The times they are a-changin'

Kirby Misperton is now in the grip of Autumn's soggy breath. The wind is bending the trees and the rain is pattering against the windows like tap dancing insects skittering down the panes. So the year's great cycle moves on, and the evenings darken sooner. The temperature is falling and the open bedroom window may soon need to be shut.

In the village however life gets more interesting. While the seasons slow and darken, we villagers are programmed to think of September as the start of a new year, based on the academic cycle. As a result our most recent quizzes have been achieving high turnouts and enthusiastic participation. We are all starting to look forward to Halloween - the early pumpkins are already appearing in the greengrocer's shop in Malton. The great migrations of birds are under way, and winter edges closer as every skein flies overhead.

This is my favourite time of year, when darker evenings create a warm intimacy at home while there are new openings everywhere - from TV on rainy nights, to evening classes and village activities. Our forebears celebrated Harvest and the blessings of the earth; today we can still be thankful for all that we have received over the summer months and look forward to the autumn harvest still.

Summer break

The hiatus over August was caused by family visits and summer holidays in the Lake District. Why is it called "The Lake District"? Who knows? Clearly there are several Lakes there, not just one. For examplle, you can see both Derwentwater and in the distance Bassenthwaite if you gasp and puff your unfit way to the top of Walla Crag and look back towards Keswick.

Anyway we stayed in a lovely little railway cottage on the outskirts of Keswick, meaning it took all of 5 or 10 minutes to walk into town. We did the usual things - walks, more walks and photos or painting, depending upon  personal preference. It was lovely. We had good weather and peacefulness.

Derwentwater is a beautiful lake. I prefer it to Coniston or Windermere as it is generally quieter and more serene. It was however suffering from an algae bloom, presumably the same as has recently affected Windermere and postponed the Gerat North Swim.

We visited Castlerigg Stone Circle one particularly lovely day. What a very special place that is! At the top of a hill removed from everything else, is the neolithic circle which was the equivalent to a medieval cathedral. It is surrounded by an even greater stone circle formed by the mountains, and roofed by a bowl of clear bright sky. When the tourists all stop jabbering there is no sound except the wind and the birds.

We spent a blessed afternoon there, sitting on the grass painting and reading and breathing in the matchless air.

A couple of days later, towards the end of our week, we went to see Ashness Bridge, an altogether more modern stone construction, but still very beautiful. This was a scene of greater activity and exuberance, with the nosiy water crashing down in its headlong flight to the lake below.

Unfortunately for me it wasn't only the water that crashed and fell among the rocks and I ended up being taken down form the hillside by ambulance with a nasty head wound. Still, nothing was seriously dmaaged beyond pride, and at least it was the day before we came home. All praise to Cumbria Emergency Services and the kindly folk at Keswick Hospital who patched me up with good humour.