A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Warraki
Jun 3, 2021
3 min read

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words How's the weather? This picture sums up a week or even a day in England. “If you don’t like the weather, just wait 5 minutes”.

Swans Seven snow-colored slender swans silently swimming sounds like a good start to a dream or fairy tale. Yet right in front of me, 7 of these gracious creatures float by. I like to imagine England's past Kings and Queens reincarnated as majestic swans gliding along the rivers exploring verdant countryside. Perhaps the wives of Hank the VIII coming back to claim new lives. Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard with their graceful necks holding their heads aloft enjoying their freedom.Steve is our local swan expert. I would call Steve a Volunteer SwanKeeper as he comes daily to check on the swans, toss some approved swan food and take care of them if they are injured.

We learned the facts of swan life from Steve.

The male is called a Cob,
the female a Pen,
babies are Cygnets,
they mate for life unless one of them dies and then they will find a new mate,
Cygnets live with the parents for about 6 months and then Male Swan boots them off. Run along...

Steve is standing next to a cob. He calls all of the swans Swanny. Swanny’s mate is sitting on a nest off in the distance. Swanny continues about his merry life eating, swimming and swan diving while Female Swanny sits on the eggs for a month without eating. I find this fact hard to believe since I need to visit the fridge every few hours for a nibble. Unfortunately the drop in temperature 4-5 weeks ago froze their first batch of eggs. Swanny Mama is sitting on the new nest of eggs hoping the weather stays temperate and her mate sets a bit of food aside for her. We hope motherhood isn't her swan song.

This clutch of swans had 7 babies. Our expert Steve tells us (don’t read this aloud with young children around) that unfortunately not all survive. Steve told us those darn seagulls will get them when they are very young and then there is the occasional hungry fox who finds them when they head up to land.

Glastonbury Tor Tor is a hill or a rocky peak Keen to learn more about the evocative pilgrimage spot of Glastonbury, we made our own pilgrimage several months ago. Glastonbury has long been known for its music festivals but also its legends and history. Long before Instagram and broadband transmitted data, the legendary rumors of Glastonbury drew in spiritual seekers, enlightened souls, sages and vagabonds hovering near its historical magnets. Music festivals take place on Worthy Farm, much like the Woodstock of our youth, attracting followers. The festival is finding it hard to restart with current restrictions so much of it was live streamed this year. See link for 2021 events. https://glastonburyfestivals.co.uk Legend tells us there’s more to mystical Glastonbury than just a steep ascent to the Tor.

Legend I: the Tor extends back to Celtic legend-the cave beneath the hill where you can enter the fairy world of Annwn. Legend II: states that the Holy Grail was brought here by Jesus’ Uncle, Joseph of Arimathea. Uncle Joseph was a tin merchant and Jesus was also noted for visiting Glastonbury with him, on one of his voyages.

Legend III: The monks of Abbey claim to have found King Arthur’s grave in 1191, at Glastonbury otherwise known as the Isle of Avalon, where Arthur went after his last battle. Excalibur was claimed to have been forged here.

Legend IV: The Tor lies on a ley line, a link to invisible energy sources around the world by intersecting pathways. Glastonbury is surrounded by marshes making it an island (Isle of Avalon). Seekers have traveled here for thousands of years witnessing it as a spiritual center emphasizing the feminine power. Legends may endure as legends, but who can say there isn't some truth?

The terraced hill designed at the same time as Stonehenge is said to be designed as a maze to guide pilgrims up the hill.