.jpg 1126w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Invitation for the evening performance celebrating the work of Jakub Obarzanek, 1942</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jakub was born on 15<span style="border: 0px; bottom: 1ex; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">th</span> January 1891, probably in the city of</strong> Lodz where he lived for much of his life. The first son born to Samuel & Gitla, and into a comfortably off family, he would have been expected to follow in his father’s footsteps and work in the family business as a wholesale cloth merchant. However, Jakub had always wanted to write and in 1918 he published his first pieces of work – humorous songs and verses in the <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lodzier Togblat,</em> one of the premier Polish Jewish newspapers.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakob-o12-c1930.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6064" data-attachment-id="6064" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="oberzanek-jakob-o12-c1930" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakob-o12-c1930.jpg?w=475" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakob-o12-c1930.jpg?w=215" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakob-o12-c1930.jpg" data-orig-size="475,662" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/04/15/here-take-it-and-dont-cry-nadir-un-vayn-nisht/oberzanek-jakob-o12-c1930/" sizes="(max-width: 475px) 100vw, 475px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakob-o12-c1930.jpg?w=475" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakob-o12-c1930.jpg 475w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakob-o12-c1930.jpg?w=108 108w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakob-o12-c1930.jpg?w=215 215w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jakub Obarzanek standing left with three workmates, 1930s</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Writing always in Yiddish, Jakub very quickly developed a</strong> following amongst his readers and soon joined the permanent staff, editing and writing for the Friday edition. As his talent develops, he begins writing sketches satirising everyday Jewish Street life which, again is eagerly read by a public wanting more. During this time, he also begins collaborating with various revue theatres writing witty sketches, songs and monologues. All was going well until 1939 when the Germans invaded Poland, arriving in Lodz on September 8th.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakub-najer-folksblat-1931-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6068" data-attachment-id="6068" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="oberzanek-jakub-najer-folksblat-1931-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakub-najer-folksblat-1931-watermark.jpg?w=462" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakub-najer-folksblat-1931-watermark.jpg?w=197" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakub-najer-folksblat-1931-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="462,703" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/04/15/here-take-it-and-dont-cry-nadir-un-vayn-nisht/oberzanek-jakub-najer-folksblat-1931-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakub-najer-folksblat-1931-watermark.jpg?w=462" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakub-najer-folksblat-1931-watermark.jpg 462w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakub-najer-folksblat-1931-watermark.jpg?w=99 99w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakub-najer-folksblat-1931-watermark.jpg?w=197 197w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Najer Folksblat newspaper, one of the publications Josef wrote for</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">One of the first moves the Gestapo made was to arrest</strong> Jewish writers and intelligentsia and Jakub along with others was taken to <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Radogoszcz</em>, a factory now being used as a prison. It had no baths or kitchens. Almost immediately the killings began with the intelligentsia taken into nearby woods and shot. For reasons unknown, Jakub was freed in early 1940, possibly because a ransom of 150 marks would permit prisoners to be relocated to the Lodz Ghetto. However, sometime during 1940 he had made his way – or perhaps been taken – to Warsaw. Here, confined in the Ghetto he continues with his writing, helps to create a new revue theatre and providing them with material. The last we hear of Jakub is the evening performance celebrating his work.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakub-radogoszcz_mauzoleum.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6070" data-attachment-id="6070" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"4","credit":"Picasa 2.7","camera":"Canon PowerShot G5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1144433196","copyright":"","focal_length":"7.1875","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0.002","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="oberzanek-jakub-radogoszcz_mauzoleum" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakub-radogoszcz_mauzoleum.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakub-radogoszcz_mauzoleum.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakub-radogoszcz_mauzoleum.jpg" data-orig-size="1024,768" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/04/15/here-take-it-and-dont-cry-nadir-un-vayn-nisht/oberzanek-jakub-radogoszcz_mauzoleum/" height="462" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 617px) 100vw, 617px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakub-radogoszcz_mauzoleum.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakub-radogoszcz_mauzoleum.jpg?w=617 617w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakub-radogoszcz_mauzoleum.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakub-radogoszcz_mauzoleum.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakub-radogoszcz_mauzoleum.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakub-radogoszcz_mauzoleum.jpg 1024w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="617" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Radogoszcz</em> <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">factory where Jakub was imprisoned and now a museum [Wikipedia]</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It is not known whether Jakub was present for</strong> the performance. My feeling is probably not. What we do know is that he was once again arrested and was finally executed during April 1943. Married to Mala, Jakub had a daughter, name sadly unknown, and two sons, Moshe and Simon. Mala and the girl perished in the death camps. Whether they died alongside Jakub is also unknown, or even if they were with him after he moved to Warsaw. Both Moshe and Simon survived the concentration camps but were very badly traumatised by their childhood suffering. They ended their days in Israel but I have little knowledge of whether they were able to lead a full and fulfilling life. </p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakob-o12-1942-evening-event-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6062" data-attachment-id="6062" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="oberzanek-jakob-o12-1942-evening-event-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakob-o12-1942-evening-event-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakob-o12-1942-evening-event-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakob-o12-1942-evening-event-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="841,687" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/04/15/here-take-it-and-dont-cry-nadir-un-vayn-nisht/oberzanek-jakob-o12-1942-evening-event-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 841px) 100vw, 841px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakob-o12-1942-evening-event-watermark.jpg?w=841" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakob-o12-1942-evening-event-watermark.jpg 841w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakob-o12-1942-evening-event-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakob-o12-1942-evening-event-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzanek-jakob-o12-1942-evening-event-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Translated description of the invitation, 1942</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The performers at the celebration of Jakub’s work were</strong>, as mentioned celebrated artists of their day.<br /><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Zymra Zeligfeld</em> – a famous singer of Yiddish folk songs – murdered in Treblinka Death Camp, 1942 <br /><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Chana Lerner</em> – actress and wife of <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dawid Zajderman</em>, tenor – murdered together 3<span style="border: 0px; bottom: 1ex; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">rd</span> November 1943, Majdanek Death Camp<br /><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Symche Fostel</em> – comic actor of International renown – murdered in Pontiatowa Death Camp, 1943 <br /><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jack Lewi</em> – actor of International renown & close friend of Franz Kafka – murdered in Treblinka Death Camp, 1942 <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A(jzyk) Samberg</em> – famous Jewish actor – murdered in Poniatowa Death Camp 1943 <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Prof (Icchak) Zaks</em> – founded the Internationally renowned, 120-strong Icchak Zaks Chorus; researcher and translator of opera into Yiddish, and music teacher – murdered in Treblinka Death Camp, 1942 </p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/screenshot-2023-04-15-143733.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6072" data-attachment-id="6072" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="screenshot-2023-04-15-143733" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/screenshot-2023-04-15-143733.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/screenshot-2023-04-15-143733.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/screenshot-2023-04-15-143733.jpg" data-orig-size="1122,326" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/04/15/here-take-it-and-dont-cry-nadir-un-vayn-nisht/screenshot-2023-04-15-143733/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/screenshot-2023-04-15-143733.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/screenshot-2023-04-15-143733.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/screenshot-2023-04-15-143733.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/screenshot-2023-04-15-143733.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/screenshot-2023-04-15-143733.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/screenshot-2023-04-15-143733.jpg 1122w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">l-r: Zymra Zeligfeld, Chana Lerner, Symche Fostel (centre), Icchak Zaks</em><br /><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">all had been executed by the end of 1943</em> <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">[Wikipedia]</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jakub, as has been shown, was a popular man, much admired by</strong> his friends and colleagues; he must have been a brave man too and not only with his satirical writing and working knowing that he was unlikely to survive the war. Earlier, just prior to WW1, my grandfather, Harry Obarzanek, Jakub’s younger brother had been living in England when he was conscripted into the Russian army (Poland at that time was part-under Russian control). Now in army camp in Ukraine, he wrote to Jakub telling of his anxiety of being away from his wife for three years. Jakub arrived bringing false papers, civilian clothes and a ticket to England and helped Harry abscond whilst on duty. If they had been caught both would have been shot. If it hadn’t been for my great-uncle Jakub’s help, perhaps my own family would have suffered the same terrible fate as Jakub’s. A humbling thought. I hope that with my writing, I have given Jakub the voice that was so very nearly lost, and that it is an adequate tribute to our brave and witty family hero. </p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzaenk-harry-jakub-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6074" data-attachment-id="6074" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="oberzaenk-harry-jakub-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzaenk-harry-jakub-watermark.jpg?w=567" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzaenk-harry-jakub-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzaenk-harry-jakub-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="567,378" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/04/15/here-take-it-and-dont-cry-nadir-un-vayn-nisht/oberzaenk-harry-jakub-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 567px) 100vw, 567px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzaenk-harry-jakub-watermark.jpg?w=567" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzaenk-harry-jakub-watermark.jpg 567w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzaenk-harry-jakub-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/oberzaenk-harry-jakub-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Brothers: my grandfather, Harry (left) & my great-uncle Jakub Obarzanek</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How appropriate it seems that I am able to</strong> write about Jakub’s life and publish it on the 80<span style="border: 0px; bottom: 1ex; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">th</span> anniversary of his death. A very special thanks to <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Chaya Bercovici</em> who saw my initial Facebook plea for information relating to Jakub and, by some miracle, remembered hearing of my grandfather’s escape from Poland. Is it too fanciful that Jakub, knowing of this, might have said, <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Nadir un vayn nisht”, “Here, take it, and don’t cry”, </em>the words used as the title to his tribute evening?</p><figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="embed-youtube" style="border: 0px; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" class="youtube-player" height="329" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C2O4mwuiC7Y?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&wmode=transparent" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 328.638px; inset: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; vertical-align: baseline; width: 584.263px;" width="584"></iframe></span></div></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</p><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add="><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a>JOHN SHORTLAND, Cotswold Hills, England.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11702000270961029986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723797518858451239.post-7804127931102856302023-03-21T04:37:00.000-07:002023-03-21T04:37:40.149-07:00a walk by stonehenge - part 1<div><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It is many years since I last visited Stonehenge, the prehistoric</strong> standing stones so closely attuned to the midsummer solstice. Renowned throughout the world, it has been listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986. With fame comes numerous issues, not least how to cope with the estimated one million visitors that come to see them each year. To prevent damage to the stones through soil erosion and, surprisingly, physical damage through the chipping off of ‘mementos’, the stones are now cordoned off. This fencing is removed to allow access at the time of the midsummer solstice, a time when hundreds of people wait through the night for the midsummer sun to rise directly between the stones. The image below is of a postcard that my great-aunt sent me in 1963 when the stones were much less frequently visited and reminds me of those early years when I used to play amongst them.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/postcard-to-john-from-aunt-edie-1963-1.jpeg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6028" data-attachment-id="6028" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"1.8","credit":"","camera":"iPhone SE (2nd generation)","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1627120871","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.99","iso":"32","shutter_speed":"0.0082644628099174","title":"","orientation":"1","latitude":"50.701788888889","longitude":"-3.2340666666667"}" data-image-title="postcard-to-john-from-aunt-edie-1963-1" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/postcard-to-john-from-aunt-edie-1963-1.jpeg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/postcard-to-john-from-aunt-edie-1963-1.jpeg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/postcard-to-john-from-aunt-edie-1963-1.jpeg" data-orig-size="3558,2303" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/03/21/a-walk-by-stonehenge-part-1/postcard-to-john-from-aunt-edie-1963-1/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/postcard-to-john-from-aunt-edie-1963-1.jpeg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/postcard-to-john-from-aunt-edie-1963-1.jpeg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/postcard-to-john-from-aunt-edie-1963-1.jpeg?w=2048 2048w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/postcard-to-john-from-aunt-edie-1963-1.jpeg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/postcard-to-john-from-aunt-edie-1963-1.jpeg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/postcard-to-john-from-aunt-edie-1963-1.jpeg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Stonehenge was far less visited back in the 1960s!</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Stonehenge World Heritage Site covers an area that includes </strong>other Neolithic standing stones close by. A few miles away, and unlike Stonehenge, a place where you can walk amongst the stones every day of the year, is Avebury. This circle is huge and considerably older than Stonehenge: flint tools dating back 9000 years show that early man was passing that way 4000 years before Stonehenge was built. Avebury is the place to visit if you want to get close enough to touch the stones and it is also completely free to visit. To visit Stonehenge can be quite costly although there is another way you can see the stones (legally) without paying if you’re prepared to walk – see below.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/avebury-2-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6030" data-attachment-id="6030" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="avebury-2-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/avebury-2-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/avebury-2-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/avebury-2-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1071,716" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/03/21/a-walk-by-stonehenge-part-1/avebury-2-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/avebury-2-watermark.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/avebury-2-watermark.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/avebury-2-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/avebury-2-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/avebury-2-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/avebury-2-watermark.jpg 1071w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Avebury Stone Circle – part of the Stonehenge World Heritage Site</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The third site, and to my mind, the best one</strong> for you will almost certainly have the place to yourself, is known as Woodhenge & Durrington Walls. To be really impressed by this comparatively unknown place you do need to know some background information of its history plus a vivid imagination. For me, it is such an atmospheric place to visit that the latter has never been an issue! I recommend starting your walk here and walking inside the circle of Durrington Walls before exploring Woodhenge. The first thing that is noticeable about Durrington Walls is that there are no walls! The circular bank and ditch that surrounds the site was enormous and consisted of the bank itself which would have been several metres high. The ditch originally was over five metres deep and, in places, up to thirty metres wide. It is estimated that between four and six thousand people would have been needed to build the walls as well as the various houses and large timber circles associated with the site. A feat quite remarkable nowadays let alone over four thousand years ago using just antler pickaxes! Although nothing remains above ground now, apart from the bank, I found it very easy to imagine, as I walked alone and in silence, the bustle and noise of these industrious people.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-13-durrington-walls-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6033" data-attachment-id="6033" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="woodhenge-walk-13-durrington-walls-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-13-durrington-walls-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-13-durrington-walls-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-13-durrington-walls-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="957,718" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/03/21/a-walk-by-stonehenge-part-1/woodhenge-walk-13-durrington-walls-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 957px) 100vw, 957px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-13-durrington-walls-watermark.jpg?w=957" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-13-durrington-walls-watermark.jpg 957w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-13-durrington-walls-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-13-durrington-walls-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-13-durrington-walls-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Within Durrington Walls, now a grassy bank, up to 6000 people once lived</em></figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-11-durrington-walls-watermark-1.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6037" data-attachment-id="6037" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="woodhenge-walk-11-durrington-walls-watermark-1" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-11-durrington-walls-watermark-1.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-11-durrington-walls-watermark-1.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-11-durrington-walls-watermark-1.jpg" data-orig-size="1024,766" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/03/21/a-walk-by-stonehenge-part-1/woodhenge-walk-11-durrington-walls-watermark-1/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-11-durrington-walls-watermark-1.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-11-durrington-walls-watermark-1.jpg 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-11-durrington-walls-watermark-1.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-11-durrington-walls-watermark-1.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-11-durrington-walls-watermark-1.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Information boards help you to understand the context of what you are not seeing!</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Leaving Durrington Walls I made my way to</strong> the Cuckoo Stone, my only companions, sheep. Now fallen, this stone would originally have been placed upright. Looking at maps, it appears to be more, or less in line with the Great Cursus (more about that below) which in turn leads to Stonehenge. The Cuckoo Stone, positioned 4000 years ago, continued to be ritually used into Roman times for in 2007, during archaeological excavation, a small building thought to be a shrine from that period was discovered. </p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-17-cuckoo-stone-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6040" data-attachment-id="6040" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="woodhenge-walk-17-cuckoo-stone-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-17-cuckoo-stone-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-17-cuckoo-stone-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-17-cuckoo-stone-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1192,717" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/03/21/a-walk-by-stonehenge-part-1/woodhenge-walk-17-cuckoo-stone-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-17-cuckoo-stone-watermark.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-17-cuckoo-stone-watermark.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-17-cuckoo-stone-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-17-cuckoo-stone-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-17-cuckoo-stone-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-17-cuckoo-stone-watermark.jpg 1192w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Close to the Cuckoo Stone a Roman shrine once stood</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Leaving the Cuckoo Stone, my path led </strong>to an old track edged by wildflowers humming with bees and butterflies and bringing me out at the top of the Cursus. The Cursus is another huge earthwork showing nowadays as a crop mark – two bright green stripes in an otherwise darker landscape. If you compare my photograph with the one of the information board (below), I was standing at the opposite end. In my image, the end of the Cursus can just be made out on the far horizon almost two miles distant. The purpose of the Cursus is unknown but thought to be ceremonial as it is again aligned to the summer solstice. It is even older than Stonehenge having been constructed several hundred years earlier.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-23-stonehenge-cursus-wateramrk.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6044" data-attachment-id="6044" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1679393509","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="woodhenge-walk-23-stonehenge-cursus-wateramrk" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-23-stonehenge-cursus-wateramrk.jpg?w=534" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-23-stonehenge-cursus-wateramrk.jpg?w=223" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-23-stonehenge-cursus-wateramrk.jpg" data-orig-size="534,719" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/03/21/a-walk-by-stonehenge-part-1/woodhenge-walk-23-stonehenge-cursus-wateramrk/" sizes="(max-width: 534px) 100vw, 534px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-23-stonehenge-cursus-wateramrk.jpg?w=534" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-23-stonehenge-cursus-wateramrk.jpg 534w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-23-stonehenge-cursus-wateramrk.jpg?w=111 111w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-23-stonehenge-cursus-wateramrk.jpg?w=223 223w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The two-mile long Cursus now only shows as two grassy green stripes</em></figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-22-stonehenge-cursus-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6046" data-attachment-id="6046" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="woodhenge-walk-22-stonehenge-cursus-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-22-stonehenge-cursus-watermark.jpg?w=531" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-22-stonehenge-cursus-watermark.jpg?w=228" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-22-stonehenge-cursus-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="531,700" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/03/21/a-walk-by-stonehenge-part-1/woodhenge-walk-22-stonehenge-cursus-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 531px) 100vw, 531px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-22-stonehenge-cursus-watermark.jpg?w=531" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-22-stonehenge-cursus-watermark.jpg 531w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-22-stonehenge-cursus-watermark.jpg?w=114 114w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-22-stonehenge-cursus-watermark.jpg?w=228 228w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Cursus is better understood from this aerial</em> <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">photograph</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Another good track took me due south before</strong> turning west to Old King Barrows and then back south to New King Barrows. Before leaving the Cursus I stood to watch the visitors to Stonehenge some long way off and thinking how lucky I was to have all of this unseen history of the World Heritage Site to myself with only the song of skylarks as company. More than five thousand years separated me from the Neolithic people yet surely, they must have stood here too and seen a similar picture as they made their way to join others already arrived, a humbling thought.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-25-stonehenge-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6048" data-attachment-id="6048" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1662538018","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="woodhenge-walk-25-stonehenge-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-25-stonehenge-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-25-stonehenge-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-25-stonehenge-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1280,720" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/03/21/a-walk-by-stonehenge-part-1/woodhenge-walk-25-stonehenge-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-25-stonehenge-watermark.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-25-stonehenge-watermark.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-25-stonehenge-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-25-stonehenge-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-25-stonehenge-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-25-stonehenge-watermark.jpg 1280w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A distant Stonehenge can be clearly seen from the Cursus</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Old and New King Barrows consist of two groups, each</strong> of seven burial mounds so fourteen in total, separated by Stonehenge Avenue which is only visible as another cropmark. The Avenue linked Stonehenge to the River Avon almost two miles away and was, perhaps, another route the Ancients would have taken to reach the stones. Despite their name, the Old and New King Barrows date from the same time period, and also around the same as Stonehenge.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-29-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6051" data-attachment-id="6051" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="woodhenge-walk-29-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-29-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-29-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-29-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="957,713" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/03/21/a-walk-by-stonehenge-part-1/woodhenge-walk-29-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 957px) 100vw, 957px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-29-watermark.jpg?w=957" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-29-watermark.jpg 957w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-29-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-29-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-29-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">One of the prehistoric burial mounds at Old King Barrows</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It was by the barrows that I </strong>turned back towards Woodhenge, the last part of my relatively short but extraordinarily rich walk, rich both in its views and its wildlife, as well as its history. As if to bring me almost up-to-date in time, the sound of an old-fashioned binder in an adjoining field was busy bringing in the harvest. Not quite twenty-first century but a common sight less than a hundred years ago.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-36-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6054" data-attachment-id="6054" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="woodhenge-walk-36-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-36-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-36-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-36-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1025,771" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/03/21/a-walk-by-stonehenge-part-1/woodhenge-walk-36-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-36-watermark.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-36-watermark.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-36-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-36-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-36-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/woodhenge-walk-36-watermark.jpg 1025w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Harvesting wheat the old-fashioned way</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />The final part of my walk to Woodhenge will be published shortly.</p><p class="inline-ad-slot" data-adtags-visited="true" data-adtags-width="584" id="inline-ad-0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; 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vertical-align: baseline;">To visit Stonehenge for free involves a walk not dissimilar to this one. Park in Durrington village and take the public bridleway path (where it meets Fargo Road) directly south to Stonehenge. The path passes the stones within yards of the public viewing path so you will still be separated from the stones. Public footpaths continue southwards, criss-crossing an area rich in more barrows and other ancient earthworks. With the help of an Ordnance Survey map it should be quite possible to make a longer, circular walk.</em></p><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">**Click on any of the images to enlarge**</strong></p><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add="><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a>JOHN SHORTLAND, Cotswold Hills, England.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11702000270961029986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723797518858451239.post-71182391842319949002023-02-18T03:38:00.001-08:002023-03-21T04:45:20.548-07:00Three Very Special Cotswold Reasons – revisited<div><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Back in 2009 – which seems a lifetime ago now – I responded to</strong> a question posed by <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Guardian</em> newspaper and the English tourist authority: select three things that make a place very special. Naturally, I chose the Cotswolds and to my delight, my blog was just one of ten chosen and published by them to promote visits to this country. After fourteen years, I thought it time to take another look. Although the reasons still stand up well I’ve updated the photos and some of the text.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/cotswolds-aonb-sign-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5983" data-attachment-id="5983" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="cotswolds-aonb-sign-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/cotswolds-aonb-sign-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/cotswolds-aonb-sign-watermark.jpg?w=272" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/cotswolds-aonb-sign-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="665,733" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/02/18/three-very-special-cotswold-reasons-revisited/cotswolds-aonb-sign-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 665px) 100vw, 665px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/cotswolds-aonb-sign-watermark.jpg?w=665" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/cotswolds-aonb-sign-watermark.jpg 665w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/cotswolds-aonb-sign-watermark.jpg?w=136 136w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/cotswolds-aonb-sign-watermark.jpg?w=272 272w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You’ll know when you arrive…</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1. Space and Peace. </strong>I know this is technically two reasons but they are so interlinked that, in my mind, they only count as one. Besides, that way I can cram in an extra reason without appearing to cheat too much. The flat topped, rolling limestone hills that make up the Cotswolds offer far reaching views to the vales beyond. They free the mind and let the spirit wander – a rare occurrence in the busy world we all inhabit. This view looks north over glorious country to the Vale of Evesham and just invites you to start walking towards a distant goal.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-14-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5986" data-attachment-id="5986" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="rollright-stones-14-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-14-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-14-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-14-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1121,717" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/02/18/three-very-special-cotswold-reasons-revisited/rollright-stones-14-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-14-watermark.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-14-watermark.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-14-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-14-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-14-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-14-watermark.jpg 1121w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hidden in deep valleys, crystal clear streams create more secretive places to explore or to sit quietly by their banks to watch the water flow, sometimes gently, sometimes more noisily, by.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/006-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5989" data-attachment-id="5989" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1676742502","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="006-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/006-watermark.jpg?w=576" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/006-watermark.jpg?w=226" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/006-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="576,766" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/02/18/three-very-special-cotswold-reasons-revisited/006-watermark/" height="766" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/006-watermark.jpg?w=576" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/006-watermark.jpg 576w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/006-watermark.jpg?w=113 113w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/006-watermark.jpg?w=226 226w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="576" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The River Evenlode</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The King’s Men stone circle forms part of the Rollright Stones</strong> and have been a meeting place since they were set here 4,500 years ago. In early morning light they appear mysterious and brooding but when the sun strikes them their colours and markings are awe inspiring. Rest here a while, at a time when you can be alone, for the feeling of peace is palpable.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-5-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5991" data-attachment-id="5991" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="rollright-stones-5-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-5-watermark.jpg?w=576" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-5-watermark.jpg?w=227" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-5-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="576,762" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/02/18/three-very-special-cotswold-reasons-revisited/rollright-stones-5-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-5-watermark.jpg?w=576" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-5-watermark.jpg 576w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-5-watermark.jpg?w=113 113w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-5-watermark.jpg?w=227 227w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-3-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5993" data-attachment-id="5993" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="rollright-stones-3-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-3-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-3-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-3-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="860,767" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/02/18/three-very-special-cotswold-reasons-revisited/rollright-stones-3-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 860px) 100vw, 860px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-3-watermark.jpg?w=860" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-3-watermark.jpg 860w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-3-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-3-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-3-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And give back to the soil an offering, (when we have taken so much away), as others have done from the beginnings of time and continue to do so. Single flowers placed at the centre of the circle have a calm simplicity…</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-12-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5997" data-attachment-id="5997" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1676743467","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="rollright-stones-12-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-12-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-12-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-12-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1030,770" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/02/18/three-very-special-cotswold-reasons-revisited/rollright-stones-12-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-12-watermark.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-12-watermark.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-12-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-12-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-12-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/rollright-stones-12-watermark.jpg 1030w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2. Nature. </strong>It is impossible not to be aware of nature in the Cotswolds, whether it is the magnificence of old trees, the deer crossing roads in front of you or the cloud formations of our large skyscapes. This ancient ash tree has watched centuries of agricultural change take place and, despite modern farming practice, still stands proud in a hedgerow dividing wheatfields. In 2009 the fungal disease Ash Dieback was unknown. It is now thought that the majority of ash trees will succumb to it robbing the English landscape of their beauty. At present, the old pollard seems unaffected but whether it will survive only time will tell.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/ash-pollard-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5999" data-attachment-id="5999" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="ash-pollard-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/ash-pollard-watermark.jpg?w=578" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/ash-pollard-watermark.jpg?w=225" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/ash-pollard-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="578,770" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/02/18/three-very-special-cotswold-reasons-revisited/ash-pollard-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/ash-pollard-watermark.jpg?w=578" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/ash-pollard-watermark.jpg 578w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/ash-pollard-watermark.jpg?w=113 113w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/ash-pollard-watermark.jpg?w=225 225w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Since 2009 we have all become so much more aware of the value of dark skies. With so few big towns, the Cotswolds is a place where the nights are darker and the stars shine more brightly.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/sunset-moon-mono-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6001" data-attachment-id="6001" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1590445344","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="sunset-moon-mono-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/sunset-moon-mono-watermark.jpg?w=530" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/sunset-moon-mono-watermark.jpg?w=221" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/sunset-moon-mono-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="530,719" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/02/18/three-very-special-cotswold-reasons-revisited/sunset-moon-mono-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 530px) 100vw, 530px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/sunset-moon-mono-watermark.jpg?w=530" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/sunset-moon-mono-watermark.jpg 530w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/sunset-moon-mono-watermark.jpg?w=111 111w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/sunset-moon-mono-watermark.jpg?w=221 221w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Deer are common throughout the Cotswolds</strong>. Roe and the introduced Muntjac are frequently seen but perhaps the prettiest, when in their spotted summer coats, are the Fallow.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/fallow-deer-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6003" data-attachment-id="6003" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="fallow-deer-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/fallow-deer-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/fallow-deer-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/fallow-deer-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1021,763" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/02/18/three-very-special-cotswold-reasons-revisited/fallow-deer-watermark-2/" sizes="(max-width: 1021px) 100vw, 1021px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/fallow-deer-watermark.jpg?w=1021" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/fallow-deer-watermark.jpg 1021w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/fallow-deer-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/fallow-deer-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/fallow-deer-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In our rivers and streams, otters, although rarely seen, are now becoming evermore common – something else that has happened since 2009.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/otter-4-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6005" data-attachment-id="6005" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="otter-4-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/otter-4-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/otter-4-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/otter-4-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="957,720" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/02/18/three-very-special-cotswold-reasons-revisited/otter-4-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 957px) 100vw, 957px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/otter-4-watermark.jpg?w=957" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/otter-4-watermark.jpg 957w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/otter-4-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/otter-4-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/otter-4-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There are some exotic surprises too!</strong> A macaw outside a garage in Charlbury and alpaca seem to be everywhere, I wrote in 2009. The macaw has gone and even alpaca seem less common now but not far from the <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">secret valley</em> it is possible to see wolves and bear. I don’t think the two facts are connected!</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/wolf-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6007" data-attachment-id="6007" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="wolf-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/wolf-watermark.jpg?w=477" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/wolf-watermark.jpg?w=201" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/wolf-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="477,713" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/02/18/three-very-special-cotswold-reasons-revisited/wolf-watermark/" height="713" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 477px) 100vw, 477px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/wolf-watermark.jpg?w=477" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/wolf-watermark.jpg 477w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/wolf-watermark.jpg?w=100 100w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/wolf-watermark.jpg?w=201 201w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="477" /></a></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/european-brown-bear-copyright.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6009" data-attachment-id="6009" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1505733214","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="european-brown-bear-copyright" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/european-brown-bear-copyright.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/european-brown-bear-copyright.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/european-brown-bear-copyright.jpg" data-orig-size="885,719" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/02/18/three-very-special-cotswold-reasons-revisited/european-brown-bear-copyright/" sizes="(max-width: 885px) 100vw, 885px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/european-brown-bear-copyright.jpg?w=885" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/european-brown-bear-copyright.jpg 885w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/european-brown-bear-copyright.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/european-brown-bear-copyright.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/european-brown-bear-copyright.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3. History. </strong>The Cotswolds are steeped in history and it is the history of wealth and the power it brings. Sheep – or more accurately, their wool – were the originators of this wealth and the region still has a higher population of sheep to humans. But how to illustrate this when there is so much scope to choose from? Bliss Mill, in Chipping Norton, is now converted to luxury apartments but, for most of its time, produced some of the finest tweeds in Britain. I have since written in more detail of the history of the mill, the fire that engulfed it and the strike by the workers that brought poverty and starvation to the town (link <a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2021/10/25/chipping-norton-bliss/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">here</a>).</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-22-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6011" data-attachment-id="6011" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1635153646","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="chipping-norton-bliss-mill-22-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-22-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-22-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-22-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="955,720" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/02/18/three-very-special-cotswold-reasons-revisited/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-22-watermark-2/" sizes="(max-width: 955px) 100vw, 955px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-22-watermark.jpg?w=955" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-22-watermark.jpg 955w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-22-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-22-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-22-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The churches of the Cotswolds were also a by-product of wool</strong> – the wealth it created is often shown by their huge size in proportion to the numbers of the local population. The photos I originally published were of St Mary’s, Chipping Norton. The ones below are of St Mary’s, Swinbrook; the village was the home of the famous (or, perhaps, infamous), Mitford sisters.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/swinbrook-mitford-sisters-1a-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6014" data-attachment-id="6014" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="swinbrook-mitford-sisters-1a-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/swinbrook-mitford-sisters-1a-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/swinbrook-mitford-sisters-1a-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/swinbrook-mitford-sisters-1a-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="850,651" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/02/18/three-very-special-cotswold-reasons-revisited/swinbrook-mitford-sisters-1a-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/swinbrook-mitford-sisters-1a-watermark.jpg?w=850" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/swinbrook-mitford-sisters-1a-watermark.jpg 850w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/swinbrook-mitford-sisters-1a-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/swinbrook-mitford-sisters-1a-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/swinbrook-mitford-sisters-1a-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In 1940 the church suffered damage by a stray German bomb during WW2</em>…</figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/swinbrook-mitford-sisters-17-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6015" data-attachment-id="6015" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="swinbrook-mitford-sisters-17-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/swinbrook-mitford-sisters-17-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/swinbrook-mitford-sisters-17-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/swinbrook-mitford-sisters-17-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="952,712" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/02/18/three-very-special-cotswold-reasons-revisited/swinbrook-mitford-sisters-17-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 952px) 100vw, 952px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/swinbrook-mitford-sisters-17-watermark.jpg?w=952" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/swinbrook-mitford-sisters-17-watermark.jpg 952w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/swinbrook-mitford-sisters-17-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/swinbrook-mitford-sisters-17-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/swinbrook-mitford-sisters-17-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">…the vicar collected the ancient shattered glass</em> <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">which was incorporated into this memorial window</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">So, come and visit the Cotswolds and decide for yourself</strong>. And, in the meantime, select three things that make your special place, special.</p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add="><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a>JOHN SHORTLAND, Cotswold Hills, England.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11702000270961029986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723797518858451239.post-83194661123367953342023-01-14T05:05:00.017-08:002023-01-20T05:10:52.676-08:00Winter pruning of limes, hazels & dogwoods<div><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hard pruning takes courage and gardeners are often reluctant to </strong>carry it out for fear of harming or, even worse, killing the plant. Once it is understood that more trees and shrubs are lost through neglect than by pruning the task becomes somewhat easier. In far too many gardens woody plants are grubbed out because they have outgrown their allotted space when judicious pruning at an earlier stage of their life would have allowed them to thrive and give pleasure for many more years.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/overgrown-shrub-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5950" data-attachment-id="5950" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="overgrown-shrub-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/overgrown-shrub-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/overgrown-shrub-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/overgrown-shrub-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="957,718" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/01/14/winter-pruning-of-limes-hazels-dogwoods/overgrown-shrub-watermark/" height="460" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 614px) 100vw, 614px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/overgrown-shrub-watermark.jpg?w=957" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/overgrown-shrub-watermark.jpg?w=614 614w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/overgrown-shrub-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/overgrown-shrub-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/overgrown-shrub-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/overgrown-shrub-watermark.jpg 957w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="614" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Outgrown its space? Don’t remove it, prune it!</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">January and February are the perfect months for carrying out </strong>coppicing and pollarding and some shrubs like willow and dogwoods, grown for the winter colour of their bark, are actually improved by the process. Coppicing and pollarding are traditional techniques that have been carried out for centuries in woods and forests to provide a plentiful supply of fuel and fencing materials. As with all procedures, jargon evolves and coppicing and pollarding are just words that describe the removal of branches back to the tree trunk (coppicing) or, in the case of pollarding, the removal of stems to ground level. Somehow, if you just say to yourself, “cut off every branch” the mystery of the process disappears and becomes less intimidating.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/willow-cordwood-2-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5957" data-attachment-id="5957" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="willow-cordwood-2-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/willow-cordwood-2-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/willow-cordwood-2-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/willow-cordwood-2-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="962,717" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/01/14/winter-pruning-of-limes-hazels-dogwoods/willow-cordwood-2-watermark-2/" sizes="(max-width: 962px) 100vw, 962px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/willow-cordwood-2-watermark.jpg?w=962" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/willow-cordwood-2-watermark.jpg 962w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/willow-cordwood-2-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/willow-cordwood-2-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/willow-cordwood-2-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Willows – some newly pollarded line a riverbank</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Limes (<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Tilia</em>) are very beautiful when grown as full-sized trees but</strong> become far too large for most gardens. They are better planted as parkland trees in a field, if you are lucky enough to own one, where there stature and grace can be appreciated from a distance. Too often they are grown where their branches overhang driveways where they drop their sticky honeydew over vehicles and become a nuisance. Most limes are host to tens of thousands of aphids (greenfly) which feed on its sap and then secrete the unwanted waste. Somehow, the gardener’s jargon word ‘honeydew’ sounds so much nicer than ‘greenfly crap!’ If you are determined to plant a lime tree in a confined space the Caucasian Lime, <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Tilia x euchlora </em>which doesn’t have this problem is the one to go for. Remember that any tree in a confined space will need its size controlled so read on to find out how to pollard it.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lime-small-leafed-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5955" data-attachment-id="5955" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="lime-small-leafed-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lime-small-leafed-watermark.jpg?w=479" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lime-small-leafed-watermark.jpg?w=200" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lime-small-leafed-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="479,717" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/01/14/winter-pruning-of-limes-hazels-dogwoods/lime-small-leafed-watermark/" height="717" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 479px) 100vw, 479px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lime-small-leafed-watermark.jpg?w=479" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lime-small-leafed-watermark.jpg 479w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lime-small-leafed-watermark.jpg?w=100 100w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lime-small-leafed-watermark.jpg?w=200 200w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="479" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Limes, when mature, are beautiful but very large trees</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The time to pollard a tree is winter and January, when</strong> there isn’t too much to do gardening-wise, is the perfect month. I always aim to complete by the 31st which allows time to continue into February, if need be. By the middle of that month the sap will be starting to rise within the tree so it is sensible to complete the task by then. It is very straightforward to remove the branches for which you will need secateurs for smaller twigs, loppers for larger ones and a sharp pruning saw for anything bigger still. Which tool to use when? That too is easy to know. Secateurs and loppers should cut through the stems easily – if you need to twist the tool or the stem, you should be using the saw.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/willow-pollard-5-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5953" data-attachment-id="5953" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="willow-pollard-5-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/willow-pollard-5-watermark.jpg?w=536" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/willow-pollard-5-watermark.jpg?w=224" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/willow-pollard-5-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="536,717" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/01/14/winter-pruning-of-limes-hazels-dogwoods/willow-pollard-5-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 536px) 100vw, 536px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/willow-pollard-5-watermark.jpg?w=536" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/willow-pollard-5-watermark.jpg 536w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/willow-pollard-5-watermark.jpg?w=112 112w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/willow-pollard-5-watermark.jpg?w=224 224w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By midsummer there is plenty of new growth on this old willow pollard</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Common sense will tell you that if</strong> you remove all branches from a tree there will be nothing left to offer any screening. This isn’t always important and coppiced trees send out new growth very rapidly as the weather warms up. However, for privacy or a different ornamental effect more careful pruning is required. All that needs to be done is to cut back any branch or twig that has grown beyond the space you have allocated for it.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lime-allee-3-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5959" data-attachment-id="5959" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="lime-allee-3-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lime-allee-3-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lime-allee-3-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lime-allee-3-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="958,717" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/01/14/winter-pruning-of-limes-hazels-dogwoods/lime-allee-3-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 958px) 100vw, 958px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lime-allee-3-watermark.jpg?w=958" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lime-allee-3-watermark.jpg 958w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lime-allee-3-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lime-allee-3-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lime-allee-3-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A pollarded lime allee provides drama and a focal point</em></figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lime-allee-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5961" data-attachment-id="5961" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="lime-allee-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lime-allee-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lime-allee-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lime-allee-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1030,772" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/01/14/winter-pruning-of-limes-hazels-dogwoods/lime-allee-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lime-allee-watermark.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lime-allee-watermark.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lime-allee-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lime-allee-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lime-allee-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/lime-allee-watermark.jpg 1030w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This lime allee has had its side branches retained to give denser summer screening</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Limes are not often grown for the colour of their </strong>winter twigs probably as they are up rather high and so less noticeable. Willows (<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Salix</em>) (when coppiced, for they can also be pollarded) and dogwoods (<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Cornus</em>) are very different for their bright yellow, orange or scarlet stems are very visible and a mainstay for any winter garden. They are also quite simple to prune as it is all carried out at ground level. When the plants are mature, I prefer to cut them over a three year period as this retains their overall height. Quite simply, it means that only a third of the stems are removed or, if you have plenty of shrubs, completely prune one in every three to their base. The purpose behind this pruning is not so much to control their size but to maintain the strength of colour which is at its best on younger shoots. If left, they gradually become quite dull.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/cornus-stems-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5963" data-attachment-id="5963" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="cornus-stems-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/cornus-stems-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/cornus-stems-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/cornus-stems-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1081,720" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/01/14/winter-pruning-of-limes-hazels-dogwoods/cornus-stems-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/cornus-stems-watermark.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/cornus-stems-watermark.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/cornus-stems-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/cornus-stems-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/cornus-stems-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/cornus-stems-watermark.jpg 1081w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The coloured stems of dogwoods</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hazels are treated very much like willows an</strong>d dogwoods, although the usual purpose is purely to maintain a convenient size or to provide ‘pea sticks’ to be used for supporting summer plants as well as peas and beans. For guidance take a look at my earlier post from 2021 which can be read by clicking on the link <a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2021/02/18/coppicing-hazel-the-how-the-why-the-where/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">here.</a></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/hazel-tunnel-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5965" data-attachment-id="5965" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1613659032","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="hazel-tunnel-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/hazel-tunnel-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/hazel-tunnel-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/hazel-tunnel-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="956,719" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2023/01/14/winter-pruning-of-limes-hazels-dogwoods/hazel-tunnel-watermark-2/" height="461" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 614px) 100vw, 614px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/hazel-tunnel-watermark.jpg?w=956" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/hazel-tunnel-watermark.jpg?w=614 614w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/hazel-tunnel-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/hazel-tunnel-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/hazel-tunnel-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/hazel-tunnel-watermark.jpg 956w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="614" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A hazel tunnel is created by partial coppicing to reduce the number of tall stems</em></figcaption></figure></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add="><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a>JOHN SHORTLAND, Cotswold Hills, England.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11702000270961029986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723797518858451239.post-72905780970060912862022-10-08T04:55:00.016-07:002023-01-20T05:05:34.529-08:00Life Stories<div><br /></div><div><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Nearly all of us have family stories passed down to us through </strong>the generations but gradually some element of the story, if not all of it, becomes lost. Over the past twenty years or so our family have written down not only these tales but also a detailed account of our own lives to pass onto future generations. Whether, of course, they will be that interested who can tell but it is quite likely that someone one day will be.</p><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When the family first began to write their life history it felt</strong> self-indulgent and embarrassing, and these emotions must be overcome if it is to be successful. Then, of course, there are decisions to be made as to what to include and what to leave out, after all, we all have moments in our lives that we’d rather forget. So, a decision needs to be made whether to go for the ‘warts and all’ approach or to be a little more restrictive in what you have to say. I think it’s important to be cautious, for no-one wants to intentionally hurt others through careless writing or cause a family rift – unless, of course, you seek revenge! If it is selective memories you decide to write about it is equally important to include the lows as well as the highs, otherwise the writing will not sound genuine. None of us, sadly, just sail through life, after all.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/image-1.png" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5921" data-attachment-id="5921" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="image-1" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/image-1.png?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/image-1.png?w=218" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/image-1.png" data-orig-size="692,951" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2022/10/08/life-stories/image-1/" height="713" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 519px) 100vw, 519px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/image-1.png?w=692" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/image-1.png?w=519 519w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/image-1.png?w=109 109w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/image-1.png?w=218 218w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/image-1.png 692w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="519" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My first big low – the death of my girlfriend, Carolyn, aged 14</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Your life hasn’t just been one of relationships with people. It has </strong>included the places where you have lived, where you studied, where you worked, where you holidayed. I was 37 when I first wrote my story, now aged 70 it’s time for an update. In that thirty-three-year gap I have moved westwards from the Chiltern Hills, where I had lived all my life, to the Cotswolds. I changed careers from the indoor world of retail fashion to my present one of designing and managing gardens. It also includes a two-year stint studying as a full-time student at horticultural college, a couple of years of being involved with the Chelsea Flower Show and working on one of the first garden makeover programmes, Garden Doctors, for Channel 4 television. You and I have lived through a Covid epidemic, witnessed the recent death and funeral of Queen Elizabeth, and part of Europe is at war – all proof that we don’t need to be in our dotage to write down our history. There is no shortage of things to write about!</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/bca-students-94-96.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5924" data-attachment-id="5924" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="bca-students-94-96" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/bca-students-94-96.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/bca-students-94-96.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/bca-students-94-96.jpg" data-orig-size="960,566" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2022/10/08/life-stories/bca-students-94-96/" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/bca-students-94-96.jpg?w=960" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/bca-students-94-96.jpg 960w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/bca-students-94-96.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/bca-students-94-96.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/bca-students-94-96.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">College days – which one is me?!!</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />It was my sister who first persuaded my mother and then me</strong> to write our life stories. Strangely, she was surprisingly reticent when it came to writing her own and took some persuading to take part! However, what we have now is a potted history not only of our lives, but also social conditions and changes that span well over one hundred years. An aunt and an older cousin have both added some of their memories too and now that some years have passed since their deaths, as well as my mother’s, these documents become more interesting and more precious with each passing year.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/zzz.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5927" data-attachment-id="5927" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="zzz" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/zzz.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/zzz.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/zzz.jpg" data-orig-size="1280,720" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2022/10/08/life-stories/zzz/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/zzz.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/zzz.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/zzz.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/zzz.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/zzz.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/zzz.jpg 1280w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Extract from my mother’s memoir detailing the moment in 1945 when she regained consciousness</em><br /><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">from a coma</em> <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">– for the full story of the pioneering treatment she received, <a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2022/06/11/mothers-hero-arthur-rainsford-mowlem/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">click here</a></em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">One of the stories that had been passed down from my</strong> paternal grandmother was the tale of the family’s friendship with a famous poet. The bulk of the story was lost, and we had always assumed that the connection must be with Shelley as the poet’s mother had lived in Marlow, where my grandparents also lived. It was only relatively recently, when researching the family history, that the connection became clear. My grandmother’s cousins had been a close friend of Alfred, Lord Tennyson, the Victorian Poet Laureate. I discovered through this research that our generations weren’t the only ones with lives documented for their friendship with Tennyson, as well as several letters between them, survived in the National Archives. Even better, a memoir had been written by the cousin, later published, which gave delightful insights into their lives: <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“…there was a constant coming and going between the children of each house, all being equally at home in the other…”</em></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/bradley-letter-from-tennyson-to-george-granville-bradley-1855.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5231" data-attachment-id="5231" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"Johnson 19521952","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1510526988","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="bradley-letter-from-tennyson-to-george-granville-bradley-1855" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/bradley-letter-from-tennyson-to-george-granville-bradley-1855.jpg?w=564" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/bradley-letter-from-tennyson-to-george-granville-bradley-1855.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/bradley-letter-from-tennyson-to-george-granville-bradley-1855.jpg" data-orig-size="564,389" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/bradley-letter-from-tennyson-to-george-granville-bradley-1855/" sizes="(max-width: 564px) 100vw, 564px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/bradley-letter-from-tennyson-to-george-granville-bradley-1855.jpg?w=564" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/bradley-letter-from-tennyson-to-george-granville-bradley-1855.jpg 564w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/bradley-letter-from-tennyson-to-george-granville-bradley-1855.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/bradley-letter-from-tennyson-to-george-granville-bradley-1855.jpg?w=300 300w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The start of a friendship – to read more about our family connection with Tennyson <a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2020/09/12/tennyson-and-me/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">click here</a></em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Regular readers of my blog will know that I spent a lot of my time as </strong>a very young man (and now as an old one!) on Exmoor staying and working on a remote hill farm. Although so very different to my own home background and upbringing, I loved the traditional, farming life despite it being such hard work, sometimes in very bleak weather. Now, much of that lifestyle has gone which makes a written record of it all the more valuable – and it is all included as part of my life story. I hadn’t anticipated discovering yet another ancestral cousin had written about his teenage life on Exmoor a hundred years earlier. I also discovered that his sister married and emigrated to New Mexico and published a memoir of her life there in 1898. It seems that writing life histories is a long-established tradition in our family after all! I hadn’t known of the New Mexico connection when I visited there in 1994 – visiting a cousin from another branch of the family who had also emigrated there – even more to go into my updated memoir.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/observations-of-a-ranch-girl-in-new-mexico-1898-edith-bradley.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5931" data-attachment-id="5931" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"john shortland","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1546347579","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="observations-of-a-ranch-girl-in-new-mexico-1898-edith-bradley" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/observations-of-a-ranch-girl-in-new-mexico-1898-edith-bradley.jpg?w=493" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/observations-of-a-ranch-girl-in-new-mexico-1898-edith-bradley.jpg?w=209" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/observations-of-a-ranch-girl-in-new-mexico-1898-edith-bradley.jpg" data-orig-size="493,708" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2022/10/08/life-stories/observations-of-a-ranch-girl-in-new-mexico-1898-edith-bradley/" sizes="(max-width: 493px) 100vw, 493px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/observations-of-a-ranch-girl-in-new-mexico-1898-edith-bradley.jpg?w=493" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/observations-of-a-ranch-girl-in-new-mexico-1898-edith-bradley.jpg 493w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/observations-of-a-ranch-girl-in-new-mexico-1898-edith-bradley.jpg?w=104 104w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/observations-of-a-ranch-girl-in-new-mexico-1898-edith-bradley.jpg?w=209 209w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A memoir from an earlier generation</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">So now that you’re going to write your own historical record what</strong> is the best way to preserve it for posterity? A blog, such as this one is a possibility, and it is an easy way to record events along with appropriate photographs. It may not survive long-term as it depends upon the blog hosting company continuing indefinitely to exist. The same applies to any form of digital storage: in my lifetime we’ve gone from reel-to-reel tape recording to cassette tape recording. Then we became computerised, and storage moved from floppy disk to cd-rom to memory stick. Now only the latter is in common use (how many younger people even know what a floppy disk is?) and that is almost certainly to change. I shall continue to type my memoir with photos attached although hand-written would be even better for it gives a deeper insight into someone’s character as well as looking nicer on the page. Part of the pleasure of reading my mother’s story is that it is in her own handwriting, and it is easier on the eye. We have digitally copied it which means that it can be shared easily amongst the family. Publishing it in book form, as my ancestral cousins did (for it was their only option) is a good way to preserve it. These days it is much harder to find a publisher that is interested although self-publishing could be an option. Lastly, a copy lodged with your local museum or County archive should ensure its survival and many are very interested in receiving a record of everyday life and lives. Go ahead and do it!</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/zzz-1.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5933" data-attachment-id="5933" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="zzz-1" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/zzz-1.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/zzz-1.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/zzz-1.jpg" data-orig-size="1280,720" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2022/10/08/life-stories/zzz-1/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/zzz-1.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/zzz-1.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/zzz-1.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/zzz-1.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/zzz-1.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/zzz-1.jpg 1280w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Include photos, newspaper cuttings, invitations – anything that helps to tell the story</em></figcaption></figure></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add="><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a>JOHN SHORTLAND, Cotswold Hills, England.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11702000270961029986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723797518858451239.post-81565485537988899922022-08-16T11:08:00.000-07:002022-08-16T11:08:51.491-07:00"If Only... If Only..."<div><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What is it in human nature that always</strong> makes us long for the exact opposite of what we are getting at that moment? I wouldn’t go so far as to say that I’m constantly wishing for something different for I’m pretty easy-going – well I think so, anyway <img alt="😊" class="emoji" draggable="false" role="img" scale="0" src="https://s0.wp.com/wp-content/mu-plugins/wpcom-smileys/twemoji/2/svg/1f60a.svg" style="background: none !important; border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; display: inline !important; height: 1em !important; margin: 0px 0.07em !important; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px !important; vertical-align: -0.1em !important; width: 1em !important;" /> But over the last few days I’ve heard myself saying “if only…” a lot more often than is usual. </p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/june-clouds-3-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5890" data-attachment-id="5890" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="june-clouds-3-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/june-clouds-3-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/june-clouds-3-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/june-clouds-3-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1280,720" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2022/08/16/if-only-if-only/june-clouds-3-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/june-clouds-3-watermark.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/june-clouds-3-watermark.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/june-clouds-3-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/june-clouds-3-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/june-clouds-3-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/june-clouds-3-watermark.jpg 1280w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Until Brexit changed our outlook somewhat, as a</strong> nation we were brought up to believe that talking politics (or religion) was taboo, it wasn’t something to discuss even amongst close friends or family. It was always said that the reason for not doing so was to avoid offending anyone. I think that may just have been an assumption and that the real reason for not talking about these things is because we Brits are always taking about the weather. There’s no time left to discuss anything else. One of the certainties in an uncertain world is that in the UK the weather will never be the same two days running. Now even that certainty has been take away from us for we have been suffering from high temperatures and prolonged drought.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/parched-earth-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5892" data-attachment-id="5892" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1660665910","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="parched-earth-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/parched-earth-watermark.jpg?w=535" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/parched-earth-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/parched-earth-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="535,464" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2022/08/16/if-only-if-only/parched-earth-watermark/" height="464" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 535px) 100vw, 535px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/parched-earth-watermark.jpg?w=535" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/parched-earth-watermark.jpg 535w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/parched-earth-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/parched-earth-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="535" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;">P<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">arched earth</em></figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/wildfire-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5908" data-attachment-id="5908" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="wildfire-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/wildfire-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/wildfire-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/wildfire-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1022,767" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2022/08/16/if-only-if-only/wildfire-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 1022px) 100vw, 1022px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/wildfire-watermark.jpg?w=1022" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/wildfire-watermark.jpg 1022w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/wildfire-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/wildfire-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/wildfire-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wildfire – a little too close to home for comfort. (We’re ok!)</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I have extended family scattered all over the</strong> world and as a child lived in a house where foreign accents and languages were frequently heard for not all of our visitors spoke English. One of the phrases that was a constant, for we lived in the countryside, was how green our landscape was. Those that came from more tropical climes couldn’t believe how cool our summers were either. This year they would feel more at home for our fields and woods are tinder dry and our grass parched and brown. It is for this reason that I have been saying “if only…” As a relief from the arid conditions, I have decided to write about cooler, wetter times not because I really want it to snow in August but so that we had some images to look at to remind us that, unlike many other places, our drought and oppressive heat is unlikely to last very long in comparison. If it helps to make me feel slightly less grumpy about our present state, then so much the better.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/glyme-cottage-3-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5894" data-attachment-id="5894" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1526226894","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="glyme-cottage-3-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/glyme-cottage-3-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/glyme-cottage-3-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/glyme-cottage-3-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="955,720" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2022/08/16/if-only-if-only/glyme-cottage-3-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 955px) 100vw, 955px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/glyme-cottage-3-watermark.jpg?w=955" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/glyme-cottage-3-watermark.jpg 955w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/glyme-cottage-3-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/glyme-cottage-3-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/glyme-cottage-3-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">View from our garden in a normal year – nice and green!</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“If only it was colder”</strong> – to wake up at the break of day to cloudless skies and sunshine is, to put it frankly, un-British. There’s nothing worse than to lie in bed overheating only to find no relief when you get up. Give me a crisp, frosty morning any day, when the sky is blue, the air cold and our little river shimmering, not in a heat-haze but a cold-haze. Of course, in reality, our winters aren’t like that very often. Far too often the days are grey and gloomy but I’m highly unlikely to say “if only…” about one of those.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/secret-valley-8-copyright.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5896" data-attachment-id="5896" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1425071302","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="secret-valley-8-copyright" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/secret-valley-8-copyright.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/secret-valley-8-copyright.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/secret-valley-8-copyright.jpg" data-orig-size="960,720" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2022/08/16/if-only-if-only/secret-valley-8-copyright/" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/secret-valley-8-copyright.jpg?w=960" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/secret-valley-8-copyright.jpg 960w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/secret-valley-8-copyright.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/secret-valley-8-copyright.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/secret-valley-8-copyright.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A rare day when it’s bitterly cold but sunny – just how I like it!</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“If only it would snow”</strong> – I love the white stuff even though it does make life more difficult. Whether the drifts are across the road or not, we have to be out in it to attend to our horses for they need feeding and watering whatever the weather. Snow in southern England is a very hit or miss affair and we have had none for the last few years. Only once in the past twenty years of living in the secret valley have I had snow deep enough to ski on and it is a great source of pride and pleasure that I managed it even once. There is nothing like clipping on a pair of skis and swishing through a landscape that has been silenced by snow. The photos below were taken some years ago – just looking at them makes me feel pleasantly cool.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/snow-2007-2-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5898" data-attachment-id="5898" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1640106676","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="snow-2007-2-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/snow-2007-2-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/snow-2007-2-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/snow-2007-2-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="954,719" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2022/08/16/if-only-if-only/snow-2007-2-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 954px) 100vw, 954px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/snow-2007-2-watermark.jpg?w=954" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/snow-2007-2-watermark.jpg 954w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/snow-2007-2-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/snow-2007-2-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/snow-2007-2-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wintry view from our house</em></figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/snow-2010-15-copyright.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5900" data-attachment-id="5900" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1422697800","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="snow-2010-15-copyright" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/snow-2010-15-copyright.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/snow-2010-15-copyright.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/snow-2010-15-copyright.jpg" data-orig-size="960,720" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2022/08/16/if-only-if-only/snow-2010-15-copyright/" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/snow-2010-15-copyright.jpg?w=960" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/snow-2010-15-copyright.jpg 960w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/snow-2010-15-copyright.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/snow-2010-15-copyright.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/snow-2010-15-copyright.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The road leading out of the valley</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“If only it would rain”</strong> – these words are almost never spoken in this island nation for rain is constantly being blown inland on a south-westerly from off the Atlantic Ocean. However, at the moment, it is rain we need more than anything. Our garden plants are shrivelling, the winter corn cannot be sown for the ground is rock hard. And as inferred to earlier, we miss our green grass, our wildflowers and the verdancy of our woodlands. The last couple of days the forecasters have been telling us that rain is on its way and that it will be torrential when it arrives. So far, we have had three light showers lasting just a couple of minutes. What we need is two weeks or more of gentle, refreshing rain. Whether we get it we shall have to wait and see. Our valley looks rather splendid when it is flood but I don’t really think we should wish for that. </p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/floods-nov-2012-8-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5902" data-attachment-id="5902" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1574261852","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="floods-nov-2012-8-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/floods-nov-2012-8-watermark.jpg?w=528" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/floods-nov-2012-8-watermark.jpg?w=225" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/floods-nov-2012-8-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="528,703" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2022/08/16/if-only-if-only/floods-nov-2012-8-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 528px) 100vw, 528px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/floods-nov-2012-8-watermark.jpg?w=528" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/floods-nov-2012-8-watermark.jpg 528w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/floods-nov-2012-8-watermark.jpg?w=113 113w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/floods-nov-2012-8-watermark.jpg?w=225 225w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Our little house sits high above the river so flooding isn’t a problem</em></figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/floods-oct-2020-9-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5903" data-attachment-id="5903" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1601816008","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="floods-oct-2020-9-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/floods-oct-2020-9-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/floods-oct-2020-9-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/floods-oct-2020-9-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="952,717" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2022/08/16/if-only-if-only/floods-oct-2020-9-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 952px) 100vw, 952px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/floods-oct-2020-9-watermark.jpg?w=952" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/floods-oct-2020-9-watermark.jpg 952w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/floods-oct-2020-9-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/floods-oct-2020-9-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/floods-oct-2020-9-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It’s sometimes hard to imagine that the little river can flood so much</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There is one more “if only…” that I know I shall</strong> be saying before long and that is “if only it would go back to that lovely summer weather we were having.” Some people are just never satisfied!</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/dawn-9-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5905" data-attachment-id="5905" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1632835742","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="dawn-9-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/dawn-9-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/dawn-9-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/dawn-9-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="953,720" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2022/08/16/if-only-if-only/dawn-9-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 953px) 100vw, 953px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/dawn-9-watermark.jpg?w=953" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/dawn-9-watermark.jpg 953w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/dawn-9-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/dawn-9-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/dawn-9-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A</em> <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">glorious sunrise over the valley</em></figcaption></figure></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add="><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a>JOHN SHORTLAND, Cotswold Hills, England.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11702000270961029986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723797518858451239.post-62304821644049441502022-06-11T07:06:00.002-07:002022-06-21T13:20:08.670-07:00mother's hero: Arthur rainsford mowlem<div><br /></div><div><header class="entry-header" style="margin: 0px auto; width: 584.263px;"><div class="entry-meta" style="border: 0px; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; left: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; z-index: 1;"><span class="sep" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Posted on </span><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2022/06/11/mothers-hero-arthur-rainsford-mowlem/" rel="bookmark" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="1:41 pm">June 11, 2022</a></div></header><div class="entry-content" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 1.625em 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 584.263px;"><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When I published my article on ‘The Man Who Never Was’,</strong> the story of Operation Mincemeat, a year ago, I hadn’t realised that a film was to be released in May 2022. Perhaps, if I had I would have delayed the publication by a few months! In it, I described the rather tenuous connection with my father’s cousin, HAL Fisher. The interest and comments I received made me explore deception used as a weapon during World War II. It was this that led me to learn about the use of plastic surgery to change people’s appearance for the purpose of espionage. </p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/arthur_rainsford_mowlem.jpeg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5857" data-attachment-id="5857" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="arthur_rainsford_mowlem" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/arthur_rainsford_mowlem.jpeg?w=185" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/arthur_rainsford_mowlem.jpeg?w=185" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/arthur_rainsford_mowlem.jpeg" data-orig-size="185,240" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2022/06/11/mothers-hero-arthur-rainsford-mowlem/arthur_rainsford_mowlem/" height="322" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 249px) 100vw, 249px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/arthur_rainsford_mowlem.jpeg?w=185" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/arthur_rainsford_mowlem.jpeg 185w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/arthur_rainsford_mowlem.jpeg?w=116 116w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="249" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Arthur Rainsford Mowlem 1902-1986</em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Although surgery to alter appearance has been carried out to</strong> a limited extent throughout history it was during the Second World War that it began to be developed in earnest. A popular reason given for this was the desire to treat badly injured pilots who had survived their aircraft being shot down. However, there was a far more secret purpose being carried out too – to assist the SOE (the UK’s Special Operations Executive) in their missions behind enemy lines. In released official documents, the procedures – known euphemistically as ‘permanent make-up’ – are listed as casually as one might write a shopping list: ‘plastic operations to forehead’, ‘surgical operations to ears’, and so on. Once war was over some of the recipients began to talk about their treatment which, although disapproved of by the Government, were not silenced.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/medhum-2019-011792f05.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5859" data-attachment-id="5859" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="medhum-2019-011792f05" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/medhum-2019-011792f05.jpg?w=576" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/medhum-2019-011792f05.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/medhum-2019-011792f05.jpg" data-orig-size="576,572" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2022/06/11/mothers-hero-arthur-rainsford-mowlem/medhum-2019-011792f05/" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/medhum-2019-011792f05.jpg?w=576" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/medhum-2019-011792f05.jpg 576w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/medhum-2019-011792f05.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/medhum-2019-011792f05.jpg?w=300 300w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“An excellent agent and a dependable officer” – before and after surgery</em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Arthur Rainsford Mowlem, born in New Zealand in 1902, came</strong> to England in the late ‘20s to further his development as a medic. In 1936 he joined the practice of Sir Harold Gillies, also a New Zealander and described as ‘the father of modern plastic surgery’. Here they worked alongside pioneering new methods of treatment. It is unknown when or how Mowlem and other surgeons were enlisted to help the SOE and Mowlem never spoke of it during his lifetime. However, in correspondence between him and the SOE he discusses the prospect of surgery to alter the appearance of a French agent. How Mowlem felt about operating on these healthy men is unknown but an un-named surgeon tells of how the work now required of them “was a mockery of all that they had trained for”.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/rae-ober-c-1937-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5861" data-attachment-id="5861" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1654952232","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="rae-ober-c-1937-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/rae-ober-c-1937-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/rae-ober-c-1937-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/rae-ober-c-1937-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1026,645" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2022/06/11/mothers-hero-arthur-rainsford-mowlem/rae-ober-c-1937-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/rae-ober-c-1937-watermark.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/rae-ober-c-1937-watermark.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/rae-ober-c-1937-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/rae-ober-c-1937-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/rae-ober-c-1937-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/rae-ober-c-1937-watermark.jpg 1026w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My mother, Rachel Oberzanek: 21st birthday portrait</em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My mother’s career with Odeon Cinemas had progressed rapidly</strong> throughout the war and by 1944 she was heading the Licencing Department with a team of assistants. Odeon had, by then, evacuated their offices from London to the small, riverside town of Marlow in Buckinghamshire. She was accommodated in a lovely and old country house in the nearby village of Well End. Living at the Old Malt House must have seemed a different world from the London’s West End where she had been brought up and she would tell of how she would lean out of her bedroom window to pick fruit from the grapevine that grew on the house walls. With extensive grounds, a cook and a housekeeper and the use of a chauffeured car it must have been a life of relative luxury that she would have been unused to. It was here that she also met her future husband – my father – so a very happy and untroubled time for her. All that changed in an instance when, on the first day of December 1945 during the black-out, her car was involved in a head-on accident. </p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/malt-house-well-end-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5863" data-attachment-id="5863" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1612099912","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="malt-house-well-end-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/malt-house-well-end-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/malt-house-well-end-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/malt-house-well-end-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1000,718" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2022/06/11/mothers-hero-arthur-rainsford-mowlem/malt-house-well-end-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/malt-house-well-end-watermark.jpg?w=1000" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/malt-house-well-end-watermark.jpg 1000w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/malt-house-well-end-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/malt-house-well-end-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/malt-house-well-end-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Old Malt House, Well End </em><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">– grapevines cover the front of the building – c1943</em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In those days of cars with no seat belts, my</strong> mother had taken the full force of the crash and had been catapulted through the windscreen. Unconscious, she was taken by ambulance to Wycombe Hospital and with multiple facial and head injuries unexpected to survive the night. Fortunately, Odeon proved to be excellent and supportive employers, driving her parents down from London and accommodating them so that they were able to visit her regularly. On Christmas Day she came out of the coma unaware of what had happened over the past month. She would tell of how she had first heard singing and, opening her eyes, saw a blurred vision of people dressed in white that she though must be angels. They were, of course, her nurses singing a carol! Badly scarred and with broken nose and cheekbones she was finally released from hospital unable to work and embarrassed about being seen in public. In her memoir, she described the first day she had to enter a crowded room and how it fell silent when she appeared, a humiliating and distressing moment. </p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/c1940-ober-rae-at-the-old-malt-house-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5869" data-attachment-id="5869" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1654953788","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="c1940-ober-rae-at-the-old-malt-house-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/c1940-ober-rae-at-the-old-malt-house-watermark.jpg?w=521" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/c1940-ober-rae-at-the-old-malt-house-watermark.jpg?w=217" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/c1940-ober-rae-at-the-old-malt-house-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="521,719" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2022/06/11/mothers-hero-arthur-rainsford-mowlem/c1940-ober-rae-at-the-old-malt-house-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 521px) 100vw, 521px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/c1940-ober-rae-at-the-old-malt-house-watermark.jpg?w=521" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/c1940-ober-rae-at-the-old-malt-house-watermark.jpg 521w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/c1940-ober-rae-at-the-old-malt-house-watermark.jpg?w=109 109w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/c1940-ober-rae-at-the-old-malt-house-watermark.jpg?w=217 217w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My mother, in the grounds of The Old Malt House, and looking so happy, just before the accident that changed her life – and her appearance</em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Six months after her accident, Odeon who had been</strong> caring for her as well as paying her salary all this time arranged for her to be taken to London to see a doctor at The London Clinic in Harley Street. The doctor was surgeon Arthur Rainsford Mowlem; in mother’s words, “a charming man who promised me he would do all he could.” There followed a series of operations over many weeks where he reconstructed the badly damaged side of her face, repaired the cheekbones, and rebuilt her badly broken nose using part of her hipbone. Looking at her wedding photograph, taken such a short time after in the autumn of 1946, his skilful work is quite extraordinary although my mother kept the picture hidden away; all she could see was a face that didn’t quite belong to her. Nowadays, I imagine, she would have received some sort of counselling but then it was just a case of ‘getting on with it’.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/mum-h-wedding-photo-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5865" data-attachment-id="5865" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1553977674","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="mum-h-wedding-photo-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/mum-h-wedding-photo-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/mum-h-wedding-photo-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/mum-h-wedding-photo-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1040,720" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2022/06/11/mothers-hero-arthur-rainsford-mowlem/mum-h-wedding-photo-watermark-2/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/mum-h-wedding-photo-watermark.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/mum-h-wedding-photo-watermark.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/mum-h-wedding-photo-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/mum-h-wedding-photo-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/mum-h-wedding-photo-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/mum-h-wedding-photo-watermark.jpg 1040w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My parents on their wedding day – just weeks after her face had been reconstructed</em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Living well into her 90s, mother’s issues with discomfort in </strong>her neck and head waned over time only to be replaced by a later source of (bemused) irritation. When visiting hospitals there would be a succession of doctors and nurses wanting to look at her facial surgery for none had seen such early reconstruction and to see how it had fared over seventy years. She had been told that she was the first civilian to receive plastic surgery and for the remainder of her long life she was eternally grateful to Odeon Cinemas who had cared for her and paid for her treatment. Most of all, she was grateful to Rainsford Mowlem, without whom she would have had a lifetime of disfigurement; to her he was, indeed a hero.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/rae-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5871" data-attachment-id="5871" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1654954214","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="rae-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/rae-watermark.jpg?w=479" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/rae-watermark.jpg?w=202" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/rae-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="479,711" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2022/06/11/mothers-hero-arthur-rainsford-mowlem/rae-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 479px) 100vw, 479px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/rae-watermark.jpg?w=479" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/rae-watermark.jpg 479w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/rae-watermark.jpg?w=101 101w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/rae-watermark.jpg?w=202 202w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mum on her 90th birthday – and seventy years after the facial reconstruction</em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">To read the story of <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Operation Mincemeat</strong> and <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Man Who Never Was</strong> <a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2021/07/17/grandma-and-the-man-who-never-was/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">click here</a><br /><br /><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">References:</span><br /><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Rainsford_Mowlem" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Wikipedia Arthur Rainsford Mowlem</a></em></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/251088326_Rainsford_Mowlem_1902-1986_An_unsung_father_of_reconstructive_surgery" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Amin, Kavit Rainsford Mowlem: An unsung father of reconstructive surgery</a></em></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7402463/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Bailey, Roderick. Special Operations: a hidden chapter in the histories of facial surgery and human enhancement</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">(CC BY 4.0)</a> <br /><br /><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">EDIT: Today, 21st June, I was delighted to receive this lovely email in response to this blog post from The London Clinic where my mother received her revolutionary treatment 70 years ago. They are happy for me to share it with you</strong></em><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">– you may need to click on the image of the email to make the typeface clearer</strong></em><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">…<br /><br /></strong></em></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_ggHcj9VO7xjZq9PY6JmWfLZAbbZyjQpOv3SM5Ka9nOhdvjhxosjapQed9Q8hPQUiCPL4gmc7a_a3eJQ-EHc4ROmExaYG3K7WvFJKEwOD5K4Bs80lgsYsUKTTn4O4FORvBctLKdOx1RLeb6m2ydjbWRixNnsXjwfVFmv-FJ6UI37FXcSjUGQxJY/s1280/London%20Clinic%20re%20Rae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_ggHcj9VO7xjZq9PY6JmWfLZAbbZyjQpOv3SM5Ka9nOhdvjhxosjapQed9Q8hPQUiCPL4gmc7a_a3eJQ-EHc4ROmExaYG3K7WvFJKEwOD5K4Bs80lgsYsUKTTn4O4FORvBctLKdOx1RLeb6m2ydjbWRixNnsXjwfVFmv-FJ6UI37FXcSjUGQxJY/w455-h256/London%20Clinic%20re%20Rae.jpg" width="455" /></a></em></div><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></em><p></p><div id="atatags-370373-62a49b774c104" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div class="wpcnt" id="wordads-preview-parent" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="wpa" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; transform: translate3d(0px, 0px, 0px); vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add="><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a>JOHN SHORTLAND, Cotswold Hills, England.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11702000270961029986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723797518858451239.post-52621984440315954322022-04-30T04:45:00.033-07:002022-05-01T04:56:25.560-07:00a walk with dinosaurs and romans<div><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">One of the perks of getting older is retirement or</strong>, in my case, semi-retirement. Suddenly, I no longer need to keep checking my watch to see if I have enough time to do things without racing onto something or somewhere else. It has given me time to re-visit some of the pleasures that I enjoyed in the past. One of these is walking. When I was much younger I used to walk the long-distance footpaths and trails that were then just beginning to be created. Now there are literally dozens of them to be enjoyed varying in length from a few dozen miles to several hundred. I’m not up to the lengthy walks of my youth yet – the longest took a fortnight to complete. At present, I’m content to be out for a few hours and, hopefully, the mileage will increase over time. </p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/stonesfield-track-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5819" data-attachment-id="5819" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1651336694","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="stonesfield-track-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/stonesfield-track-watermark.jpg?w=522" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/stonesfield-track-watermark.jpg?w=218" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/stonesfield-track-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="522,719" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/stonesfield-track-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 522px) 100vw, 522px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/stonesfield-track-watermark.jpg?w=522" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/stonesfield-track-watermark.jpg 522w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/stonesfield-track-watermark.jpg?w=109 109w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/stonesfield-track-watermark.jpg?w=218 218w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">England is criss-crossed by public footpaths and longer trails</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The other day my partner and I decided to visit </strong>the Roman villa at North Leigh not far from the small, Cotswold town of Woodstock. Unlike the Roman villa where you rarely see anyone, Woodstock is visited by thousands of international visitors every year, for it is where Blenheim Palace, a World Heritage Site, is located. The two houses, six miles apart in distance but fifteen hundred years apart in their building, are very different. Whereas the Palace is full of priceless treasures, all that is left of the villa are the foundations and a single mosaic floor. At its peak in 300AD, the villa was one of the largest in Britain with suites of rooms, many mosaics and several baths. Now it is quiet, wildflowers scramble over the walls and it is set in glorious countryside close to the River Evenlode. With parking close-by, this was the starting point for the walk.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/roman-villa-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5820" data-attachment-id="5820" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1651336995","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="roman-villa-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/roman-villa-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/roman-villa-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/roman-villa-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="956,720" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/roman-villa-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 956px) 100vw, 956px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/roman-villa-watermark.jpg?w=956" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/roman-villa-watermark.jpg 956w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/roman-villa-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/roman-villa-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/roman-villa-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Roman Villa, once busy – now a haven of peace and quiet</em></figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/roman-villa-2-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5822" data-attachment-id="5822" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1651337270","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="roman-villa-2-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/roman-villa-2-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/roman-villa-2-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/roman-villa-2-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="949,718" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/roman-villa-2-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 949px) 100vw, 949px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/roman-villa-2-watermark.jpg?w=949" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/roman-villa-2-watermark.jpg 949w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/roman-villa-2-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/roman-villa-2-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/roman-villa-2-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wildflowers scramble over the ruins of the Roman villa</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The path to the villa and those leading away from it are </strong>well maintained and marked, making the trail easy to follow. Most of the route we took was on the network of public footpaths that criss-cross England, most of them dating from the time when all travel was either on foot or horse. At one point, the paths joined the Oxfordshire Way, a path of 66 miles in length. This in turn links to other long-distance paths so how long you walk for is entirely up to you! After ten minutes or so, the Evenlode was reached and crossed. Originally known as the Blade, its present name is relatively modern, first being recorded in use in the 1880s. It meanders through the Cotswolds for nearly fifty miles before entering the River Thames. Crossing the river, the path turns to the west and the country changes in character with steep grassy banks rich in wildflowers rising high to our right, the river to our left. Here we’re walking along Akeman Street, an ancient Roman road, once busy but now a quiet, grassy track.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/walk-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5825" data-attachment-id="5825" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1651337560","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="walk-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/walk-watermark.jpg?w=527" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/walk-watermark.jpg?w=221" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/walk-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="527,717" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/walk-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 527px) 100vw, 527px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/walk-watermark.jpg?w=527" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/walk-watermark.jpg 527w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/walk-watermark.jpg?w=110 110w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/walk-watermark.jpg?w=221 221w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The paths cross meadows until the river is reached</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p class="inline-ad-slot" data-adtags-visited="true" data-adtags-width="584" id="inline-ad-0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; float: left; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; height: 0px; margin: 0px auto; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 584px;"></p><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/walk-2-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5827" data-attachment-id="5827" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1651337798","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="walk-2-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/walk-2-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/walk-2-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/walk-2-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="950,718" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/walk-2-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 950px) 100vw, 950px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/walk-2-watermark.jpg?w=950" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/walk-2-watermark.jpg 950w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/walk-2-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/walk-2-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/walk-2-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“The tender Evenlode that makes her meadows hush to hear the sound of water…”</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Before long, the character of the path changes </strong>once more. The Evenlode changes in character too for there is a wide ford – perfect for wild swimming. Various paths meet here but we walked the steep path towards the village of Stonesfield, known locally for its history of making the stone rooftiles that are a feature of old Cotswold properties. In pre-history, the Cotswold Hills were submerged by a warm sea and now fossils can be found quite easily; they can even be seen occasionally in the stones that have been used to build the houses. It was in the Stonesfield loose and flaky rock that the very first dinosaur fossil to be found anywhere in the world was discovered. Close to where it was found, a steel bench inscribed with the words of the French poet Hilaire Belloc has recently been placed – welcome indeed, after clambering up the steep path that leads from the ford to the village.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/4-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5829" data-attachment-id="5829" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1651338224","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="4-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/4-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/4-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/4-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="951,719" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/4-watermark/" height="464" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 614px) 100vw, 614px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/4-watermark.jpg?w=951" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/4-watermark.jpg?w=614 614w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/4-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/4-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/4-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/4-watermark.jpg 951w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="614" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The view of the river from the ford</em></figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/5-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5831" data-attachment-id="5831" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1651338418","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="5-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/5-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/5-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/5-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="950,719" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/5-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 950px) 100vw, 950px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/5-watermark.jpg?w=950" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/5-watermark.jpg 950w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/5-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/5-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/5-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The rocks around the village of Stonesfield yielded the world’s first dinosaur fossil</em></figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hilaire-belloc-benc-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5833" data-attachment-id="5833" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1651338644","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="hilaire-belloc-benc-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hilaire-belloc-benc-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hilaire-belloc-benc-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hilaire-belloc-benc-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="947,718" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/hilaire-belloc-benc-watermark/" height="465" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 614px) 100vw, 614px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hilaire-belloc-benc-watermark.jpg?w=947" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hilaire-belloc-benc-watermark.jpg?w=614 614w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hilaire-belloc-benc-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hilaire-belloc-benc-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hilaire-belloc-benc-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/hilaire-belloc-benc-watermark.jpg 947w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="614" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The steel bench engraved with the words of Hilaire Belloc</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">After a short walk along the edge of the village, our path left</strong> the Oxfordshire Way to descend steeply through meadows before reaching a strip of woodland, Stockey Plantation. Although there are firs planted there, there are also many native beech trees which are, arguably, at there most glorious at this time of year. The newly unfurled leaves are of the most intense green which, along with the deep blue of bluebells and the yellows of other spring flowers are almost too bright for the eyes to bear.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/j6-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5836" data-attachment-id="5836" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1651338862","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="j6-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/j6-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/j6-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/j6-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="953,716" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/j6-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 953px) 100vw, 953px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/j6-watermark.jpg?w=953" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/j6-watermark.jpg 953w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/j6-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/j6-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/j6-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The descent to the woods becomes more gentle as it crosses the meadow</em></figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/7-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5839" data-attachment-id="5839" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1651339142","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="7-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/7-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/7-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/7-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="954,719" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/7-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 954px) 100vw, 954px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/7-watermark.jpg?w=954" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/7-watermark.jpg 954w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/7-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/7-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/7-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The path through the beechwood</em></figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/8-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5841" data-attachment-id="5841" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1651339328","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="8-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/8-watermark.jpg?w=538" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/8-watermark.jpg?w=227" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/8-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="538,711" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/8-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 538px) 100vw, 538px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/8-watermark.jpg?w=538" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/8-watermark.jpg 538w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/8-watermark.jpg?w=114 114w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/8-watermark.jpg?w=227 227w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The intense colours of the beech leaves and bluebells almost hurt the eyes</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Leaving the woodland we reach the Evenlode ford once more but </strong>this time cross it – there is a footbridge, so no need to get wet – before striking off across the fields again to return by an alternative route to the Roman villa and the car beyond. The walk probably took no more than a couple of hours and is relatively easy. The weather, this April has been very dry. At other times, the paths can be muddy and so sensible, walking shoes or boots are recommended. The route we chose does have some steep hills to climb but these can be avoided for there are many paths that keep to the level ground. An Ordnance Survey map of the area is handy to work out routes – I used the app on my phone but paper maps covering all parts of the UK are readily available. </p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/j9-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5843" data-attachment-id="5843" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1651339546","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="j9-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/j9-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/j9-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/j9-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="926,718" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/j9-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 926px) 100vw, 926px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/j9-watermark.jpg?w=926" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/j9-watermark.jpg 926w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/j9-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/j9-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/j9-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The sun seemed to shine brighter in the water than overhead</em></figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/ransoms-4-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5845" data-attachment-id="5845" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1651264670","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="ransoms-4-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/ransoms-4-watermark.jpg?w=531" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/ransoms-4-watermark.jpg?w=221" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/ransoms-4-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="531,720" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/ransoms-4-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 531px) 100vw, 531px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/ransoms-4-watermark.jpg?w=531" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/ransoms-4-watermark.jpg 531w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/ransoms-4-watermark.jpg?w=111 111w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/ransoms-4-watermark.jpg?w=221 221w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In the damper woodlands Ramsons, the wild garlic, carpeted the floor</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p class="inline-ad-slot" data-adtags-visited="true" data-adtags-width="584" id="inline-ad-1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; float: left; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; height: 0px; margin: 0px auto; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 584px;"></p><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">To see more photos of the Roman villa and read of its history take a look at one of my earlier posts by clicking on the link <a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2010/11/16/a-roman-villa-in-the-cotswolds/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><br />To read the full text of Hilaire Beloc’s poem of the Evenlode river click <a href="https://www.poeticous.com/hilaire-belloc/the-evenlode" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">here</a></em></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add="><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a>JOHN SHORTLAND, Cotswold Hills, England.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11702000270961029986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723797518858451239.post-71923878246458930632022-03-28T08:46:00.000-07:002022-03-28T08:46:15.354-07:00nature notes 8<div><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>These words were written by Ernest Pulbrook 100 years ago. I'd say that </b>a century hasn't altered things that much. I've always thought that I learnt far more from roaming the lanes and fields of my country childhood than I ever did from formal schooling!</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFUDVsZi1OqSfBGxMH7JZo9tl7TTLjf9SxJxDh1QHXdUoFMIL8M1RISvuV9hvZDLoeqCGP55Qu4Q6yenKgMA9bjoXhBTg20J1EeIBDdOwa7ZEN7d2ozbTt8YATxYLgcTsFod3UYqztCRr2T9UwiQVycCEDT4DEN654NXCzRq4kCbZhX8AqDNenOtk/s1280/8%20%20On%20The%20Road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFUDVsZi1OqSfBGxMH7JZo9tl7TTLjf9SxJxDh1QHXdUoFMIL8M1RISvuV9hvZDLoeqCGP55Qu4Q6yenKgMA9bjoXhBTg20J1EeIBDdOwa7ZEN7d2ozbTt8YATxYLgcTsFod3UYqztCRr2T9UwiQVycCEDT4DEN654NXCzRq4kCbZhX8AqDNenOtk/w690-h388/8%20%20On%20The%20Road.jpg" width="690" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add="><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a>JOHN SHORTLAND, Cotswold Hills, England.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11702000270961029986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723797518858451239.post-76865177860725069292022-03-20T08:37:00.001-07:002022-03-26T08:43:47.005-07:00NOT SO MAD AFTER ALL<div><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“ As mad as a March hare” so the old saying goes and</strong> at this time of year they certainly seem to be a little bonkers with their racing around, boxing and generally erratic behaviour. However, it isn’t spring madness but sex that is on their minds – rather than being ‘a little bonkers’ it is their desire for a little bonking that drives them to the verge of insanity.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hares-may-day-2021-9-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5779" data-attachment-id="5779" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1647780074","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="hares-may-day-2021-9-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hares-may-day-2021-9-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hares-may-day-2021-9-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hares-may-day-2021-9-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1015,564" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/hares-may-day-2021-9-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 1015px) 100vw, 1015px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hares-may-day-2021-9-watermark.jpg?w=1015" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hares-may-day-2021-9-watermark.jpg 1015w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hares-may-day-2021-9-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hares-may-day-2021-9-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hares-may-day-2021-9-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: calc(100% - 14px); padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Here in the <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">secret valley</em>, as elsewhere, the hare</strong> population in some years is greater than others. It looks as if 2022 is going to be a good year for them for there were eight in the field by our house a couple of days ago. This gave great opportunities to watch them from relative comfort as they hurled themselves at one another and galloped around the field at great speed. Of course, as soon as I reached for the camera they disappeared almost as if they thought that filming hare porn was rather distasteful and embarrassing. After a while I realised there was one keeping well-hidden watching me. </p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-at-glyme-6-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5781" data-attachment-id="5781" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1647780414","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="hare-at-glyme-6-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-at-glyme-6-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-at-glyme-6-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-at-glyme-6-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1000,719" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/hare-at-glyme-6-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-at-glyme-6-watermark.jpg?w=1000" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-at-glyme-6-watermark.jpg 1000w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-at-glyme-6-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-at-glyme-6-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-at-glyme-6-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: calc(100% - 14px); padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The hare forgot to hide its ears…</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This ability to disappear has over the years given</strong> rise to many superstitions and old wives’ tales. They were thought to have mystical properties too and I did on one occasion experience this myself. I was visiting the ancient, subterranean earthwork, New Grange in Ireland. If ever you were going to have a mystical experience it would be here for you enter the tomb by a long, low and very narrow passageway before entering a large stone chamber. With almost no natural light it takes a while for your eyes to grow accustomed to the semi-darkness. The friend that I was with said that she thought she’d fleetingly seen two hares which, of course, was impossible for we were blocking the only exit. Back outside, we came to the spot where the two hares should be and there, at our feet they rested, two baby leverets, completely unafraid of our presence.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/new-grange-3-watermak.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5785" data-attachment-id="5785" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1647781760","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="new-grange-3-watermak" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/new-grange-3-watermak.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/new-grange-3-watermak.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/new-grange-3-watermak.jpg" data-orig-size="1063,719" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/new-grange-3-watermak/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/new-grange-3-watermak.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/new-grange-3-watermak.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/new-grange-3-watermak.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/new-grange-3-watermak.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/new-grange-3-watermak.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/new-grange-3-watermak.jpg 1063w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: calc(100% - 14px); padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The entrance to the prehistoric burial chamber at New Grange</em></figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-new-grange-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5783" data-attachment-id="5783" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1577022558","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="hare-new-grange-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-new-grange-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-new-grange-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-new-grange-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1070,719" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/hare-new-grange-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-new-grange-watermark.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-new-grange-watermark.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-new-grange-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-new-grange-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-new-grange-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-new-grange-watermark.jpg 1070w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: calc(100% - 14px); padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The two baby hares were nestling in the grass…</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The hare has been revered and feared in equal</strong> measure throughout the world. It was considered an ill-omen to meet one upon the road; there are myths concerning the cycles of the moon and the hare both connected to lunacy. It has been much connected with ancient art and can be found in prehistoric rock paintings; in England in the Cotswold town of Cirencester (originally a Roman town known as <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Corinium</em>) we have the magnificent Roman Hare mosaic now on display in the local museum <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(</em><a href="https://coriniummuseum.org/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">link</em> <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">here</em></a><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">)</em>. Discovered fifty years ago, it dates from 400AD and shows the animal feeding.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-mosaic-2-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5787" data-attachment-id="5787" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1610392438","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="hare-mosaic-2-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-mosaic-2-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-mosaic-2-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-mosaic-2-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="952,719" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/hare-mosaic-2-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 952px) 100vw, 952px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-mosaic-2-watermark.jpg?w=952" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-mosaic-2-watermark.jpg 952w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-mosaic-2-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-mosaic-2-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-mosaic-2-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: calc(100% - 14px); padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-mosaic-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5789" data-attachment-id="5789" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1610392710","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="hare-mosaic-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-mosaic-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-mosaic-watermark.jpg?w=245" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-mosaic-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="586,717" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/hare-mosaic-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 586px) 100vw, 586px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-mosaic-watermark.jpg?w=586" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-mosaic-watermark.jpg 586w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-mosaic-watermark.jpg?w=123 123w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-mosaic-watermark.jpg?w=245 245w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: calc(100% - 14px); padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hares are considered to be very nervous and flighty animals</strong> that also have the capacity to do huge amounts of damage if they should enter gardens or orchards. Some years ago, one took up residence in a garden I cared for and I found, at least in this instance, that this was quite untrue. Admittedly, if anyone entered the garden it would quickly hide but It accepted me as part of the garden and would hop around my feet quite happily. It must have been feeding within the garden but I never found this to be a problem. It is always a huge privilege when a wild creature trusts you and to be able to observe one at such close quarters especially so. I always hoped it would raise a family there but I was more than satisfied with having just the one.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-2-copyright.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5791" data-attachment-id="5791" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1404462798","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="hare-2-copyright" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-2-copyright.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-2-copyright.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-2-copyright.jpg" data-orig-size="960,720" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/hare-2-copyright/" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-2-copyright.jpg?w=960" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-2-copyright.jpg 960w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-2-copyright.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-2-copyright.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-2-copyright.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: calc(100% - 14px); padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">‘My’ hare would rest beneath a flowering jasmine but come out to join me in the garden</em></figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-5-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5793" data-attachment-id="5793" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1647782584","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="hare-5-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-5-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-5-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-5-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="948,720" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/hare-5-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 948px) 100vw, 948px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-5-watermark.jpg?w=948" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-5-watermark.jpg 948w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-5-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-5-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-5-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: calc(100% - 14px); padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The hare would hop around my feet…</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">‘<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My’ recent hares finally couldn’t resist returning to</strong> their antics. Outrunning one another with their great speed and ultra-quick turns they, at last, didn’t notice me reaching for the camera. Although tricky to capture on film I finally succeeded. As I did so, I thought of the thirteenth-century poem that I was supposed to recite to avoid bad luck. The Names of the Hare, written in Middle English, lists seventy-eight names – With no memory for lengthy poems, I had to rely upon my previous friendship with the hare and the hope that would hold me in a special, protected place. It seems to have done so but just as the myths claim, today when I went to bid them ‘good-day’, not a hare was in sight.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-at-glyme-mar-22-2-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5796" data-attachment-id="5796" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1647782898","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="hare-at-glyme-mar-22-2-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-at-glyme-mar-22-2-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-at-glyme-mar-22-2-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-at-glyme-mar-22-2-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1040,589" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/hare-at-glyme-mar-22-2-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-at-glyme-mar-22-2-watermark.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-at-glyme-mar-22-2-watermark.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-at-glyme-mar-22-2-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-at-glyme-mar-22-2-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-at-glyme-mar-22-2-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-at-glyme-mar-22-2-watermark.jpg 1040w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: calc(100% - 14px); padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hares-may-day-2021-5a-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5805" data-attachment-id="5805" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1619865668","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="hares-may-day-2021-5a-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hares-may-day-2021-5a-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hares-may-day-2021-5a-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hares-may-day-2021-5a-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1093,478" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/hares-may-day-2021-5a-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hares-may-day-2021-5a-watermark.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hares-may-day-2021-5a-watermark.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hares-may-day-2021-5a-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hares-may-day-2021-5a-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hares-may-day-2021-5a-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hares-may-day-2021-5a-watermark.jpg 1093w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: calc(100% - 14px); padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Success!</em></figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-at-glyme-mar-22-3-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5800" data-attachment-id="5800" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1647783085","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="hare-at-glyme-mar-22-3-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-at-glyme-mar-22-3-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-at-glyme-mar-22-3-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-at-glyme-mar-22-3-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1073,713" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/hare-at-glyme-mar-22-3-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-at-glyme-mar-22-3-watermark.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-at-glyme-mar-22-3-watermark.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-at-glyme-mar-22-3-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-at-glyme-mar-22-3-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-at-glyme-mar-22-3-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/hare-at-glyme-mar-22-3-watermark.jpg 1073w" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(187, 187, 187); height: auto; max-width: calc(100% - 14px); padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Time to go!</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add="><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a>JOHN SHORTLAND, Cotswold Hills, England.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11702000270961029986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723797518858451239.post-70580738486784699322022-02-22T11:00:00.000-08:002022-02-22T11:00:18.394-08:00a hurricane in a teacup<div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">With much of Britain recovering from the effects of </strong>three storms – Dudley, Eunice and Franklin – within ten days and Storm Gladys about to arrive, it seems appropriate to have some up-to-date thoughts on the time when we England experienced a hurricane. Or did we experience one? After the ridicule that poor Michael Fish, the weatherman, had to endure after he proclaimed in 1987 that “Britain doesn’t have hurricanes” only for the nation to wake up to find itself flattened, the forecasters have avoided using the ‘H’ word. Instead we have storms that are now named in the same way as hurricanes. Even more recently still, we are told we have ‘red alert’ storms. So, were these latest storms hurricanes or in reality were they, as my late father would have said, “just a bit of a blow?”</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/furzehill-common-4-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5759" data-attachment-id="5759" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1645545096","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="furzehill-common-4-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/furzehill-common-4-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/furzehill-common-4-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/furzehill-common-4-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1089,719" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/furzehill-common-4-watermark/" height="422" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/furzehill-common-4-watermark.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/furzehill-common-4-watermark.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/furzehill-common-4-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/furzehill-common-4-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/furzehill-common-4-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/furzehill-common-4-watermark.jpg 1089w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: calc(100% - 14px); padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="640" /></a></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I wrote the thoughts below many</strong> years ago when pondering on the English Hurricane and the later 1990 storm. That wasn’t officially a hurricane either but did far more damage – hurricane-like damage, in fact. The only thing that this and these latest storms prove is that the debate hasn’t moved on very much over the intervening years…</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/electrics-4-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5761" data-attachment-id="5761" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1598214958","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="electrics-4-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/electrics-4-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/electrics-4-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/electrics-4-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="956,719" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/electrics-4-watermark/" height="481" sizes="(max-width: 956px) 100vw, 956px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/electrics-4-watermark.jpg?w=956" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/electrics-4-watermark.jpg 956w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/electrics-4-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/electrics-4-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/electrics-4-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: calc(100% - 14px); padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="640" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The dangerous work of reconnecting electricity continues through the night</em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">English people constantly talk about weather</strong>. It’s in our makeup, our genes – we can’t possibly walk past someone, even a total stranger, without saying something about it. We can’t help it, no matter how much we realise that the person isn’t that interested (or, for that matter, even if they don’t speak English, when we madly gesticulate skywards). We rattle on about too much rain, too little rain, too much sun, no sun, cold for the time of year, how warm it is. So, in the spirit of being a true Englishman, despite my part-Polish ancestry, I’m just going to mention that we had a fantastic sunset in the <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">secret valley</em> a couple of days ago.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/silver-birch-winter-sunset-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5763" data-attachment-id="5763" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1638807970","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="silver-birch-winter-sunset-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/silver-birch-winter-sunset-watermark.jpg?w=529" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/silver-birch-winter-sunset-watermark.jpg?w=221" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/silver-birch-winter-sunset-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="529,717" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/silver-birch-winter-sunset-watermark/" height="640" sizes="(max-width: 529px) 100vw, 529px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/silver-birch-winter-sunset-watermark.jpg?w=529" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/silver-birch-winter-sunset-watermark.jpg 529w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/silver-birch-winter-sunset-watermark.jpg?w=111 111w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/silver-birch-winter-sunset-watermark.jpg?w=221 221w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: calc(100% - 14px); padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="472" /></a></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I think the reason we may behave like this</strong> is because English weather is nearly always gentle. The landscape that makes up England is beautiful and can be dramatic but not in the way of so many other countries. Take the USA, for example. Where’s our Grand Canyon, our towering redwoods, our Rocky Mountains, our Great Plains and our Niagara Falls? We have them in miniature and, perhaps, that is just as well as we are such a small country. And likewise, our weather: we have heatwaves, we have floods, we have blizzards. But they are rarely anything truly spectacular (except to those poor people affected by them, of course). And so when we were told by the weather men in 1987 that reports of a hurricane were completely exaggerated, we believed them totally. And despite the fact that much of the country was hit hard by it when it arrived, my part of the Chiltern Hills where I lived at the time was not much affected, even though it is one of the most wooded parts of the country.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/nr-fingest-2-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5765" data-attachment-id="5765" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1505052284","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="nr-fingest-2-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/nr-fingest-2-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/nr-fingest-2-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/nr-fingest-2-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="954,720" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/nr-fingest-2-watermark-3/" height="483" sizes="(max-width: 954px) 100vw, 954px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/nr-fingest-2-watermark.jpg?w=954" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/nr-fingest-2-watermark.jpg 954w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/nr-fingest-2-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/nr-fingest-2-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/nr-fingest-2-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: calc(100% - 14px); padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="640" /></a></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The night in January 1990 was different</strong>. This time we had winds, whilst not as severe as three years earlier, which created total havoc with the already weakened root systems of the trees. Great swathes of the magnificent beech woods that are the very heart and soul of the Chilterns were flattened in a couple of hours. I lived at that time in the middle of one of these woodlands and am frequently reminded that, as the rest of the world cowered in their beds and the trees came crashing down all around our house, I woke up to say “a bit windy out there” before falling asleep again. As dawn broke the true damage to the landscape (but fortunately not our home) could be seen.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ibstone-common-3-copyright.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5767" data-attachment-id="5767" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1504790332","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="ibstone-common-3-copyright" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ibstone-common-3-copyright.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ibstone-common-3-copyright.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ibstone-common-3-copyright.jpg" data-orig-size="901,619" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/ibstone-common-3-copyright/" height="440" sizes="(max-width: 901px) 100vw, 901px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ibstone-common-3-copyright.jpg?w=901" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ibstone-common-3-copyright.jpg 901w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ibstone-common-3-copyright.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ibstone-common-3-copyright.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ibstone-common-3-copyright.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: calc(100% - 14px); padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="640" /></a></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ibstone-common-4-copyright.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5768" data-attachment-id="5768" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1428445197","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="ibstone-common-4-copyright" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ibstone-common-4-copyright.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ibstone-common-4-copyright.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ibstone-common-4-copyright.jpg" data-orig-size="957,720" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/ibstone-common-4-copyright/" height="482" sizes="(max-width: 957px) 100vw, 957px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ibstone-common-4-copyright.jpg?w=957" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ibstone-common-4-copyright.jpg 957w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ibstone-common-4-copyright.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ibstone-common-4-copyright.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ibstone-common-4-copyright.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: calc(100% - 14px); padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="640" /></a></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It is now over thirty years since that storm </strong>and the woodands have been transformed. Those of us that remember the 200 year old beech know that the majority are gone and, in their place, are new trees of mixed species. It will be many years before the magnificence of the woods return but they are healing. This photo below is taken from the same spot as the one above. Some of the biggest old stumps have been left, too difficult to move – time has hardly changed their appearance apart from their ‘roof’ of mosses.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ibstone-common-5-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5770" data-attachment-id="5770" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1645546599","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="ibstone-common-5-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ibstone-common-5-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ibstone-common-5-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ibstone-common-5-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1010,719" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/ibstone-common-5-watermark/" height="456" sizes="(max-width: 1010px) 100vw, 1010px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ibstone-common-5-watermark.jpg?w=1010" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ibstone-common-5-watermark.jpg 1010w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ibstone-common-5-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ibstone-common-5-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/ibstone-common-5-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: calc(100% - 14px); padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="640" /></a></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">One of the unforeseen benefits</strong> of the hurricane is the increased amount of light reaching the woodland floor, for beech trees cast a dense shade where little can grow, other than where the canopy is lightest. Apart from the view to the valley below, which was unseen before, many wild flowers are better now than ever. Roll on April when we can see the blue carpet of tens of thousands of bluebells disappearing into the distance.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/wormsley-6-watermark-1.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5772" data-attachment-id="5772" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1645546812","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="wormsley-6-watermark-1" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/wormsley-6-watermark-1.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/wormsley-6-watermark-1.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/wormsley-6-watermark-1.jpg" data-orig-size="1104,720" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/wormsley-6-watermark-1/" height="417" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/wormsley-6-watermark-1.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/wormsley-6-watermark-1.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/wormsley-6-watermark-1.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/wormsley-6-watermark-1.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/wormsley-6-watermark-1.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/wormsley-6-watermark-1.jpg 1104w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: calc(100% - 14px); padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="640" /></a></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/bluebells-9-copyright.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5774" data-attachment-id="5774" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1461526563","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="bluebells-9-copyright" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/bluebells-9-copyright.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/bluebells-9-copyright.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/bluebells-9-copyright.jpg" data-orig-size="1280,720" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/bluebells-9-copyright-2/" height="360" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/bluebells-9-copyright.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/bluebells-9-copyright.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/bluebells-9-copyright.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/bluebells-9-copyright.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/bluebells-9-copyright.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/bluebells-9-copyright.jpg 1280w" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(187, 187, 187); height: auto; max-width: calc(100% - 14px); padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="640" /></a></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Oh! And I nearly forgot to say</strong>, the weather today is a mix of sunshine, cold winds, rain and sleet. Don’t forget to tell the next person you meet!</p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add="><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a>JOHN SHORTLAND, Cotswold Hills, England.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11702000270961029986noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723797518858451239.post-45761389989800356102022-01-23T03:20:00.001-08:002022-02-22T11:04:49.529-08:002021: a year in review - part 2<div><br /></div><div><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Three weeks into the new year and</strong> Christmas and 2021 already seems the distant past. A new year brings new hopes and plans, not least of all a Covid-free one where holidays and meeting up with friends and family can be carried out without the fear of cancellation. The past couple of years have been challenging and difficult for many people and blogging topics sometimes reflected this as well as the importance of family. Few people can be as tough and courageous as one of my ancestral cousins nor as unfortunate for another to be remembered because of his underwear. There were trials and tribulations for the people of Chipping Norton too, the nearest town to my secret valley and, elsewhere in the Cotswolds, the building of a great country estate to provide training in endangered skills for local people. These stories are a reminder that however large the challenge or the struggle, the end result is more often, very worthwhile.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-5j-alert.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5608" data-attachment-id="5608" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1628942040","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-5j-alert" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-5j-alert.jpg?w=533" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-5j-alert.jpg?w=185" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-5j-alert.jpg" data-orig-size="533,863" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-5j-alert/" sizes="(max-width: 533px) 100vw, 533px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-5j-alert.jpg?w=533" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-5j-alert.jpg 533w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-5j-alert.jpg?w=93 93w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-5j-alert.jpg?w=185 185w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1876: HMS Alert – with my cousin aboard – icebound as well as homeward bound</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In July I wrote about the extraordinary story</strong> <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">of</strong> Welsh vagrant Glyndwr Michael who famously became known as ‘The Man Who Never Was’. His body was used in an elaborate hoax to fool the Germans during WW2. The ruse worked, saving many lives, partly thanks to the use of my cousin’s underwear. Sounds intriguing? Well, if you want to discover why and also how my Polish grandmother fits into the plot you will need to <a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2021/07/17/grandma-and-the-man-who-never-was/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">click on the link here</a> to read all about it.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/screenshot-2021-07-17-171023.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5539" data-attachment-id="5539" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="screenshot-2021-07-17-171023" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/screenshot-2021-07-17-171023.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/screenshot-2021-07-17-171023.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/screenshot-2021-07-17-171023.jpg" data-orig-size="1118,812" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/screenshot-2021-07-17-171023/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/screenshot-2021-07-17-171023.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/screenshot-2021-07-17-171023.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/screenshot-2021-07-17-171023.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/screenshot-2021-07-17-171023.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/screenshot-2021-07-17-171023.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/screenshot-2021-07-17-171023.jpg 1118w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">False papers of Major William Martin, RM [Source: Wikipedia]</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">August and September was also a tale of an </strong>ancestral cousin who in the May of 1875 set sail for the Arctic. As bizarre as it seems now, the expedition was searching for a ‘lost Eden’. for there was a popular belief that beyond the ice, at the North Pole, they would find a sub-tropical paradise. The expedition created worldwide interest and excitement and was widely reported in the newspapers. When the Royal Family began to take an interest, huge crowds descended on Portsmouth eager to see not just the Queen but ordinary members of the crew. My cousin, John Langston Saggers, a young man aged just 23, could have experienced nothing like it before as they were wined and dined and with no expense spared. To read about the preparation for the voyage and to discover the personal gift from a Royalty concerned that the men may suffer from cold ears <a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2021/08/22/voyage-of-discovery-part-1/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">click on the link here.</a></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-164648.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5561" data-attachment-id="5561" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="screenshot-2021-08-22-164648" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-164648.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-164648.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-164648.jpg" data-orig-size="981,663" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/screenshot-2021-08-22-164648/" sizes="(max-width: 981px) 100vw, 981px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-164648.jpg?w=981" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-164648.jpg 981w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-164648.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-164648.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-164648.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The dinner for the Officers given by the Mayor of Portsmouth the week before departure</em> [Source: BNA]</figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-2-alert.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5617" data-attachment-id="5617" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1628884124","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-2-alert" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-2-alert.jpg?w=571" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-2-alert.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-2-alert.jpg" data-orig-size="571,394" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-2-alert/" sizes="(max-width: 571px) 100vw, 571px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-2-alert.jpg?w=571" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-2-alert.jpg 571w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-2-alert.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-2-alert.jpg?w=300 300w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sitting out the Arctic winter</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When the ships became icebound, they had </strong>to sit out the Arctic winter in total darkness. That, however, did not stop the men from making the most of what they had. Aboard ship they had a full-size theatre where they produced plays and outside on the ice, despite the freezing temperatures and inadequate clothing they created a skating rink and played hockey. Their heroism – and despite (unsurprisingly) not finding a warm paradise – the men returned home to a hero’s welcome. However, the star of the expedition wasn’t human at all. To find out about Nellie and how she very nearly became a coat for an Eskimo chief’s wife <a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2021/09/26/voyage-of-discovery-part-2/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">click on the link here</a>.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-14.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5603" data-attachment-id="5603" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-14" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-14.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-14.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-14.jpg" data-orig-size="835,725" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-14/" sizes="(max-width: 835px) 100vw, 835px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-14.jpg?w=835" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-14.jpg 835w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-14.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-14.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-14.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mid-day, Thursday, 9th November 1876: <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">HMS Alert & HMS Discovery enter Portsmouth Harbour</em></em></figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-13.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5601" data-attachment-id="5601" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-13" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-13.jpg?w=307" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-13.jpg?w=244" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-13.jpg" data-orig-size="307,377" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-13/" sizes="(max-width: 307px) 100vw, 307px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-13.jpg?w=307" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-13.jpg 307w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-13.jpg?w=122 122w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-13.jpg?w=244 244w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Nellie, who almost became a coat</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Next month will be the 150th</strong> <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">anniversary of the Great Fire at </strong>Chipping Norton, one of the gateway towns of the Cotswolds. Although not as popular with tourists as some of the ‘chocolate box’ villages and towns in the region, it boasts one of the Cotswolds most iconic images – that of Bliss Tweed Mill. The mill, that has become so well-known now, rose like a phoenix out of the ashes of the earlier mill which was razed to the ground early one February morning. The story of the fire and how the mill was rebuilt to exacting standards in less than two years is told in October’s blog post. Built to resemble a great house with the most modern technology of the day, it was the pride of the town. The jubilation wasn’t to last and a strike was called which took eighteen months to break. You can read all about the mill and see through numerous photographs how it has been transformed into luxurious apartments; a haven of peace and tranquillity within the town centre by <a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2021/10/25/chipping-norton-bliss/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">clicking on the link here.</a></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-2-copyright.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5644" data-attachment-id="5644" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1518820130","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="chipping-norton-bliss-mill-2-copyright" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-2-copyright.jpg?w=531" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-2-copyright.jpg?w=221" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-2-copyright.jpg" data-orig-size="531,720" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-2-copyright/" sizes="(max-width: 531px) 100vw, 531px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-2-copyright.jpg?w=531" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-2-copyright.jpg 531w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-2-copyright.jpg?w=111 111w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-2-copyright.jpg?w=221 221w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">For November, we remained in the </strong>Cotswolds to explore the creation of another outstanding property and its gardens. In 1906, Claud Biddulph commissioned the building of a house with “the feel of a cottage in the country”. In so doing, he created one of the finest Arts & Crafts house in Britain, albeit one with seventy-four rooms, so hardly a cottage! Every item used in its creation and furnishing had to be of the best quality and hand-made; one of the reasons why the house took so many years to complete and why it is so exceptional today. Part of the house was dedicated to teaching local people the dying skills required and, more than an hundred years later, craft workshops and exhibitions are still held there. Open regularly to the public so why not take a tour of the house and garden? If you can’t visit physically, you can do so digitally by<a href="http://xn--rodmarton%20manor%20seen%20from%20one%20of%20the%20garden%20rooms-e294blc/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2021/11/22/the-arts-crafts-splendour-of-rodmarton-manor/" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">clicking on this link here.</a></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/rodmarton-manor-3-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5683" data-attachment-id="5683" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1637608770","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="rodmarton-manor-3-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/rodmarton-manor-3-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/rodmarton-manor-3-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/rodmarton-manor-3-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="953,720" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/rodmarton-manor-3-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 953px) 100vw, 953px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/rodmarton-manor-3-watermark.jpg?w=953" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/rodmarton-manor-3-watermark.jpg 953w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/rodmarton-manor-3-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/rodmarton-manor-3-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/rodmarton-manor-3-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Rodmarton Manor seen from one of the ‘garden</em> <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">rooms’</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And so we come to December, the</strong> year end and the start of this review – you can read what happened during the months of January to June by <a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2021/12/26/2021-a-year-in-review-part-1/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">clicking the link here.</a> I hope that your 2021 hasn’t been too troublesome – now the year is past we can look forward to this one with renewed hopes and aspirations. No doubt there will be challenges ahead but as we know from our own experiences, as well as hearing of those of our ancestors, life continues apace regardless. Sending all my readers, wherever you are in the world (and, my goodness, you’re a scattered bunch!) best wishes for 2022 and with the hope that it will be a happy and healthy one.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/new-year-2015.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5751" data-attachment-id="5751" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="new-year-2015" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/new-year-2015.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/new-year-2015.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/new-year-2015.jpg" data-orig-size="960,720" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/new-year-2015/" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/new-year-2015.jpg?w=960" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/new-year-2015.jpg 960w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/new-year-2015.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/new-year-2015.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/new-year-2015.jpg?w=768 768w" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(187, 187, 187); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a></figure></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add="><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a>JOHN SHORTLAND, Cotswold Hills, England.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11702000270961029986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723797518858451239.post-77640215429604615422021-12-31T07:15:00.000-08:002021-12-31T07:15:05.067-08:00Nature Notes 7<div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The writing in old books is often </strong>my inspiration for my own writing but to modern eyes their script seems naive and in this case, perhaps, a tad condescending. Having said that, I’ve only ever had one South Sea Island friend and she, I think, would probably agree with the author’s sentiment.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/7-thoughts-on-cottage-gardens.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5711" data-attachment-id="5711" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1640955110","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="7-thoughts-on-cottage-gardens" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/7-thoughts-on-cottage-gardens.jpg?w=474" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/7-thoughts-on-cottage-gardens.jpg?w=198" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/7-thoughts-on-cottage-gardens.jpg" data-orig-size="474,719" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/7-thoughts-on-cottage-gardens/" height="719" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 474px) 100vw, 474px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/7-thoughts-on-cottage-gardens.jpg?w=474" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/7-thoughts-on-cottage-gardens.jpg 474w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/7-thoughts-on-cottage-gardens.jpg?w=99 99w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/7-thoughts-on-cottage-gardens.jpg?w=198 198w" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(187, 187, 187); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="474" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“There is a love of flowers fast knit into the very fibre of our British nature;</em><br /><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">nevertheless we share with such children of Nature as South Sea Islander...."</em></figcaption></figure></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add="><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a>JOHN SHORTLAND, Cotswold Hills, England.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11702000270961029986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723797518858451239.post-82536924451573790472021-12-26T12:03:00.000-08:002021-12-26T12:03:01.430-08:002021: a year in review - part 1<div><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">With restrictions on movement and socialising </strong>for much of the year, 2021 was definitely the year to remember times past, be it visits to favourite haunts or thinking about friends and family. As it was in the real world so it was in the blogging world.<br /><br />I<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">n January my memories took me across the sea to </strong>Ireland and a visit to Clonegal, in Co. Carlow. Ireland is a beautiful country with an ancient history. The visit to Huntington Castle, very much still a family home, was very worthwhile as the building itself was interesting, and the gardens, perhaps because they weren’t ornate, relaxing to walk around. A visit to the cellars is a must for it is now a Temple dedicated to Isis. The Fellowship of Isis, started by members of the family, was recognised as a world faith in 1993. I found the ornate decoration rather too theatrical for my taste, reminding me of a scene from an Agatha Christie novel. Take a look at the post by clicking on the <a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2021/01/09/the-irish-castle-dedicated-to-isis/" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">link here </a>and tell me what you think.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/huntington-castle-4-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5319" data-attachment-id="5319" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1610223064","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="huntington-castle-4-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/huntington-castle-4-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/huntington-castle-4-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/huntington-castle-4-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="952,719" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/huntington-castle-4-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 952px) 100vw, 952px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/huntington-castle-4-watermark.jpg?w=952" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/huntington-castle-4-watermark.jpg 952w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/huntington-castle-4-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/huntington-castle-4-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/huntington-castle-4-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Huntington Castle in the south of |reland</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By February the earliest signs of the forthcoming spring</strong> <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">are</strong> beginning to show. In the garden snowdrops and aconites are in full flower; in favoured spots early daffodils are starting to bloom. In the hedgerows hazel catkins hang in clusters shedding clouds of their golden pollen in the slightest breeze. Hazel, a native shrub, is also a useful one to grow in the garden. It’s pliable stems can be used in a myriad of ways – cut as pea-sticks, or growing into intriguing living tunnels. February’s blog post concentrated on these uses and looked at the ancient art of coppicing – a method of extending the life of the plant and providing plentiful cover for wild birds, animals and flowers. Described as an art, it is however, a very simple technique. Click on the<a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2021/02/18/coppicing-hazel-the-how-the-why-the-where/" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> link here</a> to find out more.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/hazel-3-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5344" data-attachment-id="5344" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1613656892","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="hazel-3-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/hazel-3-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/hazel-3-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/hazel-3-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="952,719" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/hazel-3-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 952px) 100vw, 952px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/hazel-3-watermark.jpg?w=952" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/hazel-3-watermark.jpg 952w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/hazel-3-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/hazel-3-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/02/hazel-3-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Catkins or Lamb’s Tails – harbingers of Spring</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">International Women’s Day occurs in March and I</strong> focused on the life<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </strong>of Lettice Fisher, the founder of the National Council for the Unmarried Mother & Child in 1918. Later, the charity changed its name to Gingerbread. A suffragette and economist, Lettice was also a cousin of my father and so family history came to the fore in this post (<a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2021/03/07/international-womens-day-lettice-fisher/" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">link here</a>). Later in the year, the focus turned to her husband, H A L Fisher and his story but for March Lettice was the rightful star of the show.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/03/ilbert-lettice.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5373" data-attachment-id="5373" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"john shortland","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1590012431","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="ilbert-lettice" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/03/ilbert-lettice.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/03/ilbert-lettice.jpg?w=239" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/03/ilbert-lettice.jpg" data-orig-size="599,751" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/ilbert-lettice/" sizes="(max-width: 599px) 100vw, 599px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/03/ilbert-lettice.jpg?w=599" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/03/ilbert-lettice.jpg 599w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/03/ilbert-lettice.jpg?w=120 120w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/03/ilbert-lettice.jpg?w=239 239w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lettice Fisher, an ancestral cousin</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In April, I was able to visit friends for a long weekend, a real</strong> treat after all the restrictions. I took the opportunity to go for a long walk in beautiful countryside. Rutland is England’s smallest county and was also the home of the poverty-stricken ‘peasant poet’ John Clare born in 1793. The walk took me past the old lime kiln where he worked and the village where he was raised – his poem <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Ruins of Pickworth </em>can be read in the blog post (<a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2021/04/28/in-the-footsteps-of-clare/" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">link here</a>) and there are lots of photos of the ruins as well as views along the paths and byways I walked. Several hours later, when I returned to my friend’s home, I was especially thrilled to have seen a group of wild fallow deer which included amongst them, a rare white hart,</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/pickworth-old-church-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5404" data-attachment-id="5404" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1619635812","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="pickworth-old-church-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/pickworth-old-church-watermark.jpg?w=532" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/pickworth-old-church-watermark.jpg?w=222" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/pickworth-old-church-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="532,719" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/pickworth-old-church-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 532px) 100vw, 532px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/pickworth-old-church-watermark.jpg?w=532" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/pickworth-old-church-watermark.jpg 532w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/pickworth-old-church-watermark.jpg?w=111 111w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/pickworth-old-church-watermark.jpg?w=222 222w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The ruins at Pickworth were familiar to John Clare, the Peasant Poet</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By May, spring is well and truly established and plants in</strong> the garden are flourishing. Everything is growing so fast that it can become overwhelming and with so many tasks to carry out, early supporting with canes and twigs can easily be forgotten until it is too late. Although this can’t be done to every tall plant in the garden, the Chelsea Chop is a drastic but very successful method of treating herbaceous plants so that they don’t need staking at all. The biggest hurdle to overcome with this technique is finding the courage to actually do it! By clicking on the <a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2021/05/23/the-chelsea-chop/" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">link here</a> you will find a step-by-step guide. Even if you don’t do it to many plants, I would highly recommend that you do it to the Ice Plant, <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sedum spectabile</em> which always collapses just as it comes into flower – once you have, you’ll wonder why you’ve never done it before.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/sedum-spectabile-6-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5440" data-attachment-id="5440" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1621784418","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="sedum-spectabile-6-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/sedum-spectabile-6-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/sedum-spectabile-6-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/sedum-spectabile-6-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="952,718" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/sedum-spectabile-6-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 952px) 100vw, 952px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/sedum-spectabile-6-watermark.jpg?w=952" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/sedum-spectabile-6-watermark.jpg 952w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/sedum-spectabile-6-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/sedum-spectabile-6-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/sedum-spectabile-6-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sedum, the Ice Plant – the perfect candidate for the Chelsea Chop</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">For June, it was back out into the countryside to check</strong> the state of a venerable old ash tree. Ash Dieback is a serious, recently imported disease that threatens to eradicate one of the most important trees in the British landscape. Younger trees in our parts of the Cotswolds are already showing signs of it, some much more severely than others. The farm where we keep our horses has one ancient tree that has stood sentinel over the adjoining fields for centuries (lots of pictures on the <a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2021/06/27/ash-to-ashes/" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">link here</a>). It’s trunk is hollow and owls and bats roost within it; it must have seen generations of them leave its shelter at night. Likewise, it must have sheltered in the day many a farm labourer seeking shade during hot, summer harvests. It will be a sad day when it dies and we just have to hope that it may show some resistance to this new disease. I, all too well, remember as a child when a similar fate overtook elm trees and changed the English landscape forever. Let’s pray that it doesn’t come to that.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/dobbin-021120-2-watermark.jpg" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5465" data-attachment-id="5465" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1624803616","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="dobbin-021120-2-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/dobbin-021120-2-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/dobbin-021120-2-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/dobbin-021120-2-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="1075,717" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/dobbin-021120-2-watermark/" height="408" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 614px) 100vw, 614px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/dobbin-021120-2-watermark.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/dobbin-021120-2-watermark.jpg?w=612 612w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/dobbin-021120-2-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/dobbin-021120-2-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/dobbin-021120-2-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(187, 187, 187); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="614" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We ride past an ancient ash tree most days</em></figcaption></figure><p data-adtags-visited="true" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If it sounds as if </strong>this review is ending on a sad note, don’t despair – July to December will be following shortly and there’s plenty of posts on an upbeat note there. My family’s fascinating exploits feature in some of them. Covid restrictions have given me plenty of time to root out the old stories of them – to be honest, I never knew what an interesting and, sometimes, brave bunch they are!!</p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add="><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a>JOHN SHORTLAND, Cotswold Hills, England.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11702000270961029986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723797518858451239.post-2273855481990359372021-11-22T12:49:00.000-08:002021-11-22T12:49:35.160-08:00the arts & crafts splendour of Rodmarton manor<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="edit-post-visual-editor" style="background-color: #2f2f2f; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3c434a; display: flex; flex-flow: column; flex: 1 0 auto; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 13px; outline: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="edit-post-visual-editor__content-area" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; flex-grow: 1; height: 4832.46px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 1221.4px;"><div class="is-desktop-preview" style="background: white; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; flex-flow: column; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; width: 1221.4px;"><div class="editor-styles-wrapper block-editor-writing-flow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; flex: 1 1 0%; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Nimbus Sans L", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.625; max-width: 584px; outline: 0px; padding-bottom: 40vh;" tabindex="-1"><div class="is-root-container block-editor-block-list__layout" data-is-drop-zone="true" style="box-sizing: inherit; outline: 0px; position: relative;"><p aria-label="Paragraph block" aria-multiline="true" class="block-editor-rich-text__editable block-editor-block-list__block wp-block wp-block-paragraph rich-text" data-block="4dfdcc63-effa-4cbc-bb58-f25eb94c4552" data-empty="false" data-title="Paragraph" data-type="core/paragraph" id="block-4dfdcc63-effa-4cbc-bb58-f25eb94c4552" role="document" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: revert; line-height: revert; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: revert; max-width: 614px; min-width: 1px; overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;" tabindex="0">I<strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">n 1906 Claud, the youngest</strong> <strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">son of</strong> politician Sir Michael Biddulph, commissioned a house to be built on land gifted by his father. The commission was given to Ernest Barnsley who specialised in design and building in the Arts & Crafts style. In the spirit of the movement, all materials had to be sourced locally and hand-crafted with no machinery used. Claud stated that the house should have the feel of “a cottage in the country”, somewhat of an understatement by the time the building was completed in 1929.</p><figure aria-label="Block: Image" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block size-large wp-block-image" data-block="3f626354-f5ab-4cb1-845a-b24e8ccca15f" data-title="Image" data-type="core/image" id="block-3f626354-f5ab-4cb1-845a-b24e8ccca15f" role="document" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 614px; overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;" tabindex="0"><div class="components-resizable-box__container" style="border-radius: inherit; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; flex-shrink: 0; height: auto; max-height: 1095.49px; max-width: 1450px; min-height: 20px; min-width: 26.4722px; outline: 0px; position: relative; user-select: auto; width: auto;"><img alt="This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is rodmarton-manor-3-watermark.jpg" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/rodmarton-manor-3-watermark.jpg?w=953" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: inherit; max-width: calc(100% - 14px); padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom; width: inherit;" /><div style="box-sizing: inherit; outline: 0px;"></div></div><figcaption aria-label="Image caption text" aria-multiline="true" class="block-editor-rich-text__editable rich-text" role="textbox" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #555555; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em; min-width: 1px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Rodmarton Manor seen from one of the 'garden</em> <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">rooms'</em></figcaption><div class="components-drop-zone" data-is-drop-zone="true" style="border-radius: inherit; box-sizing: inherit; inset: 0px; opacity: 0; outline: 0px; position: absolute; visibility: hidden; z-index: 40;"></div></figure><p aria-label="Paragraph block" aria-multiline="true" class="block-editor-rich-text__editable block-editor-block-list__block wp-block wp-block-paragraph rich-text" data-block="00fe3bac-224f-4f8d-8cc9-c6a12a5ed72e" data-empty="false" data-title="Paragraph" data-type="core/paragraph" id="block-00fe3bac-224f-4f8d-8cc9-c6a12a5ed72e" role="document" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: revert; line-height: revert; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: revert; max-width: 614px; min-width: 1px; overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;" tabindex="0"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">The house, which has a total of seventy-four rooms, was built as </strong>three angled sections with a sweeping driveway and circular lawn to the front courtyard. The family lived in one wing, servants in another (now converted into flats) and the central section was to be used as a community space where local villagers could meet and learn skills and craftsmanship. In this way, the Biddulphs were instrumental in maintaining age-old traditions that were in danger of dying out. </p><figure aria-label="Block: Image" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block size-large wp-block-image" data-block="6b22842a-4074-4328-953c-0d09195a2303" data-title="Image" data-type="core/image" id="block-6b22842a-4074-4328-953c-0d09195a2303" role="document" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 614px; overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;" tabindex="0"><div class="components-resizable-box__container" style="border-radius: inherit; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; flex-shrink: 0; height: auto; max-height: 1097.42px; max-width: 1450px; min-height: 20px; min-width: 26.4256px; outline: 0px; position: relative; user-select: auto; width: auto;"><img alt="This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is rodmarton-manor-watermark.jpg" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/rodmarton-manor-watermark.jpg?w=950" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: inherit; max-width: calc(100% - 14px); padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom; width: inherit;" /><div style="box-sizing: inherit; outline: 0px;"></div></div><figcaption aria-label="Image caption text" aria-multiline="true" class="block-editor-rich-text__editable rich-text" role="textbox" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #555555; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em; min-width: 1px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Rodmarton Manor</em></figcaption><div class="components-drop-zone" data-is-drop-zone="true" style="border-radius: inherit; box-sizing: inherit; inset: 0px; opacity: 0; outline: 0px; position: absolute; visibility: hidden; z-index: 40;"></div></figure><p aria-label="Paragraph block" aria-multiline="true" class="block-editor-rich-text__editable block-editor-block-list__block wp-block wp-block-paragraph rich-text" data-block="98365e7e-dc6c-4923-ace9-525f16c5b79c" data-empty="false" data-title="Paragraph" data-type="core/paragraph" id="block-98365e7e-dc6c-4923-ace9-525f16c5b79c" role="document" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: revert; line-height: revert; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: revert; max-width: 614px; min-width: 1px; overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;" tabindex="0"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">The mansion, still family owned and open to the public, retains </strong>much of its original furniture and furnishings. Listed as a Grade 1 building by Historic England it has been described as “the single best example of the Arts & Crafts movement”. On the day of my visit the house was closed but I was able to explore the gardens which are also listed and have been created in the same style.</p><figure aria-label="Block: Image" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block size-large wp-block-image" data-block="feb52d96-e3f7-42df-ae30-5b527015d28e" data-title="Image" data-type="core/image" id="block-feb52d96-e3f7-42df-ae30-5b527015d28e" role="document" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 614px; overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;" tabindex="0"><div class="components-resizable-box__container" style="border-radius: inherit; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; flex-shrink: 0; height: auto; max-height: 1095.12px; max-width: 1450px; min-height: 20px; min-width: 26.4812px; outline: 0px; position: relative; user-select: auto; width: auto;"><img alt="This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is rodmarton-manor-4-watermark.jpg" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/rodmarton-manor-4-watermark.jpg?w=952" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: inherit; max-width: calc(100% - 14px); padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom; width: inherit;" /><div style="box-sizing: inherit; outline: 0px;"></div></div><figcaption aria-label="Image caption text" aria-multiline="true" class="block-editor-rich-text__editable rich-text" role="textbox" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #555555; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em; min-width: 1px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Old stone urns and troughs frame the entrance</em></figcaption><div class="components-drop-zone" data-is-drop-zone="true" style="border-radius: inherit; box-sizing: inherit; inset: 0px; opacity: 0; outline: 0px; position: absolute; visibility: hidden; z-index: 40;"></div></figure><p aria-label="Paragraph block" aria-multiline="true" class="block-editor-rich-text__editable block-editor-block-list__block wp-block wp-block-paragraph rich-text" data-block="1401a549-52e7-48ca-98c8-76b59fc5fba2" data-empty="false" data-title="Paragraph" data-type="core/paragraph" id="block-1401a549-52e7-48ca-98c8-76b59fc5fba2" role="document" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: revert; line-height: revert; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: revert; max-width: 614px; min-width: 1px; overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;" tabindex="0"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">Close to the house, the gardens consist of a series of</strong> room-like areas enclosed by stone walls and hedges. Lichen encrusted pots, urns and troughs, along with precisely clipped topiary give a timeless feel to the garden and also ensures that there is plenty of interest during the winter months. The aptly named Long Garden comes as a surprise after visiting other areas, for although very much of the style, it is relatively narrow in width. A flagstone path emphasises its 75-metre length and leads to a delightful pavilion, a small pool and a seating area. Divided by clipped yew hedges and bordered by densely planted herbaceous borders it was, for me, the highlight of the garden. </p><figure aria-label="Block: Image" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block size-large wp-block-image" data-block="0e0eae19-4a46-455c-bcce-f8e7925002d7" data-title="Image" data-type="core/image" id="block-0e0eae19-4a46-455c-bcce-f8e7925002d7" role="document" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 614px; overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;" tabindex="0"><div class="components-resizable-box__container" style="border-radius: inherit; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; flex-shrink: 0; height: auto; max-height: 1104.76px; max-width: 1450px; min-height: 20px; min-width: 26.25px; outline: 0px; position: relative; user-select: auto; width: auto;"><img alt="This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is rodmarton-manor-9-watermark.jpg" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/rodmarton-manor-9-watermark.jpg?w=945" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: inherit; max-width: calc(100% - 14px); padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom; width: inherit;" /><div style="box-sizing: inherit; outline: 0px;"></div></div><figcaption aria-label="Image caption text" aria-multiline="true" class="block-editor-rich-text__editable rich-text" role="textbox" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #555555; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em; min-width: 1px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">The Long Garden at Rodmarton Manor</em> <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">in June</em></figcaption><div class="components-drop-zone" data-is-drop-zone="true" style="border-radius: inherit; box-sizing: inherit; inset: 0px; opacity: 0; outline: 0px; position: absolute; visibility: hidden; z-index: 40;"></div></figure><figure aria-label="Block: Image" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block size-large wp-block-image" data-block="b39aa02b-fe7f-49c8-a436-62a9d3f31fca" data-title="Image" data-type="core/image" id="block-b39aa02b-fe7f-49c8-a436-62a9d3f31fca" role="document" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 614px; overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;" tabindex="0"><div class="components-resizable-box__container" style="border-radius: inherit; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; flex-shrink: 0; height: auto; max-height: 1097.79px; max-width: 1450px; min-height: 20px; min-width: 26.4167px; outline: 0px; position: relative; user-select: auto; width: auto;"><img alt="This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is rodmarton-manor-8-watermark.jpg" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/rodmarton-manor-8-watermark.jpg?w=951" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: inherit; max-width: calc(100% - 14px); padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom; width: inherit;" /><div style="box-sizing: inherit; outline: 0px;"></div></div><figcaption aria-label="Image caption text" aria-multiline="true" class="block-editor-rich-text__editable rich-text" role="textbox" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #555555; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em; min-width: 1px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">The Pavilion at the far end of the Long Garden</em></figcaption><div class="components-drop-zone" data-is-drop-zone="true" style="border-radius: inherit; box-sizing: inherit; inset: 0px; opacity: 0; outline: 0px; position: absolute; visibility: hidden; z-index: 40;"></div></figure><p aria-label="Paragraph block" aria-multiline="true" class="block-editor-rich-text__editable block-editor-block-list__block wp-block wp-block-paragraph rich-text" data-block="d95b3d0e-cf84-403f-85f8-42c45d388806" data-empty="false" data-title="Paragraph" data-type="core/paragraph" id="block-d95b3d0e-cf84-403f-85f8-42c45d388806" role="document" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: revert; line-height: revert; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: revert; max-width: 614px; min-width: 1px; overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;" tabindex="0"><strong style="box-sizing: inherit;">It was disappointing not being able to see </strong>the craftsmanship of the interior of the house. However, the exterior of the building revealed many surprises. What I liked most of all was the exquisite detail of the rainwater downpipes proving once and for all that even when something is utilitarian it can still also be beautiful.</p><figure aria-label="Block: Image" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block size-large wp-block-image" data-block="d933028f-3eb5-47a0-aa34-e79b836c74c9" data-title="Image" data-type="core/image" id="block-d933028f-3eb5-47a0-aa34-e79b836c74c9" role="document" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 614px; overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;" tabindex="0"><div class="components-resizable-box__container" style="border-radius: inherit; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; flex-shrink: 0; height: auto; max-height: 1087.5px; max-width: 1450px; min-height: 20px; min-width: 26.6667px; outline: 0px; position: relative; user-select: auto; width: auto;"><img alt="This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is rodmarton-manor-monkey-downpipe-copyright.jpg" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/rodmarton-manor-monkey-downpipe-copyright.jpg?w=960" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: inherit; max-width: calc(100% - 14px); padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom; width: inherit;" /><div style="box-sizing: inherit; outline: 0px;"></div></div><figcaption aria-label="Image caption text" aria-multiline="true" class="block-editor-rich-text__editable rich-text" role="textbox" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #555555; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em; min-width: 1px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Even the practical is made to look beautiful exquisite detail of the rainwater downpipes</em></figcaption><div class="components-drop-zone" data-is-drop-zone="true" style="border-radius: inherit; box-sizing: inherit; inset: 0px; opacity: 0; outline: 0px; position: absolute; visibility: hidden; z-index: 40;"></div></figure><figure aria-label="Block: Image" class="block-editor-block-list__block wp-block size-large wp-block-image" data-block="ae76bd2e-38bc-495a-8d3f-cbe536922a04" data-title="Image" data-type="core/image" id="block-ae76bd2e-38bc-495a-8d3f-cbe536922a04" role="document" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px auto 1em; max-width: 614px; overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative;" tabindex="0"><div class="components-resizable-box__container" style="border-radius: inherit; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; flex-shrink: 0; height: auto; max-height: 815.625px; max-width: 1450px; min-height: 20px; min-width: 35.5556px; outline: 0px; position: relative; user-select: auto; width: auto;"><img alt="This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is rodmarton-manor-cock-downpipe-watermark.jpg" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/rodmarton-manor-cock-downpipe-watermark.jpg?w=1024" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: inherit; max-width: calc(100% - 14px); padding: 6px; vertical-align: bottom; width: inherit;" /><div style="box-sizing: inherit; outline: 0px;"></div></div><figcaption aria-label="Image caption text" aria-multiline="true" class="block-editor-rich-text__editable rich-text" role="textbox" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #555555; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em; min-width: 1px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Every downpipe detail differs</em></figcaption><div class="components-drop-zone" data-is-drop-zone="true" style="border-radius: inherit; box-sizing: inherit; inset: 0px; opacity: 0; outline: 0px; position: absolute; visibility: hidden; z-index: 40;"></div></figure><p aria-label="Empty block; start writing or type forward slash to choose a block" aria-multiline="true" class="block-editor-rich-text__editable block-editor-block-list__block wp-block wp-block-paragraph rich-text" data-block="e8bb0fdb-1e3a-4ad8-bdeb-7b79609a2159" data-empty="true" data-title="Paragraph" data-type="core/paragraph" id="block-e8bb0fdb-1e3a-4ad8-bdeb-7b79609a2159" role="document" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: revert; line-height: revert; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: revert; max-width: 614px; min-width: 1px; overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;" tabindex="0"><span contenteditable="false" data-rich-text-placeholder="Type / to choose a block" style="box-sizing: inherit; opacity: 1; pointer-events: none; user-select: none;"></span></p><p aria-label="Paragraph block" aria-multiline="true" class="block-editor-rich-text__editable block-editor-block-list__block wp-block wp-block-paragraph rich-text" data-block="1283a4b2-e572-4bb0-8da9-2da4cb5756fb" data-empty="false" data-title="Paragraph" data-type="core/paragraph" id="block-1283a4b2-e572-4bb0-8da9-2da4cb5756fb" role="document" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: revert; line-height: revert; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: revert; max-width: 614px; min-width: 1px; overflow-wrap: break-word; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;" tabindex="0"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Rodmarton Hall is situated midway between the Cotswold towns of Cirencester and Tetbury and is open to the public throughout the summer months on selected days. There are additional garden open days in February to view the snowdrops of which there are over 150 varieties. To find out more click on the link <a href="https://rodmarton-manor.co.uk/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1b8be0; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: none 0s ease 0s;" target="_blank">here</a></em></p><div class="block-list-appender wp-block" data-block="true" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 28px auto; max-width: 614px; outline: 0px;" tabindex="-1"></div></div></div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; outline: 0px;" tabindex="0"></div></div></div><div class="popover-slot" style="box-sizing: inherit; outline: 0px;"></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add="><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a>JOHN SHORTLAND, Cotswold Hills, England.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11702000270961029986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723797518858451239.post-18357138985890059952021-10-25T03:45:00.001-07:002021-10-25T03:45:19.039-07:00Chipping Norton Bliss<div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Chipping Norton, my local town, is something of an</strong> anomaly in the Cotswolds. It’s very much a working town whereas many of the Cotswold centres of commerce rely heavily upon tourism for their trade. Politically, it is a Labour enclave surrounded by the most conservative and Conservative Tory constituencies. Environmentally it differs too – Its common land – wide, green, open public spaces held for posterity – reach deep into the town centre: it is not unusual to see cattle grazing within a few hundred yards of the main shopping streets. The Common also frames Chipping Norton’s most iconic and photographed view, the Bliss Tweed Mill. Seen in its peaceful setting today it is difficult to remember that its history has been quite turbulent.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-22-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5642" data-attachment-id="5642" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1635153646","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="chipping-norton-bliss-mill-22-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-22-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-22-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-22-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="955,720" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-22-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 955px) 100vw, 955px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-22-watermark.jpg?w=955" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-22-watermark.jpg 955w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-22-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-22-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-22-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bliss Tweed Mill today viewed from across the Common</em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In the early hours of Wednesday 7<span style="border: 0px; bottom: 1ex; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">th</span> February 1872 fire was </strong>discovered on the fourth floor of the mill. By the time the blaze was brought under control the whole building had been destroyed along with the livelihoods of the workforce. The calamity for the town was so great that it was reported in the national press, the Manchester Evening News claiming that the flames were so fierce that <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“the fire was visible in the </em>[city of]<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Oxford, a distance of twenty miles from the scene of the catastrophe.”</em> By Friday the press reported that three lives had been lost and three hundred made unemployed. The Bicester Herald gave even more detail: <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“the fire was discovered by a farm servant around five o’clock in the morning…while a number of men were endeavouring to rescue some books and papers a wall fell, and three of them were killed and several others severely injured.”</em> The article describes how the relatively new, six storey building collapsed and the losses estimated to be £70-100,000, a vast sum in those days. It also reported with restrained understatement that the fire <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“created the greatest excitement.” </em></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-2-copyright.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5644" data-attachment-id="5644" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1518820130","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="chipping-norton-bliss-mill-2-copyright" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-2-copyright.jpg?w=531" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-2-copyright.jpg?w=221" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-2-copyright.jpg" data-orig-size="531,720" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-2-copyright/" sizes="(max-width: 531px) 100vw, 531px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-2-copyright.jpg?w=531" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-2-copyright.jpg 531w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-2-copyright.jpg?w=111 111w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-2-copyright.jpg?w=221 221w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" /></a></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The inquest into the deaths of the three men took</strong> place in the town at the Fox and Hounds Inn two days later, on Friday 9th. They were named as Thomas Cook, aged 35 and married, Thomas Peachey, aged 25 and married, and Richard Boscott, a twenty-year-old single man. Although the cause of their death was known the jurors had to ascertain whether they had been instructed to enter the building. It confirmed that they and others had entered an office situated away from the fire to rescue papers when the mill wall collapsed onto the roof of the office and crushing the men who were unaware of the danger. Several witnesses told of their own miraculous escape from the collapse, the noise of which was heard five miles away. One, James Compton, told how his hat was knocked off his head by flying debris but he remained unhurt. It was found that there had been no instruction to enter and as no one person could be held culpable for the fire, the verdict was “accidental death.” The newspapers continued to report daily noting that the first Wednesday market day after the fire, the town was far busier than normal due to the large numbers of visitors, reaching several thousand, walking to the mill to view its smouldering ruins.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-6-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5646" data-attachment-id="5646" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1635156434","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="chipping-norton-bliss-mill-6-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-6-watermark.jpg?w=565" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-6-watermark.jpg?w=235" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-6-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="565,720" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-6-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 565px) 100vw, 565px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-6-watermark.jpg?w=565" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-6-watermark.jpg 565w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-6-watermark.jpg?w=118 118w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-6-watermark.jpg?w=235 235w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Three men were killed when the mill wall collapsed</em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Fifteen months later in July 1873, William Bliss, the owner of</strong> the tweed mill was able to address his workers and thank them for all their hard work and co-operation over what had been a very challenging time for everyone. The new mill, the present building, was built although wouldn’t be in full production for several more weeks. However, he was able to announce cessation of night work; permission for twenty-four-hour cloth production had been sought and granted by the Factory Inspectorate. He was able to claim that <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“we may boast of having one of the handsomest and most complete mills in the Kingdom”</em> and, indeed, it was. Out of the ashes had grown a mill building more akin to a country house in appearance.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-13-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5648" data-attachment-id="5648" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1635156748","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="chipping-norton-bliss-mill-13-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-13-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-13-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-13-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="952,720" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-13-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 952px) 100vw, 952px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-13-watermark.jpg?w=952" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-13-watermark.jpg 952w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-13-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-13-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-13-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;">No wonder they were proud! <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Looking more like a stately home than a working tweed mill</em></figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-4-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5666" data-attachment-id="5666" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1635160432","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="chipping-norton-bliss-mill-4-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-4-watermark.jpg?w=536" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-4-watermark.jpg?w=224" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-4-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="536,719" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-4-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 536px) 100vw, 536px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-4-watermark.jpg?w=536" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-4-watermark.jpg 536w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-4-watermark.jpg?w=112 112w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-4-watermark.jpg?w=224 224w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" /></a></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Designed by the architect George Woodhouse, the main </strong>building – the spinning house – was five stories high and faced with local limestone. With its roof surrounded by stone balustrades and the corners of the building topped with stone urns it looked every part the grand residence. Of special pride was the tall chimney built above the circular steam powerhouse. Now a local landmark, it rises as a Tuscan column out of a domed cupola to a height of 165feet (50m). Now a listed (protected) building by HistoricEngland (who aren’t known for their hyperbole), they describe it both as <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“an exceptional design”</em> and <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“a remarkable opulent design in a park-like setting.”</em></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-12-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5651" data-attachment-id="5651" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1635157134","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="chipping-norton-bliss-mill-12-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-12-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-12-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-12-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="952,715" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-12-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 952px) 100vw, 952px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-12-watermark.jpg?w=952" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-12-watermark.jpg 952w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-12-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-12-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-12-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">No detail was too costly to add to the building</em></figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-9-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5653" data-attachment-id="5653" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1635157436","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="chipping-norton-bliss-mill-9-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-9-watermark.jpg?w=533" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-9-watermark.jpg?w=222" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-9-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="533,720" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-9-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 533px) 100vw, 533px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-9-watermark.jpg?w=533" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-9-watermark.jpg 533w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-9-watermark.jpg?w=111 111w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-9-watermark.jpg?w=222 222w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;">Soaring to a height of 165feet the chimney has become a local landmark</figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">T<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">he buildings interior was, and still is</strong>, equally impressive with its high ceilings and architectural features. Cast iron columns support the vaulted brick ceilings, held with remarkable grace. Even the spiral staircases built into the corners of the building have a balance of style and functionality that is beautiful in its simplicity.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-15-copyright.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5655" data-attachment-id="5655" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1518462604","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="chipping-norton-bliss-mill-15-copyright" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-15-copyright.jpg?w=529" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-15-copyright.jpg?w=223" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-15-copyright.jpg" data-orig-size="529,712" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-15-copyright/" sizes="(max-width: 529px) 100vw, 529px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-15-copyright.jpg?w=529" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-15-copyright.jpg 529w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-15-copyright.jpg?w=111 111w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-15-copyright.jpg?w=223 223w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" /></a></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Despite its grandeur and the enthusiasm of</strong> the workforce for their new building more trouble arose over the years. By 1889 complaints were being made about the pollution of the millpond both by the growing towns sewage being discharged into the river and the effluent from the mills dye tanks. It was claimed that when the millpond had been emptied the stench was overpowering. Ten years later water issues arose again; this time there being a shortage of water supplying the town’s growing population. As a result, piped water was only available for three hours a day and the mill only able to work two days out of six. </p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-19-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5657" data-attachment-id="5657" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1635157962","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="chipping-norton-bliss-mill-19-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-19-watermark.jpg?w=528" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-19-watermark.jpg?w=220" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-19-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="528,720" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-19-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 528px) 100vw, 528px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-19-watermark.jpg?w=528" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-19-watermark.jpg 528w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-19-watermark.jpg?w=110 110w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-19-watermark.jpg?w=220 220w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">130 years ago complaints were made about the pollution of the millpond. Now it’s crystal-clear.</em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The most disruptive problem for the mill arose when</strong> just before Christmas 1913 part of the workforce came out on strike. A local branch of the Workers’ Union had been formed a few weeks earlier and when several men joined, they were promptly fired. The strikers marched through the town where they were addressed by their leader. He advised them on how to conduct themselves: no fighting or bad language, no alcohol, just light-hearted singing and a little banter was all that was needed. As with all strikes, the good humour didn’t last long and there were prosecutions for intimidation of non-striking workers. During the spring of 1914, concerts were being given in the Town Hall and donations requested in aid of the Strike Hardship Fund. Eighteen months after the strike had begun, it ended, broken by the steadfastness of the mill’s management. The 160 now impoverished workers who had remained on strike became officially unemployed and had to seek work elsewhere.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-strike-1913.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5664" data-attachment-id="5664" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="chipping-norton-bliss-mill-strike-1913" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-strike-1913.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-strike-1913.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-strike-1913.jpg" data-orig-size="742,637" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-strike-1913/" sizes="(max-width: 742px) 100vw, 742px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-strike-1913.jpg?w=742" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-strike-1913.jpg 742w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-strike-1913.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-strike-1913.jpg?w=300 300w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The newspapers followed every detail of the strike</em></figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-10-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5659" data-attachment-id="5659" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1635158373","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="chipping-norton-bliss-mill-10-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-10-watermark.jpg?w=538" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-10-watermark.jpg?w=224" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-10-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="538,719" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-10-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 538px) 100vw, 538px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-10-watermark.jpg?w=538" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-10-watermark.jpg 538w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-10-watermark.jpg?w=112 112w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-10-watermark.jpg?w=224 224w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" /></a></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">With the advent of World War One later that year, the </strong>nation had new concerns. The war, as it happens, also helped the mill recover from the effects of the strike as large orders from the army for khaki cloth were received. Finally, in 1980, the mill closed permanently and a few years later converted into luxury apartments. Although the looms have now been silent for over forty years, Bliss Tweed is remembered as being at the forefront of British woven cloths.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-11-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5661" data-attachment-id="5661" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1635159558","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="chipping-norton-bliss-mill-11-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-11-watermark.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-11-watermark.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-11-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="953,720" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-11-watermark/" sizes="(max-width: 953px) 100vw, 953px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-11-watermark.jpg?w=953" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-11-watermark.jpg 953w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-11-watermark.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-11-watermark.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-mill-11-watermark.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The weaving sheds</em></figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-tweed-mill-samples-oxfordshire-in-50-objects.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5640" data-attachment-id="5640" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="chipping-norton-bliss-tweed-mill-samples-oxfordshire-in-50-objects" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-tweed-mill-samples-oxfordshire-in-50-objects.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-tweed-mill-samples-oxfordshire-in-50-objects.jpg?w=233" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-tweed-mill-samples-oxfordshire-in-50-objects.jpg" data-orig-size="686,882" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/chipping-norton-bliss-tweed-mill-samples-oxfordshire-in-50-objects/" sizes="(max-width: 686px) 100vw, 686px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-tweed-mill-samples-oxfordshire-in-50-objects.jpg?w=686" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-tweed-mill-samples-oxfordshire-in-50-objects.jpg 686w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-tweed-mill-samples-oxfordshire-in-50-objects.jpg?w=117 117w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/chipping-norton-bliss-tweed-mill-samples-oxfordshire-in-50-objects.jpg?w=233 233w" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(187, 187, 187); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bliss Tweed Mill samples [Source: Pinterest – Oxfordshire in 50 Objects]</em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u>References</u></em></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">British Newspaper Archive: Manchester Evening News, Bicester Herald, Gloucestershire Chronicle, Oxford Weekly News, Oxford Times</em></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wikipedia</em></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pinterest: Oxfordshire in 50 Objects</em></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add="><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a>JOHN SHORTLAND, Cotswold Hills, England.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11702000270961029986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723797518858451239.post-10959340931507684122021-09-26T09:59:00.005-07:002021-09-27T02:11:26.530-07:00Voyage of Discovery - part 2<div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Ex-Empress Eugenie (Bonaparte) was so concerned about</strong> the men keeping their heads warm that she had made for the sailors of the British Arctic Expedition of 1875 <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“special woollen wigs”</em> to wear. Nellie, the ship’s Labrador Retriever, would have preferred the same concern for her welfare. It was only when Captain Nares, the leader of the Expedition, enquired further that he realised that the “<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Esquimaux”</em> [sic] chief wanted her as a gift. Nellie’s black coat had grown thick and luxurious in the freezing temperatures –a jacket made from it would be the most perfect present for his wife. He assured the captain that the meat wouldn’t go to waste either. The image below, shows Nellie rescued and safely returned to England the following year. </p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-13.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5601" data-attachment-id="5601" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-13" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-13.jpg?w=307" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-13.jpg?w=244" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-13.jpg" data-orig-size="307,377" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-13/" height="516" loading="lazy" scale="1.5" src-orig="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-13.jpg?w=307" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-13.jpg?w=420" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-13.jpg?w=420&zoom=2 1.5x" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" width="420" /></a></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Her Majesty’s Ships, HMS Alert and Discovery had left England to</strong> rapturous applause. The Expedition to reach the North Pole had captured the imagination, not just of Queen Victoria and the British people but was causing a sensation world-wide. The newspapers had explored every detail of the ships from their build to the foodstuffs they would be carrying, their planned route, the sailors, and the most exciting prospect of all: finding a sub-tropical paradise hidden beyond the ice packs. (The story about the ships departure and the build-up leading to it can be read by <a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2021/08/22/voyage-of-discovery-part-1/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">clicking this link here</a>). The journey would, of course, discover little else other than ice. Sailing away from port in May 1875 to the sound of cheering and gun salutes the men were in high spirits. These must have given way to deep trepidation when the two ships parted company from one another to sit out the Arctic winter separately amongst the ice floes.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-2-alert.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5617" data-attachment-id="5617" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1628884124","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-2-alert" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-2-alert.jpg?w=571" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-2-alert.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-2-alert.jpg" data-orig-size="571,394" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-2-alert/" sizes="(max-width: 571px) 100vw, 571px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-2-alert.jpg?w=571" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-2-alert.jpg 571w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-2-alert.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-2-alert.jpg?w=300 300w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sitting out the Arctic winter</em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The ships had followed the coastline of Greenland northwards before</strong> crossing the sea in fine weather to Cape Isabella. Here the weather changed and they picked their way through floating ice in thick fog. Reaching Lady Franklin Bay, in the northernmost tip of Arctic Canada on 27th August, the Discovery set anchor for the winter, the Alert continuing its journey for another five days before being unable to progress further. When the sun finally disappeared below the horizon on October 12<span style="border: 0px; bottom: 1ex; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">th</span> they would be in total darkness for 142 days. For the sailors, hearing only the sounds of wind and creaking ice, the sense of isolation must have felt all-encompassing. To make matters worse, the sledging crew that had been dispatched to reach the Discovery to give word of the Alert’s position had returned defeated by the weather. They had been out on the ice for twenty days, the last two of which they had travelled in total darkness. Riven with scurvy and affected by frostbite, several of the men needed amputations. To make matters worse, they reported they had seen no land whatsoever.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-8.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5618" data-attachment-id="5618" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1628885818","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-8" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-8.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-8.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-8.jpg" data-orig-size="735,457" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-8/" sizes="(max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-8.jpg?w=735" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-8.jpg 735w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-8.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-8.jpg?w=300 300w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Camping overnight on the ice</em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It would be interesting to know the feelings of sailor John Langston Saggers</strong> during this time and whether he was selected to be one of the sledging party. Saggers – who is my ancestral first cousin – was aged 18 when he joined the Royal Navy and his conduct had been exemplary. Five years later he would be aboard the Discovery sailing for the Arctic, perhaps chosen for both his military record and because he had served on Victoria’s royal yacht, HMY Osborne, the ship he would return to in later years. One can only imagine the tales he must have told in his later years of his Arctic adventure.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165131.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5564" data-attachment-id="5564" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="screenshot-2021-08-22-165131" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165131.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165131.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165131.jpg" data-orig-size="1205,723" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/screenshot-2021-08-22-165131/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165131.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165131.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165131.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165131.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165131.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165131.jpg 1205w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Extract from the naval Register for John Langston Saggers</em> [Source: Ancestry UK]</figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Great care had been taken prior to departure over the welfare of</strong> the men. Apart from warm clothing and adequate food provisions, the sailors were given facilities and equipment to keep them amused during the long winter months. The ships both had theatres for the men to stage plays and they also had equipment to enable them to venture outdoors. The men of the Discovery built a theatre on the ice with a 60ft x 27ft stage which they named after Alexandra, the Princess of Wales. They opened it on her birthday, 1<span style="border: 0px; bottom: 1ex; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">st</span> December with a farce, ‘My Turn Next.’ They also created a skating rink by pouring melted water over the ice which refroze to form a smooth surface. The image below shows the skating rink with HMS Discovery locked in the ice in the background.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-4-discovery.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5606" data-attachment-id="5606" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-4-discovery" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-4-discovery.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-4-discovery.jpg?w=203" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-4-discovery.jpg" data-orig-size="611,902" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-4-discovery/" sizes="(max-width: 611px) 100vw, 611px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-4-discovery.jpg?w=611" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-4-discovery.jpg 611w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-4-discovery.jpg?w=102 102w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-4-discovery.jpg?w=203 203w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" /></a></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The sun reappeared on February 29<span style="border: 0px; bottom: 1ex; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">th</span> and plans were</strong> immediately put in place for further sledging expeditions. With over one hundred degrees of frost recorded, one officer was badly affected by the cold. He was returned to the Alert, his comrades taking turns to lie alongside him in an attempt to maintain his body temperature. Although he survived the journey, he died soon after his two badly frostbitten feet had been amputated. A week later, a small party of men led by Lieutenant Rawson reached the Discovery to tell them all was well. The newspapers on hearing of it, reported with special pride that as the men’s frostbitten noses, cheeks and fingers were being treated Rawson jovially said, <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“at least the cheers from Southsea beach</em> [on their departure from England] <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">have now been fairly earned.”</em></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-10-alert-copy.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5614" data-attachment-id="5614" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1628886020","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-10-alert-copy" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-10-alert-copy.jpg?w=337" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-10-alert-copy.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-10-alert-copy.jpg" data-orig-size="337,262" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-10-alert-copy/" height="454" loading="lazy" scale="1.5" src-orig="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-10-alert-copy.jpg?w=337" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-10-alert-copy.jpg?w=584" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-10-alert-copy.jpg?w=584&zoom=2 1.5x" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" width="584" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Inevitably, there were a number of deaths amongst the sledging parties</em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In April the sledging parties started in earnest with small groups</strong> of men travelling in every direction. On board the ships only the chaplains, medical officers and the sick remained alongside half a dozen essential crew members. Exploring further north than any previous expedition, yet separated from one another, the groups remained unaware of the suffering and deaths of one another. Although unsuccessful in reaching the North Pole they brought home with them detail of the birds and animals that they found along their way. Of greater importance for future expeditions, they confirmed for the first time that there was <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“no open sea” </em>or<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> “an ocean teeming with life”</em> or any <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Elysian Fields”,</em> only <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“an icy desert where all life ends.”</em> Finally, at the end of July 1876, the Alert broke free of the ice to re-join the Discovery and together they began their battle through the slowly thawing sea on the start of their long journey home.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-1.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5609" data-attachment-id="5609" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1628884042","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-1" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-1.jpg?w=583" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-1.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-1.jpg" data-orig-size="583,431" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-1/" sizes="(max-width: 583px) 100vw, 583px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-1.jpg?w=583" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-1.jpg 583w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-1.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-1.jpg?w=300 300w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The sledging parties prepare to leave</em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The return of HMS Alert and HMS Discovery to England </strong>on Thursday 9th November 1876 was greeted with as much excitement as their departure. Sailing into Portsmouth they were greeted by the Commander-in-Chief of the Fleet, the Lord Mayor, cheering crowds and massed bands. The crew were allowed on shore that evening; the papers reporting proudly that <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“their behaviour has been excellent.”</em> The following day, back aboard ship, the men received three weeks’ leave and a month’s advance of pay. Over the following weeks the public continued to arrive in the town to visit the ships and an exhibition of the trip. </p><figure class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><img alt="This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-5j-alert.jpg" height="863" scale="1.5" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-5j-alert.jpg?w=533" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-5j-alert.jpg?w=533&zoom=2 1.5x" style="border-radius: inherit; max-width: 100%;" width="533" /><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">HMS Alert icebound as well as homeward bound</em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">For the sailors of the Expedition there was still more</strong> celebration to come. In early December the Lord Mayor of London entertained the officers and crews to a banquet at the Mansion House. The newspapers noted that “<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">all kinds of wines, and pheasants and plover were served, just as if Her Majesty’s Ministers were present.”</em> The wives and children watched the proceedings from the galleries of the <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">‘sumptuous” </em>surroundings of the Egyptian Room. At the end of the evening, the men were presented with gifts of pipes and tobacco. Queen Victoria also relayed her gratitude to the men, thanking them for their dedication to service, their heroism and commiserating for the loss of life. She also commanded that <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“… a medal be granted to all persons of every rank and class who were serving on the Alert and Discovery during the Arctic Expedition of 1875-76…”</em> For the ordinary seaman and his family, it must have been a sight so beyond their usual experience and one that would never be forgotten. Records show that Cousin John Langston Saggers received his medal, albeit with an error engraved into the spelling. Whether it is now in a private collection or still held by a member of his family or has been lost is unknown.</p><figure class="wp-block-image" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><img alt="This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-14.jpg" height="507" scale="1.5" src-orig="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-14.jpg?w=835" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-14.jpg?w=584" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/1876-saggers-john-langston-s173-arctic-expedition-iln-14.jpg?w=584&zoom=2 1.5x" style="border-radius: inherit; max-width: 100%;" width="584" /><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;">Mid-day, Thursday, 9th November 1876: <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">HMS Alert & HMS Discovery enter Portsmouth Harbour</em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">*</strong></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Of special interest to my American readers</strong></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Captain Nares of the Alert stopped at Polaris Bay, Canada <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">to hoist the American ensign</strong> and fire a gun salute. He also erected a brass tablet the expedition had brought with them which read, <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Sacred to the memory of Captain F C Hall of the U.S. ship Polaris, who sacrificed his life in the advancement of science on Nov, 8<span style="border: 0px; bottom: 1ex; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">th</span> 1871. This tablet has been erected by the British Arctic Expedition of 1875, who, following in his footsteps, have profited by his experience.”</em></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">*</strong></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Over the years there would be <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">many more attempts to reach the North Pole</strong>. It would not be until 12<span style="border: 0px; bottom: 1ex; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">th</span> May 1926 that Roald Amundsen scientifically proved that he had succeeded.</em></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">*</strong></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u>Sources</u></em></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ancestry UK</em></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Royal Navy Registers of Seamen’s Services 1848-1939</em></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">British Newspaper Archive: The Norwich Mercury, The South London Chronicle, Shetland Times, Fife Herald, The Illustrated London News, Luton Times & Advertiser</em>, <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Graphic</em></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">British Polar Exploration and Research: A Historical and Medallic Record with Biographies 1818-1999</em></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wikipedia</em></p><div class="wpcnt" id="wordads-preview-parent" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="wpa" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; transform: translate3d(0px, 0px, 0px); vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add="><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a>JOHN SHORTLAND, Cotswold Hills, England.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11702000270961029986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723797518858451239.post-18592082897225161862021-08-22T12:59:00.003-07:002021-09-26T13:04:34.587-07:00Voyage of Discovery - part 1<div><br /></div><div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">May 29<span style="border: 0px; bottom: 1ex; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">th</span> 1875, the official birthday of Queen Victoria, was a day of</strong> huge national importance. Excitement had increased over many months and now, the anticipation of spectacular success even more assured with the realisation that departure was coinciding with Oak Apple Day, the traditional day of celebrating the Restoration of King Charles II [<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">see footnote i</em>] to the throne. It seemed that the world had descended on Portsmouth, Britain’s premier Naval town to witness the sailing of Her Majesty’s Ships, the HMS Alert and HMS Discovery for the Arctic, and indeed it had.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-163841.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5558" data-attachment-id="5558" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="screenshot-2021-08-22-163841" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-163841.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-163841.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-163841.jpg" data-orig-size="1186,711" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/screenshot-2021-08-22-163841/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-163841.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-163841.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-163841.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-163841.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-163841.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-163841.jpg 1186w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The ships making their way through a narrow channel in the ice – the Discovery leading.</em> [Source: BNA]</figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The interest of the Monarchy in the ships preparation for</strong> travel had culminated with a visit from the Ex-Empress Eugenie [Bonaparte] and her son, the Prince Regent on the 22<span style="border: 0px; bottom: 1ex; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">nd</span>. There they had greeted the men who would be sailing the following Saturday. Once the Royal party had left, the sailors marched through the town led by bandsmen to Portland Hall, Southsea, where the Mayor entertained them to dinner. The hall, which had hosted the Officers two days earlier had been decorated with models of the ships complete with icebergs and banners. After dinner, Captain Nares of the Alert, and leader of the expedition, made an appearance to <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“thunderous applause”,</em> followed by many of the men’s wives who were entertained at a separate table.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-164648.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5561" data-attachment-id="5561" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="screenshot-2021-08-22-164648" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-164648.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-164648.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-164648.jpg" data-orig-size="981,663" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/screenshot-2021-08-22-164648/" sizes="(max-width: 981px) 100vw, 981px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-164648.jpg?w=981" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-164648.jpg 981w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-164648.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-164648.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-164648.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The dinner for the Officers given by the Mayor of Portsmouth the week before departure</em> [Source: BNA]</figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Amongst the diners that day was John Langston Saggers, who for</strong> the past few months had been serving on Queen Victoria’s Royal Yacht, the HMY Osborne. He had joined the Navy five years earlier and his record had been exemplary from the start. Perhaps of greater importance, he was well within the criteria to be aboard the Arctic Expedition ships: at 5’ 4” (163cm) tall he was five inches below the maximum height and he had the fair complexion common to almost all those on board, a feature noted by newspapers eager to report on every facet of the trip. Single and aged just 22 years old, he was about to embark on an adventure unlike any other – the quest to reach the North Pole before other competing nations.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165131.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5564" data-attachment-id="5564" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="screenshot-2021-08-22-165131" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165131.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165131.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165131.jpg" data-orig-size="1205,723" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/screenshot-2021-08-22-165131/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165131.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165131.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165131.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165131.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165131.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165131.jpg 1205w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Extract from the naval Register for John Langston Saggers</em> [Source: Ancestry UK]</figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Attempts to reach the Pole in the past had always</strong> ended in failure with ships and crew either being lost at sea or unable to find a passage through the ice. A belief held by many was that, if a way through could be found, the Pole may be the centre of a land with a benign climate where plants and animals flourished and potential minerals could be mined. After all, they argued, had this not happened before with the discovery of the Americas? This seems such an extraordinary thought in our now enlightened times that the full text can be read in <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">footnote ii</em>.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165509.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5567" data-attachment-id="5567" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="screenshot-2021-08-22-165509" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165509.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165509.jpg?w=208" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165509.jpg" data-orig-size="845,1216" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/screenshot-2021-08-22-165509/" sizes="(max-width: 712px) 100vw, 712px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165509.jpg?w=712" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165509.jpg?w=712 712w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165509.jpg?w=104 104w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165509.jpg?w=208 208w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165509.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165509.jpg 845w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Map showing the route taken by the two ships</em> <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">through the northern waters</em> [Source: BNA]</figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By Friday 28<span style="border: 0px; bottom: 1ex; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">th</span>, the men were on duty and only essential non</strong>-crew allowed aboard. Of particular concern were the <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Welch and Boucher’s Portable Lifebouys”</em> – life rafts that had a central sealed food reservoir, the rations being sucked up through flexible feeding tubes. They were also fitted with lanterns so that, at night, any man overboard could (as they assumed) swim to safety. These and hundreds of other items were carefully checked and tested. Ex-Empress Eugenie had been especially concerned about the men having adequate warm clothing and had made, for each man, <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“comfortable, woollen-knitted wigs”</em> for which the Expedition was <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“indebted.”</em></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165941.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5569" data-attachment-id="5569" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="screenshot-2021-08-22-165941" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165941.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165941.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165941.jpg" data-orig-size="1073,778" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/screenshot-2021-08-22-165941/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165941.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165941.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165941.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165941.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165941.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-165941.jpg 1073w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Newspapers reported every detail:</em> <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Implements and apparatus for the Arctic Expedition” </em>[Source: BNA]</figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">On the 29<span style="border: 0px; bottom: 1ex; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">th</span>, the departure ceremonies started early in the day.</strong> The Royal Standard was raised and the men and officers all wore sprays of oak leaves in their button-holes as an expression of their loyalty. Every ship in the dockyard was dressed from stern to stern with their signal flags, all fluttering in the gentle north-westerly breeze. The Alert and the Discovery, ready to depart, differed from the other ships by only hoisting the St George ensign. Piped aboard, the Lord Admirals of the Fleet carried out their final inspection before shaking hands with each of the Officers. As they left, Mr George Ward Hunt, First Lord of the Admiralty, turned to acknowledge the crew before saying quite simply, <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Good-bye, men”</em> to which they responded with loud and excited cheering.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-180400.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5576" data-attachment-id="5576" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="screenshot-2021-08-22-180400" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-180400.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-180400.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-180400.jpg" data-orig-size="1041,777" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/screenshot-2021-08-22-180400/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-180400.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-180400.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-180400.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-180400.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-180400.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-180400.jpg 1041w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Plans had been made to keep the crew amused during the long hours of Arctic winter darkness Here they are shown putting on a play aboard the Alert</em> [Source: BNA]</figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">On Southsea Common a long line of field guns and troops from </strong>the Royal Engineers, the Royal Artillery and other regiments stood facing seawards. The massed bands became silent at 11.30 and soon after, the first deafening volley of gun salutes echoed across the water to be answered by volleys from the ships and three other places along the coast. The ceremony concluded with a march past of the massed troops reported with patriotic zeal, <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“…the perfection of precision for which British troops are so remarkable.”</em></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-183948.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5578" data-attachment-id="5578" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="screenshot-2021-08-22-183948" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-183948.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-183948.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-183948.jpg" data-orig-size="1160,697" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/screenshot-2021-08-22-183948/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-183948.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-183948.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-183948.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-183948.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-183948.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-183948.jpg 1160w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;">[Source: BNA]</figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">On the beach and pier, thousands of well-wishers gathered to see the boats</strong> depart. They had travelled from all over Britain with special trains being laid on for the occasion. Wives and <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“sweethearts”</em> of the crew were allowed into the dockyard and crowded onto the piers. Amongst them, and consoling them, were the wives of Scottish trawlermen who fished close to the Arctic ice; their reassurances belying the dangers and losses that they sometimes endured. On board, Captain Nares read out a telegram from the Queen: <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I earnestly wish you and your gallant companions every success, and I trust that you may safely accomplish the important duty you have so bravely undertaken.” </em>The Queen also sent aboard two large parcels, one for each ship, with the order that they were only to be opened at sea. I have yet to discover what they may have held.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-175010.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5572" data-attachment-id="5572" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="screenshot-2021-08-22-175010" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-175010.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-175010.jpg?w=222" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-175010.jpg" data-orig-size="853,1152" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/screenshot-2021-08-22-175010/" sizes="(max-width: 758px) 100vw, 758px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-175010.jpg?w=758" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-175010.jpg?w=758 758w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-175010.jpg?w=111 111w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-175010.jpg?w=222 222w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-175010.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-175010.jpg 853w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" /></a></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The time had come to depart, the Alert being the first to </strong>leave, followed by the Discovery. Escorting them were flotillas of ships and smaller craft as well as excursion steamers carrying passengers, all bedecked with flags. From the thousands of spectators onshore and from those on the small boats came cheer after cheer and shouts of <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“God speed”</em> to be answered with cheering from the crew of both ships. The newspapers noted that <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“…four hundred miles – as far as from London to Edinburgh only – is all that stands between him</em> [Captain Nares] <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">and Arctic immortality. Every Englishman will devoutly pray that he may secure it, and return safe and sound.”</em></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> I discovered the intriguing story of the Arctic Expedition when</strong> researching the life of John Langston Saggers, my ancestral 1<span style="border: 0px; bottom: 1ex; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">st</span> cousin. The outcome of the Arctic Expedition, the fate of the Alert and Discovery, and that of John Langston Saggers will follow shortly in my next post. Edit: This is now published and can be found by <a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2021/09/26/voyage-of-discovery-part-2/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">clicking this link</a>.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-182152-hmy-osborne.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5581" data-attachment-id="5581" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="screenshot-2021-08-22-182152-hmy-osborne" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-182152-hmy-osborne.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-182152-hmy-osborne.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-182152-hmy-osborne.jpg" data-orig-size="1377,815" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/screenshot-2021-08-22-182152-hmy-osborne/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-182152-hmy-osborne.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-182152-hmy-osborne.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-182152-hmy-osborne.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-182152-hmy-osborne.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-182152-hmy-osborne.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-22-182152-hmy-osborne.jpg 1377w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" /></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Queen’s yacht, HMY Osborne; the ship where John Langston Saggers had served prior to the Arctic Expedition</em> [Source: Wikipedia]</figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Footnote i.</em> Oak Apple Day, also known as Restoration Day or Royal Oak Day, commemorates the day in 1660 when King Charles II returned from Exile to be restored to the British throne. He had fled to Europe following the execution of his father, Charles I during the English Civil War. Why an oak to commemorate the day? It was said that he alluded capture by hiding in an oak tree. The tradition of wearing oak leaves has mostly died out but there are several villages in England where local ceremonies still take place.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Footnote ii.</em> <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“…the flora of Greenland has three hundred flowering plants. What may not that of the North Pole number?” “ …within 400 miles of the Pole man, Esquimaux </em>[sic]<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">, has been found. </em>[May not} <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">a race be found uncontaminated by the vices of the known world, and yet with some of its ingenuity? …May we not find some ‘Arcadian Retreats,’ some ‘Happy Valleys,’ or perhaps the ‘Lost Ten Tribes?…’</em></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u>Sources</u></em></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ancestry UK</em></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Royal Navy Registers of Seamen’s Services 1848-1939</em></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">British Newspaper Archive: The Morpeth Herald, The Derby Mercury, The Standard, The Nuneaton Advertiser, The Illustrated London News</em></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wikipedia</em></p><div class="wpcnt" id="wordads-preview-parent" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="wpa" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; transform: translate3d(0px, 0px, 0px); vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add="><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a>JOHN SHORTLAND, Cotswold Hills, England.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11702000270961029986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723797518858451239.post-87864480337692228372021-07-19T07:15:00.002-07:002021-07-19T07:23:41.938-07:00Grandma and The Man Who Never Was<div><br /></div><div><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Grandma was full of sayings that either</strong> puzzled us as children, made us laugh or made us think “silly, old Grandma” – often it was all three. One was that you should always go out wearing clean underwear in case you got run over by a bus. The story below just goes to prove that, as always, Grandma was right, well almost right.</span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/grandma-watermark.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5534" data-attachment-id="5534" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1626539204","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="grandma-watermark" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/grandma-watermark.jpg?w=504" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/grandma-watermark.jpg?w=210" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/grandma-watermark.jpg" data-orig-size="504,719" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/grandma-watermark/" height="548" loading="lazy" scale="1.5" src-orig="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/grandma-watermark.jpg?w=504" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/grandma-watermark.jpg?w=384" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/grandma-watermark.jpg?w=384&zoom=2 1.5x" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" width="384" /></span></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span>Grandma was full of funny sayings & superstitions</span></em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Herbert Fisher (HAL Fisher), husband of</strong> Lettice Ilbert – whose own, remarkable story can be read <a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/2021/03/07/international-womens-day-lettice-fisher/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">here</a> – was on his way to work during a WW2 blackout. Warden of New College, Oxford and Chairman of the Conscientious Objectors Tribunal, he was in London for the latter when hit, not by a bus but by a lorry. He died in hospital several days later on the 18<span style="border: 0px; bottom: 1ex; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">th</span> April 1940. Little would he have thought, or Grandma for that matter, that his underwear would play a prominent part in the history of defeating Nazism.</span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/fisher-hal-f110.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5537" data-attachment-id="5537" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="fisher-hal-f110" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/fisher-hal-f110.jpg?w=233" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/fisher-hal-f110.jpg?w=199" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/fisher-hal-f110.jpg" data-orig-size="233,352" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/fisher-hal-f110/" height="604" loading="lazy" scale="1.5" src-orig="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/fisher-hal-f110.jpg?w=233" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/fisher-hal-f110.jpg?w=400" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/fisher-hal-f110.jpg?w=400&zoom=2 1.5x" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" width="400" /></span></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;">HAL Fisher [Source: Ancestry]</span></em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">About the same time as Fisher’s demise, in</strong> south Wales, the mother of Glyndwr Michael also died. Michael had always lived with her but now homeless, he made his way to London. It was here, aged 34 and depressed, penniless, and hungry, that he was found two years later in an abandoned warehouse. He was dying from having eaten rat poison, the bait having been left, smeared on bread. The phosphorus in the poison when ingested reacts with the naturally acting stomach acids to produce phosphine gas. The slow death made his body ideal for the purpose that lay ahead.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The British Security Service had been waiting for</strong> some time to obtain a body that could be used in an elaborate hoax against the Germans. <em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Operation Mincemeat,</em> as the top-secret plot became known, intended to release false papers on the body of a drowned officer of the British Army. The aim was to deceive the German Military Intelligence into believing plans for the invasion of Greece and Sardinia, whereas in reality, the intention was to invade Sicily. However, it was not felt possible to use the body of a serving officer whilst maintaining the secrecy required.<br /><br /><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Major William Martin RM, as</strong> Glyndwr Michael’s corpse was to become, was released into the sea off the coast of Spain on the 30<span style="border: 0px; bottom: 1ex; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">th</span> April 1943 for the tide to carry him ashore. About his person were various personal effects: letters and a photograph from his fiancée, theatre tickets and identity papers. A briefcase had been attached to him carrying the false invasion plans, all with the purpose of making the Germans believe that he had been drowned at sea whilst delivering documents to a British General. The ruse worked and the invasion of Sicily was carried out with considerable ease.</span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/screenshot-2021-07-17-171023.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5539" data-attachment-id="5539" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="screenshot-2021-07-17-171023" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/screenshot-2021-07-17-171023.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/screenshot-2021-07-17-171023.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/screenshot-2021-07-17-171023.jpg" data-orig-size="1118,812" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/screenshot-2021-07-17-171023/" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/screenshot-2021-07-17-171023.jpg?w=1024" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/screenshot-2021-07-17-171023.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/screenshot-2021-07-17-171023.jpg?w=150 150w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/screenshot-2021-07-17-171023.jpg?w=300 300w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/screenshot-2021-07-17-171023.jpg?w=768 768w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/screenshot-2021-07-17-171023.jpg 1118w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" /></span></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;">False papers of Major William Martin, RM [Source: Wikipedia]</span></em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Major Martin was buried with full</strong> military honours on the island of Huelva, Spain, the deceit engraved into the grave’s headstone. Over the years that followed rumours spread about the true identity of the body. In 1996, an amateur historian Roger Morgan, discovered documents in the Public Records Office and it was later confirmed that the body was indeed that of Glyndwr Michael. Soon after, an additional inscription was added to the headstone: <em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Glyndwr Michael Served as Major William Martin, RM. </em> Back in his hometown of Aberbargoed, Wales his name was added to the war memorial along with the name in Welsh by which he had become known – The Man Who Never Was.</span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; color: #373737; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><a href="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/the-man-who-never-was-hal-fisher-f110.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #1982d1; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-5541" data-attachment-id="5541" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"john shortland","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1605909303","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="the-man-who-never-was-hal-fisher-f110" data-large-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/the-man-who-never-was-hal-fisher-f110.jpg?w=584" data-medium-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/the-man-who-never-was-hal-fisher-f110.jpg?w=264" data-orig-file="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/the-man-who-never-was-hal-fisher-f110.jpg" data-orig-size="627,712" data-permalink="https://johnshortlandwriter.com/the-man-who-never-was-hal-fisher-f110/" sizes="(max-width: 627px) 100vw, 627px" src="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/the-man-who-never-was-hal-fisher-f110.jpg?w=627" srcset="https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/the-man-who-never-was-hal-fisher-f110.jpg 627w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/the-man-who-never-was-hal-fisher-f110.jpg?w=132 132w, https://johnshortlandwriter.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/the-man-who-never-was-hal-fisher-f110.jpg?w=264 264w" style="border-radius: inherit; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" /></span></a><figcaption style="color: #666666; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-top: 0.5em; max-width: calc(100% - 18px); padding: 3px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative;"><em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;">Grave of The Man Who Never Was, island of Huelva, Spain [Source: Wikipedia]</span></em></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #373737; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Back to Grandma’s warning and HAL Fisher.</strong> One of the problems in maintaining the secrecy of Operation Mincemeat was how to find clothing for Major William Martin. Army uniform was not a problem to obtain but how could they find undergarments of suitable quality for someone of middle rank yet without risking a breach of security? HAL Fisher’s New College rooms had been left untouched since his death where items of the required quality could be removed without raising suspicion. If Grandma had lived long enough to have heard the tale, she would have been even more surprised, that HAL Fisher had married into her grandson’s family. He may only have been a distant cousin of my father, but I can imagine her kvelling with pride and nodding with satisfaction. There is no doubt that she would also have given a huge sigh of relief that HAL had heeded her advice.<br /><br /><br /><em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sources: Wikipedia, Ancestry, Commonwealth War Graves Commission</em><br /></span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add="><img alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" /></a>JOHN SHORTLAND, Cotswold Hills, England.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11702000270961029986noreply@blogger.com2