This year I was told to do nothing for my birthday, just sit back, relax, and enjoy a small surprise.
For those that don’t know, I am a Cockney Londoner born in the heart of the East End of London in a town called Bethnal Green.
Whilst still very young my family moved to north east London and I spent my childhood growing up there.
My birthday surprise meant that eight of us would be going to Epping Forest, this is an area of ancient woodland in south-east England, straddling the border between north-east Greater London and Essex. Not far from where I grew up. It’s an area I know oh so well.
Formed in approximately 8000 BC after the last ice age, it covers nearly 6,000 acres (24 km²) and contains areas of grassland, heath, rivers, bogs and ponds. Embankments of two Iron Age camps - Loughton Camp and Ambresbury Banks- can be found hidden in the woodland. As I did part of my growing up in Loughton, 'The Forest' was really part of my back garden, it never occurred to me then that I was among so much history.
At the very heart of this vast woodland lays a pub – The Robin Hood. This was to be our destination. I realised that I hadn’t been to this pub for at least 15 years. Although this pub’s name has no connection to ‘The Robin hood’ it was still a great venue. In fact this neck of the woods was where Dick Turpin held out.
As memories of a younger me came flooding back I couldn’t believe just how well preserved everything had been kept. I had driven through the forest on many occasions but it’s not till you are on foot and at one with nature that it dawns on you.
Epping forest has been so well organised since my day as a youth with activities such as guided walks, bike rides and cycle rides, craft activities, heritage events, art exhibitions, open air theatre performances and of course horse riding – I have never seen so many stables. The list is endless, we spoke to a few regulars at the bar and it would seem an area of the forest called High Beach is still a very popular picnic area. We have all promised to return when the weather breaks again.
To spend a birthday with your closest friends in a place that evoked so many childhood memories ... bliss.
COMMENTS
I would expect that if Leprechauns existed and wanted us to know they existed, they might be the ones to be continually telling us they exist. Instead it's always humans who believe in Leprechauns who tell us they exist. So to me it seems likely they don't exist. And that's an observation which works equally well for other asserted entities... doesn't it?
I agree, be it leprechauns or tooth fairies, it's people who make the choice. It's people's 'faith' in something that gives it substance.
Leprechauns are sneaky...they have their own agenda, they only tell certain people they exist in order to have Beastt17 mention them and thereby give them the fame they are not deserving off....my head hurts now.
*pokes* Beastt.. you know the leprechauns live in my back garden, and wellll..all the fairies emigrated from Ireland to San Franciso sillyyyy! Just so you know :p *elfish grin*
Always people, Bloodlife. Never anything but people and their many, unevidenced, often contradictory claims. :-)
Leprechauns came and visited me last night. In my nightmare. Too much misleading information. Everything has seem to become commericalized. Everyone writes a book and is it their beliefs that become our beliefs? maybe one wants to believe.
By the way My Grandmother became my toothfairy years ago and she shiftshaped into the Easter Bunny also. I guess you can say she had talent. Pun.
I wish I could just write with a fluency that showed the feelings I want to get down.
I can't find inspiration like Joli nor can I be so beautifully expressive like Images.
My quiet admiration for the creativity of Morrigon makes me yearn.
There are so many natural writers out there ... I just wish.........
COMMENTS
The wish of wishes hun. You have the ability within yourself to write the lovely words that each and everyone writes. Its hidden at this time and something will soon awaken it. :-)
Stop wishing, keep writing....you have written some beautiful lines.
Thanks guys, but it's their consistency. I mean Joli not only finds beauty in a piece of scaffolding, she lets the reader see it too .. sheer brilliance.
Everyone has their own muses my dear..We all cant write the same, and thats what makes it good.Your writing is wonderful.
Like you,when I read their stuff or see a pic that one of them has made,I find myself wishing too..but it doesnt last long..I dont mind at all enjoying it through their eyes and words ,even if it is only for a little while.
Looking at it like that, I guess I should be grateful I can read!
we each have our own special talents , there arnt many out there like you. im grateful to have you in my life you wisdom and support far more than anything you wish for. You are an inspiration.
Aww hunni .. XXX
Stephen,
Its in you.......your not seeing the forest because of all the trees.......
You are a brilliant writer...........you just don't see it babes
xo
You are uniquely you and I wouldn't have you any other way.
Well said Joli,I agree completely.
Don't be upset journal, it's not your fault.......
I thought journals were a place where you could just be yourself.
I tend to read more and more journals offline nowadays. My comments wont be missed but at least I can be more objective.
I couldn't help thinking that the writers seem to 'play' to an audience and therefore the entries become sensationalized to the point where we don't really see the writer anymore.
Ok, now I have to catch my jet and head for Paris for lunch. Then it's off to New York for dinner, meet a model who will obey my every wish and then back home to watch the late night movie in front of my new state of the art cinema room plasma-fantasma screen.
COMMENTS
o-0
who rattled your cage?
*Makes tea for upset journal*......tea fix's most upsets and a *hug* of course.
Journals are heavily tainted by the whims of the author like any good novel. Perhaps some opt to write about the life they wish they were leading instead of the tedious that we all exist in. But I'll eat some popcorn and scroll through the journals looking for a good read with an inkling that all of this is merely fiction.
Here's a thumb up for originality!!!
Oh my a fellow jet setter, well then we must do Morocco.. How about Golf, in Japan..? Of course I may miss out on the Fireworks display that Canada Planned for me but hay, we have to have priorities.
Hi journal,
I can't believe we're already in October, just where has this year gone!?!
I went into one of our bigger shops yesterday to find them stacking for xmas ... already, we haven't even done Halloween as yet.
It's strange that we, 'people', would want to wish our life away like this.
Isn't life short enough.
COMMENTS
Sadly..........=[
They're already putting out Christmas stuff in the States as well! Right across from the Halloween items! Yeesh....
I have already bought my swim trunks for next summer. Commercialism needs the anxious antics of the malls.
COMMENTS
-
Sinora
15:34 Oct 31 2008
The big question is...are you as well preserved as the forest ?.
BLOODLIFE
15:35 Oct 31 2008
Well ... how would you like me to prove that? lol
TheeLadyHawk
18:56 Nov 01 2008
Lovely darling,
I am glad you were able to have such a wonderful birthday :o)
xoxo