STUFF & THINGS by Jon Taylor

The (not so) Great Outdoors

Ah, the great outdoors! Grass, birds, bees, woods, the whole gamut of nature. Haven’t been able to access most of nature or the great outdoors for a while now so have kinda forgotten what it’s like to go wandering through woodland or basking on a beach.

Heading outside of Brighton at the moment smacks of an unessential journey, particularly as I’d need to get there by public transport. The recent snow we’ve had gave me a yearning to go tramping through a field leaving footprints in the newly laid drifts and for them to be the only indication of life for miles around. To be away from the noise, buildings and people of the city and to revel in the peace and quiet and the stillness of the countryside. But then to come home to tea and a doughnut.

But, I couldn’t do any of that (although I did have the tea and a jammy treat). I did get down to the seafront while it was snowing which was rather cute but it’s not quite the same.

People have a hankering to retire to a little village in the middle of nowhere with the English countryside wrapped around it with bird song being the noisiest thing. I think it would drive me mad after a while

I was fortunate to be able to visit Toronto a number of years ago and so visited Niagara Falls, which is an amazing sight. We visited during winter and so the surrounding area was knee-deep in snow with railings covered in blocks of ice, with daytime temperatures at -22. Was brilliant. The Falls itself is stunning and gives an indication of the power of nature and how it really couldn’t care less about us wee humans. If it’s going to do something, it will do it.

I think we all pretty much fall into two camps though – we’re either a city or a country person. I’m much more of a city boy myself. I grew up in Brighton, went away to Northampton for University and came back to Brighton where I’ve been ever since.

I’ve seen the countryside from car windows and visited it usually during holidays in France where the biggest town is usually a half-hour drive away. I do enjoy it. It’s nice to look over rolling hills and to see how the sunlight changes the colours of the fields and the trees. It’s calming and peaceful. But I would also like to be able to just pop down the road to buy a pint of milk without a major operation to do so. It’s nice to visit! After a while I get a bit twitchy for the civilisation of a major metropolis.

People have a hankering to retire to a little village in the middle of nowhere with the English countryside wrapped around it with bird song being the noisiest thing. I think it would drive me mad after a while. Also, if you lived in such a small place, imagine not getting on with your neighbours or just not liking them and they’re the only people around in a five mile radius!

Plus, have you seen Midsomer Murders? That’s what the countryside will get you!