Tuesday 1 March 2016

Permutations, Perambulations and Pictures

Millie is throwing me a dirty look from under lowered, speckled-white eyebrows: “Can we Please go out? It’s a lovely day.” 

“Oh, very well then.” She’s right, it’s chilly but the sun is out and I really shouldn’t waste the morning. I’m still very much up and down, given to mood swings, feelings of depression one minute, hopeful the next. A brisk walk in bright sunshine would surely do me good. 
It is indeed a cheery morning. We go up the old track leading out of Valley’s End towards Bishop’s Castle until we get to the crossroads, where we turn right, with our backs to Bicton Hill.

Ever since we’ve first lived here I have called this crossing of two field edge footpaths “Gallows Corner”. I can no longer remember who told me this but today, wanting to find out more about this gruesome, now disappeared, relic of past justice I asked several long time residents and local historians; none of whom had ever heard of it. Mr. Wells remembered the stocks next to the Town Hall, now the village museum, where wrong ‘uns, who had celebrated market day a little too carelessly, were shackled by their legs; I suppose they were lucky not to have been thrown into the lock-up proper from where they wouldn’t even have been able to see the fun, there being no window in the mouldy cell. On the other hand, well-meaning burghers might have pelted them with rotten vegetables?

Having walked along 'The Modems’ (again, I must find out why this track across the hill on the Southern edge of Valley’s End has this name), towards Radnor Hill we climbed the stile conveniently cut into the hedge into the next field.  Radnor Hill is mainly limestone, discovered and quarried by the Romans when they colonised this part of the country in the middle of the first century AD, and even today there are remnants of very early quarries on top of the hill, with several smaller and more recent quarries nearer the base.

Back down in the village, having slithered down a still muddy and steep path, via the old pool which has caused so much controversy and falling out of neighbour with neighbour, and along a small stretch of road past the entrance to the alms houses, we turned left to the allotments and the kissing gate, which leads to a track between two fields.  A kissing gate is a type of gate which allows people to pass through, but not livestock. The normal construction is a half-round, rectangular, or V-shaped enclosure with a hinged gate trapped between its arms. The kissing gate is often the subject of chatter about the origins of its amorous-sounding name. The prosaic answer is that it derives from the fact that the hinged part touches – or ‘kisses’ – both sides of the enclosure rather than being securely latched like a normal gate.

That hasn’t stopped many clinging to a more romantic notion: that the first person to pass through would have to close the gate to the next person, providing an opportune moment to demand a kiss in return for entry. I know which answer I prefer.

Kissing gates are often found at the entrance to church graveyards but there is no evidence that this has any symbolic significance.

Once we are through the gate - I have to hold it open for Millie and she snakes through without demanding a kiss - the field track to 'The Green’ lies ahead. (in spite of its name, ‘The Green’ is our tiny industrial estate consisting of three low and rather attractively built structures - one even has arched windows, like church windows. The industry pursued here is entirely rural, causing neither pollution nor noise.) The lower slope of Radnor Wood  is getting closer.






Three ponies and three sheep live in the paddock  at present. The field on the left has some kind of crop growing, possibly rape. Or perhaps winter wheat? I have no idea why just three sheep, when they are so plentiful everywhere else and are certainly never given any special treatment.
One of the ponies comes to inspect us. I often have an apple in my pocket, perhaps that’s why. Millie and the pony sniff each other but then lose interest. (‘The Green’ industrial estate is visible over the hedge on the other side of the paddock). At the other end of the field edge track we climb a stile and return to the village and the ford across the river.

Snowdrops and daffodils brighten he banks of the river. The waters have receded, although the river ‘was out’ when we had those endless heavy rains earlier this year and at the end of last year;  the levels have sunk, roads are clear and 4x4s can cross the ford again. I wouldn't like to try crossing in my small and ordinary car but then, I don’t have to. Valley’s End has a perfectly good humpback bridge built as recently as anno 1450 and still going strong. Well, with the fairly regular exception of lorries crashing into it, causing the locals no end of amusement while watching desperate drivers trying to extricate themselves without doing too much further damage. Many times drivers who had miscalculated the angle from road to bridge simply shot off, leaving the scene of the crime in as great a hurry as our narrow country lanes would allow. But, no more. Valley’s End has installed a camera! The guilty party will be caught and made to pay! Unfortunately, the parish finances are none too healthy and I am not sure that there was enough money in the kitty for both camera and film.


Millie was right to get me out. I am feeling much better. Tired, of course, after little in the way of exercise for several weeks, but I might take heart and go off again tomorrow.



40 comments:

  1. It always works for me - a walk clears my head and re-energizes me. After a long day of work I'll find a new lease on the day, after a good walk with Rory.
    We don't have Kissing Gates here. They seem so sensible and a much more 'human' scale than the big barriers that seem to be necessary here.

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  2. Millie has a commanding look in her eye and I'm glad that she took you out on such a lovely day. Let's hope one black dog can put the other to flight.

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  3. That sounds like a long interesting walk.No wonder you feel better.

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  4. Thank you Millie. And thank you for taking us along too.

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  5. What a lovely ramble through the countryside. Getting out into the fresh air usually does my soul and body good. I certainly sleep better for it. So many interesting things to ponder - Gallows Corner, kissing gates, and more.

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  6. Thank you for that lovely walk in beautiful countryside, Friko! It is appreciated especially since I've not had occasion for that many walks myself recently. Too cold, too wet, too windy!
    The tiredness you feel after a walk in the sun is certainly different from the tiredness that comes from feeling low and moody, I imagine.

    I am impressed that Millie is able to climb stiles!

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  7. Hi Friko - the photos are incredibly clear ... just shows what a blowy winter day can do - drive off the dust and mist in the atmosphere. So glad Millie got you out - and what a lovely tour round ... I certainly hope you can find out why those places are called such names - Gallows ... and I think of turnpikes and highwaymen taking what they can ...

    Sad about Kissing Gates - I too feel the prosaic answer is more likely - however romantic the kissing sounds.

    Wonderful post to read ... we have what was a clear day and I need to get out before the rain comes - despite the 'frosty' winds ... cheers Hilary

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  8. thank you for taking me along with you
    sunshine and fresh air
    always good
    after the cold winter..

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  9. I cannot tell you how much I have enjoyed taking this walk with you, vicariously stepping into each and every photo, imagining what the grass and the air smell like, hearing Millie beside us, stopping to admire those fabulous views of a glorious countryside coming to life in springtime. It is bound to make a person feel better, lighter, happier -- I am, just for the looking at it. And oh, so good to see Millie!

    I'll be thinking of this as I venture out into our newly fallen 10 inches of snow. (We had just melted last week's 12 inches!). I'll be thinking of how your spring is a sing of lovely things to come!

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  10. Great pictures of your walk. Glad Millie won out. :-)

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  11. sunshine, fresh air, and a walk...all good remedies for the blues. the only thing I would add is digging in the dirt.

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  12. Such lovely landscape photos. Millie looks quite lovely on that beautiful rug.

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  13. Well, now, thank you much for this pleasant walk through your countryside. It perked me up this morning and now I think I, too, will take a walk in the sunshine.

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  14. Lovely walk! It is so green there!! I would like to see those Styles often they are in old photographs. My Grandfather had a style going from the field by the barn to the next field. I have no photos of it only a memory.
    I have never seen a kissing gate and I am curious to know what kind of wood branches are in the fourth photo:)

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  15. The history, pastoral nature, ability to cross private lands and fun names would help cheer anyone. I am glad you did it!!

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  16. I did enjoy that walk, thank you!
    I had to venture out today (only as far as the village shop) but I didn't see much as I kept my head down battling against wind and rain! What a difference sunshine makes, here's hoping we see a lot more soon.

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  17. Dunno who's luckier, you or Millie, to go on such a nice walk, esp. now that spring seems to be arriving where you are.

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  18. When I force myself out on days I just don't feel like it, I usually come back feeling better. I'm amazed at how green your world is with daffs and snowdrops already blooming. In no time your garden will be sprouting!

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  19. How could you not feel better after such a fascinating walkabout!! So glad you took lots of pictures so we could feel we were right there along with you and Millie. :)

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  20. I certainly felt better at the end of your walk. How blessed you are.

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  21. I LOVE the scenery where you live…and the sense of history.
    There's nothing like a good walk to clear out the cobwebs, is there?
    And it's good medicine for the doom and gloom, too.
    (So why don't I do it more often??)

    *sigh*

    =)

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  22. Dear Millie, take a bow. I will give you a scratch or two behind your ears as I thank you for being a wonderful dog and a great encourager of walks in a beautiful part of the world.

    Friko, will you take care of giving Millie my thanks? I thank you as well for the great photographs that took me very far away from the sometimes boring city sidewalks.

    xo

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  23. I feel like I have just taken a walk in the cold crisp air, slightly warmed by a weak sun. I haven't heard or seen of a kissing gate. I will find out more.

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  24. Sounds like the walk was exactly right that Dr. Millie ordered. You need to listen to her daily advice. I really enjoyed reading this and the tales within. The photos are lovely -- beautiful scenery. In one picture I glimpsed what appeared to be some sort of fence, I guess, made from small tree branches? Had never heard of a kissing gate. We have a lot of cattle guards to contain livestock, but maybe you have them, too.

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  25. What a glorious place to walk! You live surrounded by beauty! So glad Millie urged you to go out. The lovely day has to be a mood brightener.

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  26. Thanks for taking me with you. I needed that to her me out of a slump day.

    XO
    WWW

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  27. What a beautiful "walk" you took us on. Marvelous country!

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  28. Kissing gates would keep cattle out of churchyards and away from yew trees quite neatly , I should imagine .
    Your walk really is lovely ... I'm jealous !

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  29. How wonderful it was today to take this walk with you and Millie. Of course it would have been better to be up and out here, but as each year passes, I am less inclined to go out into the cold. It is heartening to know spring is on the way, and I can hardly wait!

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  30. Good for Millie for doing the urging, and good for you for heeding her urging. You have again confirmed to me that you lived in one of the most beautiful parts of the world. I can only imagine how uplifted you felt when you returned home after taking all of this beauty in while you exercised and breathed fresh air.

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  31. I love the detail about the limestone quarries. Do you suppose the Roman carving of the eagle and snake was made of limestone from your neighborhood? That would just beat all, as the old folks here like to say.

    I especially like the last photo. I love the tangle of a woods, and that's a lovely one. Even if someone has very carefully planted this and that to produce a tangle, I still like it. The whole walk is lovely, though -- and the kissing gate is fun.

    It's nice to have the days growing longer. Even though I don't mind winter, those short days make for short working hours, and I always end up behind by March -- both schedule-wise and cash-flow-wise. But full eight hour days are possible now, and it's such fun watching the birds and such as I work. Today, I saw my first swallows of the year! There were only four, but they're on their way.

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  32. I 'walked' with pleasure with you and Millie, Friko. Nice weather, lovely landscape and interesting names. You're right, you have to go off again, this stroll helps you to keep health.

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  33. That is a really cheery walk, Friko! Never heard of kissing gates, nice invention. I wish you vibrant spring days ahead.
    Your vivid description of Millie reminded of Virginia Woolf's "Flush". In case you haven't read it, do, please, you'll love it, I'm sure!

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  34. Such a rich history in your beautiful countryside. I enjoyed that walk as if I took it myself. Thanks, Friko and Millie.

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  35. What a beautiful place to walk! The riverside especially. England's walking path are a national treasure. Our walking tour (10 years ago) in the Cotswolds remains my favorite vacation ever (except for our motorcycle/camping tour of Europe forty something years ago.)

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  36. From the profound knowledge of sheep-farming I'm beginning to acquire from what looks like a sudden plethora of TV programmes about it, I*think* there may be some very sensible reason why specific sheep are separated from the rest at lambing time, but I'm damned if I can remember what it is.

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  37. Hallo Friko,
    ich mag all die Unheil-bringenden Schlagzeilen genauso wenig, die Presse-mäßig frisiert sind, um möglichst viel Aufmerksamkeit zu erregen. Es ist unglaublich schwer, dass man sich selbst mit Hilfe einer ausgewogenen Berichterstattung in den Medien ein objektives Bild machen kann. Ja, die Schlagzeile mit Rupert Murdoch hatte ich genauso gelesen und war erstaunt. Offensichtlich mögen Leser solche Klatsch-Zeilen, vielleicht auch, weil sie einfacher zu konsumieren sind z.B. im Vergleich zu der Flüchtlingsdebatte, die auf europäischer Ebene unendlich komplex ist. Da muss der Leser nachdenken und verstehen, was bei solch einer Murdoch-Schlagzeile nicht nötig ist.

    Gruß Dieter

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  38. Oh! I like the neologism! Can I use it?

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  39. What a lovely walk! We are being heavily snowed upon and I am jealous of your green.

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  40. Well done Millie, I enjoyed looking around your locale. Your human clearly enjoyed it too. Keep encouraging her with the photos too. :)

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