Monday 6 October 2008

The mohican duck, and other lovely things

I've been home a few days now, settling back into the gentle rhythm of my life here, and yet savouring my time spent with my family. Time 'up country' is invariably busy, catching up not only with family, but also with friends old and new. I think it would also be fair to say that in practice this involves moving seamlessly from one eating extravaganza to the next - with barely time to digest one feast before the next is in front of me!

I also had the chance to meet some blog friends, and turn them from virtual friends into reality. This is a little scary....as I've said before, the self-doubt creeps in, and more to the point, will we even like each other, or have anything to talk about? I met up with Ginny on a warm sunny saturday afternoon in the lovely village of Shere - about the half way point for both of us. Ginny has already blogged about our afternoon here. While I was waiting for Ginny to arrive I sat in the sunshine, watching the ducks splashing about in the stream. This little guy stood out a mile:


Have you ever seen a mohican duck? He was clearly loving all the attention. Apart from the sky kiss at the end of the afternoon, (see Ginny's blog) that's the sum total of our photos. No arty pics of frothy cappuchino and delicious cake...we were far too busy chatting. We sat in the garden of the Lucky Duck, drinking tea (and yes, I was the only one eating cake. Again.) and talking...and talking...and talking. It is lovely making virtual friends via your blog, but even better when you turn that into a real get-together, and that sense of connection is beyond what you could possibly have imagined. I'm still savouring that afternoon, and in fact a part of me wants to selfishly keep it all to myself, it was that special. It strikes me too that as we get older the opportunity to make new friends sometimes diminishes. Blogging has certainly broadened my horizons for the better.

Ginny generously gave me one of her lovely flower corsages - in my favourite colour, blue! She also printed me a beautiful photo she took of agapanthus, originally posted on her Sweet Myrtle blog, along with a card of the same photo.


Ginny, thank you so much, I love your gifts, and spending time with you was a real pleasure. I hope we can do it again soon. Pipany, would you care to join us? We missed your presence, but felt you there in spirit!

As I drove back to my father's house the sun was setting - a glorious golden glow, which pretty much sums up how I was feeling after my afternoon with Ginny.


Warm, cosy, glowing inside, and with a real sense of gratitude for time spent with someone special.


Thank you Ginny!

12 comments:

Irene said...

You're lucky to have made such a good and talented blogging friend. All of mine live outside this country, so I would have to do some well planned traveling. Maybe some day...

ginny said...

oh Diana, that is such a lovely post... thank you so much ... it was wonderful meeting you and i am so pleased that our friendship is now in the 'real' world as well as in the virtual one. i was hoping you would post a picture of the duck... he does look so proud.
i am off to bed now... early night for once. sweet dreams...
with love
Ginny xx

Heart in the country said...

Hi Diana and welcome back. I'm glad to see you've had a lovely time and have hopefully had time to recuperate over the weekend :-)
Kx

dragonfly said...

I agree wholeheartedly with you about blogging broadening your horizons - it's wonderful.

I'm so glad you had a good break, but settling back into familiar rhythms is also good to come back to.

kristina said...

We have ducks in the pond behind our flat, but ours are quite ordinary. Not a single one sports such a fabby 'do! K x

jane and the happy crow said...

Thank you for popping over to my blog. Hello fellow cornish person although I am afraid I do not hail from here (but distant relatives do!). I can see from your photos you must be further south than us, we are on the Roseland. Do pop by again, did you make that lovely little house thingy? Love Jane xx

A time to dance said...

What a lovely post - I know exactly what you mean - I met one of my closest freinds via Ebay of all things. I am new to blogging but already enjoying the lovely friendships in their infancy.
I used to kep hens which had punk hair do's called Silkies.
Every blessing Helen

Lindsay said...

The mention of Shere brings back memories. I was born and brought up in that part of the world - lovely pubs and cricket fields I seem to remember.

Pipany said...

Hurray, you're back and yes, I would love to join you next time please! Sounds such a special meeting and I know exactly what you mean about wanting to squirrel it away for yourself. I'm so pleased you both hit it off like that and that's a really interesting point you make Diana about teh opportunities to make new friends diminishing - hadn't thought of it in that way but you are absolutely right. Thank goodness for blogging.

Have a lovely day Diana xx

Exmoorjane said...

You know, I don't really do chickens but by heck I like a duck! That one is pretty seriously gorgeous.
Isn't it funny (yet fun) to meet up with bloggers? I love it. Envy you being close enough to Pip to be able to suggest it.
Clever clever Ginny too.....
janexx

Florence Knapp (Flossie Teacakes) said...

What a lovely post, Diana. I've shared all your feelings of apprehension and then subsequent delight when making real friends out of virtual ones...and I think the odd thing is that as the first generation of people to use the internet in this way it feels like a very odd thing to be doing (perhaps it will be less so for the next generation), which only adds to the feelings of nervousness. So pleased you had a wonderful day.

Thank you for your lovely, lovely comment on my blog. x

Sally Anne said...

Oh what a grand day you had..this blogging world is pretty wonderful isn't it ?