Are you mad? This was the question that went through people’s minds when Paul and I announced that we were leaving our beautiful house in south west France and moving back to the UK and to the county of Lincolnshire. Before we came here I had visions of flat fens, cold easterly winds with mist rolling in from the North Sea and flat fields full of potatoes and turnips but the countryside in North Lincolnshire is a very different story.
For the past two mornings we have gone out early to cycle. Extensive blue skies and warm sunshine have really showed the countryside in all its glory. It has been a real joy cycling the lanes through the pretty villages. Yesterday we headed south, through Normanby by Spital (pronounced Normby Spital by the locals) down to Spridlington, turned eastwards past the futuristic looking Sky Dock, and then north through the three Toft villages (Newton-by-Toft, Toft-next-Newton and Newtoft). The roads were smooth and flat and we managed a good speed, the best this year. We cycled past Gibbets Post Farm, a rather macabre place name but the site of an old gibbet tree. (Gibbeting was a common form of punishment in Britain up until 1832 when criminals were hung up to rot in gibbet irons by the roadside as a warning to others.)
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| the gibbet tree at Gibbet Post Farm |
Today was a bit breezier. We headed north to Waddingham and sat outside the pretty church to take a short break. The wind must have been behind us coming home because I managed to hurtle up the hill without any help from Frogs A-Courtin.
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| St Mary and St Peter's Church, Waddingham |
You are with your own people now. In your own country. What's wrong with that? From what you have said thus far I think you have made an excellent choice and I for one applaud you.
ReplyDeleteWe feel very 'at home' here.
DeleteYou also asked yourselves. From the perspective of a reader and what you revealed it was difficult to see anything but madness. Anyway I am glad your lives are as you want them to be in this chapter.
ReplyDeleteOur reasons were a bit complex but we feel that we ultimately made a sensible (but not easy) decision.
DeleteSpridlington brought back memories. Fifty odd years ago I used to work in the office of Lockwood Farms in Cammeringham - they also had farms in Sprid as we used to call it. Don't suppose they have now - all in the past. Glad you are enjoying living in Lincolnshire.
ReplyDeleteStill so many places to explore.
DeleteBravo on getting your cycling mojo back. Must haver been a thrill to know you still could make it up and down the hills.
ReplyDeleteNot too many steep hills around these parts thankfully.
DeleteChopped Parsley freezes well. I would think the main difference between here and Lincs is the architecture (and of course Lincolnshire folk all having six fingers).
ReplyDeleteLots of pretty cottages and windmills but not too many chateaux! I didn't know you could freeze parsley.
DeletePleased to hear you are happy with your choice. It all sounds lovely.
ReplyDeleteSo far so good.
DeleteIt all sounds wonderful (well, minus the gibbet tree), and any kind of big change or move like that takes a lot of thought and consideration. I've never thought to use peanuts in pesto. I agree that pine nuts are expensive! -Jenn
ReplyDeleteThe peanuts seem to work very well.
DeleteI hope you will say Normby Spital too now you live in the area. Local pronunciations are the correct ones.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely, it's easier to say like that.
DeleteI thought that Normanby Spital was disgusting gobs of saliva ejected by uncivilised yellowbelly men.
Delete'Spital - abbreviation of hospital in this instance.
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