Park Life - Bristol. UK
Like most of the world right now, here in the UK we are in lock down. We are permitted to leave our homes 1 hour of the day for exercise or to fetch food and medicine. I use my hour at 6am every morning for a quiet walk around my neighbourhood. I end my walk on top of a hill in my local park near my house. Here is the view, badly taken on my camera phone in the rain. Its not a pretty picture or even a memorable cityscape but here are the reasons I wanted to write about it on my blog.
From the left side of the skyline following in to the centre of the image the first point on the horizon (which is just a little line). This is a giant spire of a Catholic Church based in the borough of Clifton. This is where I used to live when I was studying at University in a shared student house. I remember the friendships I made, meeting my husband for the first time, the late nights and the deadlines. The next 'point' along the skyline (surrounded by trees) is Cabot Tower, a view point in another of the city's parks. I remember the lunch breaks from crappy jobs in that park, dreaming big and making plans to become artists and exhibit our works. The wider, squarer-er tower, just passed centre, is Bristol University. I would walk across the city to the art supply shop nearby to purchase my materials. Excited to try something new or add a different colour into my practice that week. The crane, drawn down to the mid ground is right by my local swimming pool. I would usually swim four times a week. After, the smell of chlorine would linger as I headed to my favourite coffee shop, where they knew my name and asked about my day. Strangers becoming friends. Lastly, back to the horizon, there is a thin structure that looks like a match. That's St Michael's Maternity Hospital. Today my friend is bravely in the hospital having her baby during this global pandemic. I don't know when I will get to see her again. All these things that were an integral to my daily life are now very far away. As I stand on this hill, reflecting, I feel like a spectator and disconnected. Many of the things that this place holds I took for granted, but when this is over, I will have a greater appreciation for the people and places within this city.