It starts with the announcement on the tanoy.
The polite greeting at the passport desk. Then the careful apology at the carpark ticket machine.
Bushy trees and overgrown hedgerows flash past on the drive south.
Passing through villages and hamlets, the smell of cut grass as we wind down the windows, stirring memories of summers past.
The thumping of a Chinook as it flies low overhead, the reverberations interrupting the countryside quiet.
Then gentle, persistent calls from tiny birds flitting between seed trays. The sleepy coo-coo of a pigeon on top of a neighbouring roof.
 |
| Photo credit: English Countryside by Shutterstock |
In the calm of the garden, a water fountain burbles. The whir of an electric mower. Bumble bees buzz lazily around the lavender.
The kettle boils. The tea is made. The TV turned on. The news delivered in a solemn tone.
White, pillowy clouds gather on the horizon but the sun remains. It is high in the sky and will stay that way. The dark refuses to come for the solstice is here.
Football beckons and the tennis is on its way.
Summer festivals approach, with long weekends in pub gardens, at the coast, camping in fields and pastures, watching and winning at the races, contemplating short trips further afield.
Sat in this garden oasis, memories come flooding in, threatening to overwhelm, as one cherished event from the past is replaced by the next.
Memories that have been locked away for the last three years, pushed aside by more dominant new world adventures.
I can sense the arrival of summer. The return to an earlier life. The familiarity of a former home.
Back to the tanoy announcement, as we descend over a patchwork quilt of fields and farms.
She welcomes us here. To this place. This country.
She smiles, jokes, reveals the day as hot, sunny, blue skies, not one cloud.
She announces that we’ve arrived. Welcome to England.
Dear England.
We’ve arrived.
You must be in the home counties. Go North, oh rose tinted one. Empty shops, boguns with staffies, petrol at $2.43aus, out of the World Cup after 2 matches, Islamic worries, welcome back.
Oh clr, why so cynical?!! England is all of those things and more. But so is my adopted country, which also has its bogans with staffies, out of the World Cup after two games, and empty shops! Embrace any place, including warts and all. No country is perfect but can’t we just be allowed to dream a little???
Too old for them to have me but been a few times. I’ve seen bogans but not with staffies!! Still tourists don’t go to those parts. You don’t have towns with 20% empty shops, however it may happen once the amazion giant takes hold.
Come to the small Welsh, Midland and Northern towns. You might be shocked.
Ps you were expected to be out of the World cup, although they preformed above their level.
Welcome back! I felt the same way when I first arrived back, but I have to say the reality of living here again, even for a few months, is not as beautiful as I used to imagine while I was away. BUT….make sure you soak it all in. Roast dinners, pub lunches, country strolls, lovely architecture, those great British traditions, the quick pint….and so on….
So I’m headed to Wales in a week’s time and it will be interesting to see if what you say is right. I’m happy to take the rough with the smooth – depends if it’s a large part of life there or just a blip. The team did perform well at the WC. Not so in the last game but against the Dutch they were pretty special 😉
Thanks Peter! Enjoying it so far and thanks for turning the temps up for me 🙂 Funny that you say that about the creepy crawlies. I thought the very same thing the other day. My son was playing in the grass and I sat back and actually relaxed for the first time in a long time. You just don’t have to worry about those kinds of things here. Appreciate your comment.
Cheers Amy. Interested to know what bits haven’t seemed as beautiful over time for you. Is it just the day to day stuff? I am trying my best to soak up the good things – a few roast under the belt, pub visits and country walks. Haven’t had a chance to explore some of the older buildings yet but hope to head to Pembroke Castle this week.
Somewhere like Pontypridd. (not Cardiff that’s doing well) Then drop across to Kidderminster (home), parts of the Black Country and maybe Nuneaton. That will give you an idea (-:
These towns have had the manufacturing base knocked out of them. Us carpets, Ponty mines and so on, then the recession which shows little sign of recovery. At least you have the weather. Just seen pics of the Yarrow overflowing in Melbourne, would’nt of thought it possible.
Proprietor: Colin Raxter
Visit my website Lion Books
Lion Books
52 Blackwell St
Kidderminster
DY10 2EE
U.K.
Tel +44 (0)1562 745060
Books bought and sold for 25 years: Football Books & Programmes, Motorsport, Motorcycling and all good general stock.
Member of the PBFA
Regularly exhibiting at Churchdown Bookfair
Ignore the rubbish off the bottom that came off my email!
Seriously enjoy Wales.
C
I used to travel past Nuneaton on the way to uni in Coventry so that’s sad to hear of their decline. Cov used to have a heavy auto manufacturing base (as did Brum) so I’m wondering if that’s still going strong or probably not. My nan’s from Pontypridd but left at a young age and didn’t go back!!!
Thanks. I will do. No doubt I’ll stick to the tourist bits plus the great outdoors! That’s the part I’m most looking forward to – rolling hills, the odd mountain, and a bit of the sea…
Let the honeymoon begin! 😉
A-ha. Indeed!
I know I’m late but welcome back! I felt as you feel when I was in Canada last month. I saw it I think without rose tinted glasses and still really want to be back there. Definitely my destination in a few years but still enjoying the UK. Enjoy your time here.
Thank you! Enjoying the return immensely and thankful for some lovely weather 🙂 Hope you have a great summer too and Happy Canada Day!