Monday 9 March 2009

Up In The Wind




You can see them from wherever you are. When you're up here you can see wherever. A clump of young beeches and the odd fir form a dark blip on the ridge above the Northamptonshire / Leicestershire border. There is talk of a causeway camp long, long ago; there are marks on old Ordnance maps indicating a windmill. Always a meeting place of both people and trackways, there is more recent talk of the derelict single storey cottage being built in the 1930s for a chap to live in with his emphysema. Up in the wind, to help his gasping lungs. And the wind does blow. Producing ghostly squeals as the beeches crowd in and rub against the lichened brick, moaning in the rotten chimney stacks. Next door the air moves icily through the glassless metal casements of a wartime observation post, still with its wooden bunk beds up against the wall. In this strange grouping are also concrete entrances to bunkers that must have given chilling credence to the words 'Cold War'. Of course my boys thought they'd gone to some kind of windy heaven. They ran up here yesterday, dashing in and out of the swaying trees and invading the cottage like a landing force, moving from room to room with shouts of glee. "This is so awesome Dad". And then they unearthed the mossy skulls. Sheep, we hope. They carried them back down the hill like battle trophies, singing songs snatched away on the March wind. Just as it probably always was, a long, long time ago.

7 comments:

Diplomate said...

Blimey Pete - you've moved again ?! Love the new house.

Peter Ashley said...

Many are those who've wanted to move up here. Bit spooky for me, I'd be looking out the windows all the time, expecting to see a hooded figure down on the lane.

Jon Dudley said...

Lovely bit of writing tho...

Diplomate said...

Yes Jon - I spotted the writing, I gave it 10/10 but thought it wiser not to mention it.

Philip Wilkinson said...

Quite. It'll only encourage him, You could hear the wind whistling between the words, though.

Toby Savage said...

Hmmm. I picked up on the writing too. Rather deflating to see that others had too. Sort of wanted to be the first, if you know what I mean. Ever thought of taking it up Peter? The Bard of Rutland. You could have a blue plaque on your door in years to come.

Ron Combo said...

Boozer of Rutland, more like.