By Diana TaylorYou’ve seen the brochures I expect: they show little white houses, flaming orange trees, red bushes and not an overhead jet, grey cloud or motorway in sight. It is utterly beautiful and, for me, it was a lifelong ambition to go to New England in the fall. Even now it is not that I was disappointed; it really was lovely. However, my delight was tempered by the fact that I live here in the Chilterns and autumn here is certainly no less breathtaking than anywhere else. Today, for example, on my walk from the end of Sly Corner, I spotted a fox. This wasn’t some scruffy old dustbin fox but rather the type who flattered Miss Puddleduck. He was bright-eyed, shiny-coated, bushy-tailed and rather proud as he paused to stare, superciliously, before striding off.
Later, towards the Pednors, there were some horses to be seen: some small, some large and one, like a mythical unicorn and completely white in colour, lay rolling in the grass as if in need of a back-scratcher. The view across to the hills beyond was spectacular. There was no shortage of that flaming orange and no shortage of red bushes. I didn’t hear the sound of a jet or motorway, or even that of a road and although there were clouds, they were ‘mackerel’ clouds, making the sky even more lovely, the wind more interesting, the red kites more kite-like and the weather more fascinating.
Recently, some of our ladies have been busy raising money for the charity that helps the wounded heroes coming back from the wars in the Middle East. When we hear of life in such situations and countries in turmoil we are always mindful of how lucky we are to live here, amongst friends, in peace and amid the beauty of nature. As we raise money for young amputees we are grateful for our limbs, our ability to walk and our freedom to do so.
Mark Twain once wrote that the man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read. Let us transpose that sentiment to walking, put on our boots and join with friends in rejoicing in our beautiful Chilterns in the autumn. If anyone would like to join up for a walk please get in touch with me. You need never go alone.