New Horizons...

On Friday we venture south towards the big city... London bound are we, as Steve starts working on the "2012 Olympic Village". We've resisted attempts to send us that way for a long time... more people, busier roads... we're just not city folk. So we've both had more than the usual pre-headingoffinto the unknown nerves. But, the project he was due to start on has been delayed until after Easter and work is work! I wonder what my new horizon will be like next week?

Finding a suitable caravan site has been a problem... there are fewer options, often extortionately (in my opinion) priced, & i've experienced attitudes I've not had to deal with before. We travel with a caravan & a little trailer... which is our garden shed, aswell as housing motorcycle & where the dog sleeps. Apparently this makes us, I quote, "pikeys" (gypsys) and "we have to think of our other caravanners". I know some elements of the Gypsy/Travelling community do cause problems and some of them don't help their own cause, but it's the first time I've encountered such blatant hostility based on what I might or might not be. I suppose I'm lucky compared to many who are subject to various prejudices on a regular basis. Some sites haven't wanted us before, but they haven't been nasty. The tin lid on it all was when he asked what I do... I said I'd look for a job, & thinking he was actually interested I told him I walk, write, paint, read blah blah... the result? "Well, I'll definitely have to say no then"!!! His loss! We have got somewhere though.... just north of the Dartford tunnel if that means anything to anyone!

The pictures are all of recent sun-rises.... even though most days lately have been a bit insipid, cloudy, drizzly affairs... I love them all in their own way & I guess I will soon find the charms of the place we are going to. I think being a country girl I have mis-conceptions about "london"... i've visited a couple of times & it's been fine so i'm sure all will be well when we get there ... yesterdays nerves have given way to anticipation & I'm intrigued to see what happens & where we will be... new horizons are around the corner, I wonder what they'll bring?

Silence...

... is golden, they say, and I certainly have been silent in the bloggy world of late. But, there are only so many things a girl can give her time to, and with other distractions I just haven't had the compulsion to write. That isn't strictly true... there is so much I want to write but words haven't flowed when I've had the time & haven't had the opportunity to be here when they do! Ah, such is life sometimes!

A secret place, at the end of the valley where we stayed in Lanarkshire, Scotland...

 a place to hold your breath as you enter the silence... 

with reverence...

 like walking into a cathedral and gazing in wonder at the architecture. 

Indeed it is a holy place, 

with lofty spires leading your eye

 & lifting your heart... 

I've re-visited this place many times in my heart since we left... it seems so quiet at first, but as I sit amongst the tree roots, tucked under the branches sounds emerge... the chatter & twittering of tiny birds, hidden from view... the laughter of the brook a way behind me... the whisper air through the needles.... sounds of trees breathing and moving... Depending where I shift my focus any of these can seem either so loud or barely imperceptible... the song of the forest...

the song of the forest entangles me, 

a refrain that entices and draws me in,  

whispered lessons filtering through...

the wisdom of ages in each flake of snow

I've not been able to comment on some blogs for a while, so though I have visited & read your words, I've been silent on that score too (as well as not being able to view blogger stats or access the template designer!) The stats have re-appeared, but I still can't comment on those that have comments embedded below the post, pop-up window comments seem to be ok. There are still a few fixes to try, but I've not had the heart to spend time on removing/replacing stuff to see what works(or not) yet. So, if you haven't heard from me, rest assured I do think of you & send my love. Sometimes by the time i've tinkered with a few more things, i can't be bothered to say anything.... sorry... techie stuff is a chore to me. 

In some ways it feels like the universe is conspiring to keep me silent.... but like the forest, there is much going on... just tuning in to different things... my fingers are starting to itch though!