No passing landward - A letter from a lighthouse

Dear Tourist

Warning!

I stand guard protecting you

as I have done since they lost that steamer the 'Rothsay Castle'.

Take care here,

many have faltered - 133 died that night!

These waters are dangerous.

'Puffin Island' sits in treacherous waters

don't pass between me and the Anglesey shore,

for there are rocks waiting to take you.

The currents here make it a great place to fish

and are excellent for lovers of wildlife,

but beware,

the waters here are violent and fast flowing,

swimming isn’t recommended.

Enjoy the rugged natural beauty of this place,

but only from a safe distance.

Heed the warning my light conveys!

Yours since 1838.

The Penmon lighthouse.

Hideaway

Two clouds silently pass 

high above us.

Except for the dog snoring,

and a breeze, 

blowing through the trees behind us,

heard through the open back door - there is no sound,

nothing,

just silence.

The sun quietly sets,

painting the sky a vivid orange,

highlighting a small fishing boat silently crossing the bay beneath us.

A small TV forlornly stares at me from the corner of the lounge,

as if its screen is a single rectangular eye,

"switch me on", it says

I could tell you all that is going on in world right now!" 

But we just don't care for that here,

we don't need it,

why would we?

Here where we hide,

with just our thoughts, 

and the wind in the trees. 

Go away world - I don't want you right now!

Leave us to hide away,

I need to engage with the silence of this place,

and explore these unaccustomed corners I now find.

I need to see the sun set over the bay,

and its orange sky.

I need to explore the silence of that fishing boat,

I need to dive into this unfamiliar peace,

these sounds normally unheard in my modern world 

and then...

...then I need to take this with me and keep it forever.

Cottage

A cottage.

Thick walls and small windows - protection against the harsh winters.

A functional building,

simple,

practical,

built from that which was found locally.

No frills,

no electricity,

no light at the flick of a switch

just a simple hand-crafted existence.

Water from a well

a garden for growing food

a stable for keeping animals

everything built with a purpose  within a shared community,

traditions,

resources, 

all working as one.

At the heart of the cottage,

a traditional range

fueled by wood sourced locally, 

where the food was cooked 

and water boiled to wash the souls of those who called this place home.

These folk knew nothing of the holiday cottage principle,

that people would rent the cottage for a week or more,

for sums of money the original occupants could have never imagined.

Modern requirements like full fibre broadband,

and every gadget a modern kitchen requires.

That now it would become just a base for tourists to explore an island,

with a huge double bed and soft furnishings,

for lazy days and lye-ins,

tea and toast in bed!

...something the original occupants would never have!

Two deaf geology professors in conversation about the landscape whilst sat outside a pub drinking

"That mound over there; is it a hill,

or perhaps its just a Hillock?"

"You can't call it a hill; old boy

it's the wrong shape; you pillock!"

"What would you say if I called it a knoll,

or maybe it's a Brae"

"No -  Braes are found in Scotland old chum

and that's much too far away!"

"What about it being a Butte

they're similar to a Mesa"

"mmm; isolated and steep sides

you're getting close I guess"- "a...

...a Tor is somewhat wide of the mark 

they have granite lumps on top

You're an expert within this feild",

"Indeed, I'm cream of the crop!"

"I'm thinking of the Pennines

and the lakes where many a Fell"

"Oh I'm very sorry to hear about your fall

I do hope it all ended well!"

"I think it might be glacier made 

a Drumlin fits the bill,

yes elongated; oval shaped!"

"Oh you can call it what you will!"

"I bet you haven't heard of a Pingo

you'd have many miles to go see"

"Oh yes I've heard of a Pingo,

...he's that cute little penguin on TV!"

Politicians

Wah wah wah wah wah

wah di wah di wah di wah

Yeah, 

no, 

yeah, 

no,

blah blah blah blah blah!

ah but, 

yeah but,

no but,

yeah but,

no but,

wah wah wah wah wah,

Wah!

Why

Why did I enter the race if I've never sailed a boathouse before?

Why is the wind so strange?

Why did the rain gather in the street?

Why is the sun so Brighton beautiful?

Why can fish; fish?

Why might tomorrow already be there?

Why might tomorrow already be there?

Why did you repeat that lion?

Why is this hill so hard to ruin down,

and January come before Wednesday in my colender?

Why have I got a beard if I haven't got a beard trimmer?

Why are the joys of growing up?

Why are there fish walking down my street if they can't even ride a bicycle?

Why does the road beneath me move if I'm standing tall?

Why does coffee make my sugar taste so sweaty?

Why have I got birthday cake if she's not even my birth-mother?

Why can't sealions see?

Why do some people?

Why is the time?

Why when?

Why so confused am I am if so confused I am I - why!

WHY?