On Easter Saturday, after a lovely afternoon relaxing in their beautiful garden, with my parents and my Mum’s cousin from London, we walked along the hill all the way home with our twins. We left in late afternoon in the still hot sun, but we got home as the sun started to go down behind the hill. It was a fiery epic adventure, felt like climbing a mountain both physically and emotionally. From the start, our daughter Grace was upset about going in the buggy, we tried having her walk but it was hard to stop her trying to walk off and she also paused often to pick dandelions or to gaze at something. I felt already like it would take forever to get home. As we went up towards the West Malvern spring, our children wanted to play in a large grassy area. So we stayed there a short while, but climbing up the steep slope (Anders struggled a bit with the buggy as no real clear path), Grace put her hand in stinging nettles, so there the crying began. She cheered up quite quickly, but it made me shaky and anxious, which is my frequent mind body response to my children’s crying, a habit I am doing my best to change.
Of course, they decided to stop by the spring and wander into the little stream and clamber on the step to put their hands in the cool water of the basin into which the hill spring drips. Their feet were completely soaked. We were a bit envious of their spontaneity in cooling down. Then we carried on up the hill on the left path. I love this familiar nature track. The sheep were resting in shade on Joyner’s field, Grace shouted ‘meh’ lots of times, which wasn’t very relaxing in this usually quiet place. She seemed to want to join the gentle creatures.
We all had some of the dark chocolate Easter egg Mum gave us to keep up our strength, with sweet, bleating lambs in the foreground.
As we went down the steep path, I struggled to control the heavy buggy with the now sleeping Michael in it, on the rocky terrain and with my not suitable for hill walking sandals. Grace refused to walk or go in the buggy, so Anders and I then had to alternate carrying her. She persistently and loudly wanted ‘Mummy’, then ‘Daddy’ to carry her, changing every few minutes. We decided this was a blessing as we could rest our arms a bit. Walking down a fairly steep hill with a two year old child in arms takes concentration! With an occasional glance at the calm trees and the wide gorgeous view peeking through of the west. Grace at last slept, leaning into Anders’s comforting shoulder, as we walked amongst the shaded trees on the final stretch down to the road. Phew. Quiet.
So finally, after a much longer walk than expected, we got to the ridan corner and saw three friends passing by, or cycling, two of whom decided to stop for a chat. It was lovely and heartwarming to see them, both friends I have known for years. It was a joy and blessing after our crazy wandering journey. When we said our goodbyes, Anders put Grace in the buggy, but she awoke whimpering, so back to carrying her again. We still had to walk all the way down past the common, and home. Michael woke up crying. Luckily Anders had the genius idea of entertaining with dandelion clocks, so soon everyone was laughing uproariously, blowing dandelions and the children looked so cute, covered in fluffy seeds! Then more fun, as Anders suddenly ran fast down the last grassy slopes of the common with the buggy, feigning fear and crying out ‘oh no!’ with pure glee, like it was out of control, it was hilarious. What a sight we must have been! There’s nothing like a good laugh after a struggle such as hillwalking with twin toddlers. Character building or just crazy, I love it.
Arriving home, we all did high fives, and celebrated with a delicious meal cooked by Anders, and saw most of ‘Eat Pray Love’, whilst the children played, in the end wrapping themselves in the long curtains and giggling, until a late bedtime. I’m so grateful for my wild free spirited family, home and the hills. We have so many ups and downs it is insane, but I love my life, I love my family. Thank you God.