Gotten Manor

"Here is Edward Bear, coming downstairs now, bump, bump, bump, on the back of his head, behind Christopher Robin. It is, as far as he knows, the only way of coming downstairs, but sometimes he feels that there really is another way, if only he could stop bumping for a moment and think of it"

May is nearly upon us, and work is, as usual at this time of year, about to get very hard. Everything is on the move at once, grass, hedges, weeds, feed applications and that ever increasing pain, paperwork.

Cowslips and English bluebells under the apple tree.

We have decided to take a few days serious R and R to get ready, and wanting to be away from the madding crowd, and yes, the ever intrusive home phone, while also not wanting to travel far, we have come to the Isle of Wight. 

Always visible from most of the places we are fortunate to garden at, we have both only been a few times before.

We are at Gotten Manor, a gloriously tranquil, quiet and beautiful place in the middle of nowhere, at the end of a dodgy lane to the south of the island.

Upon arrival we were greeted by the owner Caroline. A lovely lady who made us feel welcome at once. She showed us the garden that we were welcome to use whenever we wished, which is a sunken walled pleasure, with an old and rather beautiful apple tree in the centre of lush grass, and other fruit bushes either espaliered or fan trained around the walls. All rather wild, but very appropriate for the setting.

There has been a dwelling here since the Domesday book, and the present house appears in records in around 1300. There really is a grounded and secure feel about the place, especially as the surrounding plant life seem to embrace the entire building.

Caroline showed us to our room. Vaulted ceiling, old beams, heavy and crisp bedding and towels, a big wooden bed that was like a giant marshmallow to sleep in, and an iron rolled top bath next to it. This whole setting was going to give us some much needed head space.

I am personally someone who craves peace and stillness of mind for a number of reasons, but am also of a restless nature, which doesn't bode well. It was Blaise Pascal who once wrote:

'All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone.'

I agree, and feel my own inability to shut out all of the unnecessary 'stuff' such as troublesome people, work issues and such like. It's rare for me to get that head space, but on those occasions when I can, such as here, it's such a blessing.

I have laid on the grass in the sunken garden, and fallen asleep stroking the grass, picturing in my mind how as a living thing, it's linked to all of the other plants in that space via microscopic fungus, and chemical and electrical sensors. You treat one plant well, and the next one really does feel it! I was surrounded. I once wrote about it here.

We are doing other things whilst here. Visiting gardens, collecting sea glass, and falling asleep in various places, but the manor is where the real mind clearing is happening. We have just returned to our room after an alfresco supper in the sunken garden. Good red wine, and a hot bath scented with Geranium oil is next.

Breakfasts are sumptuous. Cooked breakfasts made with the best local ingredients. All types of warm bread accompanied by Carolines own seemingly endless supply of homemade jams and marmalades. Smoked salmon and scambled eggs. Perfect!