Sunday 2 June 2019

A magical place


I took a walk through the trees at Frensham Little Pond. A magical place that held so many memories of a girl I knew. Three young girls from school used to cycle here with snacks, drink and bathers to swim in the shallow waters of this beautiful pond surrounded by gorse and pines.

My wife and I had been birdwatchers for some time and had lived in Australia for years. We were keen to see the birds that coloured our childhood that were fast disappearing from the British countryside. We read of the Dartford Warbler that could be seen here at Frensham Little Pond.

So we drove down to this secret of her past of so long ago; to try to find the warblers including  the gorse and broom. Warmed by the sun, keeping still we sat backs to a tree. The air was still and within minutes some little birds emerged from the bushes, flying up in the air and skimming back down again. They would perch proudly on a twig before disappearing into the undergrowth. In a lull of activity we consulted a field guide, checked their attributes and they were certainly Dartford Warblers. I became part of my wife's childhood and we have discovered an endangered British bird.

Returning years later, my wife has now died. So I walked alone through the bracken and reached the pond. Just me, Crested Grebe on the water and a Tern skimming overhead. I imagined the tinkle of laughter of three girls in the water and see their bikes on the shore. I'm part of their world through my wifes eyes and I regret that she is no longer here to share it with me. It is good to thank her here for the love she gave me as the trees look on.

Image found at https://www.ntprints.com/image/353770/frensham-litle-pond-with-swans-and-ducks-on-the-water

14 comments:

  1. Trees were, are, will be the silent witness always. Nice.

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  2. Trees are like songs, this way, they are so good at holding on to our memories... I wonder how the trees remember it.

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  3. Trees witness our many love stories, as well as our tears of loss. I loved this, Robin.

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  4. Lovely memories. Thanks for sharing

    Much🌲🖤🌴🖤🌳🖤love

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  5. What a delightful tale of returning twice to a place from the wife's youth, once with her and once without her. I hope it's a true story, that you two sat against the tree and watched its bird life.

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    1. Every word true Susan, she asked me to do this very early in our marriage.

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  6. Beautifully written. 'I'm part of their world through my wifes eyes' brought a lump to my throat. I totally get it, Robin.

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  7. There's something magical when we share our interests with the ones we love. What beautiful memories the two of you made!

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  8. Love, beauty and memories still remain. A lovely story!

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  9. What lovely memories! I especially love your closing sentence, "It is good to thank her here for the love she gave me as the trees look on." Beautiful!

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  10. Wow. Beautiful, moving poem Mr. Egg - full of love and sweet memories. Touching!

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  11. I love the sweetness of the memory... I bet you could feel your wife by the pond.

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  12. Lovely story, the memories building and becoming part of the place.

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  13. Beautiful story, it brings tears, happy tears of all the joy the trees witnessed and hold now in their limbs.

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