Photostory Friday - a man and his dog

One man and his dog

 

wait for me...

by the River Eden

totally oblivious

I was there too, obviously!

low water under the Eden bridge 

btw this is the dead centre of the city, the Park runs along side the Eden, including Park, football pitches, tennis courts, cows abound or not, Playgrounds, criket and sports open arena.

Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.

( These images should enlarge if you click on them)

A Cathedral Walk

During my lunch (half) hour one day last week. 

I walked through the neighbouring Cathedral precincts. 

 luckily I had my phone with me. 

I shall have to try and take my camera next time!

Carlisle Cathedral- East elevation

West view

The Fratery

East Elevation

Cathedral Entrance

THEN today I wondered through with my camera proper!

Did it make any differences?

Elvis is in the garden!

Daylight evenings on SKY WATCH FRIDAY

For other participants in Dot’s concept, go to Sky Watch HQ.

In the last week alone, 

it has been almost daylight,

 then more daylight, each evening

and when I've finished after work

 I have been able to take Pippa for a good solid walk

Come on woman!! Always looking up and NOT at me!

I continue to be mesmirised by the naked branches reaching ever upwards

What is the value of a book ...

... or a dresser, a table, handbag or a home ?

After reading the authorblog nominated blogger for post of the day by http://cowgirlat.blogspot.com/ , I was left pondering. I remembered the books that l gave away to a charity when we moved in November, before down sizing from a rambling, good sized but never the less decrepit, farmhouse on a working farm. We moved for ALL the right reasons, the sensible, the practical and in part the motivational ones too!

However, for me there always seems to be a sense of loss when we move, I feel I leave a part of me behind. Of course we have the memories, the photos, but the living in the home where those memories took place is I find rather comforting. To know that some other family is living happily there is no consolation actually. Perhaps I, like many don't like change, but it is perpetual, it happens and that will never change.

My daughter is particularly sentimental about the old farmhouse. She would regularly take herself off into the next field, recently harvested or not, regardless of the season, usually at twilight, ipod in hand, dancing in the meadows, in a world of her own ... safe and secure. I wouldn't have to worry about her safety, though miles from anywhere ... my son would ride the local lanes on his bike, or they would both wander off with the dogs, oblivious to city life and its dangers all but a few miles away.

The barn owls are missed, they nested the 3rd year we were there in the out house, then in an old neglected barn. They stayed unusually for barn owls l'm told, all year, every year and were still there when we left. I worry about their safety. If the barn has been renovated, has their nest been preserved?

Barney our beloved Russell/Terrier died there in July '06, but somehow l know he is here in our new home, because he is in our hearts. It would be wretched to consider otherwise and in fact that the other day when l threw the ball for Pippa, I could have sworn l saw him out of the corner of my eye, l had to look twice and tell myself no...

We downsized to a renovated urban c1970s bungalow, a 10 minute walk to the Museum, the kids school and city centre, a BIG change for us all who until then had commuted back and forth from farmhouse to city, 2-4 times a day, a 30 mile round trip each time!

We now live in a clean, well maintained house, a well looked after and well stocked garden, two greenhouses and we have settled well into our new life and new routines.

However, with nowhere to display, store or hide my vast collection of books (which had been devastated by the move of '96, whereby l gave away or sold 700 of them!) nor my antique & vintage handbag collection, usually displayed in deco glass cabinets and nor my vast selection vintage clothing stocks, which l sell online on my specialist website, another passion! I trimmed no strike that, I halved all but the handbag collection, telling myself it was for the greater good (my family's sanity and comfort).

I couldn't get my head around the collection of and charges at the city auction house, to transport and sell on the larger pieces of brown furniture. Including an adored 1920's dressing table, a '70s welsh dresser and other items that looked great in the old farmhouse, but sadly a bit tatty and incongruous in the modern-ish bungalow. So l gave them away through our local Internet recycling site, which gave me a sense of satifaction, but the niggles are creeping back in again.

With the books l will remember a title that l want to read again or research and I think bugger! that one's a goner!

I know that things aren't important, I know it's considered shallow to get attached to material things but if they are beautiful, what's wrong with wanting to and yes in my case hoard them and keep them close?

Like a much loved dog, they don't answer back or disappoint you, they can't hurt you, or betray or let you down. Maybe it's playing safe ... but there is comfort in these loved and familiar inanimate belongings.

So I'm with http://cowgirlat.blogspot.com/ and I shall try and moderate my regret and I'll stick with what I like but hoard any replacements in moderation!