The Tranquillity of Village Life

[John Perriment]

Near to where I live is the picturesque village of Fichingfield, one of (if not the) most delightful villages in Essex. It's delightful in almost every way; the pond is delightful as is the windmill, the church on the hill, the pretty rows of cottages, the quaint tea rooms and gift shops, the pub, the antique shop - even the name of the village is delightful.

But it pays a heavy price for being so charming and perfect, on summer weekends it gets very crowded. I needed to go there "on business" today (a rather grand and pretentious way of saying I had to deliver 5 pictures to the art gallery/tearoom) and as this is only March I didn't anticipate just how busy it would be. I had to drive around the village 3 times before I found a place to park.

I had my E-P3 with me, just in case, but didn't use it much. It's ironic that one of the most photogenic villages perhaps in the whole of England should be one of the most difficult to photograph. Cars, cars, motorbikes and yet more cars everywhere! And scaffolding on the building next to the church as an added bonus at present!

[Caz]

Re: The Tranquillity of Village Life

Good shot - and it does look busy, including the campers (?) behind the memorial. I consider myself lucky to live in a tranquil village, 10 miles from any major town, in Northamptonshire (except for when we get cut off by snow).

[John Perriment]

Re: The Tranquillity of Village Life

Thanks Caz. The campers are actually trailers for motorbikes! They look almost like a mini caravan and I've never seen them before.

[Pops]

Re: The Tranquillity of Village Life

Very picturesque and understandable why it attracts attention.
Can't help but think that this shor would make a terrific jigsaw puzzle

[Pol]

Re: The Tranquillity of Village Life

I had to drive around the village 3 times before I found a place to park.

I had my E-P3 with me, just in case, but didn't use it much. It's ironic that one of the most photogenic villages perhaps in the whole of England should be one of the most difficult to photograph. Cars, cars, motorbikes and yet more cars everywhere! And scaffolding on the building next to the church as an added bonus at present!

Such a nice village - typical for these times to be clogged up with vehicles and people.

It's a similar story around these parts - beautiful villages and other locations where it's impossible to stop, let alone park. Foreign juggernauts (presumably with satnavs) completely blocking the lanes then they churn up hedges and fields to turn around.

Well done you for getting the picci showing just how it is on a sunny day.

Pol

[Ian]

Re: The Tranquillity of Village Life

As a bit of an Essex-boy (I spent much of my childhood in Loughton) and having friends in your neck of the woods, John, I must shamefully admit that I had assumed the spelling was FiNchingfield! I was going to correct your spelling but thought I would double check and I'm glad I did!

Ian

[John Perriment]

Re: The Tranquillity of Village Life

As a bit of an Essex-boy (I spent much of my childhood in Loughton) and having friends in your neck of the woods, John, I must shamefully admit that I had assumed the spelling was FiNchingfield! I was going to correct your spelling but thought I would double check and I'm glad I did!

Ian

Actually Ian, it is a typo and should be FiNchingfield, at least that's how we spell it around here!

I've left my original spelling intact, so that viewers of this thread can follow this conversation.

[Rodbender]

Re: The Tranquillity of Village Life

God your post and images have brought back some old memories. Good old Finchingfield, a place I used to commute through very often. At the time I worked as a TV service engineer and had a company estate car. One evening my Wife and I stopped at the Fox Inn for a meal. We were halfway through our meal when the landlord asked "Is that you estate car with the TV repair sign on it?" I said yes, Why? And he said could I move it around the back of the Inn as two people had seen it parked there and phoned him. They asked him to send me on to them when I had finished repairing his TV. No peace for the wicked they say.

Lovely to see the old place has not lost its appeal as the most photographed village in Essex.

[Graham_of_Rainham]

Re: The Tranquillity of Village Life

Looks like the kind of place where we should all turn up one day and set up tripods all over the place, then walk around them, discussing the various pros-n-cons

(See John's other thread)

[John Perriment]

Re: The Tranquillity of Village Life

God your post and images have brought back some old memories. Good old Finchingfield, a place I used to commute through very often. At the time I worked as a TV service engineer and had a company estate car. One evening my Wife and I stopped at the Fox Inn for a meal. We were halfway through our meal when the landlord asked "Is that you estate car with the TV repair sign on it?" I said yes, Why? And he said could I move it around the back of the Inn as two people had seen it parked there and phoned him. They asked him to send me on to them when I had finished repairing his TV. No peace for the wicked they say.

Lovely to see the old place has not lost its appeal as the most photographed village in Essex.

Ron, I guess that TV repair is one of those unfortunate professions where you are never off duty. You can come and look at our BBC1 if you like, it hasn't been good reception since the digital changeover!

[John Perriment]

Re: The Tranquillity of Village Life

Looks like the kind of place where we should all turn up one day and set up tripods all over the place, then walk around them, discussing the various pros-n-cons

(See John's other thread)

Haha! Ironically, after all I said in the tripod thread, this one was taken hand-held, but it was never intended to be more than just a snap shot anyway.

[OlyPaul]

Re: The Tranquillity of Village Life

Nice to have that near your doorstep John, I'm quite jealous.

[Barr1e]

Re: The Tranquillity of Village Life

The coffe bar must have a good reputation.

Great scene John.

Regards. Barr1e