There is a place in South Africa where I spent many happy weeks as a child. It is a commercial forest. There was a campsite for holidaymakers, and wonderful walks in the forests - both natural as well as plantations - and mountains around. I went there for the final time when I was 17. I vowed never to return, and have kept that promise to myself. Many plantation compartments had been harvested, and in so doing, the magic of the place was entirely destroyed for me. I no longer recognised walks I had once known like the back of my hand. I can never get those places back.
Only to say that I understand what it is to have such memories of places that are no longer the way they once were. But of course, that's very different to the wholesale destruction muscovy brings in its wake. 🫂
I'm really sorry to hear that the place of your childhood was ruined. I understand what it feels like. I find comfort in knowing that places like that continue to live until we remember them and pass the stories about them to others.
Beautifully written piece ❤️ I share this with you, as I used to go to Crimea multiple times with my family and it felt like home 🏡
Thank you!
There is a place in South Africa where I spent many happy weeks as a child. It is a commercial forest. There was a campsite for holidaymakers, and wonderful walks in the forests - both natural as well as plantations - and mountains around. I went there for the final time when I was 17. I vowed never to return, and have kept that promise to myself. Many plantation compartments had been harvested, and in so doing, the magic of the place was entirely destroyed for me. I no longer recognised walks I had once known like the back of my hand. I can never get those places back.
Only to say that I understand what it is to have such memories of places that are no longer the way they once were. But of course, that's very different to the wholesale destruction muscovy brings in its wake. 🫂
I'm really sorry to hear that the place of your childhood was ruined. I understand what it feels like. I find comfort in knowing that places like that continue to live until we remember them and pass the stories about them to others.