A Month in the Country 10 - Reflections and Ripples

Just back from a visit to our narrowboat at the Marina in town, getting there through scudding clouds, wind and rain, dodging branches down…but then finding the brilliant colours of the boats gleaming in the sun as it popped out from behind some very black clouds.

It's always fun to visit the boat; though it is only in the early stages of renovation, there is a new carpet now laid that has made it much more friendly inside, and 'dining out' - in the form of pasties and pizza slices from 'Greggs just round the corner' had that hugely fun feeling of camping out from when I was a kid (and I was 'camping out' in the back garden, inside a tent made of the folding clothes 'horse' (airer) with a blanket over the top).

I took a walk around the basin, chatting to this family of ducks (Mum and three nearly grown ducklings) that followed me in the hope of some crumbs… then gave up and went their own sweet, scuttling way to nibble on the more reliable supply of weed growing just under the surface. That surface was, intermittently, both glassy calm and then blown and rippled by both the gusts of wind and the paddling wildlife.

Parallels life for me right now - as I guess it does for everyone at times…a mixture of the calm and predictable augmented by blustery visits of unexpected disruption…and then calm returns once more.

Until the next time.

And though the blusters and storms may be unexpected and sometimes more than a little unwelcome, it does at least ruffle the surface, stir things around, and brighten the colours of the everyday.  I'll try to deal with the ripples as they come…but also appreciate and use the opportunity for reflection when calm returns.

Journal prompt - Do you ever go 'camping out'? Do you have a little 'bolt-hole' where you can escape and relax? at home, or at a distance? Tell me about it.  How is your pond at the moment? Blustery or calm?  and how are your ducks today - serene on the surface but paddling like mad underneath - or happily mooching around for the odd crumb but mostly contented just to float and glide? Write about about your own ripples and reflections.

Comments

[Ardi Butler]

What a lovely place to escape to, Roz. Yes, I agree completely about the taking the calm bits to recharge batteries and soothe a withered soul. Do you ever take the boat out on the canals?

[MN]

That's England to me !!! Lovely !!!
xx

[Mad Englishwoman]

So many lovely posts - I'm enjoying them all. So much to say, I end up saying nothing - except that there's always something to think about and something simply to enjoy.