Crossing Water - Windermere

I have crossed the English Channel many times en route to events on the near continent, including a  memorable overnight crossing to Rotterdam on a visit to see my eldest brother's family who were living near Munich. On that occasion we journeyed in my brother-in-law's Range Rover to Austria for a skiing holiday in Kaprun. Although we had four young children with us, I managed to find a great bier hall with a dance floor. I was a very popular partner and danced away most evenings. Unfortunately, I was usually too tired to ski - I didn't really like the cold anyway.

One particularly enjoyable crossing was on Lake Lucerne to a small island called Landau - a space locked in time, with only horse-drawn carriages to transport you. I can thoroughly recommend the experience.

I grew up in a country pub and my parents had some great customers. Sidney Rhodes was an adventurer who raced Bugatti sports cars in his youth. He was also an industrialist who built the first fuel-injection plant in the UK. Sidney invested in his leisure time too, and was the proud owner of a cabin cruiser and a small Edwardian steamer, both kept on Lake Windermere.

I was lucky enough to be invited on several occasions to sail on the steamer 'Otto', a glorious boat, bedecked with copper steam kettles and beautiful decoration. Sidney's wife Ethel was a stickler and no trip on 'Otto' was complete without a huge amount of polishing, amply rewarded by a wonderful tea. At the time I probably didn't realise just how lucky I was. There were so few privately owned steamers on Windermere. It was almost like an Arthur Ransome story.

When Sidney died, Ethel donated 'Otto' to the Lake District Steamboat Museum where the boat remains and is on show to the public. I intend visiting soon to rekindle very happy childhood memories. Here is a link to the museum's web site: Windermere Boats

The elegant 'Otto'

“The klop, klop of water

under the bows

of a small boat will cure

most troubles in this world.”

Arthur Ransome

Thanks for reading, Adele 

 

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The Romantic Poets

I have never liked the Romantic Poets, yet they have followed me around for most of my life. I studied English at O and A level and they were part of the required reading.

I read English at University and they were there in the course, having a module all their own. What is it about Grecian Urns?

I studied for a Masters degree in philosophy and Coleridge cropped up, apparently being a philosopher/poet…and I thought Kubla Khan was about something else altogether. 

We lived in Windermere in the Lake District for many years and people used to say how wonderfully dreamy and inspiring the romantic landscape must be. It rained most of the time.

 

 

I was part of a poetry writing group called the Dove Cottage Poets and we met at Dove Cottage in Grasmere. Surely it must have been an inspiration writing in the same place Wordsworth wrote? Actually no.

We even produced a radio programme about our poetry group, hosted by Ruth Padel and broadcast on Radio 4 from Dove Cottage. The theme was ‘Father Wordsworth’. I wrote and read my poem on air, but it wasn’t because of his influence.

One year ago, I finally ‘broke free’ from the Romantic influence when we arrived in Blackpool. Here is an inspirational place to write. There is something romantic and dreamy about the sea as I cycle along the promenade to Cleveleys and Fleetwood, gaining inspiration.

The old- world charm of Lancashire villages on the cycle route, Staining, Weeton, Wrea Green, Singleton. The Art Deco splendour of Stanley Park. The Art Nouveau style of the house we live in. These and many other things about Blackpool and The Fylde make for an inspiring back drop to writing.

 

 

I have written more poetry this past year than in the eleven years we lived in Wordsworth country.

So, I am happy to finally say ‘goodbye’ to the Romantic Poets and ‘hello’ to opportunity and inspiration for writing.

In celebration of this, I have written a poem which sums up my feelings:

 

The Romantics

I longed to say goodbye to Wordsworth,

yet I could always see him still,

floating like a floppy daffodil

below the surface of my consciousness.

 

I wanted never again to hear about Spring

as if it were a universal blessing.

God's kisses in the morning, lambs, new life,

green hope, all that sort of thing.

 

An 'I wandered lonely as a cloud' day

I could not imagine, nor could I say

I have ever seen a lonely cloud. They hang

out together, rinsing creativity.

 

I desired to be free of Coleridge and Keats,

Shelley, Blake, Byron and all;

hoping they'd slip away in shrouds and sheets,

as they kept coming around for tea.

 

What am I after? Space and silence;

a place where I can make myself

and then create a sort of carapace,

a shell for thinking and writing in.

 

Is it too much to ask? Well no,

I took my chance to get away to

Blackpool, that vintage archipelago,

where words blossom like an egg-plant.

 

I'm there, though it's been touch and go.

 

 

David Wilkinson

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