Sandy Lane, Pennard, Gower. Thoughts From My Heart

A story......

Once upon a time, a young single Mum suffering from postnatal depression and the emotional trauma of her 3rd failed marriage moved with her children to a little chalet in Wales.
She was enchanted by the bumpy, dusty track, the rambling hedges with their unkempt frizz. The lupins, mallow, gorse and ferns,the sand and the river that rolled into the sea,passing the glorious beach and stately cliffs.All held her in a dizzy enchantment.
The romantic ruins of the castle that stood above the valley was the ideal place to just sit and 'be'. Watching the herds of ponies as they grazed. On wind whipped winter nights it was the place to shout and scream frustrations until they were no more. Returning to the cosy comfort of the wood burning stove at home, smelling the wood smoke of her friends and neighbour's fires as she wound her way back.
A peace and serenity overcame her troubled spirit and she and her family at last felt safe.
The small community took them to their hearts and soon the family felt more at home than they had ever done. This was their hearts home, she knew deep inside that this was a place of healing.
It was here she became pregnant with her fourth child, the child of her heart and met her true soul mate and closest friend.
They married soon after and theirs is an enduring and exceptionally fulfilling relationship, that so far has spanned well over twenty years.
The children have now grown up, grandchildren abound! They are now loving the idyllic place as much as their parents and grandparents do.
Over the years they have had their share of sorrows and tribulations but through it all the little community has been their sanctuary and retreat.
In recent years, new people have come along, the property prices have gone up as people tried to buy into the different way of life.
The kids can't afford to buy a chalet now..they used to change hands for a few quid..rumour has it one was swapped for an acoustic guitar many moons ago!!
The newcomers want to tidy up, tarmac roads, put up street lights, fence things off. They even use barbed wire!
They object to the fetes ,parties & gatherings of the community in case it attracts people who scare them and they might even be in danger of enjoying themselves.
They form committees and have lots of meetings, write minutes and issue notices to try to make it more conformist. Threatening litigation & official interference. It seems that the very life they so desperately wanted is the very thing that they object to. A case of the reality being very different to their previous ideas.
The little community is a rare and precious thing and they all need to stand together to protect the life they have. If they allow the officious ones to dictate then the lane as we know and love it will disappear.
For those of you who have moved here......just try to live and enjoy what it is. Don't try to make it like anywhere else because the very essence of what makes the lane will be destroyed. If you want an estate....GO AND LIVE ON ONE!