Covid 19 has put paid to our plans and our normal everyday life for a while. It’s not all doom and gloom because circumstance and attitude can make each of us have a unique experience, however most folk are not enjoying it one bit. I am one of the luckier ones indeed.
I returned to Australia on the 15th March and I came to stay with my sister and brother in law in Armidale NSW. The initial plan was for me to do my quarantine here and then I would head north to stay with a friend in Queensland. Shortly after my return the travel restrictions came into force and this has prevented me getting back to my home state, not that I am too bothered by that because I am enjoying staying with Catherine and Stuart and getting to know Armidale using Shanks’s Ponies every day.
Armidale is a small country town and the infection rate here is almost nonexistent but we still have to abide by the rules and so apart from the neighbourhood walks and trips to the shops we have not been anywhere at all. Yesterday however we managed to go for a run in the car and it was really good.
The travel restrictions have been eased slightly which is allowing us to go a bit further afield but not too far. Yesterday we went to Uralla and grabbed a coffee and then we went out to see the old church at Gostwyck where you normally see and abundance of colour at this time of the year. The surrounding elm trees were a little bit bare but the old church still retained a presence.
It’s a private church which was built in 1921 to the memory of Major Clive Collingwood Dangar who lost his life during World War I. The small wall was built to protect it from flooding from the nearby creek. I have come before when the elms were in full colour and the Virginia Creeper which covers the church was resplendent in red, but due to the current drought the trees have been put under immense pressure.
We all came here years ago with my Mum and so it holds a special place in all of our hearts. It’s a very famous landmark which draws folk from all over to admire this small family owned church which was constructed so many years ago sitting in such a wonderful location.