HOME to roost
WOMAN - UK|March 09, 2024
Was it just the charm of an old house that drew Alice back to her roots?
HOME to roost

She couldn’t really say what had brought her back to this little Norfolk village. The urge had come upon Alice as she sat at her computer in her studio flat in Camden. She hadn’t even booked ahead for accommodation, had just thrown some things in a bag and jumped into the car.

The place was just as she remembered it from her childhood – the village green peppered with crows, the pub with its rickety tables overlooking the cricket pitch, the antique barn full of old bird-baths and stone cider flagons.

Alice stood for a while at the edge of the green, listening to the fruity song of the blackbirds, before taking the mud track marked ‘Circular walk’. She remembered taking this same route all those years ago.

The day was mild for the time of year and, as she walked, Alice tried to push away any negative thoughts – the loss of some of her private students, her non-existent love-life, London’s extortionate property prices, and her acceptance that she might be destined evermore to live in a 12ft-square room.

‘Live in the moment,’ Alice murmured, repeating the mantra of her recent mindfulness download. ‘You are a mountain. There is no problem you cannot surmount.’

She smiled to herself. She would certainly be one lonely mountain here. The Norfolk fields, flat as flounders, stretched endlessly before her, sugar-frosted in the winter sun. A vast sky arched above her, and unwinding just beyond a line of beech trees was the jade-green ribbon of the River Bure.

Alice soon found herself relaxing without even having to try. Wrens flicked through the hedgerows and plump thrushes gobbled down winter berries. The white rear of a muntjac deer skipped ahead of her on the path, and the air was alive with the honks of dark-bellied and pink-footed geese.

Denne historien er fra March 09, 2024-utgaven av WOMAN - UK.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra March 09, 2024-utgaven av WOMAN - UK.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA WOMAN - UKSe alt
The benefits of waking up early
WOMAN - UK

The benefits of waking up early

I can almost feel my daughters rolling their eyes at the thought of me writing about the joys of waking up early.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 23, 2024
'Rylan makes me MILLIONS!
WOMAN - UK

'Rylan makes me MILLIONS!

The presenter talks about his love life, professional success and his alter ego

time-read
3 mins  |
September 23, 2024
GATSBY
WOMAN - UK

GATSBY

He needed a home, but was Maria barking to even consider taking him in?

time-read
7 mins  |
September 23, 2024
My mindset MAKEOVER
WOMAN - UK

My mindset MAKEOVER

After losing 4st, the future is bright for Hazel James

time-read
4 mins  |
September 23, 2024
Eat more WEIGH LESS
WOMAN - UK

Eat more WEIGH LESS

Feel fuller while losing weight with our exclusive plan from Slimming World

time-read
6 mins  |
September 23, 2024
Autumn tricks YOU NEED TO KNOW
WOMAN - UK

Autumn tricks YOU NEED TO KNOW

Stop cold, dark nights disturbing your sleep with these expert cheats

time-read
3 mins  |
September 23, 2024
'HARRY WILL NOT BE BACK'
WOMAN - UK

'HARRY WILL NOT BE BACK'

Reports of Prince Harry wanting to return to the UK and royal duties are, I’m told, ‘completely wrong’.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 23, 2024
'I'M HONOURED to still be part of Strictly'
WOMAN - UK

'I'M HONOURED to still be part of Strictly'

Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke on the hit show and why he'll never retire

time-read
4 mins  |
September 23, 2024
Would you keep CANCER A SECRET?
WOMAN - UK

Would you keep CANCER A SECRET?

Model Elle Macpherson revealed she kept her battle with the disease hidden - we find out why many others choose to do the same

time-read
4 mins  |
September 23, 2024
'Ruth has handled the split WITH DIGNITY'
WOMAN - UK

'Ruth has handled the split WITH DIGNITY'

Coleen Nolan on grief, supporting Ruth Langsford through divorce and moving in with boyfriend Michael Jones

time-read
3 mins  |
September 23, 2024