Tuesday 19 May 2015

Reading? or Walking? Oh, OK then . . .

Oooohhh look what was delivered today, just in time to stop my withdrawal symptoms after finishing the 4th Poldark novel, "Warleggan", this morning.




































There are 3 more in transit, but I think I have enough to be going on with in the meantime.

The funny thing is that when I finished reading "Warleggan", I felt as though Winston Graham had ended the Poldark series there, as he had neatly tied up most of the loose ends - it was almost a case of everyone 'living happily ever after'.
There were a few little niggles, though . . .
So how surprised was I when I picked up the 5th one "The Black Moon" to find an Author's Note in which he says that he had indeed only written 4 Poldark books and it was many years later, when his writing style had changed and he had written many more books on different subjects, that he started to wonder himself what might have happened to the Poldark and Warleggan families after that final novel.  And so he started to write "The Black Moon" to continue the Poldark saga.  He explains that it was difficult to re-learn the style of writing he had used all those years ago. But, by George, he did it! They are seamless.

Now enticing though they were, especially after reading a couple of chapters, I had to make a choice; on the one hand a pile of books calling to me and on the other a big, fed-up dog wanting to get out and go walking and exploring.
Yes, the dog won; I couldn't resist those eyes (or the constant whimpering!)






































We followed the track of the old wagon route which brought the granite down from the Cheesewring quarries high on the Moor, some of which was used in building Tower Bridge in London.





















There are fantastic panoramic views as you climb steadily higher - although it wasn't as clear as on a sunny day.











































Finally, this was as close as we got to the famous Cheesewring rock formation, which gives its name to the quarry, also the the Cheesewring Inn in the village of Minions where we started our walk.  The path continued, but we didn't . . . because part of the path had fallen into some old mine workings and had been covered temporarily by a large sheet of zinc that Zac refused to even step on.  I had to agree with him; it really didn't seem that safe, so we turned back, but found a different route down.






















This was also a well-trodden path, human feet as well as cattle, ponies and sheep and dotted with huge chunks of granite which were handy as a seat for me and shade for Zac.






















It was good to get out - we had to dodge a few sharp showers - but now I can read with a clear conscience.





6 comments:

  1. I think I must be the only person in the world who didn't like the Poldark books! Sorry!
    So glad you have a little collection to dive into. Zac will have to learn to read.

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    1. It wouldn't do for us all to like the same reading matter, Elizabeth. As for Zac, he loves to sink his teeth into the cardboard box that the books came in - literally. I gave him the empty box and he thoroughly enjoyed ripping it to shreds!

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  2. I am so glad to have clicked over here from Elizabeth's Cornish posts. Zac is such a handsome pup...no wonder you enjoy walking in your amazing landscape with him. Think he was right about those rocks, too.

    (Confession here...like Elizabeth, I have never read any of the Poldark fiction...but even more confession here...never say either the original nor this current television series. And yet...Cornwall continues to bewitch me.)

    Do keep up the blogging!

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    1. Lovely to 'see' you, Frances and having read many posts on your own blog, it has given me some ideas for future posts on mine. It made me realise that often we take for granted those things which we encounter day to day and really don't notice or appreciate them.

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  3. Hello fellow book reader! But, like you, I couldn't have resisted those pleading eyes. You have grand views!

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    1. Hello Barb! I'm glad to hear that you're a fellow book lover, but after reading your blog, I'm surprised you have the time to read with all those activities. Wonder Woman!! Fantastic photos of the Forest in the snow - any one of those would make a super Christmas card.

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