On Display

SHADOW SHOT
http://heyharriet.blogspot.com/

ON DISPLAY

In a dusty case in a small museum these clothes pegs were on show.
Lit from above with a little lamp so the whole scene seemed to glow.
They were displayed as artifacts over time collected.
Cast aside, no doubt, back then, though now they were resurrected.
And it struck me that this was their stage, with the footlights at their feet.
With the little blue ballerinas looking rather sweet
As they dipped and bowed and circled in time to a melody
With all their little tutus flaring so prettily.
While beside them marched the soldiers, with their military might,
And all their colourful uniforms looking crisp and bright.
Their shadows, too, looked theatrical, as they echoed the dancers' legs!
I found myself almost believing they were more than humdrum pegs!
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(Our house lay in the very centre of this shot.)

ALTON MEMORIES

War having ended, my Father decided
That, since he could not be a Preacher,
He'd find a Church School, a small village school,
Where he could become the Head Teacher.
My Mother, from Kent, was not at all pleased,
But, really, she hadn't much say ,
And so we all moved, to our new village home,
Knowing that was the place we would stay.
My Mother was never entirely at ease;
She yearned all her days to see Kent,
Though the village we'd come to was charming, indeed,
And she learned to be almost content.
As for me, I was rather an unthinking soul;
I accepted that this was my fate.
I grew up as a village girl, living the life
And eventually finding it great.
For Alton was beautiful in its own way,
A Peak District sort of a place.
'Peak Practice' was shot in a nearby location
And Alton had that sort of grace.
I lived there for six years until I left home
So these scenes were a background for me.
And here are some shots of the place that I loved.
It's delightful.
I know you'll agree.
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The village in the valley.

Alton Castle hung over the Churnet Valley.

The Churnet River flowed past our house.

This was the 1000 year old church where my Father was a Lay Preacher.

This was the pulpit from which my Father preached frequently.

Toot Hill (always called Tootle Rock) which I loved to climb.

The pub over the road.

The historic lock-up called The Round House.

The bridge adjacent to our house; I loved to inch my way along the parapet!

Lovely walks, even in Winter.

A recent newspaper photograph of a car accident in Alton. In the background, to the left, can be seen our little house, with the Castle above it.

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