Imagine a human soul who, in times of her own confusion and need chooses to offer to us, to others the very things she aches for. This tells you every essential thing about this person in one small, deliberate act.
"The reason, today, I give you just a few seconds of calm instead… normal will hopefully return in a few days.
Oh my goodness Susie, I replied to your comment from last week’s letter before reading this!! I didn’t know until I read this the reason for your lack of WiFi. Sending all my love. I’ve also just now seen the hailstones in your Note 😮 I am glad that you and the animals are ok 💛
Hi Emily, the repercussions from the storm have been, and still are horrendous, in many homes, I'm trying hard not to grumble about the lack of WiFi because I know so many are suffering far worse damages than we are but as you'll see from my post this morning, ten days later than I anticipated, the repairs are not scheduled until mid August, which would be fine if we lived somewhere with fantastic 4G! But we don't... this morning I have a bar up though so I'm trying to catch up here on Substack before attacking the mountain of paperwork necessary for the insurance claims... it is, quite honestly, a nightmare. I have been more stressed during these first two weeks of holidays than I have been in a very long time and im feeling the effects..
Thank you for you kind thoughts, I haven't even seen the comment you wrote prior to this lovely, I will nip over now and check.... I hope life is treating you kindly - with love 💛xxx
Belated thanks Stephanie, finding calm has been quite a task in the aftermath but normal is slowly returning. The Tolkien quote is beautiful isn't it... 💛
Oh Kimberly, thank you, if only I could catch but a few of those trillion!! I feel as though the ache of this beautiful planet has transferred all its ills to my shoulders, the stress and sadness of the aftermath has been more than one gentle soul should ever have to encounter... I fear for our future, I fear for our collective spinning home.💚xx
She really is Nathan, I fear for her future, for all of our futures... here though, finally, calm is visible on the horizon, sadly not the repair man for the Wifi, hence my late reply!
No words can convey the feelings of my heart regarding the catastrophe you and your surrounding community recently experienced. I know you have the spirit to forge through, repair and restore while binding and strengthening the losses. Love n light always my dearest SS... xoxo
Sending love light and hope right back to you Susie.
It sounds frightening and chaotic.
Jonathan's response is stunning and excuse my ignorance but is that Jonathan's poem or something from Tolkien? Either way, they are wonderful soothing and grounding words.
Our healing can be found in Nature, Writing, and with our Feet firmly on the ground.
We are so lucky we have these at our finger tips for the challenging times in our lives.
Thanks Jo, love belatedly but most gratefully received, the storm was both hypnotic and terrifying, as violent storms tend to be but it's been a flipping rough week since... not a hypnotic day in sight!
Jonathans poem was the perfect antidote, it was much needed and warmly appreciated - doesn't he always write such soul filled words, I am in quiet awe...
And, yes yes yes to healing within natures embrace - always 💚xxx
Aaah thanks for your interest Susie. The hill's Origin was a concept for a belated Millenium Arts Project to build a 39 meter barrow. We obtained two tranches of funding from the British Arts Council. I was the resources officer, and found a farmer who was willing to allow the construction on his land. Disappointingly we were unable to bring the project to fruition. At the same time I was the CEO of an organisation that was in talks with the Diocese of York to turn a disused church into an international art gallery. That failed too. Prior to these events I had successfully created a huge Dragon Sculpture for the Olympic Torch route, and had a team of authors writing stories about him, for the Humbermouth Literary Festival.
All four projects were in Holderness, E. Yorkshire - eventually morphing into elements of my Substack, appearing in various disguises. The hill being "The Mound", "The Hollow Hill"**, "The Ancient City of Orolandus (a.k.a. The Golden Lantern)" and "Rise Island". The latter also exists as a model where my Dragon lives with Clarence the rescue Cat that rode in the British Tour DifFrance. The real Dragon and Cat actually live in the Mill of Bliss. Kingstown-Upper-Number, H'engeland.
My next adventure is to spend a few months cycling around France and Spain to find a derelict hectare or two where I can take it all up a notch. (Here in Nederland such a patch would cost ten times as much.....
** = can be read in Ancient Legends part 12 - publishing tonight.
Oh Susie! I have been out driving in hail storms where we had to pull over and luckily 4 strong guys were in the vehicle, hands up, pushing on the roof, to prevent it from caving in. Never have I seen hail that size.,Truly a nightmare. I am glad you weren’t caught on the hill.
I assume none of your animals were hurt. Now my mind wanders to all the other beings that live on your beautiful hill. I see why your skylights were broken. Almost other worldly.
Since you’ve quoted Tolkien, my all time favorite, This came to mind. The Fellowship of the Ring; Saruman stands on the pinnacle of Orthanc bringing the mountain down with its ice and snow, on the travelers of the Fellowship. ( While my books are worn from reading so many times, I did have to look this up).
The sound alone, must have been deafening. And to add to the weary mind, insurance companies. A major part of my ‘previous life’ , managing my husband’s practice. We had a saying; insurance companies, a license to steel. For now, wishing you moments of peace after the storm.
I too have never seen hail the size of that which bombarded us last Thursday… it was bedlam, apocalyptic almost… and since then I’ve learned that others in the valley had far worse, a river ran down the Main Street if the town, all cars parked lost their windows, as roofs were damaged , some irreparably so. Families were evacuated to dry accommodation - all this in just ten minutes.! And this weekend there are more storms forecast… storms I have never feared in fact quite the reverse but so much of that which we anticipate is worse than it has ever been, yet still there are the non believers, the skeptics… I could scream into the wind at their foolhardiness.
Tolkien is also one of my all time favorite epics… my own copies also are curled at the corners with pages taped back in… many quotes could be related I think… although like you I am forced to check each time. Though this too is a joy…
My animals are all unscathed and thank goodness having only just got them back again after my last horrific ordeal back in January… and our home too has little damage but our other house, on another hill not so distant, is a mess of glass and broken roof tiles… as were all others in the village.
The fact that the mayor declared a natural disaster will help the insurance claims immensly but the tiresomely arduous and long winded paperwork remains the same… hence does my cursing! Even more so because we’ve been told our fibre connection will not be repaired for at least a month and to connect to 4G I must walk up the hill! Can you hear me growling..? X
I'm so sorry that you have storm damage that you have to deal with. I knew you (and your area) were hit hard, but didn't know you were in a particular mess. Feel free to DM if you want to talk about it, and keep looking for those moments of calm...
Thank you Betty, it really was an apocalyptic few minutes, and yes that’s all it was thankfully but the repercussions reverberate still, this afternoon we are going to visit two more houses that need complete new roofs due to the damage, one is a work colleague who has had the toughest year imaginable already - I cannot hide my tristesse..
Thank you also for you kind offer, I just might take you up in that 🙏🏽xxx
What a mess. And yes, I feel we are in for more of the same. I read in some climate analysis that global warming could lead France to be more of a tropical climate (read rain, hurricanes, higher night temps) rather than the dry-Spanish-like scenario. I guess we will see at least some of it.
Me and my dog were hanging about, I was drinking coffee and reading Susie's piece, he was just watching the passers-by. I think that shot of caffeine was quite inspirational (Tolkien would have been much better ;)
Your beautiful poetic words have forced tears from my eyes Jonathan… thank you from my heart my friend - it is true, I take on the worries of the world and they weigh a mighty weight, perhaps it is time to offload a few, and yes, share all that is beautiful still - I will try hard…
Thank you Jan… so much. It is real and so terrifying, I am struggling to see light this week - I want the feeling to pass but fear also the consequences of that happening. X
Imagine a human soul who, in times of her own confusion and need chooses to offer to us, to others the very things she aches for. This tells you every essential thing about this person in one small, deliberate act.
"The reason, today, I give you just a few seconds of calm instead… normal will hopefully return in a few days.
I am in need…."
Namasté dear Susie. And thank you.
Oh my goodness Susie, I replied to your comment from last week’s letter before reading this!! I didn’t know until I read this the reason for your lack of WiFi. Sending all my love. I’ve also just now seen the hailstones in your Note 😮 I am glad that you and the animals are ok 💛
Hi Emily, the repercussions from the storm have been, and still are horrendous, in many homes, I'm trying hard not to grumble about the lack of WiFi because I know so many are suffering far worse damages than we are but as you'll see from my post this morning, ten days later than I anticipated, the repairs are not scheduled until mid August, which would be fine if we lived somewhere with fantastic 4G! But we don't... this morning I have a bar up though so I'm trying to catch up here on Substack before attacking the mountain of paperwork necessary for the insurance claims... it is, quite honestly, a nightmare. I have been more stressed during these first two weeks of holidays than I have been in a very long time and im feeling the effects..
Thank you for you kind thoughts, I haven't even seen the comment you wrote prior to this lovely, I will nip over now and check.... I hope life is treating you kindly - with love 💛xxx
So sorry to hear of these troubles. Thank you for the moments of calm - may you find many more - and the rousing Tolkien quote!
Belated thanks Stephanie, finding calm has been quite a task in the aftermath but normal is slowly returning. The Tolkien quote is beautiful isn't it... 💛
The ache of this planet grows, in hand with ours. Thank you for your 30 seconds of majesty, may those 30 stretch to 30 trillion in your days ahead.🌎
Oh Kimberly, thank you, if only I could catch but a few of those trillion!! I feel as though the ache of this beautiful planet has transferred all its ills to my shoulders, the stress and sadness of the aftermath has been more than one gentle soul should ever have to encounter... I fear for our future, I fear for our collective spinning home.💚xx
So sorry, Susie. Mother Nature is increasingly unhappy, I feel.
I hope there is restoration and more calm ahead.
She really is Nathan, I fear for her future, for all of our futures... here though, finally, calm is visible on the horizon, sadly not the repair man for the Wifi, hence my late reply!
Oh so sorry Susie!
Thank you Marika, we are only just coming through the other side !
No words can convey the feelings of my heart regarding the catastrophe you and your surrounding community recently experienced. I know you have the spirit to forge through, repair and restore while binding and strengthening the losses. Love n light always my dearest SS... xoxo
So sorry to hear about the storms, Susie. Sending good vibes and sunshine to you. We have too damned much in Atlanta right now.
It was quite a storm but I think the sunshine may have just arrived here Ben, thank you for sending it this way! Just sussing out how to make it stay!
So sorry to hear about the storms, Susie. Sending good vibes and sunshine to you. We have too damned much in Atlanta right now.
Sending love light and hope right back to you Susie.
It sounds frightening and chaotic.
Jonathan's response is stunning and excuse my ignorance but is that Jonathan's poem or something from Tolkien? Either way, they are wonderful soothing and grounding words.
Our healing can be found in Nature, Writing, and with our Feet firmly on the ground.
We are so lucky we have these at our finger tips for the challenging times in our lives.
💛🙏💚
Thanks Jo, love belatedly but most gratefully received, the storm was both hypnotic and terrifying, as violent storms tend to be but it's been a flipping rough week since... not a hypnotic day in sight!
Jonathans poem was the perfect antidote, it was much needed and warmly appreciated - doesn't he always write such soul filled words, I am in quiet awe...
And, yes yes yes to healing within natures embrace - always 💚xxx
Oh dear, hang in there. There's no much I can say to make you feel better, so I'm sending all my love!
Love is always the best thing in the world to receive dear Fotini, thank you xx
Aaah thanks for your interest Susie. The hill's Origin was a concept for a belated Millenium Arts Project to build a 39 meter barrow. We obtained two tranches of funding from the British Arts Council. I was the resources officer, and found a farmer who was willing to allow the construction on his land. Disappointingly we were unable to bring the project to fruition. At the same time I was the CEO of an organisation that was in talks with the Diocese of York to turn a disused church into an international art gallery. That failed too. Prior to these events I had successfully created a huge Dragon Sculpture for the Olympic Torch route, and had a team of authors writing stories about him, for the Humbermouth Literary Festival.
All four projects were in Holderness, E. Yorkshire - eventually morphing into elements of my Substack, appearing in various disguises. The hill being "The Mound", "The Hollow Hill"**, "The Ancient City of Orolandus (a.k.a. The Golden Lantern)" and "Rise Island". The latter also exists as a model where my Dragon lives with Clarence the rescue Cat that rode in the British Tour DifFrance. The real Dragon and Cat actually live in the Mill of Bliss. Kingstown-Upper-Number, H'engeland.
My next adventure is to spend a few months cycling around France and Spain to find a derelict hectare or two where I can take it all up a notch. (Here in Nederland such a patch would cost ten times as much.....
** = can be read in Ancient Legends part 12 - publishing tonight.
All the very Best, Maurice
Oh Susie! I have been out driving in hail storms where we had to pull over and luckily 4 strong guys were in the vehicle, hands up, pushing on the roof, to prevent it from caving in. Never have I seen hail that size.,Truly a nightmare. I am glad you weren’t caught on the hill.
I assume none of your animals were hurt. Now my mind wanders to all the other beings that live on your beautiful hill. I see why your skylights were broken. Almost other worldly.
Since you’ve quoted Tolkien, my all time favorite, This came to mind. The Fellowship of the Ring; Saruman stands on the pinnacle of Orthanc bringing the mountain down with its ice and snow, on the travelers of the Fellowship. ( While my books are worn from reading so many times, I did have to look this up).
The sound alone, must have been deafening. And to add to the weary mind, insurance companies. A major part of my ‘previous life’ , managing my husband’s practice. We had a saying; insurance companies, a license to steel. For now, wishing you moments of peace after the storm.
I too have never seen hail the size of that which bombarded us last Thursday… it was bedlam, apocalyptic almost… and since then I’ve learned that others in the valley had far worse, a river ran down the Main Street if the town, all cars parked lost their windows, as roofs were damaged , some irreparably so. Families were evacuated to dry accommodation - all this in just ten minutes.! And this weekend there are more storms forecast… storms I have never feared in fact quite the reverse but so much of that which we anticipate is worse than it has ever been, yet still there are the non believers, the skeptics… I could scream into the wind at their foolhardiness.
Tolkien is also one of my all time favorite epics… my own copies also are curled at the corners with pages taped back in… many quotes could be related I think… although like you I am forced to check each time. Though this too is a joy…
My animals are all unscathed and thank goodness having only just got them back again after my last horrific ordeal back in January… and our home too has little damage but our other house, on another hill not so distant, is a mess of glass and broken roof tiles… as were all others in the village.
The fact that the mayor declared a natural disaster will help the insurance claims immensly but the tiresomely arduous and long winded paperwork remains the same… hence does my cursing! Even more so because we’ve been told our fibre connection will not be repaired for at least a month and to connect to 4G I must walk up the hill! Can you hear me growling..? X
I can !
I'm so sorry that you have storm damage that you have to deal with. I knew you (and your area) were hit hard, but didn't know you were in a particular mess. Feel free to DM if you want to talk about it, and keep looking for those moments of calm...
Thank you Betty, it really was an apocalyptic few minutes, and yes that’s all it was thankfully but the repercussions reverberate still, this afternoon we are going to visit two more houses that need complete new roofs due to the damage, one is a work colleague who has had the toughest year imaginable already - I cannot hide my tristesse..
Thank you also for you kind offer, I just might take you up in that 🙏🏽xxx
What a mess. And yes, I feel we are in for more of the same. I read in some climate analysis that global warming could lead France to be more of a tropical climate (read rain, hurricanes, higher night temps) rather than the dry-Spanish-like scenario. I guess we will see at least some of it.
Remember too your shoulders cannot be
The resting place of all responsibility
The future into this Now will spill
But it’s not yet there upon your hill
So, roam and soak up nature’s loving ways
For that’s the path to better days
And write it all and share it round
To keep our feet strong upon this ground
Jonathan - I love this. Please see my general comment to Susie down below ( or up above 😃)
💚
Me and my dog were hanging about, I was drinking coffee and reading Susie's piece, he was just watching the passers-by. I think that shot of caffeine was quite inspirational (Tolkien would have been much better ;)
I don't think it could get any better than what you wrote. It is perfect.
Caffeine always helps. 😊
Your beautiful poetic words have forced tears from my eyes Jonathan… thank you from my heart my friend - it is true, I take on the worries of the world and they weigh a mighty weight, perhaps it is time to offload a few, and yes, share all that is beautiful still - I will try hard…
🙏🏼👍🏼❤️
What a beautiful poem!
From a favorite epic Lor, they seemed to give a little hope.
This fear of the future is so real and so pervasive. Sending love
Thank you Jan… so much. It is real and so terrifying, I am struggling to see light this week - I want the feeling to pass but fear also the consequences of that happening. X