This week would have been my mum's 100th birthday. She has been dead for over 3 years now and in many ways I am glad she has not had to suffer through this pandemic. We would not have been able to celebrate her birthday. How awful would that have been. Anyway I decided to go walking with a couple of friends, Mark and Carole. Not strictly allowed but we met in the open countryside of Kent and kept or distance as walked.
It was an 8 mile walk on a miserable November day but although we didn't see any blue skies, the rain kept away.
We had to walk across this very muddy ploughed field. We kept to the tractor marks to make it a little easier.
A converted oast house (originally used for drying hops in the brewing process).
An old barn next to the oast house.
I have never seen fungi as large as this. I put a 500ml bottle next to it o give you some idea of its size.
We scared a field of gulls to take to the air.
Mark and Carole had provided a feast of food and some mulled wine to toast Mum.
Keeping a safe distance from one another, of course.
We ended the walk at the Bough Beech reservoir where we had left our cars. I had so much mud on my trousers I had to roll them up as far as possible to try and keep it off the car seat. When I got home I not only had to hose the mud off my boots but also my trousers before I could put them in the wash. However it was a lovely antidote to life in lockdown.
It must have felt so good to be out and walking even if the conditions weren't perfect. That really is heavy and gluey looking mud.
ReplyDeleteIt does sound like it was muddy, but so nice to be able to be together to celebrate once again your mother's special day. Thank you for sharing it with me, too. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhere the mother-daughter bond was strong, losing mum is the worst period of your life. Having a feast to toast her memory, framing up photos for the wall and donating books in her name are great ideas.
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos, that mushroom is huge! I like the view of the sheep on the field. Great walk, it is nice to get outside during these Covid times. It is nice to see you toasting to your Mom. This post is a lovely way to celebrate your Mother's birthday and her memory. Take care, have a happy new week!
What a beautiful way to honour your mum! She had such an incredibly long life and surely passed on those genes to you.
ReplyDeleteHere's to your Mother! 3 years, but doesn't it seem like just yesterday? Mine has been gone 7. She would be turning 102 on Dec 7th. I still catch myself thinking I need to tell her something. But like you I"m so glad she didn't have the pandemic to live through though she was born during the last one, nor did she have to experience the outrage of tRump.
ReplyDeletePacking has started for the move.
I've been thinking about my mother also - I wish I had had her for as long as you had yours but mine died 30 something years ago. Wishing you a beautiful week.
ReplyDeleteThat was a lovely way to celebrate your mother’s 100th birthday. That field looks like some very rough walking. My mom is 93 and lives alone and the pandemic has been very hard on her. All her usual activities stopped and of course, no visitors, but we try to keep up her spirits and arrange care as much as we can from a distance. Holidays are the hardest.
ReplyDeleteI am used to walking in mud and that is a muddy field you went through. You do what you got to do though right. Great celebration of your mother's life.
ReplyDeleteSome of my dad's ancestors hail from Kent and the other half from Cornwall. Although I'm sure you miss your mum I can understand why she isn't around in this day and age, I feel for the elderly with covid going on.
ReplyDeleteA nice way to remember your Mum - I'm glad my parents did not have to see these times either.
ReplyDeleteCheers - and stay safe - Stewart M - Melbourne
Good for you. I'm sure Mum would approve of you bending the rules on this occasion.
ReplyDeleteYou must have felt better after this nice excursion and what a good idea to bring a picnic along ! Even if it's cold I force myself to go out a bit each day ! Otherwise I would get more crazy than I am already ! Today the shops opened here no interest to me except I went to the second hand shop for battered woman and bought Christmas decoration I had thrown ours away swearing I would never ever celebrate Christmas again ! Yes, you should never say never ! Because now in my new home I want to decorate although we will be the two of us our son prefers not to come that's also OK !
ReplyDeleteA good way to pay tribute to your mother.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful way to honor your Mother ~ delightful photos and such lovely friends ~ glad you had a good time ~ ^_^
ReplyDeleteLive each moment with love,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
What a lovely way to remember your mum!
ReplyDeleteDespite the weather your positive attitude comes through, and I enjoyed the pictures. I am thankful my parents didn’t have to live through this too. Hopefully it is coming to and end soon.
ReplyDeleteGlad you could have a day out with friends to keep you sane. The mud sounds a bit of a nuisance but worth while. Yes it is good that our oldies didn't have to endure the pandemic.
ReplyDeleteA very nice way to remember your Mum.
ReplyDeleteI can't get over the size of that fungi!
All the best Jan
A nice walk to remember and celebrate your mum. So, who cares about the muddy trousers.
ReplyDeletePS: I now always take other shoes and a spare pair of trousers with me, just in case of severe mud. I would rather change into a nice warm pair than drive with a cold and wet pair.
You are an intrepid walker and I’m in awe. Though mine would have to be be much shorter and gentler, I agree that a walk (and toast) out in nature is the best way to honor and remember your mom especially on this important birthday . My mom died at around the same age yours did and her 100th a few years later was a reflective day for sure. (she would be 110 now and somehow or other I I seem to be getting closer to extremely old myself )).
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice way to honour your Mum. There is definitely lots of mud around at the moment lol.
ReplyDeleteYou are an intrepid walker and I’m in awe. Though mine might need to be be plenty shorter and gentler, I agree that a walk (and toast) out in nature is the excellent manner to honor and recollect your mother particularly in this vital birthday . My mother died at across the identical age yours did and her a hundredth some years later become a reflective day for sure. (she might be a hundred and ten now and by some means or different I I appear to be getting toward extraordinarily antique myself )).
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