Maybe you can relate to this. I can spend so much time worrying about others that it starts to take its toll on my mental health well being. I know, just like you know, that we must take care and be gentle with ourselves. That is not selfish for we all need 'me' time.
Thus I went out again today and took a few photographs of a nearby beauty spot. I would very much like to share with you a few moments of my day.
About four miles north of Leek, Staffordshire, on the road heading towards Buxton, Derbyshire, are a series of long rocky ridges named collectively as 'The Roaches'.
Here is a closer view of part of The Roaches. Now I realise that you might be thinking of 'Roaches' as in the slang term for the end part of one those 'cigarettes' that makes you feel kinda'....well...different. Or you might have visualised one of those most amazing of bugs, the legendary, 'CockRoach'. Well actually, the name, 'The Roaches', for these magnificent gritstone escarpments, comes from the French language, as in 'les roches', which means, 'the rocks'. As a note of interest, there have evidently been sightings of Wallabies hopping around The Roaches. Did I mention something about a funny cigarettes?
Here is another view of The Roaches. The highest point in The Roaches is 1657 feet. Awesome views of Leek and the surrounding countryside can be seen from these wonders of nature.
All these photographs were taken from a place named 'Tittesworth Reservoir'. The reservoir holds up to 1.4 billion gallons of water and is the primary supply for the 'Severn Trent Water Company'. I realise you can have loads of fun with the name 'Tittesworth'.
I took one more photograph as the setting sun cast shadows on the landscape. Do you see that house in the centre of the picture? What a fantastic location that is.
This little journey out had been respite from my personal sadness. I challenge my depression. Today has been a very good day.
I hoped you like these photographs. Please take care and be gentle with yourself.
hi mr gary! those are real pretty pictures. i love nature stuff and nice pictures like those. im real glad you had a good day and did something nice just for you.
ReplyDelete...smiles from lenny
I know exactly what you mean, love. The photographs are gorgeous! They make me want to take a vacation!
ReplyDeleteDear Gary,
ReplyDeleteWonderful pics of "les roches", Gare. Also, you sound a lot more positive than last time. It is indeed a tonic to take some much deserved "me time".
However, remember that you don't have to spend the time all by yourself, yours truly is just at the end of the 'phone and, of course, just down the road at the incongruously named (for a good looking, macho dude like me) "Dollys Lane".
Yours with Very Best Wishes to you and your family,
David.
Beautiful photos that make me long to travel. Such beautiful scenery!
ReplyDeleteThe Roaches look like they get bathed in fabulous light! I just returned from Little Rock, Arkansas and learned that it too gets it's name from the french...la petite roche( or is it le petit roche-the masculine/feminine thing is tough). Thanks for the visual tour of the area around you Gary....it's enchanting.
ReplyDeleteGary, thank you for sharing your day at The Roaches. What a beautiful spot. Natural beauty always soothes my soul. Always take it easy on yourself.
ReplyDeleteGary, I'm loving the beautiful les roches scenery. Where I live, it's also mountainous and I see we share a love for "bumpy" landscapes. I am proud of you for challenging your depression and taking it to another level. The amazing thing about the spirit is, it's ability to surprise you, just when you thought you've had enough. Thank you for this wise, witty and inspirational post.
ReplyDeleteMuch love and peace your way,
S.A
The photos are beautiful and probably the closest I'll ever get to the place. Crossing fingers. I will take care. You, too, Gary. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThe Roaches in Tittesworth. You couldn't make it up! The second and third pictures don't even look like typical English scenery. Are you near the Peak District?; that's what they remind me of.
ReplyDeleteWhat a magical place Gary, I love your pictures, it's lovely to see these places and hope that they are helping you in some way.
ReplyDeleteTake care
Di
x
And here I thought this post was going to be about bugs. Great pics, I've never been to England before and have always wanted to so to see stuff like that is really cool. I don't know what it is about nature but it does seem to really help when your feeling down, I'm glad to see you are challanging you're depresion. Keep your chin up and keep doing what you're doing.
ReplyDeletegreat advice for all...lovely landscapes...serene and peaceful...Im glad you had the opportunity to visit...I hope your sadness evaporates and is replaced with joy...!!
ReplyDeletea long walk in nature is some of the best healing medicine there is for whatever it is that ails us all. Thank you for sharing your lovely day.
ReplyDelete"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."
~John Muir
Hi Lenny,
ReplyDeleteThank you for liking the pictures. It is very nice around where I live. It's a very good idea that we all have some special times and take very good care of ourselves.
I hope you had a good day, Lenny. Smiles, your way, Gary:-)
Hi Gucci Mama,
ReplyDeleteI just knew you would understand. You really are a dear lady.
Thank you for liking the photos. There are many beautiful spots near where I live. It makes me feel so alive. May you soon have a peaceful and positive vacation.
With respect and kind wishes, Gary
:-)
Dear David,
ReplyDeleteWell, hello 'Dolly'. As you know, my friend, I always challenge my dark times. For sure, getting out was just the tonic for my troubled mind.
It was very nice chatting with you on the phone. I look forward to when we meet again. Look after yourself, you macho babe magnet.
With kind wishes, Gary.
Hi Cher,
ReplyDeleteI'm so pleased you liked these photographs. It does not look like what one might consider typical British countryside. Quite different.
I hope that soon you may travel.
Kind wishes, Gary.
Hello THE SNEE,
ReplyDeleteThe Roaches can get bathed in wonderful light. Of course, being in England, that can be a bit of a rare occasion. Never mind.
This masculine and feminine thing in the French language can be rather confusing. La Petite Roche is correct. So that makes it feminine.
Glad you liked the visual tour.
Take very good care. With respect, Gary.
Hi lifeshighway,
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure to share the beauty that is so close to where I live.
It is so nice to know that the wonders of natural also soothe your soul.
I know you will take it easy. I will too. Thanks.
Kind wishes, Gary.
Hi Shanaz,
ReplyDeleteI think that is really neat that we both share a love of 'bumpy' landscapes. I used to live in Vancouver and there are some some seriously big bumps there. Yes, and even the mountains lol
Hey thanks for your kind and encouraging comment. I know we both realise that depression will never be given permission to dominate our lives. You are a tonic and an inspiration to me, Shanaz. I am very grateful.
Respect, love and peaceful wishes, your way, Gary :-)
Hi Joylene,
ReplyDeleteYou never know where you might end up visiting. I would have never believed that a dude who lived in Vancouver would someday be taking photographs of The Roaches.
I know you will take care, Joylene. I will do my best to look after myself. Thank you.
Peaceful and positive wishes, Gary.
Hi bazza,
ReplyDeleteYes indeed, they really are the actual names. You can have loads of fun with those names. There is a part of The Roaches named the 'Winking Man'. You should check this out, it is quite remarkable. http://hypocentral.com/blog/2009/04/13/the-winking-man/
Yes, we are just outside the Peak District. Also, we are very close to Dovedale and the village of Eyam, which was heavily infected by the Bubonic plague between 1665 and 1666.
The countryside around here is not very typical of what one normally expects. Very hauntingly beautiful.
Cheers bazza. Kind wishes, Gary.
Hi Diane,
ReplyDeleteIt really is a magical place. It has helped me a lot just to get out there and immerse myself in the beauty of nature. Taking the photos was most therapeutic. You may realise that if you click on them, they expand to full screen. That looks really nice.
I hope you take very good care and thank you.
Magical wishes, Gary x
Hi Wolf,
ReplyDeleteI kinda' figured it might seem like I was doing a posting on insects. A bit of a 'bug blog'. Or, maybe it might have been a posting about 'waccy baccy' lol
I know you are well into nature and getting some peaceful inspiration in the 'great outdoors'. I'm on a bit of an adventure living here in England and it has been awesome seeing different types of countryside from what I was used to on the West Coast.
I will keep my chin up and keep challenging the dark moments. Thanks for your encouragement. I've got a lot of respect for you.
Take care, Gary.
Greetings smArtee,
ReplyDeleteI am feeling a lot better since I found the energy to get out and be amongst such beautiful scenery.
My sadness is my feeling of not being able to help some loved ones as much as I would like. I think I have been too hard on myself.
Time to embrace a bit of joy and tell my depression to take a hike.
Thank you very much and please take very good care of you.
In kindness, Gary.
Hi joanne,
ReplyDeleteA gentle stroll amongst nature is a remarkable and inspirational resource to offset the niggling situations in our lives.
I just wanted to let you know that your lovely poetry and photographs have been a source of positive inspiration to me. I thank you so much for that.
Take very good care of you.
In peace, Gary.
You absolutely must take care of yourself.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photos.
XX
Hi Suzanne,
ReplyDeleteYou know I will. Make me a promise and look after your good self.
Thank you for liking the photos.
Gary x
Stunning Photos.
ReplyDeleteThank you for that gary. May well take a 'peak' at the area.
Hi John,
ReplyDeleteThanks for that. I hope you do manage to take a 'Peak' around this part of the country. I know it's not that far from you and it's wonderful day out.
All the best, Gary.
Hello there. I went to the country once. Very nice it was when the wind was in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteI had an uncle who kept pigs. In his kitchen.
He said to me once:
"Tom, I defended you the other day. Someone said you weren't fit to live with animals but I told him you were." Ho hum.
I'm in a strange mood today Gary. Does it show?
Ah Sir Tom Eagerly,
ReplyDeleteSo encouraging to note you have come up with an original line, here. In fact, it's right up there with, 'I stuck up for you the other day, Sir Tom, someone said you liked shit sandwiches, I said you didn't like bread'.
Sir Tom, I see nothing strange in your mood, at all. Have a jolly good weekend.
What a fascinating post. I'd never heard of the Roaches before even though I lived in England for ten years.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos, Gary.
Mind those Wallabies. Just saying :)
Hi Wendy,
ReplyDeleteThank you. Imagine my surprise when someone told me there were 'roaches' nearby that were over 1600 feet tall. I thought, 'good grief, now that's a might big bug!'
:-)
Thank you for liking the photos, Wendy. Yikes! What's that in my garden? A Wallaby? Nah, can't be...
Take care,
Gary :-)
Oh, what beautiful photos Gary! When I sell a book, I have to spend some of the money on a trip to Leek for research for my hf novel!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, you have to take care of yourself.
Hi Sharon,
ReplyDeleteReally nice of you to comment on this archived posting. I noted on my stats someone had a look at this post and thus, I linked it back up.
The photos were taken only about four miles from Leek. And of course, seeing that scenery is a good incentive to hopefully get over here in regards to further research for your book :)
Ah yes, take care of yourself, Sharon :)
Gary thanks so much for the link so that I could look at this post and these amazing images. I can clearly see the relation to this part of your country to the post I did on Tasmania. The similarities are quite stunning.
ReplyDeleteAt the time you did this post I had been gone from Tasmania for a year almost to the day.
I am so pleased that the outing you took this day in time enabled you to find some 'me' time and to be kind and gentle to yourself.
With the kindest of regards
Rose
Hi Rose,
DeleteThank you kindly for checking the link that led to the Roaches :) I thought you might be amazed at the similarities. You might also be even more surprised that wild wallabies have been spotted around the Roaches.
Tasmania gives me a sense of peace. I thank you for that.
Indeed, to sense the oneness, listening to nature's natural balance had profoundly impacted me.
Warm, peaceful regards, Rose. Thanks again for taking the time to comment on this post.
Gary
Yes I was amazed that you mentioned wallabies in the post - that really raised my eyebrows.
Delete-chuckle- it took me ages to get back to this point to read your response and for me to comment (again) because, I got waylaid making my way back here, reading many of your older posts on the way.
Your raw honesty and sharing has completely humbled me. Many of your posts keenly reminded me how very little I really say in my own blogposts. Perhaps I am not so brave, lacking courage. I have of course opened a little in some of my older posts but carefully tempered them. You have made me wonder why. I'm still wondering.......... you have given me a lot to think about. You are a nice human Gary and Penny is lucky :)
If you feel so inclined to respond to this comment please email me! I'll get hopelessly waylaid and never find my way back here again I'm sure!
R.
PS: Interesting that you say Tasmania gives you a sense of peace - I felt the same there and I also left my heart there.
Hi Rose,
ReplyDeleteApologies for the delay in replying. I'm going through a hectic time as I'm in the process of moving to another part of the town I live in. Although, not seen for some time, Wallabies were indeed wandering around the Roaches.
http://www.roaches.org.uk/wallabies.htm
I'm not only amazed that you commented again, I'm doubly amazed that you would take the time to read my older posts. That is most kind of you, Rose.
Some have considered my transparency to be something they would never do. I like to think that my honest verbalisation is potentially a shared therapy. I have been told that folks who would never write so candidly appreciate what I do. I know there is strength is sharing and caring. An ethos I hold dear to my heart.. Your words do flatter, dear lady. Your kind ambience resonates.
Hopefully, you might find my reply and I found your reply.
Tasmania continues to beckon your heart.
Thank you, Rose.
In kindness and respect,
Gary