Wednesday's ABC

We have a saying here..."You can please some of the people some of the time but not all of the people all of the time.
It would seem there are some participants who prefer the original set up for ABC Wednesday so I will add Mr Linky for those people.

Can I just point out however I changed the set due to people's concerns.
There have been a group of us working very hard all week to make the transition as smooth as possible. I have e-mailed people, built up lists etc etc so everybody was informed. To receive curt, sharp e-mails is not what I expected, I thought after working alongside many contributors, some for a year now, people would have got to know me and know the type of person I am. I have always been polite and would expect to be treated the same.

D

A171
You have Arrived!

Our village has two roads of entry. Basically the A171 (Moor Road) or the A174 (Coast Road). The mere names of the two main roads indicate our location, between the moors and the sea.
The one we use is the Moor Road.

We moved here in 1991, quite by chance. The house was previously owned by the parents of some pupils I was teaching at the time. The local secondary school was in Guisborough, so they needed to move to Guisborough where we were living at the time. We came to look at the house and over the weeks and months of deliberation and consideration we saw the potential awaiting us, so on June 28th 1991 the house became ours.

Moving from a market town to a village was a life changing decision, for the best I might add, the very best!

Over the next few weeks I will take you on walks around the village and introduce you to my neighbours.

I am sure you will enjoy the journey!

We recently received a conservation document from our local council, this is how the village is described:-

• A linear, green, upland village with a surrounding field system located onslightly undulating terrain, close to the edge of the moor.

• A well preserved and archaeologically important historic settlement layout.

• Spacious layout with buildings widely dispersed and in groups.

• Predominantly agricultural and residential uses comprising 18th and 19th century farmsteads and cottages, a church, village hall and inn.

• The relationship of buildings to the spaces between them.

• The ways in which those spaces are used – as well maintained cottagegardens and as fields and paddocks used for pasture, grazing and arable.

• The stream flowing through the village crossing the frontages of properties.

• Historic grassed rear garths with mature hedgerows hedgerow trees and ridge-and-furrow patterns.

• Individual specimen trees, hedgerow trees and groups of trees act as visual breaks and screens and make open spaces more attractive.

• A variety of building style including the distinctive, local vernacular tradition of building along with influences from the Scottish Borders vernacular.

Each month we receive the parish magazine. It was here I first came across the poetry of George Skaife. I met with George on Monday and he has allowed me the privelage to use his poetry here. George told me about his childhood memories, listening to his father read poetry to him and his siblings by the light of the parafin light, reciting the many famous poems with deep rhythm and excitement. It was there the seeds of poetry enjoyment were planted in the very bones of his soul. This rhythm and rhyming remain at the heart of George's poetry.

Walking in the countryside with his mum, she would point out the varios flowers and plants explaining their names and uses. The two elements of his upbringing were the perfect combination for George's poetry. He writes with passion of the countryside and natural world which we are so fortunate to have on our doorstep, so it is so appropriate to link George's poetry with my village exploration. Sadly George's sight has diminished and he can no longer write poetry but I will visit him each week and share my account of village life. I hope you enjoy the journey. I will share your comments with George and thank you in anticipation.
This first poem was the first one I read as I opened the first file ! How appropriate and a wonderful introduction to this exciting project!

Meadow and Wheatfields
Standing beneath an old oak tree, on a warm late summers day
Gazing over the rolling hills to the blue skies far away

How beautiful the landscape spread out before my eyes
Lush meadows and ripening wheatfields in peaceful solitude lies

Arranged in scenic splendour, golden cornfields stained with red
A brilliant splash of colour by the waving poppy head

Bounded by tall hedgegrows, verdant meadows fresh and green
Awash with yellow buttercups adding beauty to this scene

Birds and butterflies abound in this earthly paradise
The stoat surveys his wild domain in constant watchfulness

Swallows swoop in darting flight, soaring swifltly out of view
Pheasants strut among the flowers to the distant call of the curlew

Adorned with pink wild roses scented honeysuckle fills the air
Trailing through the hedgerows in this countryside so fair

These sweeping English meadows and wheatfields in September
A wond'rous panoramic view, forever to remember.

George Skaife 20.01.89

How to participate in ABC Wednesday...(Original)



1. Post your A picture on your blog.
2. Come to my blog and sign in on Mr. Linky
3. Enjoy the beautiful A pictures of the other bloggers.
Do try to leave a comment, it doesn't have to be on Wednesday, but do try to let them know you have visited.
Please do not sign your name on Mr. Linky unless you have an Apicture posted on your blog

or

Visit the NEW BLOG

Please leave a comment here and a link back to this blog.