Outdoor Inspiration

The other day I walked a mile or two of the North Worcestershire Way in the sunshine. As I meandered along I came across a cottage set back from the lane and up a unkempt path. It inspired me to write this piece. Maybe I'll use it as the beginning of a story.

Yew Tree Cottage

Janice frowned. Yew tree cottage wasn’t anything like she’d imagined. The yew was small and dwarfed by a large monkey puzzle tree, which was the centre-piece of the front garden. As she walked slowly up the path in trepidation she stared at the dilapidated cottage and wondered if she’d got the right place.

The blue paint had almost completely peeled off the wooden window frames and the once white-washed walls were green with mildew. The garden looked no better. A windowless wooden framed greenhouse surrounded by brambles and stinging nettles. And it looked as though the silver birch in the corner was the only thing holding it up.

She stopped in front of the wooden panelled door and looked for the bell. There was none, nor even a knocker. She banged on the door timidly with the side of her right hand and watched the flecks of blue paint fall onto the stone flags. Taking two steps back she waited. The door opened slowly and she glimpsed a withered old man in the dim light. She heard him croak, ‘Come in my dear, let me put the kettle on.’


(200 words)