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Welcome to Doodlecat - where we enjoy the great outdoors and gather a range of news and views. Much of the content is courtesy of the generous contributions from the splendid people who participate in the annual TGO Challenge, so there is a wealth of outdoor experience here, especially if you like walking in Scotland - but we try to range worldwide.

The home page is where we post the latest news and views from the Doodlecat team. You can have your say too! Just click on the 'comments' link on any of the posts - or if you have a story or photogallery that you think we'd like, then let us know. Random Doodles and the Image Gallery welcome guest contributions, as well as the perennial favourite, the TGO Challenge pages

The blogroll on the right displays ten links to other sites that you might like to try out - there are a lot more, and the list will change each time you visit or 'refresh' the page.

Enjoy your stay.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

No Hills Required

People often say to us that it must be difficult to live in East Anglia with no hills. Well, yes, hill walking does come a bit hard, but that is part of the challenge we go to the hills for, and of course the wonderful views. Sometimes people also wrongly assume that we miss having hills and views, and are in some way deprived.

Not so.

As it happens I love living in East Anglia. Out of our bedroom window we look out over sheep, horses and the rabbits playing in the sun, towards the King’s Forest on the horizon. The huge skies reflect all kinds of weather before it arrives and the distant trees lead us through the seasons from Spring to Winter. Absolutely stunning.

Frog in our pond
Our hedge houses an assortment of birds and the wildlife pond is a whole life and death struggle daily, with emerald green frogs, assorted dragon and damsel flies, pond skaters, water boatmen and great diving beetles. All you need is a cup of tea and be silent and watch.

When we go walking we have a sense of openness and a feeling you can just breathe and feel free. The countryside has its own secret charms and we always see some kind of wild life; maybe hares boxing in the spring, a nest of fluffy moorhen chicks, stepping over a snake or a shy deer peering out the trees.

East Anglia is beautiful and I love it. Be still and look and there is beauty everywhere.

After all, John Constable made a rather good fist of the local landscapes!

Wivenhoe by Constable



And the glorious East Anglian skies

Cloud study by Constable


There are so many landscapes - let's celebrate them all!

7 Comments:

Anonymous WD said...

Tini,
here, here
I couldn't agree with you more. Too often there is "hill snobbery" towards our home area (yes I still call it home even so far way).
It still has a spot in my heart, and I will never bore of the fenland landscape.

Phil should let you write more often. Ever thought of starting your own blog?

June 19, 2008 5:12 PM  
Blogger Miss W. said...

Darren. I don’t think I could keep a blog going - any more than Lord E on his current performance!

June 19, 2008 8:19 PM  
Blogger Martin Rye said...

I live in Norfolk, the big skies and long beeches. Throw in Thetford forest and I love it. Nelson said “I’m a Norfolk man and glory in being so” You don’t need a hill to have a good walk. Those who don’t know the East of England ask yourself this why did Bill Bryson move to Norfolk?

June 19, 2008 11:10 PM  
Blogger Miss W. said...

Looking at a walk on one of your Norfolk beaches next week, Martin...and possibly Cromer Crab for tea.

June 20, 2008 8:47 PM  
Blogger Martin Rye said...

The crab is good, the air fresh and the walking that is the best bit. Have fun.

June 20, 2008 11:37 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

So, so Very true...

June 29, 2008 3:18 PM  

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