Move over to the legs!

I began writing this blog in the summer of 2020, little expecting it would turn out to be what it became. Which was something quite magical, and taught me at least one valuable lesson: that true happiness is often achieved through being happy with what you have - and perhaps not continually striving for more. …

“There was a Rector who I think had read too much Trollope or something. He kept sheep and cattle around every corner, and a pig called Augusta.”

Sara's Piddlehinton story: They were always escaping. I remember one day waking up and there were about forty sheep on my lawn.

“I think one day there won’t be no Travellers. It will just finish. Just like the dragons… or whatever, died out.”

Mary Margaret's Piddlehinton Story: But we’re survivors, aren’t we, and it makes me proud that we can survive through anything: living on a roadside, with no electricity, no water, not heating, no food. I’m proud of how them traditions get passed on.

“I wonder if life will just go back to how it was before. I think there’s the risk that we don’t remember how lovely it was when things slowed.”

Tracey and Pete's Piddlehinton Stories: We still dance in the kitchen. We put on our Country and Western music and dance around the island, usually on a Sunday morning.

“Whenever there’s been a disaster, in re-forming the pieces one does have the opportunity to make the world better.”

Imani's Piddlehinton Story: Although I think probably the hardest thing for young people is wondering, ‘Am I ever going to have sex again?'

“Re-opening in July, we’d worked out we’d lose £60,000 by the end of the year.”

Emma-Jayne and Michal's Piddlehinton Stories: But when we see what's happened to friends in the trade, we know we're the lucky ones.