Friday 31 August 2012

A Cotswold Village

A Cotswold village like so many others nestling in the hills and deep valleys
The light playing on the honey coloured stonework creating dancing and flickering shadows. Stone houses, some built in the 13th century - hundreds of years of history steeped within their walls 
The sun glints on the window panes, a curtain flutters. All is still, quiet, just the rustle of leaves and the sound of bird song. A peaceful day 
Was it really less than two weeks ago that we walked these same sunlit, dappled, stonewalled lanes; the light sparkling, but the mood solemn; the only sound, a mournful toll from the old church bell?
This is the spot where our friend was laid to rest; here amongst the ancient yew trees in a peaceful churchyard. Her last journey, a coffin of woven wicker, fresh flowers threaded through it by her friends from their gardens. In our hearts we silently bid our sad farewells. Time stood still, for centuries this village has witnessed it all before. A dog barks, a child laughs, a rose opens - time moves on, but memories linger
Bobbie - a 60s girl

34 comments:

  1. A fitting tribute to your good friend. In spite of the sad purpose for this trip, the images in this post do not seem lonely or desolate at all: Vibrant, friendly, colorful, soothing, are the words that come to mind.
    --Road to Parnassus

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a fantastic post. Reading I can hear the churchbells ringing like you did. Memory's stay forever. A beautiful place your are showing Rosemary.
    Have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  3. it looks so cozy, I love the image with the trees going high, wish you very happy weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hello Rosemary:
    We are so saddened by this post, both for you and of course your dear friend, Bobbie, who is no longer with you. But what a lovely setting for the funeral and the coffin of wicker, threaded through with garden flowers, must have brought joy in the midst of sorrow.

    Of course life moves on, as you so rightly say, but memories do remain and, surprisingly, grow with the years.

    ReplyDelete
  5. A beautiful tribute to your dear friend Bobbie. My heart is wheling ..How precious for a friend to make a woven wicker coffin, and the flowing threaded through it.. I will remember that too.
    What a delightful village that she lived in.
    Those old buildings and churches, must hold many secrets no doubt!
    Like you write Rosemary. And life goes on, but we always have our memories.
    A lovely post Rosemary.

    ReplyDelete
  6. The Cotswold village could not be prettier to me. Thankfully I see no hoards of tourists. Your friends photo is lovely. The circle of life as you describe it is beautiful. Thanks for you comment today because not everyone gets me when I am being silly. Olive

    ReplyDelete
  7. Looks like a nice village and I love the picture with the sun coming through the trees.

    Greetings,
    Filip

    ReplyDelete
  8. It sounds like a wonderful send off for your friend - have never heard of a wicker coffin.

    The photos could have been hundreds of years ago - not a car in sight.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I thought the tone from your post was somewhat different than from a vacation/travel post. So sorry for your loss, but what a peaceful and beautiful place for your friend Bobby to have as her last resting place.
    Big hug,
    Marian

    ReplyDelete
  10. My condolences to you for the passing of your friend. How lovely that she graced the world with her presence and may her memory live on through friends like you. What lovely photographs...thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Beautiful nad peaceful place ! Have a good weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hello Rosemary

    So sorry that you lost your friend Bobbie. I have not seen a wicker coffin but love the softness and the natural material. What a beautiful place she is resting and one that I am sure you will visit and sit a while with her as the years pass.Requiescat in pace, Bobbie.

    Helen xx

    ReplyDelete
  13. Dear Rosemary - What a beautiful tribute to your friend, Bobbie. And, a beautiful setting to surround her. Thank you for sharing.
    Loi

    ReplyDelete
  14. Your photos are very atmospheric and beautiful. A forlorn place of which not many still exist. I am very sorry about your friend, Rosemary! Memories linger on that is very true. Christa

    ReplyDelete
  15. beautiful photos and village. I'm sorry for your friend's passing.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Dear Rosemary, I am so sorry that you lost your friend. How very touching to lay Bobbie to rest with a coffin of woven wicker and fresh flowers woven through it.

    ReplyDelete
  17. On my death, I wish I’d be part of such a beautiful place like Cotswold, slumbering peacefully and awakening pleasantly when remembered. You will be stronger always with her in your heart.

    Yoko

    ReplyDelete
  18. I'm sorry for the loss of your friend. Her photograph suggests that she was not only lovely, but fun to spend time with. She rests in a lovely space.

    ReplyDelete
  19. What a lovely tribute, I like the fact your friend had a wicker coffin with flowers threaded through it sounds special.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I am so sorry for your friend .She lived in a wonderful village so peaceful and she went to another heaven . Keep her in your thoughts and in your heart.
    Olympia

    ReplyDelete
  21. The funeral sounded special, and the setting was beautiful. I think I will see that lovely picture of the stunning Bobbie in the 60s the next time | drive through those honey coloured Cotswold scenes. A beautiful and serene post. I hope the beauty of the place has helped you with this sad loss. J.

    ReplyDelete
  22. What a lovely village!Amazing photos!Im Dimi from Fiona,s Green Day.Im so sorry about your friend!Maybe she meets my mum up there.She pasted away four months ago!Im following you now!Have a great month of September my dear!Greetings from Athens!
    Dimi..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Dimi - thank you for your visit and for becoming a follower, I am delighted to welcome you. I am sorry to learn that you lost your mother recently, a mother is someone so special in our lives.

      Delete
  23. I am glad you were able to enjoy this beautiful village again without the tolling of the bell, and sorry for the loss of your friend. Happy Birthday for last Friday - what a coincidence! It was Kirstie Allsopp's too!
    x

    ReplyDelete
  24. So sorry to hear of your friend Rosemary. She looks like a beautiful and kind lady. Her last resting place is in a beautiful spot.

    Take care!

    Madelief x

    ReplyDelete
  25. A wonderful tribute to an old friend. Just like the landscape in your photos, we are timeless and live on in the birdsong, roses and towering trees that surround us.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I know this village and your pictures capture the spirit of the place and all woven very touchingly with the farewell to an obviously well-loved friend

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Laura - glad that you are able to picture the village where my friend rests. It is a quiet and peaceful place.

      Delete
  27. You set the tone of this post so beautifully with your words and images Rosemary. A touching tribute.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Lovely place!
    Very beautiful pictures!

    xoxo, Juliana
    [pjhappies.blogspot.com]

    ReplyDelete
  29. A fittingly elegiac post to mark your friend's passing, Rosemary. I'm very sorry for your loss and hope you will be comforted by knowing that she lies in such a beautiful and peaceful place.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Thank you very much to all of you for your very supportive messages and comments. I really appreciate them greatly.

    ReplyDelete
  31. I am sure I left you a comment here but I can't see it any more!
    Your blog is very very interesting. I have visited the Cotswolds and just loved them. I am following you now.
    Best regards from Athens, Greece !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Marie-Anne - I am sorry that you left a comment that has disappeared. I have looked behind the blog and there is nothing lurking there, it appears to have vanished into the blogosphere!!!
      So pleased that you like the blog, and nice to know that you have visited the Cotswolds.

      Delete

❖PLEASE NOTE❖ Comments made by those who hide their identity will be deleted


“You can't stay in your corner of the forest waiting for others to come to you - you have to go to them sometimes”

― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh