Wednesday, December 31, 2008

New Years Eve at Arbor Low

With the temperatures below -3 all day it was a well wrapped up family of BW's that set off for the tradition of watching the sun set on New Years Eve at Arbor Low. It was even colder up there. The mist had a habit of shifting about so that one minute the view was obscured and the next trees and stones emerged from it.




The teenagers disappeared into the mist almost as soon as we arrived. Of course they were trying to sneak up on us, a game they play when ever the opportunity arises and has evolved from a game called Monsters that I used to play with them when they were much younger. They once shouted out excitedly in a public place with a load of other families about that "Dad Dad this would be a great place for you to be a Monster and try and get us like you did last night." You could just feel the animosity build up around us, and people hurriedly gathered their children up, warning them of strangers. However on Arbor Low we were alone. Well apart from the spirits and ghosts of the people that had lived and died there over the past 6000 years.



The sun set and the cold got colder but the light lingered longer and for a few minutes a silence descended over the stones and the thoughts of the old year faded away gently. Both Mrs BW and I left a little something for the ancestors. The Weasel was beside herself with amusement at this. I did not bother to explain, partly because there isn't one really, but mainly I did not want to spoil the peaceful feeling.



So that's it for another year. What ever you are doing have a safe and happy evening, and good luck for 2009.

4 comments:

fiwa said...

How beautiful - the tradition and the pictures. One day the Weasel will grow up and realize how lucky she was.

It's still early afternoon here and I am at work. We're spending the evening with friends though, so I'm ready to be off.

All the best to you and your family in the New Year.

love,
fiwa

The Birdwatcher said...

Fiwa - Happy New to you and the boy and of course bitzy. Fingers crossed for 2009 I think we will all need it. Lots of love from the BW's

Brother Tobias said...

Beautiful, chilly pictures.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who leaves offerings for the gods of a place. Sometimes it's coins slipped into a crack in a rock or the groin of a tree. Sometimes just a libation poured discreetly onto the earth. Those old stones hum with old awareness.

Happy New Year.

Stef the engineer said...

I've often left a libation in the wilderness. Of course, it's generally undergone a little natural processing first. I'm sure the spirits understand.
Happy New Year.