Spring is in the air

Yes, definitely spring is in the air. The sun is shining, it's at least ten degrees warmer than it was a few short weeks ago and it feels so good. People are emerging from their houses where they've been hibernating since the autumn and with smiles on their faces, they're beginning to tackle their gardens.

I love this time of year when the buds appear on the trees and the snowdrops bring the hedgerows to life. The days are getting longer and the sunsets more brilliant. I think for me this is more the start of the new year than all the fireworks and bell ring on the 1st of January.

So, little Clunbury is stirring, emerging refreshed after her sleep and I for one, am very glad.

Happy New Year.

Capital grinds to a halt but Clunbury remains mobile

I had to laugh the other day when following heavy snow, London buses were taken off the road, the reason given, dangerous driving conditions. And yet, here in Clunbury, despite heavy snow, our bus service was business as usual.

Obviously our rural bus drivers are made of tougher stuff than the townies.

Snow joke but isn't it beautiful?

Ah the joys of living in the countryside. Peace, quiet and fresh air but when it snows, it snows cutting us off from the rest of the world.





But wow - it's beautiful

But what do you do, if you can't get out?

Build a snowman of course. That's what my youngest son Robin did. Now we have the only 'chav' in Clunbury residing on my front lawn.

Well it's different. If you like the snow, enjoy. If you don't wrap up warm and keep smiling, remember it will soon be spring.

In 1895 Alfred Edward Housman wrote

Clunton and Clunbury,

Clungunford and Clun,
Are the quietest places
Under the sun.

Was Houseman right? Maybe he was but Clunbury and the whole of the Clun Valley are much more than the quietest places under the sun. This area is a community, a vibrant, active community that looks after its own and its visitors too. When we moved here in September 2007 the villagers of Clunbury welcomed us with open arms - for that I can't thank them enough.

I didn't know where Clunbury was so I asked my friend Simon. He gave me directions but before he did he said 'you'll love it there.'

He was right.

Nestled in the valley between Craven Arms and Clun lies the ancient village of Clunbury. My Brigadoon I call it because other than a sign post on the Clun road, you really wouldn't know it was there.




Protected for centuries on one side by it's beautiful Norman Church








And on the other side of the village for eons by the fairy ring on the stunning Clunbury Hill.





Running through the far end of the village is the River Clun. Most of the time she trickles providing a comfortable haven for wildlife but within a matter of days she can go from little more than a stream to almost a raging torrent. Untamed but for those who have lived on its banks for years, she is predictable and like our church and our hill, her moods are part of our lives.






River Clun at peace.

And when she's not.

So besides being an incredibly beautiful place to live and the people are lovely, why do I find Clunbury so special?

It's magical, special but more importantly for me, it's healing and in the sixteen months we've been here Clunbury has certainly worked its magic.

Aren't I lucky?

Clunbury 'High Street' at lunchtime. The only sounds I heard were the children playing in the school playground, the breeze blowing through the trees and the birds singing.