Winnie the Willows

Well it seems blog posts are like buses, nothing for ages and then along come two together. Beep beep.

After mentioning The Wind in the Willows yesterday I was amused to see today’s question…

Do you remember your favorite book from childhood?

Yes. Yes I do. Ok well that’s that answered so see you next time!

Tee hee, no of course that’s not the end of the post. I actually remember two favourite books from childhood: The Wind in the Willows and Winnie-the-Pooh. Although you may have guessed that from the title of this post. Mind you the immature part of me was tempted to go with The Wind in the Pooh but that didn’t seem right.

Anyway back to the point & yes, not only do I remember these books but they are still two of my favourites & ones I regularly return to. The characters feel like old friends, I still find Piglet endearing and love the fact he was agog at Christopher Robin’s blue braces and I can’t help wondering if my dry humour stems from Eeyore:

“Oh, Eeyore, you are wet!” said Piglet, feeling him.

Eeyore shook himself, and asked somebody to explain to Piglet what happened when you had been inside a river for quite a long time.”

And of course we all adore Pooh and I’d also love to live in a tree within the 100 Acre Wood. There are many similarities between my two favourite books as both stories feature animals, woodlands and very few people – which, coincidentally, are the main things I enjoy about walking 😉

Interestingly (to me at least) while my opinions of the main characters within Winnie-the-Pooh have remained the same, my thoughts on the Willows quartet seems to change as I get older.

At first we love the fun, larger-than-life Mr Toad, yes he’s careless but he’s such fun. On later readings we realise how selfish he is, although he is still endearing. At this stage Mole starts to catch our attention, as who among us hasn’t wanted to run away on an adventure only to end up feeling homesick?

I’m sure there will come a time when I most strongly identify with the curmudgeonly Badger who grumbles anytime someone tries to talk to him, although under the gruff exterior is a heart of gold. With the increasing number of misanthropic moments I have, I think my Badger years are a lot closer then I’d like to admit although I’m not quite there yet.

The last time I read Wind in the Willows, it was actually the often overlooked Ratty that I felt the strongest affinity with. He may not be as glamorous as Toad, as vulnerable as Mole or as delightfully dour as Badger, but Ratty is a loyal friend, always ready to lend a helping paw and sees the good in his friends. He’s up for adventure & travelling but he knows he’s happiest at home by the riverbank. A fine fellow.

I think it’s safe to say that reading these two books, which feature woodlands & wildlife, at a formative age sowed the seeds for my love of being outdoors, surrounded by trees. Perhaps on one of my walks I’ll spot Ratty & Mole on their way to help Toad or Pooh and Piglet looking for Eeyore’s tail.

On days when I can’t go on my own adventure to my versions of the Wild Wood or the Enchanted Forest then it’s reassuring to know that I can always pick up a book and be transported back to these magical places.

That’s how I stroll.