Up, Up and Away
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"But I need something different ..." A passion for the mountains and waterfalls has had a hold on Isobel since she was a young child.
Transcript
Oh how I loved being up high
I'm up in the trees, the world passing by.
From childhood 'til now I've been stuck in a town.
I'm trapped in a cage, I need to escape.
I love the mountains, I love the streams.
The peace, the tranquillity, the views and the scenes.I've spent all my life with traffic and noise,
But I need something different,
I need the space.
I can only express it with some oil and some paint.
I've moved from the city with pressure and strain
Into the country with heat and rain.
Oh, what a contrast from the stress and the strife.
It's magic, it's heaven, all in my life.I'm missing the family, I wish they were here.
I still love them dearly, their presence is near.
But the power of water and the feeling of height,
The mountains are in me, they're vivid and clear.
The air you breathe in, the space you can see,
But the feeling inside you'll have to believe.Out come the maps, where will do we go?
Do we follow the contours or the water below?
From season to season the scenery changes
The powerful skies, the tremendous effects.
They're pulling me nearer the closer they seem
The colours, the beauty.
They're there all the time.
They're wrapped all round me each day of the week
To savour and relish wherever I see.Oh, how can I thank you for bringing me here?
My passion for mountainous scenes must come
From the trees that I climbed when I was young.Map © Crown copyright. All rights reserved Ö÷²¥´óÐã AL100019855 2002
An interview with the author
Please tell us about yourself.
I have worked all my life south of London. I am married with two children and one grandchild and have now retired and live in Mid Wales. I love outdoor life - walking, playing golf and I also love painting which I find very relaxing and expressive.
What's your story about?
It's about my passion for height, mountains and water and the effect they have had on my life. I chose this story because I felt I could express my personal feelings about life today - the contrast between city and country. I have always had a tremendous yearning for height and space; it was an escape from reality. My story describes how this magnetic attraction has changed my life. The space and tranquility puts life in perspective in a world full of pressure and strain.
How did you find the workshop?
It was an experience that I shall never forget and felt honoured to have been given this opportunity. I found it tremendously hard to express my story in words. But the storytelling sessions were immensely helpful. I thoroughly enjoyed working with others and getting to know everyone. Fantastic.
Your comments
"Makes you really think about the quality of life in such a beautiful area."
Sue Evans, Surrey.
