Tag: rural

A Cuckoo Pecks the Tree Outside Our Bedroom Window!

Sutton: A Woodpecker Outside Our Bedroom Window! (6.11.2025)

Whilst getting ready for school – our youngest daughter (Kai-Lin) – heard a “knocking” outside our bedroom window in our first-floor flat (the window is more or less in-line with the treetops nearby). When Gee pulled-back the curtain (it was around 8 am) to everyone’s surprise – there was what looked like a juvenile Woodpecker attempting to develop a head of steam through its inexperienced pecking! Normally, we only ever hear these birds “out of sight” as it were, but even then, only at a considerable distance (usually in woodland or nears forests) – but I have never seen such a rural bird landing within a city context.

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Heavy Horses Toil the Dust!

Rutland Farm Park – The Visit! (28.10.2025)

Unlike the City Farms or the bigger commercial entities – the atmosphere is relaxed. Indeed, a cadre of very alert geese provide the security detail – patrolling the grounds and showing the guests which way to travel in and out of the park! I remember once reading in a book at school (a very long time ago) that Celtic people used to live on the top of mountains and hills – and that it was geese (and not dogs) that used to warn the inhabitants of any approaching strangers! Geese “honk” really loud, and are physically brave, being willing to protect their owners with their lives! Brave little fellows they are!

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Lovely Ketton - Perhaps We We Were an Episode of the "Prisoner"!

UK: Dialectically Walking Through the Quaint Village of Ketton (Northants)! (5.8.2025)

Recently, I spent a week in the Northants countryside. Fresh air, good food, wide open spaces, a garden, things to do, and everybody saying “hello” – and “good morning” – and meaning it! Coming from a London suburb, the general rule of thumb is “silence” – when meeting people you do not know just in case they want to rob or rape you. There is also the ever-present threat of someone you don’t know asking for “money” or “food”, etc, all things that are not allowed within cities. My children are taught to remain well-behaved by the school when meeting others – to be “quiet” so as not to attract the unwanted attention of others. Walking through the picturesque village of Ketton last Saturday (1.8.2025) was interesting, as well-meaning groups of old ladies loudly greeted us like they knew us – all ready to help at a moment’s notice – we were even invited to a Church Service within ten minutes of arriving! 

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UK: Visiting Haytor – Dartmoor National Park! (17.4.2025

We were committed to traversing directly up before we fully appreciated the difference. Nevertheless, hundreds climb Haytor every week – with wild Dartmoor ponies wandering around the car-park area. These animals may – or may not – come over for a stroke, but visitors must be careful not to be bitten, head-butted, or kicked, etc. This does not happen very often – but wild animals should be respected. Another issues are yapping dogs (which must be kept on leads). As matters transpired, there was one or two calm and sedate ponies that wanted to be stroked and petted, etc. The general experience is important for children – particularly those from city areas – to re-connect with nature and experience the feeling that the immensity of nature – wide-open spaces – can generate! I last visited probably about 20-years ago with Gee – but our two children not yet born.

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Communist Party Cares for the People!

China: Support for Rural “Left-Behind” Women [and Disabled] Intensified! (13.04.2025)

It encourages their involvement in care services for left-behind children, elderly care and support for people with disabilities.

The working plan also calls for assistance to rural left-behind women with disabilities or financial difficulties and their families, while supporting charitable organizations in launching targeted public welfare initiatives.

In addition, the state departments would strengthen the protection of rural left-behind women’s legal rights, work to prevent discrimination and domestic violence, and expand access to healthcare services for this population, according to the working plan.

Rural left-behind women are defined as those who remain in rural areas while their husbands work away from home for more than six months.

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Village Doctor - Dedicated to Local Community!

China: Medical Professional Provides Crucial Lifeline to Those Living in Countryside! (10.3.2025)

According to the national census in 2020, the proportion of people aged 60 and above in rural areas was 23.8 percent, nearly 8 percentage points higher than that in urban areas.

Since 2021, China has been focusing on adjusting its poverty alleviation measures to align with the goal of rural vitalization, while also strengthening the provision of basic healthcare in rural areas.

The National Health Commission, along with four other government departments, launched a plan in April last year to nurture college-educated rural doctors, and nearly 7,500 graduates have been hired.

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