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Continue reading →: Helmshore: Stir Up SundayA week early for Stir-Up Sunday, a walk up Musbury Tor turned into a day of birds, brisk air, and Christmas traditions. While Pepper snoozed and the kitchen steamed, the pudding was stirred, wishes were made, and winter quietly settled in by the fire.
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Continue reading →: Helmshore: Back to the HillsA week of stillness, storm, and small joys. After struggling to find motivation, I finally made it back onto Musbury’s misty slopes — a reminder that sometimes the hardest step is the first one. Between wild weather, quiet wildlife, and Pepper’s muddy mischief, nature offered its own gentle reset.
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Continue reading →: Helmshore: Mist, Mud, and the Art of Being DislikedA week of mist, mud, and meaning. As the rain returned to the valley, thoughts of Hygge, Hiraeth, and the courage to be disliked drifted in with the weather. From soggy walks with Pepper to quiet moments of gratitude, I found comfort in the simple act of belonging — to…
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Continue reading →: Helmshore: Remembrance SundaySunday 9th November — Helmshore Parade “They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.At the going down of the sun, and in the morningWe will remember them.” The images were taken at the Helmshore parade on Sunday, 9th…
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Continue reading →: Castleton Calling; Famous Five ReunionAfter far too long without a van adventure, we finally hit the road for a weekend in Castleton — beneath the watchful slopes of Mam Tor. From misty morning walks and golden autumn views to laughter, fish and chips, and a Famous Five reunion, it was the perfect reminder of…
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Continue reading →: Helmshore: Beneath the watch of Musbury TorHere, time feels slower, measured not by clocks or timetables but by the shifting skies above Musbury Tor. It’s a landscape that asks nothing more than your attention — to pause, to breathe, and to simply be among the hills once again.
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Continue reading →: London, Baby; October 2025A weekend in the Big Smoke — no van, no Pepper, just trains, food, museums and a little London magic. From champagne at 12pm. to an Uber phone rescue, it was a trip to remember. I wondered about the title of this post. I’ve always said “London, baby!” whenever I…
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Continue reading →: Helmshore; Beneath the Autumn RainLate October 2025 Autumn Rain Heavy, it falls — long silver threads, That stitch the earth to sky o’erhead. Trees bow low, light grows dim, As clouds spill o’er the valley’s rim. The early part of the week has been wet. The crisp carpet of autumn leaves has turned to…
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Continue reading →: Helmshore; October GlowMid-October 2025 The golden days grow shorter, the mornings darker — yet autumn still burns bright. A tawny owl, a crown of fiery leaves, and the whisper of running water remind me that beauty lingers, even as the year turns toward its close. When Autumn Comes When autumn comes, the…
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Continue reading →: Newport: Quiet Whispers at Goldcliff – October 2025It seems the golden days of autumn have slipped quietly away, leaving behind their rain-soaked replacements — wild winds, bruised skies, and a general sense of dampness that seeps into everything. It’s perfect weather for soup simmering on the stove, though less ideal for standing about in the open with…
I’m Sal, a writer drawn to the quiet magic of the natural world. My blog gathers the moments that shape a week: the first light over the hills, the call of winter birds, a walk that becomes a memory. I write about landscapes, seasons, travel, and the gentle threads that connect us to place.
Most of these moments are shared with Pepper, my ever-enthusiastic companion, who reminds me daily that even the simplest walk can hold a little wonder. Together, we explore the magic tucked inside an ordinary life — the kind you only notice when you slow down, look closely, and let the world reveal itself one small moment at a time.
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A Dull Woman's Van Life 