Country LIfe

There is something about living in the country that cannot compare. Our village is probably much like any other village, it has it's own rhythmn and traditions. I love the familiarity of country life as each month unfolds into the next. January brings our first Wine & Wisdom and is the start of the yearly round of fundraising. Mothering Sunday is very special and all the children of the village give posies of flowers to us Mum's. I still remember when Isabel was first born and one of the congregation plucked her gently from my arms, took her up to the vicar who handed her a small bunch of primroses. It made her laugh and I had finally joined the sisterhood.

The annual fete has now been and gone and raised over £4000 this year. Tradition is important, with maypole dancing and a brass band. The tea urn bubbles away and the hot water is poured into old fashioned brown teapots.

Around us the crops in the fields are ripening and the valley is now a blanket of gold on all sides. The sun beats down and the insects buzz and dance in crazy circles. The hair sticks to the back of your neck and your feet kick up the dust.

The lack of rain makes everything look lightly jaded now.

The cows and sheep huddle together under whatever shade they can find.

There is as much or as little to do as the fancy takes you. We have a keep fit group, art classes, bell ringing, bee keeping. Our W.I has around 30 members and we have a done everything from indian head massage to belly dancing!

Autumn sees the harvest festival, another steadfast tradition, something to look forwards to for when else can you sing "we plough the fields and scatter". We have an auction night to raise money for a school in Africa which we sponsor. Such a fun way of getting people to donate and where else would you pay £5 for a marrow or £6 for a jar of Mrs P's homemade strawberry jam. (That was man person and his arch rival in these matters).

This is Isabel's tree on the village green, planted for her first birthday in 2000. We have watched it burst into life each spring and drop it's leaves in the autumn ready for it's winter sleep... continuity, a feeling of being part of something. When she is an old lady, she will hopefully be able to tell her grandchildren that "this is my tree".

I love being a part of this village and look forward to each event as it's turn approaches, tradition, continuity, memories stored away for future reference.

Dev X