After our exciting three-or-so days in London, we left the big city for the rural countryside. I am not saying that London is not the real England too, but going there and only seeing London is like going to San Francisco or New York and saying you saw America. And, oh yeah… tea and scones!!!
That is my mom gazing wistfully out of the train window as we journeyed through the farmlands of England.
And there is my mom… on the right… talking to our cousin, Dot… on the left. Dot let us stay in her house in the little town of Leyland. The first picture… the one with the tea and the scone… is a picture out her front window. We stayed with Dot for three magical days.
And we did some awesome things. This picture of Dot, once again on the left, and my mom, will make more sense after the next post.
That is Dot’s garden. I think you get to know a place when you smell the flowers and the grass and the trees, when you feel the soil and walk the neighborhoods that most tourists never see. Don’t just meet people who work in the tourist industry. Get out and meet people from all walks of life.
It is by using all your senses that a new place comes alive. I never feel like I know a country at all until I meet some people from small towns and villages, and walk in the woods, and pet some animals and make some babies smile… but maybe that’s just me.
This is the real England. It isn’t the seat of government. It isn’t where history is made, but it is where history happens. It is where life happens.
Look at Mollie, reading the British paper in a British house in a British town in the country, learning about the world… sniff…
I stood in the garden feeling the mist land on my cheeks, I smelled the flowers, touched the soil, listened to the birds and the sounds of playing children. And I felt that I got to know England in a true and meaningful way.
There is my mom, enjoying a quiet moment in Dot’s living room. I am strangely moved to be sharing these pictures with you, I must admit.
Pouring My Art Out 
Awesome pics Art. It blows me away every time I see a pic of your Mom – 90 years old and going strong – amazing.
She really is, thanks.
You are so right about getting out of London, but I can’t imagine that Mollie learned anything useful from the Sunday Torygraph.
We were just reading about the whole Queen’s birthday thing. She is being raised a true Berkeley liberal… whatever that translates to over there.
That’s safe then. The Green Party would be more your thing.
It does sound nice.
I loved England, and yes the neighborhood walk-through is a must.
Bring us all fish and chips when you return…
I am back… and I ate all the food…
Even the haggis you picked up for me next door in Scotland?
no… that went bad… I think…
There must have been a murder committed while you were there. England is full of murderers, especially in the countryside. Obviously you were careful!
I try to be.
*snif* You are just such a sensitive soul, Arthur. Yes, everyone should get out more to pet animals and make babies smile…that’s a good goal, I think. That should be your motto! Looks like you really know how to enjoy a trip 🙂
It is my motto… I just haven’t put it on a t-shirt yet.
Hey, there’s a good Photoshop project for you! Or you could write something fabulous with that title…and get all philosophical and stuff
I do posts about babies and animals all the time.
*sigh* that’s always your answer on everything … you’ve covered it all it seems
well I can’t very well keep going back and starting all over every time somebody new shows up can I???
No, I get it. That’s what re-blogs are for, right? I know you have a lot of stuff written.
Actually, that is what the search button, the word cloud, the ‘most popular posts’ button, the tags and categories, and all the other tricks I use to make it easier to find the stuff you like on my blog are for… HA!
Well thank you for the tutorial, smartass. I will try to set tomorrow aside for the hands-on training there… Just don’t forget the importance of breathing fresh life into a blog as well. 🙂
I like to think that nobody does more new stuff than me, which makes it even harder to go back sometimes.
Yes, you do new stuff sometimes, I guess
sigh
Now I feel bad. Sorry for harassing you. I know you mean well. Just don’t send the squirrels after me lol
I have no control over what the squirrels do… ha
Okay…if I see any damages on my blog I’ll know who to blame…
wordpress?
I don’t have much trouble with them
then you aren’t trying hard enough to piss them off…
Why should I do that?
because they are the supreme overlords that play with our lives like cats with a vole?
although, you did sort of show up when I was just starting the ‘name that piece of art’ series… and this trip to Europe series… which are both the longest-running things I ever did.
Your trip has been nice. Name that Art ran its course. Now you need to write stuff. New stuff.
I can’t write new stuff now… I am editing two novels and doing massive rewrites in one at the same time, I am writing a song with a friend of mine, I have a bunch of cool trip photos, and stuff
It’s okay. I don’t mean to pressure you! I know you have a few WIPs going, as you just said. Here’s to cool trip photos 🙂
I really will go back to doing… whatever it is I do around here… one of these days…
Just do what you want and be you – that’s a wonderful thing
I don’t know who else I would be, but thanks?
Just be real is what I mean. You know what I mean so stop.
stop being real? I am so confused…
Arthur. You’re hurting my brain now. I’m not as good with comebacks as you are and you know it
I feel bad, and I am going to write a post with no pictures… just words… that will make you think and laugh and marvel at the universe… and I am going to dedicate it to you… with a link… give me ten minutes…
Uh – oh now look what I’ve done!
yes… go look what you have done… HA!