Country girl...

So we went for a walk by the river. The same river that I used to walk by as a child, just near the place where I grew up. You see, I have lived in this town since I was five years old. When I was about eleven, I guess, I would go on my bike (a boy's 'chopper' bike, it was black and could carry two with ease!) with my best friend and we would paddle in this river, spending hours catching newts and playing 'pooh sticks'. Now I take my children there and we do the same, some twenty five years later. It's lovely and poignant.

I am a country girl at heart. I do love cities, love visiting them, seeing the life and the buzz of it, but on the whole I am much happier walking rolling hills. Whenever I go to London I am stunned at how many people there are, how much activity; where are they all going? Day or night it's awash with people. I am always struck at the fact that this vibrant city-life is taking place all the time whilst I am snuggled up in my 'country mouse' dwelling, far from the madding crowd.

I wonder - should I participate more in it? Instead I live vicariously through lovely blogs like the delectable Emily's London Zest which points to coffee bars and florists and shops that I might never see.

I realise how times have changed since my childhood. I would disappear all day then, back in time for tea; roaming around in woods and by rivers. Never alone, but from my recollection not with adults. Now - would I allow my daughter to do that? Not in a million years! But for my children to have the chance to re-trace my footsteps is quite special and rare in this world. They just do so with me by their side...brimming with nostalgia all the way.

How pretty is she?