We witness the winter solstice this week. The shortest and darkest day of the year, and the official start of the winter season. It all sounds a bit doomy and gloomy, however, the solstice represents the start of the festive period and is a time for celebration. It also means that the days get longer as the nights start to draw out again. Thank heavens for that!
Druids would visit stone circles en masse to worship the sunrise, witness the change of season, and slaughter a few cattle and other livestock to allow for feasting and survival on their meat throughout the colder months.
We don’t have a stone circle on the path to dance around in free-flowing pagan clothing, but we do have a wooden quadrant of benches. Feel free to do your thing, if you feel the need.
Possibly not quite the same, but if you’re a Druid without a stone circle, a wooden quadrant is probably the next best thing. The bizarre thought of whoever invented the wheel and how people coped beforehand, just flashed through my head…
This week we pushed onwards with our path-share. We felt that we should give our new little river a name. The first few suggestions that came to mind are unprintable…
But onwards we pushed and we seemed to cover a lot of ground, roughly 170-metres. There were six of us today though, so that made a real difference. Despite all the rain, and the stream gushing like a gushy thing, the ground that we cleared last week did feel slightly firmer under foot. It’s going to be interesting to see how this all turns out when we get some sunshine, warmth and dry days.
When we broke off for coffee in our all-terrain mugs, and gorged on festive mince pies, my ability to count deserted me.
I somehow found that I had lost the capacity to count past the number four. I really cannot explain what happened, but we were a coffee short – sorry, Steve!!
We also litter-picked from the Berrybanks bench, to where we got to today. Mostly beer cans that someone had collected ages ago and just left in a black bin-bag, along with a very dodgy looking DVD, a sponge, and a pair of socks!
Here is our YouTube of where we got to and ending at the bench that we need to finish at, next week.
We want to make it so that people can walk either side of the large trees so they feel like they are walking in a wood, rather than next to a wood.
All-in-all, it was a very festive and jolly gathering, and we all wished each other a Merry Christmas when we finally departed.
As mentioned last week, I’m trying to create a rustic style bench. In my mind’s eye, it looks something like this.
I’m going to need a sander, a Black and Decker workmate and a lot of patience. If I can get a wildflower clearing like the one in the photo, I’ll be as happy as a dog with two tails…
It’ll be a nice little winter project to get my teeth into, so watch this space.
Lastly, we had yet another new country tuning in over the last week. Lesotho. Never heard of it? No, me neither. It’s a little place totally land-locked by South Africa. A chap called Teboho dropped by and checked us out. He runs a blog called The Truth News Lesotho which is a topical news platform.
Here are a few fots of the country…
Amazingly, that’s a total of 124 countries that have checked out this blog. Truly humbled and happy with that.
We are back next week, which is a first. Normally we take the week off and come back in the New Year. I will try and manage my mug counting a little better next time.
Happy Christmas!
Cawston Greenway 
Nice 👌
Thank you 🙂
Happy winter solstice Paul
Thanks. If I get chance I will pop down to the Rollright Stones 😀
I think you would like it.
It’s only 40 mins down the Fosse Way for me 😉
Get those boots on! It’s nearly solstice!
Ah, the days will be on the turn, and it won’t be long until spring!
Gotta get through winter first 😉
I really like your blog site and your excellent posts and illustrations. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you. That is very kind 🙂
I love your wooden quadrant! Did you make it?
Yes, we had a workshop with autistic young adults in March 2020 and they made it 🙂
What a wonderful project!
Blessed solstice to you!
Thank you. That is very kind 🙂
Always appreciate your thoughtful and precious post
Thank you, Lalita 😀
Beautiful ALL! Happy Christmas and Winter Solstice.
Thank you 🙂
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Congrats on gaining a new visitor. It’s wonderful knowing we can connect with like minds all over the world. Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season. We’re looking forward to a few more seconds of light with each passing day. 🌲
Thank you. I hope you and your family have a cracking Christmas too 😀
Many thanks, Paul. We’re gonna give it a shot. It just might even be a white Christmas this year. 🤞🏼
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Thank you for visiting my blog to lead me to yours, friend! I’m always thrilled to learn something new, so thank you for your mention of Lesotho!
Have a great day and a very merry Christmas!
Thanks, you too 😀
Oh my God, i love this.
We are learning everyday, and this is one of the best stories on the internet.
Maybe it’s because i feel very connected.
Blessings
You’re doing some good work there. I always remind people that the nights are actually getting lighter at that time of year. Enjoyed it.
Thank you. It is nice to leave work (4:30pm) and it still be light. Quite uplifting after the depth of the really short days 🙂
Yes but time of the year to rest while nature does. I love the spring flowers.