Category: Writing

GRESSENHALL FARM AND WORKHOUSE ~ 22nd MARCH 2016

24/3/2016

AN AFTERNOON ON THE FARM
by John Yeo

Today we have made our minds up to visit the farm at the Gressenhall Workhouse situated just outside the town of Dereham in Norfolk. We entered the historic walls of this much studied example of Victorian life in England. As always, I experienced a bi-polar feeling of a love\hate moment as we made our way to the ticket office.

Our first taste of farming in action was the sight in the distance of a young man working the land with a Suffolk Punch horse. We stopped and chatted with him and he explained he was harrowing the soil, breaking up the dry large clods, ready to sow Barley in this field.

This is the magnificent Suffolk Punch horse who was working very hard when we approached.

Images © Copyright John and Margaret ~

Margaret, won his heart with a few kind words and some friendly strokes and pats on his head. The horse had enormous feet and we were standing back as the young man lifted one of his hooves off the floor and pointed out the large metal horseshoes nailed to the horses feet.

The sun was shining beautifully as we wandered around this very impressive small farm. The farm was started during the workhouse years, to employ some of the inmates and provide some food to help with the running costs and expenses. Next we visited the sheep pens and we watched a couple of lambs gambolling in the field closely guarded by their mothers. Quite a few full grown sheep were nibbling the grass in this field and I made friends with a couple of personable goats.

We decided to explore a part of the farm that we have never encountered before, and we came across this lovely river flowing at the borders of the farm. A notice board informed us this was a tributary of the River Wensum that flows through Norfolk and there was an interesting list of wildlife to look out for.

We wandered further along the river past some very impressive, very costly property, set well back from the riverbanks. We followed the riverbank path for about half a mile just taking in the scenery.
We finally arrived back at the Workhouse where we enjoyed an excellent lunch and a welcome pot of tea for two.

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved

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THE PARISH LUNCH ~ 3rd FEBRUARY 2016

6/2/2016

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"SNOWDROPS' ~ Image © Copyright John and Margaret

THE PARISH LUNCH
by John Yeo

About fifty people gathered together to enjoy a meal in The Dormy House Hotel, this a thriving establishment overlooking the sea on the outskirts of West Runton in Norfolk. People began arriving on foot and by car, in good time, dressed in lunchtime finery. Many overcoats hats and scarves were in evidence as the wind was biting and the temperatures were in the low single figures. With ample parking space at the rear, just a short walk from the entrance, a superb lunch was promised by the aroma of food emanating from the building as we made our way to the entrance.
   At the entrance to the restaurant, with a smile and a greeting of welcome stood Dr May, the organist and musical director of Holy Trinity Church. As the organiser, he welcomed everybody individually and recorded their presence by ticking their names off on a list. Coats were discarded and hung on the many available hooks and there was an impressive coat stand. Pre-dinner drinks were consumed as the diners whetted their appetites for the feast.
   The appointed time arrived and at a signal from the organiser, we all began to file into the well prepared restaurant. The tables were set up in readiness, five long tables set up to seat twelve people on each. The staff here at the Dormy are always friendly and efficient with a welcoming smile.
  We walked passed the carvery, displaying the meats available for our lunch. A large joint of Beef a joint of Gammon, with a Turkey Breast Crown, waiting and ready for carving. We took our seats. The table positions reflected the wishes of the diners, as people who wished to dine with each other, simply sat together. When everyone was comfortably seated, the Rector welcomed everyone and said Grace.
The waitresses served a uniform starter of tasty Parsnip soup and croutons. Bottles of cold water were placed on the tables for liquid refreshment. Soon an orderly queue of diners were lined up, table by table ordering their main course. A friendly personable chef was carving the meats, and an excellent array of vegetables and gravy was available.
There was a ripple of continuous conversation from the diners, as everyone tucked into their meals, a great deal of general catching up of Parish affairs, and much friendly enjoyment of a happy congenial occasion. When the main course was consumed and the dishes were cleared away, the waitresses delivered the dessert menu’s, a tempting selection of dishes designed to finish an excellent meal, by leaving a sweet taste on the palate.
   Sitting back with a feeling of contented satiation, it was time for a welcome cup of tea or coffee to finish off an excellent companionable meal and give thanks for a splendid lunch.
   A discreet offertory bag was passed around from table to table, the diners placed tips for the waitresses and staff inside, with gratitude for an excellent service.
  Thanks were extended to the staff by Dr May for a wonderful meal. Finally the Rector, thanked Dr May for organising this splendid Parish lunch, bringing everyone together.
  Then the members of the community slowly left the venue. Many worthy parishioners, (myself included), would sleep the sleep of the contented later this afternoon.
Some of our lady dining companions would be attending a pre-arranged Mother’s meeting later this afternoon, at St Andrew's Church, possibly stifling contented yawns from the after effects of a heavy lunch.

This afternoon’s meal was an illustration of the congregations of two village churches, comprising the parish of Runton, bringing people together from several nearby towns and communities to enjoy a friendly dining experience.

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved

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SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIPS ~ 30th January 2016

1/2/2016

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SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIPS
by John Yeo

The more I think about life in general, the more I become aware of the ingrained symbiosis that permeates our lives at all levels. The employee that is in a symbiotic relationship with an employer is a prime example of symbiosis, each is dependant on the other and the relationship is beneficially dependant on both sides. The employer derives the results of the employee’s input and labour to further his business interests, and becomes symbiotically dependant. On the other side of this symbiotic relationship the employee is totally dependent on the employer to pay him a living wage for the benefit of his input. Both sides of the relationship are symbiotic and beneficial to the lives of each other.
Our personal relationships are another example of the symbiotic nature of humanity. Many people get married or live with their partner in a symbiotic relationship that is thoroughly steeped in symbiosis. Each partner of a successful relationship brings much to each other in the form of love, respect, admiration, and support. They live together, learn to love one another, and in many cases stand shoulder to shoulder together, by confroningt everything that that is thrown up to destroy their symbiotic relationship. Children of the symbiotic union do much to cement the symbiosis and can add strength to the symbiotically joined people until the time arrives when they fledge their wings and develop a symbiotic relationship with a partner of their own.

There is another fragile example of a symbiosis that can lead to much hurt and suffering. People who are unaware that the ongoing friendly, perhaps taken for granted relationship, has slowly but surely developed into a symbiotic dependency that is vulnerable and can be just as hurtful. Perhaps between a single parent and their child or perhaps children who spend many years merging together with the parent, the symbiotic dependence on each other grows, without their awareness or understanding. This is a vulnerable relationship that is always doomed to bring a shock as one or other of the parties to the symbiosis is suddenly gone, irrevocably ripped away by death. Realisation sets in slowly. The life of the surviving person has hugely altered and a replacement symbiosis is virtually impossible to attain due to the impossibility of trying to replace a person who was so close over many years.
Dangers can arise as loneliness can set in, this is a modern curse in our now sadly closed society, where people take their pleasures in the electronic privacy of their homes and rarely cross the threshold to make new friends. There are many shades of vulnerability, some develop a carapace and become too isolated and wary of others to fight.
At this sad time many people take refuge in religion and seek comfort in the family of the church, trying desperately to relate and take some comfort and control of their now empty lives. Finding their own way, re-gaining self confidence and meeting other people, as their faith develops, encouraging their strength to return in the shelter of the words of comfort that are gradually healing the wounds.

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved

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WRITING ~ "VISTA" ~ 6th SEPTEMBER 2015

8/9/2015

I decided I would try to conjure up a piece of written work using a single word. I chose the word vista, and described a day at sea on a voyage aboard a sea-going ship.

VISTA
by John Yeo

The watery view was endless, waves as far as the eye could see from the side of the ship to the far distant horizon or skyline. Where the sea meets the sky a natural black line separates the two. This is known as the water horizon. The foam-flecked waves were hypnotic, a cerulean blue that was the reflection of an almost cloudless sky on the wavy water below. Almost cloudless, except for the few straggling fluffy white clouds drifting freely, moving slowly as our ship sailed on.
Very few seabirds fly out this far, perhaps a few adventurous Gulls, always on the alert and on the hunt for food. These avian hunters usually fly out within reach of their colonies, especially during the breeding season. The closer to land our ship reaches the more birds are visible, following the vessel and congregating on the shore. On some very rare occasions a solitary migrating bird will land on board ship to rest and search for food or fresh water.
We encounter a number of other vessels on our way, mostly cargo ships piled high with containers. Much of the worlds goods for trade is now transported on board these huge ships. Sometimes we will encounter a small fishing vessel sailing out to follow the fishing routes, usually the closer to land the more small craft we will meet.
Suddenly there is a ripple as the waves seem to open naturally and a grey smooth, powerful, shiny, bottle-nosed dolphin, leaps to the surface from beneath the waves. Then another, and more, as a pair break the surface of the water together. This pod of dolphins numbers at least seven and their greyish blue glistening bodies shine as they leap above the surface of the sea, too fast and unpredictable to get a decent photograph.
Then the wind picks up and the waves get higher, rocking and rolling, testing the ships stabilisers. The beauty of the white-topped waves is clear, white foamy broiling waves with a dark grey reflection from the now stormy looking cloudy skies above.
As we travel through this almost endless vista of deep wavy water as far as the eye can see, the spray and bubbly spume from the now broiling almost stormy sea adds a dramatic frame to the hypnotic splendour of a very unforgiving picture. The mind seems to take flight into the depths beneath the surface, how many sunken ships from many centuries lie rusting and decaying beneath our modern vessel as we steam onwards to our destination? How many lives have been lost to this unmerciful, powerful sea.
The journey continues as the sun sinks beneath the distant horizon in a glorious orange red and golden sunset. This is a memorable beauty that can be preserved and the camera captures the magnificence for later re-living of this superb vista.
A silvery light then illuminates a much calmer sea as night falls, and a full moon lights up the night sky and the waves below, reflecting the moonbeams that now dominate the endless vista of the restless sea.

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.

GRESSENHALL FARM AND WORKHOUSE ~ 22nd MARCH 2016

AN AFTERNOON ON THE FARM
by John Yeo

THE PARISH LUNCH ~ 3rd FEBRUARY 2016

SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIPS ~ 30th January 2016

WRITING ~ "VISTA" ~ 6th SEPTEMBER 2015

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GRESSENHALL FARM AND WORKHOUSE ~ 22nd MARCH 2016

AN AFTERNOON ON THE FARMby John Yeo

THE PARISH LUNCH ~ 3rd FEBRUARY 2016

SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIPS ~ 30th January 2016

WRITING ~ "VISTA" ~ 6th SEPTEMBER 2015

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AN AFTERNOON ON THE FARM
by John Yeo