Sunday 17 November 2013

#One Week - Autumn '13 - Champagne

A walk over the ploughed flats of Norfolk. Brown and grey. 

Cracked clods of earth underfoot, thick and heavy from harvest. 

The dog bounds off the leash, after sticks, after birds.

And here we all are, to bid farewell.

A goodbye in the wind.


Granny says, 'she said the air was like champagne up here.'

I adore that description. Champagne.

Bubbles through the yellow leaves. Fizz through the sloes.

And onwards, a thoughtful walk, on dirt track, 

under canopied boughs, and mossy floor.


Here we are, journeys end, her resting place. Only us.

A pond at low ebb, ferns and reeds bent over.

One bench.

She loved to walk her dogs here. In the champagne.

I liked her. A lot.

Straight and sturdy (if you discount the broken hip).

Honest to the bone.

A fierce wit.


Out comes the jar and spoon. Sacred dust.

Like course granules. Chalk white.

Powder in the grass. Particles of a life well lived.

Ashes and atoms.

In the air.

Away and beyond.


Little A says, 'Bye bye Great Granny.'

Little A says, 'Great Granny has turned into a star.'

Life and death in one burst.

Flesh and bone between her fingers.

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A foot note: This was Little A's Great Granny on Younger Dad's side of the family. She passed away over a year ago, her ashes scattered this September.

This is the first day of the seasonal linky One Week. Over the next three days (Monday till Wednesday) I'll be posting a photograph(s) and a few words that diarises and distills my experience of autumn '13. Take a peep at the details here. You can join in for one, two ... or the full three days. And don't forget to add #oneweek on Twitter, and comment on each others posts...


Badge Code ...

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36 comments:

  1. So sorry to hear about your loss. Despite the shit that flies your wonderful skill has not let you down!

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    1. That's okay.... Little A's Great Granny passed over a year ago - this was the scattering of her ashes.

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  2. Beautiful - and sorry to hear of your loss. The air is like champagne, what a great description, I can see now how where your flair for words comes from x

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    1. Thank you, but it's okay, she passed over a year ago. Je suis adore that description of champagne as well. Thank you. X

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  3. What a formidable woman. You must miss her. Beautiful words and beautiful photos. I'm so sorry that it was such a great loss that prompted your post though.

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    1. Yes, she was quite a woman. And we do miss her. Thank you. It was Little A's Great Granny of Younger Dad's side, and she passed away a year ago.

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  4. Beautiful post and beautiful words. I'm so sorry for your loss xx

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    1. Thank you very much.... it was a year ago now, a Great Granny on Younger Dad's side. X

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  5. ah how pretty and lovely. champagne. beautiful x

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    1. Thank you very much.... I love the imagery of champagne too! X

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  6. Echoing the other comments here - a beautifully written post. I am sure your Grandmother would be so touched if she could read your words. Hugs. x

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    1. Thank you my dear! It was Little A's Great Granny on Younger Dad's side who passed away a year ago. We scattered her ashes this September - it was a actually quite a light and happy occasion. X

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  7. Beautiful writing Sarah and a very beautiful tribute to someone who must have been a vibrant wonderful lady xxx

    It had completely slipped my mind about one week, I've barely had my laptop on, but I will try and get joined up for at least some of it xx

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    1. Thank you very much lovely! She had a very lively mind, quite the character. And thank you for joining in again. X

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  8. The air is like champagne - what a wonderful description. So sorry for your loss, she sounds like a special woman. I've joined in for the first time, more organised than I was for the last One Week when I missed it completely! Look forward to reading the posts tomorrow xx

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    1. Thank you, isn't it just? She was quite a character - very straight forward and sharp. And thank you for joining in. X

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  9. So sorry for your loss. I've never heard the air being described like champagne before. I think that'll stick with me :)

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    1. It's okay... it was over a year ago, and it was a Great Granny on Younger Dad's side. Yes, the champagne will stick with me too! :o)

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  10. A beautiful way to spread the ashes. Champagne...I do like that.

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    1. It was, it was a really lovely afternoon. I love the idea of air like champagne.

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  11. This is lovely and made me cry again - I lost my dad last week. But good tears and good memories like yours.

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    1. Thank you very much. I am so very sorry to hear about your Dad, and I hope that you are okay. X

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  12. Beautiful and eloquent. Your post resonated with me too x. Perfect photos to go with it.

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    1. Thank you very much.... I rather like these photos, I enjoyed fiddling about with the colour.

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  13. This is so beautiful. I love the description of the air being like champagne. I'm so very so for your loss. This is a wonderful tribute to what sounds like a lovely woman xx

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    1. Thank you very much. It was Little A's Great Granny on her father's side who passed away a year ago. She was quite a character! X

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  14. She could not have wished for a more beautiful tribute, I think. Sending you hugs. xx

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    1. I think Great Granny would have loved it... it was actually her wish, to have her ashes scattered in one of her favourite places. X

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  15. Gosh this is such beautiful writing. Air like champagne - how vivid and perfect a picture that paints x

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    1. Thank you very much lovely! I love that description too.... air like champagne, gives me goosebumps. X

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