Reflections

Sometimes reflections in water — lake, tarn, river — can be more lovely than the actual view we see on land.
Isn't this rather like memories? Unless what we recall is painful or meaningless, our memories are reshaped and coloured by time. I could list many things here but most are of a personal nature. These memories are my treasure, always available to be be retrieved and viewed at will. Like my growing store of photographs, there's a lot of them!
This photograph is a more recent one. We have a brilliant print of the same place but taken in summer-autumn when the trees are full of colour. But this one reflects the brilliant blue of the sky as well as mostly dull deciduous trees. And the ripples on the water, breaking up the evergreens, add texture and detail. Yes, just like life as we get older.


For lovely photographs visit Lake District Saga

Lots more photographs, walks, points of view, stories, at Writing For Joy

Short stories, reviews, thoughts, dress designs, and much more at Wrinkly Writers

Streams Of Living Water Flow

We drove around Thirlmere Reservoir last Friday. The Revervoir provides water to people as far away as Manchester. When rain ceased to fall for some months earlier on, the levels in the reservoir became very low indeed and restrictions were imposed.

A hose pipe ban was not generally popular but it was the only sane thing to do. Of course, a few locals considered it OUR water that others were wasting. They objected because they were not allowed to use their hose to wash a car or had to resort to watering cans to water their garden. We catch water in butts and use cans anyway, so it was no problem to us. Even so, it makes people realise that water is precious and should not be taken for granted.

It reminded me of the Living Water offered by Jesus. Do we take that for granted too?

I Will Lift My Eyes To The Hills...

When I feel down there is nothing like soaking in the wonder of Creation to restore my humour.

We are indeed privileged to live in an area of outstanding beauty. We don't have to walk far to see both sea and mountains. We have a delightful short canal teeming with life and other short walks to give us fresh air and exercise. Yes, there is much sickness in the world of every kind imaginable, and it is easy to get weighed down by the magnitude of it all. But darkness is subdued when we let in the Light. This photograph was taken this afternoon. We had been on a short drive to the coast and returned by an inland route. This was taken less than two miles up the hill from where we live.

No wonder, when I was a child I used to dream of visiting the Lake District. But I didn't have to become rich and famous to do so. Ironically it was a slow down in the Electrical Engineering Industry in the late 1960's causing many redundancies, that forced us from our Midlands' home (that we had only just moved into) and live up here where my husband was offered a job in Shipbuilding. It had been hard for all of us, especially our three children — new schools, no friends and no extended family. But they settled and so did we. My husband easier than me. I had to change Teacher Training College in mid stream, travel (with all the family) 220 miles and back to attend tutorials every third Saturday morning, and spend a week away from home to do my exams. The two colleges were completely different and that was confusing.

But, it has all been worthwhile...

(photograph — looking towards the Coniston Range from the Moors Road above Ulverston. Coniston Water can just be seen below the mountains.)

Visit my 'Lake District Saga — Checkmate' web site to see the many pictures on three posts of this wonderful area. (The setting for my latest book — Checkmate)

Unless You Become As A Little Child…

Unless You Become As A Little Child…

It is true that you need a childlike heart to fully appreciate all that life has to offer. Unless under duress, a young child is uninhibited and reacts naturally to what he sees, and feels. If surprised by joy, he will laugh and giggle. If that joy embraces the sight and sound of a band playing, he will likely ‘be one of them’ or dance to the music. This is natural pleasure embracing our God-given senses. Sadly, we become shy as we get older. Fear of disapproval sets in. By the time we are adults (in our own country at least) we smile and laugh with joy, but dance? Maybe, in a ‘correct’ setting, but not openly in the Market Square where people are likely to think you are an exhibitionist. Or will they? Certainly not if you are part of a group, clog dancing or Morris dancing. Or otherwise ‘expected’ to perform. Of course, those who lose their inhibitions through drink may well dance — before they fall flat on their faces. Sad isn’t it? Why can’t we be naturally happy and dance for joy — any time, any place!

We have a band playing in Ulverston’s Market Square most Thursdays throughout the summer. Lovely foot-tapping music that makes you happy inside. Oh how often I would love to let go and fling caution to the wind. Dance to my heart’s content. What is there to stop me? Me, just me, and my fear of what others might think.

So I tap my feet and occasionally dare to sway!

Today I saw an infant in a pushchair watching the band and bobbing his feet to the rhythm of the band. I walked up and encouraged him. He smiled and before long his hand and feet were doing just what I truly wanted to do myself. So I had a good excuse to tap and clap! The lady with him was clapping in encouragement too. Such happiness written on that little boy’s face.

‘And a little child shall lead them’…

Magpies Nest Publishing
Writing For Joy
Diary of a Country Lady
Lakeland Saga — Checkmate. Beautiful Cumbria and the wonder of Lakeland in photographs”
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My Space for photographs, stories and poems, plus Ann Dunning singing Any Dream Will Do
Ask Gran Hobson about times gone by — designing, wartime, food, play… what you will

Writing For Joy

Bunny in the Garden — GOT IT!

Bunny in the Garden — Got it!

We have had a rabbit hopping through the garden since spring. We don’t know where it goes to and we don’t know where it comes from. It does not stay long. Sometimes it does not stop at all. We have no objection to it nibbling weeds in the lawn or borders and there is no evidence of damage to anything. Hoppity usually has his ears up listening for trouble. Amazing that he’s still alive. There are plenty of predators in the area.
I have tried to catch him with my camera many times. When I have had it ready he hasn’t appeared. I race to get it and he’s gone, or just disappearing . Today my hubby called to say he was on the lawn. I rushed for the camera. Did not stop to get the focal distance correct and snapped the bunny through the kitchen window — never mind the haze caused by double glazing and the usual distortion of damp mist on the glass. No time to open the door to get a snap. No time to readjust the camera from the past setting.
Okay not perfect, but I now have my dear bunny on record.
No way would we eat him. Neither would we eat the dear squirrels. Unfortunately, a shop in London is selling squirrel meat. No doubt before long they will be hunted down for their flesh as well as the hatred some folk have for them. Already interest is growing. Golly, you would have to suck bones to get anything from them.

See also my
Writing For Joy
Wrinkly Writers
Gladys Hobson — Writer

A Pleasant Drive Around Windermere and Coniston Water

Yesterday we had a pleasant drive to Bowness, Windermere, Ambleside and round to Coniston and back home following the lakeside road. Beautiful views of lakes and mountains.
Of course, the area is familiar to us but never the same: subtle changes in light, reflections and mood, are ever new.