MM 1944

 

There are those in the nature loving and pagan communities who'd pour scorn on folk who'd scar and mark trees, and in some circumstances I've got a degree of sympathy for that. Though I have to say that for the most part I enjoy graffiti. Be it profane or mundane or profound, someone had been moved enough to spend time and effort on it's carving. Fair play. One type of graffiti that never fails to move me is wartime graffiti, and particularly that of American servicemen here only fleetingly during World War Two. I've often wondered the fates of the carvers. To me the imagine of young men thousands of miles from home, fully cognisant of the possibilities ahead on the eve of the unknown wishing to leave some mark before they go, no matter how ephemeral, is a powerful image. MM did just that in 1944, no doubt just before D-Day. There used to be ten or so pieces of American WW2 graffiti I knew of in Burley Old, though as the years go by they're slowly being reduced by time and the elements. 

White Shoot reflections

I stared for a while into the reflection cast by the sky and a gaggle of silver birch in a forest pool, the scene appeared to take on the appearance of an oil painting to me.

Black Water

 

This stretch of Black Water above Gravelly Ford has always been a favourite of mine. Before they deer fenced a large portion Rhinefields Sandys, we'd regularly  park in the old car park on the ridge a wander hereabouts. Our walks often taking in both Ober Water and Black Water, and the mosaic stands of Rhinefields Sandys enclosure running between the two. It was good walking. Still is. Although as you'd imagine, the imposition of a large chunk of the enclosure being securely fenced and inaccessible really affects your roam.

Red Rise

 

A naked or near naked Red Rise this morning. I love the energy of this time of year. It's now right before the new growth of spring that the forest finally approaches peak bare, with last years growth thoroughly battered and broken down the land appears forlorn, though just beneath the surface the energy of the land slowly grows, almost tangible now. You begin to feel springs' approach before it becomes perceivable.   

Fletchers' Water

 

Dank day on Fletchers' Water

Frosty fringe

You know it must be cold out when the fringes of higher reaches of the forests' streams remain frosted well into the day. The forest streams are a favourite roam of ours, I particularly enjoy wandering their wilder head waters. This morning it was the Smoky Hole section of Bratley Water, thicket flanked, boggy and wild, walking these upper stretches of stream always feels like walking back into the wild wood.

The Light and Darkness War by Tom Veitch and Cam Kennedy

 

I've been after reading this for years, The Light and Darkness War by Tom Veitch and Cam Kennedy. Way back in the late 80's I read the first issue (1of 6), though subsequent issues alluded me, I've always kept my eye for those other issues. I was initially drawn by the Cam Kennedys' art work; Kennedy was a favourite of mine from Legendary British Scifi comic 2000AD, particularly his work on 'The VC's' and 'Rogue Trooper', and Veitchs' story immediately captured my imagination.  Until recently I'd been completely unaware that Titan had released a collected edition in 2015, sumptuous it is too, hardback, with plenty of extras. Lazarus Jones, a door gunner on a slick over Vietnam, had lost his legs in an explosion that took the lives comrades. Years of PTSD, alcohol and drug abuse lead him to wish he'd died with his friends. Returning from a visit to Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall Jones is involved in car crash that leaves him in a coma, transporting him to a dimension where his friends are alive and fighting for light in an eternal battle with all consuming darkness. A timeless theme cleverly re-imagined, and much more too, delivered through gritty and direct art, and well written characters. I wasn't disappointed.

Sunset #1 2024

My first sunset photo of 2024, taken at Mudeford Quay.

Endurance

 

Trees can teach us a thing or two about endurance. Twisted, buckled, torn and split, this beech has been bent and battered by time and the elements, though even with it's crown forced to the ground it dug in and kept on keeping on. You see a lot of trees about the forest that have been slighted by the elements and have fought on and thrived.

Backley Bottom

 

Backley Bottom

Snow way

Snow way, man. Rarer than hens teeth or rocking horse shit, since I was a child snow in these parts has almost become a thing of legend. Not that it was ever an annual, but we would get heavy snow quite regularly. Looking back through my blog the last good show of snow appears to have been Imbolc back in 2019. When it snows proper though, the forest stands are transformed into a wonderland surpassing even that of Narnia. Alas this morning was merely a dusting, and then only on the occasional stump or prone trunk. Still. 

Hail and farewell

2024 has not begun well with the loss of my mother-in-law. I understand the wheel turns and everything has its season, but Margaret will be profoundly missed. A devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend, she was the much loved matriarch of our family. Margaret epitomized humanity, thoughtful, caring, compassionate, even when overburdened herself she'd do her best to ease the burden of others, always doing so with a smile and a kind word. She was honest, humble and selfless, a truly beautiful soul who'd tirelessly served and cared for others her entire life. We never heard her once complain, it wasn't in her nature. Margaret may have passed beyond the veil, though the warmth of her boundless love endures. She truly was the best of us. I felt privileged to have Margaret in my life. I say Margaret, in the 43 years I knew her I don't think I ever called her by her name, she was always Mrs.E to me. By whatever name she was much more than my mother in law to me, she was a touch stone for what it is to be a good person, she was an inspiration. I loved her dearly and will miss her greatly, miss her wisdom, her understanding and her unfaltering support, and especially I'll miss the laughs we shared. Hail and farewell Mrs E.