Of all the world's creatures, perhaps those in greatest need of rewilding are our children. The collapse of children's engagement with nature has been even faster than the collapse of the natural world. In the turning of one generation, the outdoor life in which many of us were immersed has gone....So many fences are raised to shut us out that eventually they shut us in.
George Monbiot
I absolutely borrowed this from Terri Windling's blog, Myth & Moor. I wanted to note it some place ...
I read Leonie Wise's beautiful blog. Lately, she's been sharing music.
Leonie Wise lives in New Zealand these days, on an incredible heartbreakingly beautiful island called Waiheke Island.
And she blogs, sharing small pieces of that country I love, allowing us all to drink in images ... text too.
I visited that island, once, long ago. All indications are that it has improved over the decades since and that it offers lifestyle ... on steroids. In a natural nature-enhancing way.
And she posted photographs today, and a song too, by Mr Probz called Waves.
So I went and found some waves I had photographed while we were out on a boat exploring Mercury Bay, up in the Coromandel, when I was back at home too.
It's a cold grey rainy day here in the flatlands ...
The modem went down and as I waited for it to rest and restart I fell a little bit in love with this version of Lonely The Brave song, Backroads.
She dances ... acting exquisitely, making me laugh.
I have 2 mountaineering authors I enjoy more than all others and one of them is Andrew Greig, author of the book titled Summit Fever.
Perhaps this write-up captures what I found so enjoyable about his book: When poet Andrew Greig was asked by Scottish mountaineer Mal Duff to join his ascent of the Mustagh Tower in the Karakoram Himalayas, he had a poor head for heights and no climbing experience whatsoever. The result is this unique book.
Summit Fever has been loved by climbers and literary critics alike for its refreshing candour, wit, insight and the haunting beauty of its writing. Much more than a book about climbing, it celebrates the risk, joy and adventure of being alive.
But having 'discovered' Andrew today, beyond rereading his book and carrying it with me as I've moved towns and countries, I have truly enjoyed finding his poetry and everything else too. He's a well-rounded artist it seems.
And I found Mal's Song (embedded below) ... beyond special. I'm on page 38, rereading my paperback version yet again and Mal is currently introducing Andrew to the mountains ... in preparation for their adventure in the Himalayas. Like in the song.
Mal Duff was an extraordinary man, a superb mountaineer, a good friend to many, and all kinds of other things that I can't possibly imagine, I'm sure. He died at Everest's base camp back in 1997.
Joe Simpson, who also had some epic times in the mountains with Mal, wrote of Mal's favourite quote in the introduction to Andrew's book, Summit Fever. The quote:
He either fears his fate too much
or his deserts are small,
that dares no put it to the touch
to win or lose it all.
- the Duke of Montrose.
But of course.
And that would be Joe Simpson, that other writer/mountaineer whose books I love.