Sundown

The sun descending in the west,
The evening star does shine;
The birds are silent in their nest,
And I must seek for mine.
The moon, like a flower
In heaven’s high bower,
With silent delight
Sits and smiles on the night.

William Blake

The choir I sing in recently commissioned a piece of music using verses from this poem and it has been whirling around my head for days. I love that last flurry of the day, and the zephyr and hush that accompanies sundown. I’m always amazed by people who have the creativity to capture those moments, with words or music. All I can do is sit in wonder (and maybe hum the tune to myself..)

Table for one

My mum and I met at our favourite restaurant the other day for a catch up. We sat at a table next to an old man dining alone on tagliatelle and white wine. My mum is great at striking up a conversation and we were soon hearing of his recent move to town and his favourite lunch stops. He seemed far more interested in talking than eating and told us how he dines alone every day, yet no one speaks to him. “I live alone and don’t really talk to anyone, but here you are!” he grinned.

I was so struck by how little contact this man had, and how hungry he was for a chat. We are social beings, and our connections with others are such a big part of who we are, it’s easy to feel isolated without this. I love time by myself, especially in a coffee shop, watching the world go by. So I usually assume that others on their own are happiest left that way. But maybe sometimes it worth leaning over and saying ‘hi’, if only to see someone grin.)

Hello!

I’m very excited to welcome you to the new rusty rambles space. I’ll be filling this with more tales of my adventures on this small island: exploring new places, riding old roads, digging up new weeds, and baking from old recipes.

With autumn round the corner there’ll also be plenty more knitting, stitching and reading to share. So, stick around, say hi and click subscribe!

Quiet

I find myself sitting and dozing in a quiet corner of the house. There’s still some heat from the day and all the busy neighbourly sounds have subsided. I’m holding on to these quiet moments, all too aware of their impending scarcity. Tom is teaching a new class this year and soon I’ll be commuting to work on the mainland. Lots of excitement ahead, and probably a lot less stillness. So, I plan to enjoy every last minute of it and when we’re in the throes of full Autumn Term mayhem, I’ll be glad I enjoyed this moment right now.

A handmade story

Small music festivals are often a celebration of the unique and handmade, and last year’s End of the Road was no exception. When not listening to music or enjoying all the independent food and drink merchants, we were exploring the various stalls – knitters, printing pressers, and jewellers.

This beautiful bracelet was one of my finds from that weekend. It is made from Derwent pencils and an old knitting needle, by the ever-talented and charming ZincWhite. I had a great time choosing it, chatting with the woman who makes them, and sharing our love of craft, cycling, and the coast.

Buying from a craftsman so often offers more than the item itself: a chance to connect over a shared interest, to find out more about it, and to celebrate someone’s skill. This bracelet is a celebration of two of my favourite things: stationery and knitting. It is a reminder of a very happy weekend and a chance meeting with a like-minded soul. When people comment on it, I relish the excuse to tell a story and to share with others the wonder that is Handmade.