This was actually written before my two previous entries, while sitting on the Tyntesfield Estate. However, until now it had been confined to my notebook...
Technology is amazing - it truly is. The discoveries and developments that have been made through increasing advances in human technology are truly awe-inspiring, even the ones which are massively destructive. The knowledge and collaboration (be it collaboration in the present or building on discoveries of those who came before) of the ever expanding population of the planet is a collective feat almost incomprehensible.
And yet.
My world and that of those immediately around me is increasingly dominated by virtual reality. Send an email - not a letter. Google it on your Smartphone instead of discussing it with those around you. Do some Wii fit instead of getting out and about, or simply having a life which, by default, includes physical exercise on a day to day basis. The list goes on.
I see a place for these advances and technologies but my concern is that they are swamping the public consciousness and squashing out the ways of doing and being that have been around for aeons.
Today I used technology (car and SatNav, let alone the technology that went into the clothes I'm wearing, the food I ate and the house I stayed in last night) to get to Tyntesfield, a National Trust property in North Somerset. Arriving early I had a quick chat to an administrator who advised "there's nothing really to do yet - except for enjoy the air". Which was exactly what I'd come to do.
I meandered off and have found myself sitting on a log. The log is part of a circle around a fire pit and is gloriously calm. I can hear the drone of traffic in the background (being only 15 min drive from Bristol) but I can also hear birdsong and the gentle movement of the woods. The occasional rustle as a bird lands or flies off. And what I find stunning is that I may be the only person to sit here today. Perhaps even all week. I understand there is plenty of "doing" to be done (harken the sound of light rainfall) and yet - is there really no space for getting out, pausing, and being amazed by the rest of nature "just getting on"?
This week my aim was to get to lots of places like Tyntesfield and enjoy the space. The freedom to wander and explore. To stop and breathe. To be inspired. (Hello Squirrel). I feel utterly ignorant of the scope and brilliance of the ecosystems of the UK, let alone the rest of the world, and from this conscious ignorance I can build and grow my knowledge - while getting to enjoy stunning grounds and the changing sky.
I feel incredibly lucky to find myself living by the sea and with time to get out into the countryside. And by immersing myself, perhaps that's one more step towards evening up the balance of Technology versus Nature.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
From the Sublime to the Ridiculous - and back again
The title of this post had already been decided upon. And now is even more fitting because I have been presented with a single-portion-jam-size-glass-jar-of-tomato-ketchup. Craziness! Apt for the setting, but crazy.
Yesterday's indulgence: time at a spa hotel pool, steam and sauna. Today's: some meandering around in my car without entirely knowing where I was going, ending up in a posh hotel overlooking the sea, the sunset and the sky. I just fancied somewhere to unwind in calm surroundings (check), on a big sofa (check), without too many other people (check). It seems I may get turfed out in the not entirely distant future for a pre-booked event they have on (furniture is being moved in preparation for a band and dance floor) but for the mean time I can just sit and enjoy myself.
It seems I have a threshold for amusing myself, by myself, and it's certainly less than a week. Earlier today I had the chance for a proper explore at the Lost Gardens of Heligan and, well, wow. The amount of work that's gone into it is truly awe inspiring - both the work of the original gardens in creating it in the first place, and the work of the team who have been restoring and continuing to develop it since it's rediscovery back in the 90s. I had a wander around the Jungle area today and there's a boardwork round the whole area - which is both fun and a LOT of boardwalk! Counterposed with this morning's reading (a classic text on permaculture) today has been a very gardeny/greenery filled day. The escape to somewhere to simply take in the day and round it off was beginning to feel like a lost cause but has been delightfully fulfilled by The Carlyon Hotel. And, even better - with the price of a pot of tea being £3.50, having a hot water and a portion of chips (at a mere £3) was a much more sensible option. Huzzah.
Overall, today's thought for the day has been that of what, to me, counts as a holiday. And that although I really do enjoy Doing, this week in particular has seen a lot of space to think - or not think, as the case may be. What the end result of said time out will be I'll only know when I'm back in the thick of things next week but it's a rather pleasant place to be, either way.
Yesterday's indulgence: time at a spa hotel pool, steam and sauna. Today's: some meandering around in my car without entirely knowing where I was going, ending up in a posh hotel overlooking the sea, the sunset and the sky. I just fancied somewhere to unwind in calm surroundings (check), on a big sofa (check), without too many other people (check). It seems I may get turfed out in the not entirely distant future for a pre-booked event they have on (furniture is being moved in preparation for a band and dance floor) but for the mean time I can just sit and enjoy myself.
It seems I have a threshold for amusing myself, by myself, and it's certainly less than a week. Earlier today I had the chance for a proper explore at the Lost Gardens of Heligan and, well, wow. The amount of work that's gone into it is truly awe inspiring - both the work of the original gardens in creating it in the first place, and the work of the team who have been restoring and continuing to develop it since it's rediscovery back in the 90s. I had a wander around the Jungle area today and there's a boardwork round the whole area - which is both fun and a LOT of boardwalk! Counterposed with this morning's reading (a classic text on permaculture) today has been a very gardeny/greenery filled day. The escape to somewhere to simply take in the day and round it off was beginning to feel like a lost cause but has been delightfully fulfilled by The Carlyon Hotel. And, even better - with the price of a pot of tea being £3.50, having a hot water and a portion of chips (at a mere £3) was a much more sensible option. Huzzah.
Overall, today's thought for the day has been that of what, to me, counts as a holiday. And that although I really do enjoy Doing, this week in particular has seen a lot of space to think - or not think, as the case may be. What the end result of said time out will be I'll only know when I'm back in the thick of things next week but it's a rather pleasant place to be, either way.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Today Did Not Go According To Plan
They say it's all in the preparation. I say it's all in the DETAIL of the preparation. The devil, that is. My galavant around the South West seemed to be continuing well this morning - the drive to the next National Trust property on my list (Buckland Abbey) was taking longer than I'd imagined in my head and I'd decided to over-rule the SatNav because I fancied a slightly different route. Nothing wrong with that. Except that's when the rot set in...
My SatNav is usually a creature of much delight. It gets me to where I want to go and means that despite the fact I STILL haven't remembered to put my real-made-of-genuine-paper-atlas in the car, I can get to where I need to be. Even if where I need to be has only just become the destination of choice. However - every now and then it has an off-moment and lands me somewhere just, well, wrong. Today it decided Buckland Abbey was up a dead-end single-track road at which point I defaulted to following the road signs...which then somewhat petered out. I picked up the scent again (and was sent in a big loop which was entirely unnecessary...hard to describe without a gazillion words, but not SatNav at it's most sensible) only to arrive at said Abbey to discover it was CLOSED.
Now, I've been diligently checking The Book (2012's catalogue of all National Trust sites) and was convinced the Abbey was due to be open today. On careful checking, however, one line gives opening times until Dec 2nd...and the next line down is "from Dec 7th..." - and today is December 5th. And today it was closed. The sun was shining and I was feeling a bit miffed but after a brief wander around the key bit of the grounds (during which period I was sure I was going to be "found out" and briskly escorted from the premises) and a conversation with my Dad (who DID have real genuine maps in front of him) I ended up heading on down towards St Austell.
And this is where the fun really began. I've always rather been of the opinion that whichever direction you go, a SatNav will always, eventually, recalculate your journey so you don't have to turn around. It's an interesting idea, but completely wrong. Especially when the road you've decided so firmly is the "right way to St Austell" turns out to end with a train station and a pedestrian ferry. But back on the (not very straight but especially narrow at times) track to St Austell I found myself wending along quite merrily. Still unsure of where to head to, I ended up enjoying some glorious sunshine on Porthpaen beach - delightfully I was able to settle on some rocks at the foot of the cliff in full sun just as the afternoon was ending. Even more delightfully I was already back at my car when the heavens opened - getting drenched was DEFINITELY not part of the plan.
At which point the only sensible option was an indulgent couple of hours at a local country hotel which had a spa attached. No treatments for me, but steaming, saunaing and some meandering about in the pool, along with reading National Geographic poolside in between times was spot on before heading off to my bed for the night (a little B&B just the other side of the Lost Gardens of Heligan - or, in case my DOD is reading and getting confused: the Pelican Gardens).
So, not the plan, but a good day all the same.
My SatNav is usually a creature of much delight. It gets me to where I want to go and means that despite the fact I STILL haven't remembered to put my real-made-of-genuine-paper-atlas in the car, I can get to where I need to be. Even if where I need to be has only just become the destination of choice. However - every now and then it has an off-moment and lands me somewhere just, well, wrong. Today it decided Buckland Abbey was up a dead-end single-track road at which point I defaulted to following the road signs...which then somewhat petered out. I picked up the scent again (and was sent in a big loop which was entirely unnecessary...hard to describe without a gazillion words, but not SatNav at it's most sensible) only to arrive at said Abbey to discover it was CLOSED.
Now, I've been diligently checking The Book (2012's catalogue of all National Trust sites) and was convinced the Abbey was due to be open today. On careful checking, however, one line gives opening times until Dec 2nd...and the next line down is "from Dec 7th..." - and today is December 5th. And today it was closed. The sun was shining and I was feeling a bit miffed but after a brief wander around the key bit of the grounds (during which period I was sure I was going to be "found out" and briskly escorted from the premises) and a conversation with my Dad (who DID have real genuine maps in front of him) I ended up heading on down towards St Austell.
And this is where the fun really began. I've always rather been of the opinion that whichever direction you go, a SatNav will always, eventually, recalculate your journey so you don't have to turn around. It's an interesting idea, but completely wrong. Especially when the road you've decided so firmly is the "right way to St Austell" turns out to end with a train station and a pedestrian ferry. But back on the (not very straight but especially narrow at times) track to St Austell I found myself wending along quite merrily. Still unsure of where to head to, I ended up enjoying some glorious sunshine on Porthpaen beach - delightfully I was able to settle on some rocks at the foot of the cliff in full sun just as the afternoon was ending. Even more delightfully I was already back at my car when the heavens opened - getting drenched was DEFINITELY not part of the plan.
At which point the only sensible option was an indulgent couple of hours at a local country hotel which had a spa attached. No treatments for me, but steaming, saunaing and some meandering about in the pool, along with reading National Geographic poolside in between times was spot on before heading off to my bed for the night (a little B&B just the other side of the Lost Gardens of Heligan - or, in case my DOD is reading and getting confused: the Pelican Gardens).
So, not the plan, but a good day all the same.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
The Sea
It's been just over 5 months since I've been living by the sea full time. And it's been great. I walk to work along the seafront. I get blown hither and thither as I attempt to get home in a full blown gale (OK, maybe it's not a gale - but it's a pretty strong wind). I get soaked through on days when the rain decides to set in with a vengeance. But overall, I've been living by the sea!
As I was driving down on Friday evening starting about 10 days away I realised my overwhelming sense was "I'm driving away from the sea!" The thought amused me but I didn't put too much weight on it. And yet today I gave in and, after 3 days away, I have ended up looking out over a beach - this time in Weston-Super-Mare. I've always been fond of the sea but never realised it could take quite such a hold. Of course, I can survive without it...but given the choice I'd really rather be beside it. And, thankfully, the UK has a whole host of beach-side resorts to choose from, many of which are now rather down at heel and as such, perfect for a day tripper like me to take the air without hordes of other people.
But don't get me wrong - if I could encourage more people to take in the delights of a seaside break, I would! Whether it's coming to visit me in Morecambe or simply choosing a weekend by the sea in the UK rather than jumping on a flight to the continent, I think the great British seaside resort is under-rated and rather neglected. Right now I'm watching the last of the light fade from the sky as I look across the Bristol Channel. Clouds mask much of the land on the south coast of Wales but some twinkling lights (of Cardiff?) shine through and with the tide out the last of the light is reflecting in beautiful patterns on the remaining water on the exposed sand on the beach. Lights are coming on in the windows on Knightstone and the hum of the pub I'm in provides a sound backdrop. Who wouldn't want to be here?
And so my rather romantic and very deep-seated attachment to the sea continues. And this having spent 5 enjoyable hours at a gorgeous country estate (Tyntesfield House). You can take the girl from the sea, but you can't take the sea from the girl.
As I was driving down on Friday evening starting about 10 days away I realised my overwhelming sense was "I'm driving away from the sea!" The thought amused me but I didn't put too much weight on it. And yet today I gave in and, after 3 days away, I have ended up looking out over a beach - this time in Weston-Super-Mare. I've always been fond of the sea but never realised it could take quite such a hold. Of course, I can survive without it...but given the choice I'd really rather be beside it. And, thankfully, the UK has a whole host of beach-side resorts to choose from, many of which are now rather down at heel and as such, perfect for a day tripper like me to take the air without hordes of other people.
But don't get me wrong - if I could encourage more people to take in the delights of a seaside break, I would! Whether it's coming to visit me in Morecambe or simply choosing a weekend by the sea in the UK rather than jumping on a flight to the continent, I think the great British seaside resort is under-rated and rather neglected. Right now I'm watching the last of the light fade from the sky as I look across the Bristol Channel. Clouds mask much of the land on the south coast of Wales but some twinkling lights (of Cardiff?) shine through and with the tide out the last of the light is reflecting in beautiful patterns on the remaining water on the exposed sand on the beach. Lights are coming on in the windows on Knightstone and the hum of the pub I'm in provides a sound backdrop. Who wouldn't want to be here?
And so my rather romantic and very deep-seated attachment to the sea continues. And this having spent 5 enjoyable hours at a gorgeous country estate (Tyntesfield House). You can take the girl from the sea, but you can't take the sea from the girl.
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