Unthank

As regular visitors may remember, I am on a mission to photograph all of Sheffield and its environs - every square kilometre. In yesterday afternoon's lovely autumn sunshine, I found myself walking near the tiny Derbyshire hamlet of Unthank.

Setting off towards the woods on a public right of way that skirts a cow pasture, I stopped to take this picture of Unthank Hall Farm:-

No sooner had I taken the picture than a voice emerged from the other side of the field. It was a woman with a bucket.

"Excuse me. What are you doing?"

"I'm going for a walk on a public path!" I replied. "What are you doing?"

"Me? I live here! What are you taking pictures for?"

"Because I want to. Okay?" I yelled back.

Then I continued with my walk. I am very aware of country people's sensitivities and I have come across other country dwellers who clearly appear to resent ramblers. I went into Meekfield Wood and out the other side to another chocolate box lid hamlet called Moorhall. I thought of Earl John Gray of "Going Gently" when I snapped this picture:-

But I think the best picture I took was of a lonesome hawthorn tree in Meek Fields looking back to Moorhall:-

After an hour I got back to the car in Unthank. A mucky old 4x4 vehicle was nosing out of a driveway. The driver got out - a rotund fellow in his forties. Let's call him Farmer Giles. Here's the conversation that followed:-

FARMER GILES Excuse me. What are you taking photos for?

ME Because I want to. I like taking photos of the countryside.

FARMER GILES My wife tells me you took a picture of my brother's farm.

ME You mean that old farm across the fields up there?

FARMER GILES Yes that one.

ME That's right. I did take a photo of it.

FARMER GILES Well my brother wouldn't like it.

ME. Well that's tough. I'm a law abiding citizen out on a country walk and I fancied taking a few photos. As far as I know there's no law against that.

FARMER GILES Where are you from?

ME I am from Sheffield as it happens. Where are you from?

FARMER GILES Me? I'm from here! (raising his voice) What are you asking that for?

ME I was just being polite. I've told you where I'm from so I just thought I'd keep the conversation going.

FARMER GILES Well don't come here again taking photos of our village.

ME This is a free country and I'll come as often as I want.

FARMER'S WIFE (Getting out of vehicle) We've had some burglaries here.

ME Well I can assure you that I am not a burglar. I'm just somebody who loves the countryside minding my own business, taking a few innocent photos.

FARMER GILES How'd you like people taking pictures of your house?
ME I wouldn't mind in the least and besides the picture I took of that farm must have been from fifty metres away. I don't know what your problem is.

FARMER GILES (Getting back in the 4x4) Well don't take pictures of our houses again!

ME See you mate! (The mucky vehicle zooms off down the lane)

I was quite proud of myself for staying cool and sticking to my guns. Perhaps I should send the script to the creators of BBC Radio 4's long-running tale of country life - "The Archers". I can see now why "Unthank" is so called and why the path to the woods seemed so untrodden.