At the end of October I decided that I needed to go on retreat myself and take spiritually take stock. However, I am not the kind of person who can sit and meditate or journey all day, and derive much benefit from physical work which I find helps to sharpen my focus and clarify my mind.
Steps cut into clay
One beautiful warm sunny afternoon I decided to do something about access to the stream where I collect the drinking water from. The water has cut deeply into the clay banks and it is a good 2′ down making it difficult to get down to it. I found some rare flat stones from around the site of the island excavation and dragged them in the wheelbarrow all the way up to the top of the field, cutting step shapes out of the clay and lining them with the stone.
Stream and bench under gorse
I am sure that eventually we will have to do something a little larger and more permanent but it works well for now. Besides which, they gave me great pleasure and satisfaction to build.
I also cleared beneath a large old gorse bush on the opposite side of the stream from the steps and placed a makeshift bench there.
It is often warm and sheltered there and a wonderful place to sit besides the running chuckling water… and looking out across the field from there one can see in the hazy blue distance all the mountain ridges of north Meirionnydd. Perfect!