I have lived in the hustle and bustle of central London for all of my life; it was running through my veins, under my skin and deep within my heart. It had everything I needed when growing up. Although it was thin on the ground in terms of open playing fields, it still opened up a huge playground for me. It gave me the freedom to experience “getting around”; knowing where to go and where not to go. It educated me to the many different cultures and religions that exist within the capital and which it thrives upon. I could never leave or so I thought…! The end of last year gave me the opportunity to decide what I wanted for myself and more important what I wanted for my two children. We decided that maybe we should try the “quiet” life and move into the country. We were all looking forward to it; no more running around, sitting in endless traffic; no more clock watching; did I leave myself enough time to drive six miles in two hours!! Ah, yes, peace and quiet was definitely what the doctor ordered.
We moved in October 2005 eager to experience a new way of living. The reality, and you probably have already reached your conclusion, was that in some respects it was no different. As a parent I will always be running around doing something; make sure everyone had their lunch and are off to school tidy and on time; did I leave myself enough time to scrape the windows of the car (its certainly colder and frostier outside of the capital); drive an hour to work, half of the journey stuck behind a tractor showering me with hay.
Finally I reach work, turn on the PC, reach for the coffee…the mobile rings, my youngest daughter was slightly unwell and needed to be picked up from school; back in the car and so the story goes on without change or at least I thought it did.
I didn’t really appreciate how living in a busy wide-awake city could govern how I act. I realised travelling to work that although I still need to be at certain places at a certain time, my approach in getting there is quite different. Whilst driving around rush hour in London my choice of music in my car would be almost as frantic as the scene outside my window; loud and intrusive; My aim was to find that all too elusive parking space before it had gone!!
Now, quite unconsciously, I am calmer; it has only taken six months! The music in my car is softer. Gregorian chants just above a whisper instead of Guns N' Roses; a tissue with calming and relaxing aromas circulate instead of the exhaust fumes from the car in front. I smile when I see a red Kite hover over me watching and waiting; I don’t leave until he has gone. I acknowledge my surroundings and am truly in awe of the genuine beauty of what I see in front of me; the old farmhouse and barns that have seen better days; the crops now starting to make an appearance; the three young deer running in the middle of the field.
Our world revolves around constant change, but sometimes we forget what we already have; maybe we will not truly appreciate its natural beauty until it is no longer here. I sit, letting my mind have some peace and quiet and for my eyes to take in every detail; For me I think……it really doesn’t get much better than this.
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