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treaclechops’s TMA Blog

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Orange And Purple At the Hawk Stone

A glorious Bank Holiday Monday late afternoon found the exquisite Cheryl and I sucking on a chardonnay and a pint at the rather lovely Hand & Shears pub in Church Hanborough, Oxon. Sat outside on a sunny bench, we were discussing deep things of the soul whilst the rooks fought it out in the churchyard chestnut trees. During our reflection on many things, I looked at Cheryl over the end of my pint.

"I need to go to a megalithic site," I suddenly announced. "Do you know the Hawk Stone?"

"No," she replied, "Sounds cool, though."

I phoned the delightful Jane for directions, only to discover she was utterly distraught about the corporate vandalism wreaked on the Uffington White Horse over the weekend. Grrr. Fools. But she gave us directions for the Hawk Stone, and we set off as the sun began to drop lower in the sky.

Arriving at our destination, we were greeted by an idyllic scene – fantastic light, a field full of new green plants, hordes of birds singing, and blue, blue skies. The Hawk Stone herself looked fabulous rising up on the horizon from the sea of green fecundity, and it wasn't long before the exquisite Cheryl was bonding deeply with her. After all, this was her first visit. Definitely not her last!

The amazing sunshine made the stone sing forth with colour, as ever, and we soon set to work taking some wicked photographs. We had arrived at the perfect time, as three frames from the end of the last roll, the light began to weaken, and the temperature drop. The sun was covered for a while by a wonderful cloud, so we headed back to the car, by which time a sumptuous sunset began to form.

I stood for a long time under the greening ash tree, and watched the golden light fall across the crops, highlighting floating thistledown and insects, listening to the robins and blackbirds singing mellifluously, and let the whole bleed brilliantly into my soul. The Hawk Stone stood quietly on her ridge, an unobtrusive and secret part of the landscape. Cheryl stood on the car and looked beautifully radiant in the soft orange glow as the sun crept further towards the horizon, totally at one with the world around her. It was perfect. And then the perfection got better - a phenomenal sunset of orange and purple which filled every horizon we gazed upon. Lovely.

There is a huge sense of femaleness throughout this area, despite the fact the Hawk Stone is up a long field. The peacefulness and stunning views are something else, and I thoroughly recommend a visit. You will return soothed and revitalized.

Hawk Stone — Fieldnotes

31.08.03ce

On a fine bank Holiday Monday, the exquisite Cheryl and I arrived at our destination to be greeted by an idyllic scene – fabulous light, a field full of new green plants, hordes of birds singing, and blue, blue skies. The Hawk Stone herself looked fabulous rising up on the horizon from the sea of green fecundity, and it wasn't long before Cheryl was bonding deeply with her. After all, this was her first visit. Definitely not her last!

The amazing sunshine made the stone sing forth with colour, as ever, and we soon set to work taking some wicked photographs. We had arrived at the perfect time, as three frames from the end of the last roll, the light began to weaken, and the temperature drop. The sun was covered for a while by a wonderful cloud, so we headed back to the car, by which time there was the beginnings of a sumptuous orange and purple sunset which filled every horizon we gazed upon. Lovely.