My walk today – beauty and the trashed verges!!

A walk of up and down!!

First there was the beauty – the wildflowers, the cranesbill, cornflower and wild orchids. The nectar for butterflies and the seeds for birds.

Then there are the fabulous views over the farms, the rolling wolds, out to the sea.

Then there was the devastation. The fucking farmers flattening the whole place, mowing it flat, destroying the flowers, killing the insects and displacing all the wildlife. Leaving behind a desolate wasteland. It make me so angry. There is so little natural habitat to start with – only the hedgerows and verges remain – and they come along and ravage. How are the birds and creatures meant to survive>

The Valley of the Rocks – Devon. Stunning.

Arriving in Linton in the evening the first thing we did was climb up the hill opposite where we were staying. We went through the woods and out onto the cliffs overlooking the Valley of the Rocks.

Stunning views

Poetry – The Answer To The Eternal Question

The Answer To The Eternal Question

I have found the answer to the eternal question.

It was radiant in a sunset;

Shining in a rainbow;

Living in the rocks and trees;

Alive in rivers, seas and cliffs.

It reflected back at me

From mountains, hills and valleys.

It spoke to me as I lay

In flower-strewn meadows.

It hummed to me with every

Magnificent winged or crawling creature.

It filled me with delight

With every sight of fur and claw.

It sang to me

With coloured plumage.

It filled me with wonder and elation.

And the answer dwelt

Beyond words, beyond teachings

And was manifest

In contentment.

For it was enough

To be part

Of such an exquisite flow.

Opher 1.8.2018

When one is immersed in the glory of nature there is no need to ask for any more.

There are no further questions and no more answers.

From the heavens above to the rocks below, in the midst of the wealth of life, the answer is all around us.

We are part of a wondrous flow. That is enough.

Poetry – Open Your Eyes

Open Your Eyes

We open our eyes into a wondrous place;

Close them and it is gone.

What gives it meaning?

‘Curing the sick,’

Says the physician,

Operating on the tiny child.

‘Giving life to the dying,

Hope to the parents,

Relief to those in pain.

That provides the meaning.’

Understanding the universe,’

Says the scientist,

Solving the problems of the world.

‘Finding what makes the atoms tick,

Where we came from

And the secrets in the depths of space.

That provides the meaning.’

‘Making something beautiful,’

Says the artist,

Creating something unique.

‘Crafting a scene so wondrous

That it moves the soul

And opens the heart to love.

That provides the meaning.’

‘Caring for those in need,’

Says the nurse,

Smoothing the hair from the troubled brow.

‘Providing comfort

From the stress and strain,

From pain and fear.

That provides the meaning.’

‘Worshipping God,’

Says the Bishop

On her knees in prayer.

‘Giving thanks for our lives,

The wonders of the universe

And hope for all eternity.

That is what gives life meaning.’

‘Living in the wonder of the moment,’

Says the atheist.

‘Taking pleasure in the awe

Of each and every moment

And wanting nothing more.

That is what gives life meaning.

We open our eyes into a wondrous place;

Close them and it is gone.

What gives it meaning?

Opher 25.7.2018

Sometimes it is important to reflect that life is short and means different things to different people.

Perhaps there is no meaning other than what we give it?

All I know is that we are born; open our eyes into a place of wonder; live our lives, and then close our eyes and it is gone.

What takes place in between is a product of our desires, our cultural perspective, our indoctrination, our free will and our experiences. Perhaps nothing more.

We live in a moment. We can choose what we make of that.

Amazing first sunset down the Amazon!

There was something completely magical about a sunset on this huge expanse of river! I was enthralled.

The Yorkshire Moors in May

I thought I’d continue the theme of where we’ve been these last few weeks. As lockdown has eased up we’ve seen more people and travelled further.

This was a day out on the Yorkshire Moors. There is a great beauty about the moors! Then there are the lapwings and new lambs.

Porto – Tiled buildings near the waterfront.

I’m a sucker for colour and art. There’s lots of that in Porto! And churches.

Scotland – Patchwork hills, Mossy streams and historic buildings.

We took a walk up into the hills, along an old stream and past an abandoned building. T’was beautiful

Scotland – Root and Branch – Wonder and Beauty. Majesty – Photos

If ever I want to replenish my spirit I head for nature. The trees and wildlife are nourishment for the mind. Such beauty. Such wonder. Majesty.

Prague – The splendid Cathedral.

The colours from the stained glass were making patterns on the stone. Beautiful. Shame about the religious aspects.