I know someone else who prefers to travel backwards. Love the drawing. Handmade paper? That's impressive. Do you think one of these days you might describe the process? Thanks for the mention.
I love riding the train backwards (always the window seat, though). I love watching the vista I'm leaving unfurl like a ribbon knowing that I'm headed in the opposite direction – new, adventurous, unknown until I arrive.
Awesome post! I am loving the silk handmade paper- I have made cotton rag paper once, and I find it fascinating that there is silk paper out there.
Since I had extreme car sickness no direction was good for me. But for some weird reason boats didn’t bother me and I loved looking backwards.
Did you ever notice that when you walk one direction, when you turn around and walk the other way it is like it is a completely different walk? Maybe that is just my directionally challenged brain.
The silk paper was fun to draw on, but difficult, too! My pencils would kind of trip over the silk fibres, and parts of the paper were very shiny so it was hard to make a mark. I didn’t make the paper myself, though.
I am fortunate that I don’t get travel sick, thank goodness.
And yes! My issue with turning back to walk the other way is that I can never recognise where I’ve been - so if there are any junctions or crossroads or landmarks I need to take into account in order to find my way home, well, they’re no help at all, because it’s as if I’m seeing them for the first time! Hopeless, I tell you, I’m hopeless! 🤣
I try to remember big trees, and sometimes when I pass them I look back to see what they look like from the other side. It is hard to enjoy when you have to compensate for being directionally challenged!
Ooooh, that’s a good idea! I think I try to take on board too much sensory ‘input’ and it’s overwhelming, so I never really engage with it. Restricting myself to, say, big trees as landmarks, well, I could probably work with that.
I had my annual diabetic eye screening at the hospital yesterday….. and got lost AGAIN at exactly the same spot as I got lost in this time last year. I even know why - it’s because the waiting-room for that clinic is directly opposite the screening room, so on leaving (because I was leaving the room OPPOSITE) I was 180° out!
I understand completely. Hospitals are like mazes. I usually try to either navigate by the art on the walls, or just ask a random worker how to get out.
And I always seem to repeat my mistakes when it comes to finding my way anywhere lol!
What an enjoyable piece! I loved (I think, I still do) traveling trains. Short distance or long distance, like Moscow- Ural. Both ways, you look through window and you learn your country, so much beauty in the passing by places, so much sadness, I don't know-why, but I remember feeling of sadness in my train trips. And the possibility to be absolutely alone among the people, to concentrate on yourself, to immerse into yourself. Rebecca, you brought me so much nostalgia, thank you. And pictures are wonderful!
Thank you, Rebecca! After i remembered recently about taking train from St. Petersburg to Riga seven years ago, all my nostalgic mood about trains disappeared. I finished my memoir about that train experience. (It's not a train, actually, it's a people.)
Oh, I can just FEEL that feeling of riding backwards...also my favorite seat! Maybe it's because I was born feet first, that I love to do things backwards. Ha ha. I so loved going on your little trips with you, and your adorable companions! Thanks for taking me along, Rebecca!
Awwww, I love that you’ve made a connection between being born feet-first and enjoying doing things backwards - that’s a wonderful, wonderful thing, Sharon! And thank you for coming along with me for this ride. 🚂
I truly enjoyed reading this again Rebecca! It brought back memories...all you kids in the back of the car. Oh my gosh...I resonate. Thank you so much. Have a lovely weekend my friend. xox
The photo of you and cousins in the back of the Volvo is old gold for sure. We had a rear-facing 3rd seat in a brand new station wagon that had its initial voyage to Expo 67, the World's Fair in Montreal, Canada. One of my sisters used to get car sick, so the contenders for the "way back" were my other sister and 2 brothers. Great to read this post again, RH. P.S. Love the bears drawing and the paper looks fab!
Oh wow, I love the sound of that station wagon! How many of you could fit on that third seat? Did you draw lots? Take it in turns?
When we were big enough to sit in the front seat of the car on the way to school my brother and I would take it in turns - he’d be in the front on the way there; I’d be in the front on the way back. If both of my parents were in the car though, of course we’d both be in the back!
Three of us would fit - we were all pretty skinny kids! 😄 And yup, we took turns. My mum was organized and had 4 of the 5 of us on a rotation schedule. I, unfortunately, didn't draw or read in the car because I got carsick if I did. I daydreamed though, watching the scenery roll by. My imagination was my best travel friend!
Oh, I love that there was a rotation schedule - quite right, too! ‘My imagination was my best travel friend’ - that’s absolutely perfect, Mary. LOVE that!
Nostalgic and fun! Ah the memories. (I do remember being the one in the back of our station wagon, facing backwards, and loving it SO much. It was MY space. So exciting.)
Your descriptions of how you deal with space and motion always amaze me. I take so much for granted, but you point out the simple, minute details of sight and sensation to beautifully. And what a fun railroad trip you had. Thank you for this story. And I hope you have many more.
You can see more travelling backwards. Ok maybe not from a railway carriage 🤔. Your posts always put my memory buttons. Fond memories of the Bluebell Railway with my Grandmother, who lived in Worthing xxx
Travelling backwards certainly gives a different view on things!
How lovely that you know the Bluebell Railway too! I grew up very close to it and had many happy family visits there, and now that I’m married to Jim I have a family connection to it, too. His grandad was instrumental in its founding, and the railway has played such an important role in our lives together. A very special place.
Loved this second time around! I too enjoy travelling backward, although less so now than when I was a kid. We had a saloon/station wagon with a backward facing seat but as an only child I rarely got to sit there. Thanks for resharing this gem!
I know someone else who prefers to travel backwards. Love the drawing. Handmade paper? That's impressive. Do you think one of these days you might describe the process? Thanks for the mention.
Thanks, Terry! I’m afraid that although the paper was handmade, it wasn’t handmade by me!
That whole other rear view - of course it's more exciting. Parents should know this!
And your bears, Rebecca. That image is so frameable - the action of the bears, the colours. It tells such a story. Wonderfully joyful post!
Awww, thanks, Prue! I must seek out those bears again - I wonder if they’d like an updated portrait doing? Or indeed another train ride!
I love riding the train backwards (always the window seat, though). I love watching the vista I'm leaving unfurl like a ribbon knowing that I'm headed in the opposite direction – new, adventurous, unknown until I arrive.
Oh Susannah, thank you - you’ve expressed this so beautifully! ❤️
Just priceless, Rebecca. Thanks so much for bringing this Old Gold back to us. Such a delight.
Thank you so much for reading it again, Sharron!
Awesome post! I am loving the silk handmade paper- I have made cotton rag paper once, and I find it fascinating that there is silk paper out there.
Since I had extreme car sickness no direction was good for me. But for some weird reason boats didn’t bother me and I loved looking backwards.
Did you ever notice that when you walk one direction, when you turn around and walk the other way it is like it is a completely different walk? Maybe that is just my directionally challenged brain.
The silk paper was fun to draw on, but difficult, too! My pencils would kind of trip over the silk fibres, and parts of the paper were very shiny so it was hard to make a mark. I didn’t make the paper myself, though.
I am fortunate that I don’t get travel sick, thank goodness.
And yes! My issue with turning back to walk the other way is that I can never recognise where I’ve been - so if there are any junctions or crossroads or landmarks I need to take into account in order to find my way home, well, they’re no help at all, because it’s as if I’m seeing them for the first time! Hopeless, I tell you, I’m hopeless! 🤣
I try to remember big trees, and sometimes when I pass them I look back to see what they look like from the other side. It is hard to enjoy when you have to compensate for being directionally challenged!
Ooooh, that’s a good idea! I think I try to take on board too much sensory ‘input’ and it’s overwhelming, so I never really engage with it. Restricting myself to, say, big trees as landmarks, well, I could probably work with that.
I had my annual diabetic eye screening at the hospital yesterday….. and got lost AGAIN at exactly the same spot as I got lost in this time last year. I even know why - it’s because the waiting-room for that clinic is directly opposite the screening room, so on leaving (because I was leaving the room OPPOSITE) I was 180° out!
(Tried explaining. Nobody ‘got’ it! 🤣)
I understand completely. Hospitals are like mazes. I usually try to either navigate by the art on the walls, or just ask a random worker how to get out.
And I always seem to repeat my mistakes when it comes to finding my way anywhere lol!
What an enjoyable piece! I loved (I think, I still do) traveling trains. Short distance or long distance, like Moscow- Ural. Both ways, you look through window and you learn your country, so much beauty in the passing by places, so much sadness, I don't know-why, but I remember feeling of sadness in my train trips. And the possibility to be absolutely alone among the people, to concentrate on yourself, to immerse into yourself. Rebecca, you brought me so much nostalgia, thank you. And pictures are wonderful!
Thank you so much, Larisa! Train rides are great - particularly long-distance ones, where you can watch the landscape change.
Thank you, Rebecca! After i remembered recently about taking train from St. Petersburg to Riga seven years ago, all my nostalgic mood about trains disappeared. I finished my memoir about that train experience. (It's not a train, actually, it's a people.)
Oh, I can just FEEL that feeling of riding backwards...also my favorite seat! Maybe it's because I was born feet first, that I love to do things backwards. Ha ha. I so loved going on your little trips with you, and your adorable companions! Thanks for taking me along, Rebecca!
Awwww, I love that you’ve made a connection between being born feet-first and enjoying doing things backwards - that’s a wonderful, wonderful thing, Sharon! And thank you for coming along with me for this ride. 🚂
Felt like I was right there on the ride!
Aww, thanks, Punit!
I truly enjoyed reading this again Rebecca! It brought back memories...all you kids in the back of the car. Oh my gosh...I resonate. Thank you so much. Have a lovely weekend my friend. xox
Thank you so much, Julie!
You bet! :) It's always a joy to read your stories.
A lovely read
Thank you, Kerry! 😊
The photo of you and cousins in the back of the Volvo is old gold for sure. We had a rear-facing 3rd seat in a brand new station wagon that had its initial voyage to Expo 67, the World's Fair in Montreal, Canada. One of my sisters used to get car sick, so the contenders for the "way back" were my other sister and 2 brothers. Great to read this post again, RH. P.S. Love the bears drawing and the paper looks fab!
Oh wow, I love the sound of that station wagon! How many of you could fit on that third seat? Did you draw lots? Take it in turns?
When we were big enough to sit in the front seat of the car on the way to school my brother and I would take it in turns - he’d be in the front on the way there; I’d be in the front on the way back. If both of my parents were in the car though, of course we’d both be in the back!
Three of us would fit - we were all pretty skinny kids! 😄 And yup, we took turns. My mum was organized and had 4 of the 5 of us on a rotation schedule. I, unfortunately, didn't draw or read in the car because I got carsick if I did. I daydreamed though, watching the scenery roll by. My imagination was my best travel friend!
Oh, I love that there was a rotation schedule - quite right, too! ‘My imagination was my best travel friend’ - that’s absolutely perfect, Mary. LOVE that!
Nostalgic and fun! Ah the memories. (I do remember being the one in the back of our station wagon, facing backwards, and loving it SO much. It was MY space. So exciting.)
There’s such value in having your own space - and I love that the rear-facing seat was your domain when you got to sit there! Fabulous, Beth!
Time and direction being human constructs, of course, perhaps it is all about perspective. :)
Yes! You’re so right!
Your descriptions of how you deal with space and motion always amaze me. I take so much for granted, but you point out the simple, minute details of sight and sensation to beautifully. And what a fun railroad trip you had. Thank you for this story. And I hope you have many more.
Oh Sue, thank you for these lovely words! ❤️
You can see more travelling backwards. Ok maybe not from a railway carriage 🤔. Your posts always put my memory buttons. Fond memories of the Bluebell Railway with my Grandmother, who lived in Worthing xxx
Travelling backwards certainly gives a different view on things!
How lovely that you know the Bluebell Railway too! I grew up very close to it and had many happy family visits there, and now that I’m married to Jim I have a family connection to it, too. His grandad was instrumental in its founding, and the railway has played such an important role in our lives together. A very special place.
Loved this second time around! I too enjoy travelling backward, although less so now than when I was a kid. We had a saloon/station wagon with a backward facing seat but as an only child I rarely got to sit there. Thanks for resharing this gem!
Thanks for reading it again, Sabrina! Travelling backwards has that extra layer of excitement, doesn’t it?