Goodbye Somerset, I shall miss you

Lockdown is (mostly) over, the pubs are open and I’m moving back onto the narrowboat – what a week this is.

My first British spring since 1990 was not spent pootling along the canals as planned; instead, my husband and I put all our energies into transforming the house from top to bottom; we grew tomatoes and potatoes and basil; on my permitted daily walk I would head off armed with my camera down the local lanes.

I shall miss those ancient footpaths that lead off in all directions from the recently-sold house in south Somerset; it’s been an absolute joy exploring them during the last few months, seeing the new shoots of spring give way to summer wildflowers buzzing with insects.

I’ve seen foxes and squirrels and peacocks (really) on my lockdown walks. I’ve learnt the names of common wildflowers that were not common to me (forget-me-not and herb robert, anyone?). I saw that lots of bees rummage around the ground rather than in flowers – and I learned some of their names, too.

I took so many photos, a visual reminder of the strange months that saw me connect with a place I’ve known for over 30 years without ever fully appreciating; I shall miss Somerset, for sure.

The next adventures are back on the narrowboat – the green and wondrous Kennet and Avon to start with; I’m already itching for the stretch by Avoncliffe where the autumn trees cast golden reflections as far as the eye could see, looking forward to seeing them in full green summer leaf…

The next post will be from on board the good ship…

Until then, please stay safe and well,

Phil xx

my 'itinerant photographer' website is launched!

As an itinerant photographer (or simply someone working on yachts overseas with a camera ever to hand), there never seemed to be the time to stay still, take stock and, for example, build a website to showcase my work. Around this time last year, when my husband and I realised what everyone does sooner or later, namely that life’s too short to live to someone else’s demands, we bought a narrowboat, moved back to England and started travelling on our own terms.

When the towpaths muddied over and ice started creeping into the puddles, we came back to our house in south Somerset to tidy it up, pack it up, and sell up. Before part 3 of this master plan was complete, the world and England’s canals had closed down.

I’m by nature an irrepressibly optimistic person and can’t help but find good in amongst the bad. So one result of my enforced lockdown and isolation is this website, the building of which has fried my brain in the most pleasurable way. My solitary walks along the ancient footpaths and rarely-visited woodlands on my doorstep let me experience my first British spring in decades - who knew it could be so green and lush and inspiring? Many of the intimate flora photographs on the website were taken on these walks.

You’ll get to know more about me, my photography, where I’ve been and where I’m going, in other blog posts - in the meantime, thanks for your time, I hope you like the photos and the stories, and I hope you’re staying safe

Phil xx

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ps

I’m female and Philippa, but most people except my husband call me Phil