A simpler life

While Himself was creating a dust storm in the kitchen, Wills and I decided to get out and clear our collective heads before the weather closed in.

Luckily for us, just opposite our house is a little back lane which quietly wanders through the village which mostly avoids roads - ideal for a dilly dog who hates lead walking.

Leaves are piling up in corners and along walls, I expect there will be plenty more after the next couple of storms. I tried to capture some images of their acid yellow, lime green and greige tones only to be...

Rudely interrupted by an impatient dog wanting to get to the meadow so she could play.

We played so much that I forgot to take any photos of her gleefully bounding through the damp grasses as she chased her ball aka 'Rugger'. All her toys have names - we are practising collecting the toy by name - slow progress but we shall persist.

The meadow becomes a muddy track which rises up to the upper end of the village. These lanes would have been normal thoroughfare years ago, however modern vehicles don't fit easily (thank goodness) so it is just the locals who venture with their cars whilst the rest of us either walk or horse ride along these older paths.

I love that all these little village ways have names, some times they match the ones on the OS but on the whole they all have pet names that are only pertinent to the villagers.

Many years ago - leading up to the second world war - most of the name plates and signs in and around the village were removed .... to confuse any invading force..... I love the thought that an enemy army could be confuddled by the lack of way markers. The thought that they would be parked up in the centre scratching their heads wondering if their tanks would be better turning left or right and not knowing where they would end up..... Life was a lot simpler then wasn't it?