Petals scattered at our feet, blooms in shades of violet and magenta gently cascading from the trees above, our walk into Burley this warm June Saturday was possibly the prettiest yet. Taking our well-worn path, we meandered past the same quaint cottages and fields with wheat, the summer day’s sky blue and cloudless, tree canopies above us festooned with blossom.
The village centre, picturesque as always, was strewn with a handful of visitors, ice creams melting in hand as they explored each corner of our beautiful village. In the five years we’ve been here, a summer weekend in Burley has never been this quiet, the effects of lockdown tampering with the usually joyous spirit permeating from pub to pub, sweet shop to tea room.
A trickle of life was visible in the few places open for takeaway iced drinks and homemade treats. We didn’t feel safe paying a visit yet and resisted giving into our cravings, happily passing along with a quick peek inside at the delicious displays holding out hope for local life. We will more than make up for this when the time feels right.
This summer in Burley will be a different one to what we’re used to – slow walks in the forest replacing long afternoons in beer gardens, picnics instead of cream teas under the shade – but we’re going to embrace it fully and look forward to each slow, quiet adventure with nothing but the company of each other and Burley’s idyllic surroundings.
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