Journal

Elaine shoots me as a ghost

The other hill fort that I spent many an afternoon atop during the early 1960s, generally with friends and flagons of cider after cycling across from Bryanston, was Hod Hill.  Up we went again this morning, with rain spitting now and then, and the sun blasting through fitfully, with great dark clouds roiling by. 

The path to Hod   Ramparts again   Elaine 1   Elaine 2   Elaine 3

Sky over Manor Barn   A glimpse of Hambledon Hill

Awoke to find blue skies, but they soon collapsed into turbulence once again.  Still, Hambledon Hill looked splendid as we left for Hod Hill.

George Loveless

Having learned about their courage and ordeals in history at Bryanston, I felt we should stop off at the museum dedicated to the Tolpuddle Martyrs, but we found it closed for repairs, following flooding.  Not sure what to make of the sculpture of George Loveless outside, but it was striking from some angles. 

Barrels 1   Barrels 2

Having enjoyed cider so much – or so much cider – at Bryanston, and having enjoyed Dabinett cider in recent years, and having met Sue Clifford and Angela King of Common Ground at Romy’s last night, two people who have done more than pretty much anyone else to preserve and rebuild this country’s apple varieties and orchards, it seemed a good idea to drop in on the Cider Museum in Owermoigne.  So we did.

Green wheel on cider equipment   Elaine and Mr. Cider   Clock faces

I’d be happy for my ashes to find their way up here

Arrived late afternoon at another Sawday find, Manor Barn in Child Okeford, which Elaine had chosen in large part because it looks out onto Hambledon Hill, the extraordinary hill fort where I spent many charmed days during my time at Bryanston, just down the road.  A sloping window allowed a star to peep in as I went to sleep – but that was after we had walked to the top of kestrel-accented Hambledon, in the gathering twilight, taking in the breath-taking views, that are almost 360 degrees,and has supper at the nearby Talbot. 

Ramparts   Elaine on the way down