About Me

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here I am in a little cottage that evokes the energies of my ancestral lands - a cottage on the moors of Cornwall, or on the cliff tops of Ireland or Scotland. It has a hearth. I am a hedge witch {of sorts}. I wear upcycled clothes, patchouli oil and Redback boots. I am a gypsy; an eccentric and a mystic [I often live with a foot in two worlds]. I serve my guests, tea from an old silver teapot. I love Vervain, yarrow, chamomile & mint. Star watcher and Moon gazer. story cloth weaver. keeper of family dreams and wishes. good friend and creator of life. herbal tea drinker and potion maker.

Friday, November 16, 2012

leaving for the Cotswolds

after a slight altercation with the neighbour, Cynthia over the garbage bins [we were just about to drive off and up went her window, she leaned out and she asked us to take the rubbish and put it into the village green bins, which is an offense, so we said no..]..

We set off in a mist covered day, towards Bakewell for a cup of tea and crumpets and to buy myself some hand cream which I had forgotten to buy myself the day before. While in Bakewell, we couldn't resist another visit to the opportunity shop to buy a few more things, that we desperately needed.. like vintage milk jugs.

driving along those backroads that seem to become race tracks at times,  having some near misses, once or twice.

Then on our way to Hartington, to meet a long time blogging friend Pixie. Pix and I have known each other online for about 5 years I think and we both have helped each other through some rough patches. It was really good to finally meet her and there were no uncomfortable moments at all. It was like being with an old 'real' life friend. Blogging is a phenomena [or is that phenomenon?] that I am so glad that I discovered.

we drove towards Hartington

through the green pastures that are so common here, our nostrils informed us that it was cows that grazed here, not sheep. More stone fences and cottages and crows flying overhead. [there don't seem to be any dams here in the paddocks, maybe the grass is so lush and juicy that the cattle get enough moisture from them.. I don't know because I am not a farmer]

after a short few hours with Pixie in the local pub for lunch, we set off, following her via a shortcut to get on the M6 which she suggested as it was getting late.. [we had wanted to avoid this while over here, but in hindsight it was a good thing that we did follow her advice]

so here we are on the M6.. motorways are the same the world over.. too many cars, lots of people going places. busy, busy... "farewell to the North, where green rolling hills have been replaced by grey skies - is it smog or just cloud - whatever it is, a depressing air descends and I just don't want to be here"  I was missing Yorkshire already.

the M6 went on for miles, but by taking this road, we bypassed large cities, which I definitely don't cope with very well... and finally, we had a turnoff... taking a turn to Cheltenham, we stopped for some groceries, discovering by chance a wholefood supermarket. Could not believe my luck. So stocking up on organic fruit, nuts, some oats and buckwheat for breakfast. Eggs. Organic walnut bread. And for dinner some organic roast pork, a quinoa and sweet potato pattie and a salad of squash and cranberry add to that, some dandelion and burdock ginger beer.. [as you can see, I was in heaven!!.. must go back there to stock up for Cornwall!!], then off again to our next stop and we hit city traffic. Snail pace for about half an hour. By this time it was getting on to dark and we had no idea where we were going.
Busy road changed to a quiet road, quickly, as it does tend to do here, we are finding and a mist descended upon the road. 'Beware of deer' signs loomed up as we searched for our turnoff. Finally we were at the turnoff..
 turning down towards our cottage in Compton Abdale, I was reading the instructions on my phone, when we hit a bump and I accidentally pressed the delete button. Great.

We had absolutely no idea where to go until we finally stumbled upon the cottage by chance but had no access key nor did we know where to find it, as the instructions were in said deleted email. So Joe had to walk out to the road to get service on his phone, call the owner who instructed him on accessing the property and we were in. Dumping our bags and stuff on the floor, I got dinner ready and we sat down in the cold and ate. There is a fire here, but truthfully we were both too tired to be bothered with it. I then washed up and started getting my things ready for a bath and I just sat and burst into tears. Being a sensitive, I was so overwhelmed with what had happened in the past few hours, it just seemed like crying was the best thing to do. I think the shock of seeing motorways, cars and everything else that goes along with modern day living was a jolt to my sensitive self

I think I have been in some kind of delusional altered place, where England was like it was in the past. I had been spoilt with no traffic and living as if in times gone by [in Yorkshire] and I was blessed really, that I have experienced it. But England on the whole is not like that, it is like everywhere else in the world. I just hope that Cornwall is the same as Yorkshire was.

so, here we are. In yet another beautiful cottage 'The Little House' in Gloucestershire - for one whole week.. [I will really get to play house here!].. we have no idea what tomorrow will bring.. we are off to bed after a very full day.

a year later - 2013
I will never forget the emotional, teariness that I felt when I sat down and cried. It was so overwhelming. But a relief. I won't say the best experience, but looking back the cottage was gorgeous. I did get to contemplate a lot there, to journal. I didn't find the people friendly like they were up north. And as gorgeous as the cottage was, I would bypass the Cotswolds if I ever did the trip again.

4 comments:

  1. That was lucky you were able to reach the owner of the cottage. That was a real "oops" when you deleted everything on your cell phone. It sounds like something I would do.

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  2. There are good and bad spots wherever you go. The town exist everywhere and some are quaint and others are ugly. The same the world over but the prettiness should make up for the ugly in England!

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  3. Sleep soundly -- new adventures await you tomorrow, I'm sure!

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    1. Can imagine how much you are trying to take in, including directions and traffic unpredictability. Well done you and Joe! I look forward to hearing about what you decide to do for your next day.

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