While out walking off one Toffifee too many in the mist
yesterday I took this photo on my phone and realised it could be a kind of analogy
for life, especially at this moment as we transit from one year into the
next. Following the path to a future that is unseen
(or should that be ‘unwritten’ to paraphrase Joe Strummer?) - none of us knowing
quite what lies ahead. That’s not strictly true in the case of this
photo's subject as I know it to be a big old manor house with sheep and a moat with ducks and stuff but,
if I didn’t know that, well, I’d still keep walking anyway.
The analogy continues: the path is rutted and full of
potholes, but navigable if you take it slowly; in the distance to my left there
is a graveyard, and although I know it can’t be, on the lower middle right of this
photo I noticed a small unexpected shaft of white light which looks kind of ghost-like. (Believe me, I’ve zoomed in on it a few times in the strange hope
of figuring it into Bowie’s face but to no avail.)
There's no doubt that this has been year of awfulness for the world, much
of it genuinely shocking and unfathomable and, for many like me a year of deeply sad personal
losses as well as public. But it’s had
its fair share of sunshine and sweetness - this is a world full of good people too and you're the proof! That sounds so cheesy, but it's genuinely heartening to know so many views and sentiments are common amongst us here. I think we just don’t hear so much about the nice stuff because
it’s going on all the time quietly in the background. All those small, unselfish acts of kindness
by friends and strangers don’t make the news, but I reckon that’s a good thing because it confirms that they’re simply the norm, not the exception.
Anyway you have to keep walking the path, don’t you? – on a Summer’s day there might even be a
cream tea served by a comely wench in Tudor costume at the end of this one* by
the way (please form an orderly queue). Although, to be honest, I
turned around halfway yesterday when, thinking I was alone, I suddenly saw three shady hooded figures emerging
eerily from the misty distance and got spooked....
So - a very 'Happy (and hopeful) New Year!' to you - and thank you to everyone for walking with me through this one.
* The manor house is open to the public for historical recreation events in case you were wondering!
* The manor house is open to the public for historical recreation events in case you were wondering!
And to you too. I love the idea of a comely wench waiting for me at the end of my travail. I'm so glad you said that.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I re-read the post just now and have since added an explanation about the presence of a comely wench. You get all sorts up there (at the manor house, I mean). I've seen Henry VIII getting into a Ford Focus!
DeleteAn intriguing post to end the year C
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and Mr SDS
Thanks and to you too!
DeleteLovely analogy C, and like you, although the path ahead is unseen, I still have faith that there are enough "good people" out there to make it navigable. This place has been a revelation for me this year, as I have found more like-minded people than I have for many a year, albeit of the virtual kind - Good enough for me however and I also look forward to reading your 2017 posts. Always something surprising but also intriguing.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year when it comes to you and Mr SDS.
Thanks Alyson - and to you too. I know just what you mean about the revelation that has come with blogging, I really appreciate it too. I work alone from home, live in a quiet rural area, and when I'm really busy (much of the time) I can go for days without speaking to anyone other than my husband (and the neighbour's cat). The communications and connections in this warm, virtual world are more important than I could have ever once imagined!
DeleteHappy new year C. Keep walking.
ReplyDeleteAnd to you and yours too SA, thanks.
DeleteSturdy walking boots at the ready!
Let's hope we all make it through this mist to a brighter future. Happy New Year, C.
ReplyDeleteI know, it's foggy out there, but fingers crossed. Thanks and Happy New Year to you too.
DeleteLovely photo and thoughts C. I've been struggling to be optimistic about what might await us all further down the path, but your post has brightened my day.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes for 2017 to you and Mr SDS.
Thanks TS. The same to you both from us both too.
DeleteIt's hard to be optimistic; I look at the news every day and feel thoroughly depressed but decided there are two ways I can deal with this. I can think, this sorry world is fucked and there is nothing I can do about it, or I can keep on keeping on and try and have a bit of fun along the way... well the former may be true but the latter's my option right now! 'Don't let the bastards grind you down' has probably never been more apt a phrase.
Inspires interesting ideas for a short ghost story, C! (Especially, "I turned around halfway yesterday when, thinking I was alone, I suddenly saw three shady hooded figures emerging eerily from the misty distance and got spooked...."
ReplyDeleteI love your ghostly photograph, too! We sometimes can't know what the camera is going to pick up - often happy accidents (as with watercolour painting.)
Once again, all the best for the New Year to you and Mr. SDS!
Thanks Marie - I love ghost stories and would love to write one, but I'd probably need to base it on a real experience and that I'm not so keen on (although have heard a few from friends and family which give me goosebumps). The three hooded figures were real but I felt oddly vulnerable on that foggy path when I saw them appear in the distance as I couldn't make out any features, just their shapes. Well, it was cold and damp and about time I returned home anyway ;-)
DeleteYes, happy accidents are the best and completely agree about watercolour painting, it adds some excitement to the process!
New Year wishes bouncing back again too.