Great Sadness

I think all dereliction has a degree of sadness and in each case there is a story behind the neglect.

I have blipped this old VW Beetle before but sadly since that visit the owner of the land has died.

This field is full of rusting tractors, trailers, combine harvesters,  cars and other agricultural machinery.  All had been owned and used by the poor gentleman during his sixty years of farming the land.

Before we moved to Shropshire his sad story had begun to unfold, his daughter had died and his wife subsequently took her own life.

He never really recovered and lived a life of memories drowned in grief.

Then, one day, earlier this year, he went missing. A search was instigated and sadly he was found.

He had taken his own life.

On the anniversary date of his wife's death.

It still sends shivers whenever I walk past, the whole place is like a graveyard.

It serves to make me grateful for my own life and blessings.  We have had our share of grief and difficulty but we are lucky to still be able to enjoy our days in retirement and in reasonable health.

It also makes me think twice before making judgement when I see dereliction and neglect...

There is always a story...