… an English summer’s day is such a joy, how can we not yearn for many of them?
How do I remember June? She certainly gave us a performance of two halves.
Her early exploits were dry and warm, with blazing days of open skies, freshness and bright sunshine. Summer was splashed all over June’s opening scenes. Continue reading “The View from Here: rose-coloured June”
Once I’d stopped to think about a rainforest I recalled that under the canopy there is little light and relatively little colour. There was a lot of green
It was raining and distinctly cool. The paths would be wet and slippery; the views veiled by mist. Walking was off the agenda. We opted instead for a local attraction which offered at least some shelter and some more attractive temperatures: we had a day at the Eden Project. Continue reading “Singing in the Rain at the Eden Project”
Everywhere we looked offered a view and the vistas crackled with energy
If the first half of our walk can be defined as steeped in history, the second half can be defined as awash with nature. Both halves gave us views: the first of woodlands and settlements; the second of coastal grandeur. There’s no need to make comparisons: they combined to give us a wonderful day. A good walk with a dear friend, at a leisurely pace through magical scenery. What could be better! Continue reading “The View from Here: conquering the cliffs”
it is on the sailing cloud and in the invisible wind
With the run of warm dry weather broken, we moved from gentle rain to heavy rain to thick cloud. A brooding, oppressive sort of day. The colour of this day was gunmetal grey. Continue reading “Birds on the Balcony: silhouettes in symphony”
Regardless … will somebody please make a Cornish version?
One day this week there was an unusual degree of noise from the crows. Investigation with the binoculars revealed a tractor working in a field on the skyline across the valley, and behind it, crows clamoured in large numbers. Continue reading “Birds on the Balcony: Hitchcock vs Daphne”
I was reminded once more of how much joy there is in the simplest of things; the boys loved this small ritual
The first day of June! How lovely to usher in this blowsy month of early summer with Ellie and the boys. Continue reading “Birds on the Balcony: with two small boys”
“We do not remember days; we remember moments.” Cesare Pavese
A month of …
… huge skies…
…fluffy clouds …
… and wild flowers.
Polperro at low tide…
… and high tide.
Evenings on the balcony …
… on our own…
… and with those we love.
Ellie and her boys …
… loving and laughing…
… and exploring.
Watching the sun set…
… and filling the skies with colour.
And not forgetting…
… Ferryside in the rain.
Blessings indeed.
On a sunshine-filled day in May, the view from here is exhilarating.
It seems that when it rains in Cornwall, it rains properly. Often it’s a soft, gentle rain, so fine that it’s almost invisible – unless you’re standing in it. And sometimes it’s hard, heavy and unforgiving. We’ve had entire days of rain, and even more long nights of it. But looking back at May, I think we did pretty well on the weather front. Continue reading “The View from Here: exhilarating May”
Like the trees in Larkin’s poem, we are beginning afresh.
Quite a few years ago I had a pen-friend in Saskatchewan and she used to refer to ‘green up’. In her corner of the world there was snow for many months and then – suddenly it seemed – green up. I often think of her and that phrase at this time of year. Continue reading “Green Up”
The edges of their wings on the underside are like chequerboards…
I saw my first swallow of the year at Lerryn on April 19th. There it was – just the one – sitting neatly on a telephone wire. I was astonished; it seemed so early! But a few days later they were here, at Highfield, in numbers. Swooping and plunging, weaving intricate patterns through clear skies with swift sureness of eye and wing. And from the balcony, I can watch them as often from above as below. Beautiful and breath-taking grace. Continue reading “Birds on the Balcony: the swallow is come!”
A Corner of Cornwall 