The Fellowship
Ruqayyah, Solveig, Tara, 2017 It was May. The hawthorns were covered in white blossoms, birdsong followed us and bees browsed the wildflowers on the greenway, a strip of path laid down for hikers and bikes where there had once been a railway. Grown trees on both sides of the path made it feel like woodland. Solveig had lost the ability to use the joystick on her electric wheelchair, so Ruqayyah expertly managed it, walking quickly beside her. We were happy to be out, heading to an apple tree half a mile away, which we knew to be in blossom. Many of the wildflowers had been planted by Solveig on previous trips. While I was visiting, we went down the hill to the greenway every day the weather was decent. Ruqayyah took pictures of the butterflies in the purple and pink foxgloves, which were as tall as she was! I was fascinated by the names that the British used, aquilegia for our columbine; cornflowers for what we called bachelor's buttons. Solveig and Richard’s house is in the villag...
