Wednesday 13 August 2014

Dales Life

Or perhaps that title should read 'Country Life' because I suspect the same situation applies anywhere in the country.

I have been at friend M's all afternoon and we were chatting about  folk in the village, who was related to whom, what they did and various things about their lives (we have both lived up here since 1984).   And it struck us both about how different things were from how they were in towns.

Yesterday I met friend E in the Lane and he informed me that the farmer's sister had a birthday earlier this week and that she was 75.  The farmer thought it was 76, but of course E was correct - as the farmer said, E has kept check on everything over the years.

Some folk might call all this nosiness, but I prefer to call it taking an interest in people.   You have only to read John's lovely daily posts to realise that the same things happen in his Welsh Village (Going Gently on my side bar.)

My friend came up here from a London flat and told me that she didn't even know anyone who lived in the same corridor as she did.   I came up here from Wolverhampton and lived there, in the same cul-de-sac for seventeen years, and - apart from my immediate neighbour and an old man opposite, I never got to know anyone.

So which is better?   To know nobody or to know everyone in the village and take an interest in their lives.   I know which I prefer.

Following on from yesterday's blog when I said I was really tired and felt I had overdone things by having an hour's exercise, followed by half an hour's Physiotherapy and then taking the dog for a walk.  I was quite right.   At supper time, when I got up from my chair, my arthritic knee 'gave way' and I ended up falling heavily on the floor on my hip.  Luckily nothing was broken and today I have gradually improved as the day has gone on.   I shall not do so much in one day again.

12 comments:

Heather said...

I'm very glad your fall didn't do any damage. It is so hard to remember to stop before the energy runs out.
I loved living in a village where everyone knew everyone. Sadly I left when I was 18 and never quite managed it again as we moved so often.

Joanne Noragon said...

I've considered this point in the past. All my fast friends are outside the community. I moved here in 1988, into a rather rigid and quite closed six generation society. Perhaps I should find another 1988 "transplant."

Rachel Phillips said...

Take it easy.

angryparsnip said...

I am happy to hear that your hip is not damaged.
Be safe.

cheers, parsnip

Linda said...

Oh! I'm so sorry you feel and hurt your hip This getting old is getting old isn't it?

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com

Cloudia said...

Please do pace yourself, a talent I am just learning myself, P


ALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral
=^..^= . <3 . >< } } (°>

Cro Magnon said...

The friendliest place I've ever lived was my native village in Surrey. Wherever I went people would say hello (using my name), I had no idea who they were, but they all knew my parents. It was like having a whole village as a family.

Amy said...

It's much the same here, we live in a small seaside town where everyone knows everyone else, of course you get the gossips like you do everywhere anyway but here everyone looks out for each other. It's quite tight knit which is nice.

The Weaver of Grass said...

This morning I am almost back to normal, so hopefully no damage done. Thanks for the visit.

MorningAJ said...

Don't you go overdoing things like that! I know it's just not your nature to sit around and do very little, but find some useful-but-resting things. Like blogging!

I remember back in the early 80s when I moved to a new small town/village I met one of the locals who said "drop by anytime". So I did.

She laughed like mad and said it was a good job I'd not done that to anyone else. "If they really mean you to drop by around here they'll give you a time to turn up. Otherwise it's just a polite thing to say. They don't MEAN it." But she said she knew I'd take her up on it because I came from Yorkshire. (So did her dad originally.) So perhaps it's a Yorkshire thing. Down in the East Midlands (not saying which county) they tend not to want to know their neighbours.

George said...

Call it what you will — Dales life, country life, village life — I've come to agree with you that living in a small place with strong connections to both the land and the people is the best life indeed. And be careful, Pat! Glad to know that no serious damage was done in the fall.

Hildred said...

So very iportant to pace yourself, Pat. I agree with you about village life - it gives a great sense of community and you seldom meet anyone on the street or in the stores without a smile being exchanged, even if you are not well acquainted.