just as I was about to give up on Devon... I met Natalie

today, we decided to go where the whim took us and we set off to Hemyock.. didn't have clue what was there..

on arriving we saw a sign to the church cafe and rummage sale.. and that is where I met Natalie..

.. an elderly lady sitting alone at a table in the Hemyock church cafe. We got chatting and she asked me why on earth I had come to England at this time of year [that is usually the first question people ask me].. she told us about her life in Hemyock.. having lived there for 49 years, she told us about her children gathering in the hay and having hay rides on top of bales stacked 4 high and was shocked to say that she didn't realize how dangerous it was.. she admired a sugar bowl that Joe had bought for me at the rummage sale in the church hall.. pronouncing it 'french pottery'.. but then realized it was italian.. and said she would have bought that if we hadn't.. it is lovely..  and she asked us about Australia, the plants, the animals, she asked us about our Indigenous people..she listened intently when I described the Flannel Flower and waratah & mentioned that the colours sound beautiful.. she listened as I told her about the harshness of the land and the cockatoos and she said it sounded intriguing. She asked us about where we lived.. and told me that I must love my garden, she could tell by the way I spoke of it.. her eyes twinkled when she talked and she was truly interested in everything I said.. she asked me if I was writing all my memories of my grandfather down. She was beautiful, her white hair neatly pinned back and her face was just lovely.. I think, that Natalie was an angel sent to me today.. to show me that there is an England as I think there is.. in little pockets.. but she also showed me how proud I am of my own country, in the way that I could describe it in such a beautiful way..

then we went to Wellington to post some more parcels and to have lunch.

and we drove to Dunkswell Abbey, so that I could at least get to see it. We wanted to walk, but the paths have been washed away and there is so much water running down the fields and public footpaths that it makes it quite difficult to negotiate.

Dunkeswell Abbey was founded in 1201 by William, Lord Brewere, as a Cistercian monastery.

1201. this is old compared to buildings in Australia and I am still in awe of the ages of some of the buildings here, but most probably will never feel that emotion that I felt at the Lanercost Priory when I was first presented with such ancient sacred buildings. I have a 'thing' about old churches. I don't know why, I just do, it is part of me.Tthe quiet-ness about them as I wander around the yards, it brings peace and I would love to be able to spend an hour alone in each of them - just being.

Church of the Holy Trinity, stands where the Abbey once stood.

after a little time at the Abbey, we drove to Honiton to have a last cup of tea..

Tuesday farmers markets were on so Joe grabbed a sausage sandwich from a local farmer. We got chatting and asking him about his produce he said 'so you aren't from around these parts, then?'.. and a friendly banter went on us for quite some time. We bought a pork sausage roll and a Homity pie for dinner another local wished us a wonderful holiday as we walked off laughing.. 

so the locals are friendly, it seems it is just the 'city folk' who give the area a bad name,  driving like idiots in their barging sports 4x4's, putting everyones life at risk, including ours.

Tonight is our last night in Windover Farm Cottage. We have loved being here, coming home at night, lighting the fire and just being. Tomorrow we are off to Glastonbury for 3 nights and I cannot begin to tell how excited I am about this!!

"I love seeing dock growing wild, beside the roads"

"a little Christmas vignette in a little tearoom down a little laneway"

 



2013 - a year later
oh! I remember Natalie... and I remember the church yard, the cups of tea, the gorgeous villages in Devon. I was not disappointed at all in what I experienced in Devon. I loved Windover Farm. When I read my words above, I wish I could be whisked back to England. They certainly do Christmas in a wonderful way!!