Another fishing trip, but no luck yet, unless you count the one that got away. I stood manfully in the rain, clutching the net, just in case, and wondering what it was like on board the narrowboats. Woodsmoke was drifting from chimneys, and I could hear occasional laughter and the clatter of plates. The middle boy declared it an even better fishing expedition than the first one though, and that made it worthwhile.
The surrounding farmland was saturated, but that's to be expected, it's low lying land and the farmers are used to water lying on the surface at this time of year. The cows were splendidly stinky, I wish I could share the experience here, you will just have to imagine it. All in all it was a full range of sensory experiences.
I had a nice outing with the two littler boys yesterday afternoon. The biggest was back at school, it was wet so we just went for a trip to a different library to our usual one. Something about it was just right. It wasn't a special place or anything, but sometimes everything just clicks and makes a moment. It was cosy in the library, there were new books, harmony between brothers, I found a new writer that I wanted to read. I think we were all aware that it was the last bit of the holidays. I had planned something a bit more special, but I decided against it because of the rain. In the end it was as good an afternoon as we would have had elsewhere. Time to be together calmly and happily. A memory to carry forward into the new week and the new term. It doesn't have to be fancy, sometimes it just works.
You have inspired me - I really must get out with my camera.
ReplyDeleteI also remember with great fondness, happy days in the library with my little ones. All grown now.
Sometimes just the ordinary is special!
ReplyDeleteI don't have to imagine the cow smell. My Uncle John was a dairy farmer and I spent a lot of time at the farm. I love the cows big soulful eyes.
Sounds like a lovely few days. It's always nice to discover a new library; they're very special, important places aren't they and I feel we're so lucky to be able to freely borrow books and audio tapes like that. When we first moved here the library was quite small and a bit out of the way with very little parking - I can still remember how excited we were when the new one opened: large, in the centre of town and with more parking spaces than you can shake a stick at! Perfect. You're such a good mum standing in the damp countryside, optimistically holding your son's fishing net! Glad he enjoyed his afternoon fishing. xx
ReplyDeleteSometimes the simple things in life work out better than spending lots of money and doing something extravagant, glad the trip to the library was a success and your son enjoyed his fishing trip even if he didn't catch anything. I love your photos of a waterlogged countryside. xx
ReplyDeleteI'm pleased that you had a harmonious last day of the holidays. They can be scratchy, fraught days when everyone is a bit grumpy. Or perhaps that's just here. Sam x
ReplyDeleteHow lovely, your shared pleasure of books. The light in your photos is beautiful. Here's hoping third time lucky for the next fishing trip ;) Barbara
ReplyDeleteIt's good to see that he enjoyed it even though he didn't catch any fish.
ReplyDeleteI have a poor sense of smell but your description 'splendidly stinky' has my nose twitching.
Your afternoon in the library sounds good to me. Flighty xx
It's lovely how the simplest of things can bring so much pleasure, glad you enjoyed your trip to the library. I always fancied living on a narrow boat - they look so cosy. Good for you acting as fisherman's mate!
ReplyDeleteCaz xx
trips to the library are the my favourite kind of trips x a perfect outing x
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean. Cycling to the library, choosing our books, stopping at the swings and slides, the pleasure and peace of arriving home and everyone absorbed in their new books - that will always be one of my best memories. I cannot believe that libraries could ever be under threat, but my 19 year old daughter, home for the holidays, and I have been twice to replenish our reading matter during the school holidays and on both occasions the library was almost empty and there were no young people. I know it's difficult with technology nowadays but you cannot beat the act of letting children physically choose and discover books, the motor skills of carefully handling books and turning pages and the pleasure of sharing a story, surely it must beat swiping a screen?
ReplyDeleteGood words in that last sentence CJ. Sheep and canal boats - quintessentially English!
ReplyDeleteIts quite amazing that sometimes the ordinary turns out to be something really special.
ReplyDeleteBetter luck next time for middle boy. Your afternoon at the library sounds perfect; sometimes everything just seems to fall into place x
ReplyDeleteThe library is one of my very favorite places in the world. I could go there practically every day. My children both behave surprisingly well in the library, so it's a special place for all of us. I'm glad you had such a nice time.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice when it all falls simply and smoothly into place like that isn't it? We're great library fans here. L often decides he wants to go there, or to bookshops, instead of anywhere else. Long may it last. Glad the fishing spirit hasn't been dampened. Imagine his joy when a real fish is hooked! XX
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, what a lovely hobby to be developing, much better than sat in front of a screen. And what a fab mum, to support him :) xxx
ReplyDeleteI am glad of the holiday ended on a high for you all.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the final holiday days were good, always a blessing & I truly hope your son catches a fish soon x
ReplyDeleteIt sounds perfect for the last day of the holidays, CJ. We love going to our local library, usually after school. I never think to go and visit a different one, that could be an outing for half term maybe xx
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to spend a nice day together before the new term! I love it when things fall into place even if the original plans change. Your son has such a great sense of enthusiasm about fishing even if it doesn't turn out as he would like. Luckily he has such a sweet mom to hold the net for him:) Hope the start of the new term goes well and wishing you a lovely day, CJ!
ReplyDeleteIf you're ever in Canada, specifically, Troy, Ontario - we've a pond full of fish that are quite amenable to being caught...and you're always welcome.;)
ReplyDeleteI rather enjoy the smell of cows. My favourite cow-smell of all is a dairy barn -- sort of sweet and smelly all at once. Lovely stuff. I just realized how odd that might sound....
I love those moments of just-right. I know exactly what you mean. Sometimes, it's just the simple things that are the most fun. xoxo
It sounds like a lovely afternoon at the library. I hope that the fishing keeps improving and being enjoyed! xx
ReplyDeleteI love hearing about the middle boy's passion for fishing. MasterM has booked a course on fly fishing on the spring so that he can go in search of Tiger fish in the Zambezi. Tight lines to them both!
ReplyDeleteHey CJ,
ReplyDeleteAlfie was an avid sea fisherman when he was younger. He was also a lucky fisherman too; he always managed to land an interesting fish. Not just common and garden mackerel for Alf. Oh no. Red Gurnard, Bass, Catfish. You name it, he caught it. Until the day that he didn't. And then he didn't again. He lost interest after that. He was a fair weathered fisherman. I think your boy has the right kind of temperament to be a fisherman. Patience, stoicism and taking pleasure from the experience. Good for him!
Leanne xx
As I was enjoying the views of the canal and the pastoral farming photos...a negative thought niggled in when I saw the cows and remembered how sometimes they can smell. I laughed out loud when I read what you typed about the cows being "splendidly stinky." Indeed! But overall how grand that you have good memories the fishing trip and library visit. xx
ReplyDeleteYour Holidays have been wonderful, everyone having time to do something special. A library is always a great place to spend an afternoon. I am reading Louise Penny's mysteries and am loving them. They are new to me even though she has about 11 books in the series.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Meredith
I enjoyed reading this post. As I went through the lines, it brought me a quiet feeling...
ReplyDeleteYes, so much rain lately!
They are lovely, those moments that just work, and it is easy to miss them and be too busy planning or wishing to do something else. Your words really shot me back to taking my now adult children to the library and gave me a sudden unexpected hit of nostalgia. Glad you had a good time. Reward perhaps for the fishing expedition!
ReplyDeleteYou're such a good mom. it sounds like everyone came out with a special moment and enjoyable day. Love the pasture photos of sheep. I love when they look like chubby clouds against a green sky.
ReplyDeleteThat moment in the library: lovely, just lovely. Hold that feeling to you when it's all crazy again. x
ReplyDeleteFishing can be like that, my hubby comes home more often than not without anything. I would much prefer sitting in a library! Sarah x
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