Anita Mathias: Dreaming Beneath the Spires

Anita Mathias's Blog on Faith and Art

England: A Rhapsody

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I love England. I have now lived for at least 14 years each in three continents–Asia, America and Europe. If I could live anywhere I chose, I would choose England (as I have). (And if I could choose any English town to live in, I would choose Oxford–as I have.)

As I walked down the country lane outside my house, a cup of tea in hand, I saw a herd of cows, very attractive Guernseys, in our farmer-neighbour’s field. It was a beautiful bird-loud day. It could have been out of a Constable painting or a Dylan Thomas poem. Timeless England!

I read about 500 illegal immigrants living in tent cities in Calais, hoping to come to England. The writer explained why. He said, “Can you imagine 500 men, women and children sleeping rough in Dover?” The council would do something about it.

I thought of what V.S. Naipaul in The Enigma of Arrival calls “the curious humanity of the English state.”

I do love this country, warts and all! I love their sense of decency and fair play. I love the fact that the police prosecute for racist tweets, an everyday occurrence in other countries. I love that, in this country, calling someone a “bigot” is one of the worst things you can say, in the judgement of both accused and accuser.

Chatsworth Estate, Derbyshire

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We took off this half-term for three days in Derbyshire. The Peak District looked like something out of a film, which, given the number of movies set there, is a case of circular art-imitating-life/life-imitating art. Gorgeous sheep-filled fields, with streams meandering through them, in autumn’s browns, reds and golds.

This was particularly true in Chatsworth itself. The intersection of art and life was almost surreal. Clips of The Duchess playing, while outside the window, one gazes at the very same scenes that you see on screen.

The grounds are picture perfect, and for  a couple of days I was close to perfect happiness, walking through those grounds back-lit and flood-lit by autumn. I absolutely cannot wait to go again.

The Dukes of Devonshire are a colourful family, and the current family practises “leveraging” to the utmost. A brilliant example of making the most of what you have. Using their grounds to host Sotheby auctions of monument outdoor sculpture. (Some were splendid–David Ben-Zadok’s circle of wild dancers, his full moon sculpture, Dali’s Femme en Flamme. I would happily have Ben-Zadok’s wild pagan dancers in my back garden could I afford it, but c’est la vie… )

Anyway, a solid business sense is evident behind the aristocratic veneer. Renting the grounds for weddings. Charging heftyish admission fees. Extra for the petting zoo. To him who has shall more be given, provided they hone their talents, shine and buff them, instead of burying them in the ground.