I walk up a long driveway and turn around a bend and there it is in front of me: the most perfectly proportioned house, typical of the sort a small child might draw. Then, in that disjointed but alright sort of way of dreams, I am at the back of the house. There are two arched windows with soil silted halfway up their frames.
I wriggle through the opening and drop to the floor, a few feet below. Standing up, I see I’m in a small circular room and, above me, see that the ceiling is cloistered like in an old abbey building. And then I wake up and feel so warm and good inside that I’m happy all day.
Year after year, I dream of this until my late twenties when, one day, I decide to draw the house, but I can only draw it as as a child would. The spell is broken and I never dream it again. And then 17 years later I go for an interview for a position as Head Gardener and find myself walking up a long driveway, turn around a bend and….I get the job.
Supplying pot plants and cut flowers for inside the house is all part of everyday working life and I find myself in a small circular room looking out of the half windows with their arched tops. The ceiling is plain plaster. ‘How disappointing’, I say as I tell the owner about the cloister. The ceiling is false, the house, after tragedy, had become a convent, the adjoining room was a chapel, who knows what is above the ceiling?
Apparantly, the son, an only child, died just before the house was completed. The obelisk at the front of the property was built to commemorate him and the parents moved away. And so, in the 21st century, so did I – reluctantly in some ways – to be with my new partner to live in the Cotswolds and a new career as a garden designer.
The house won’t let go. Several weeks later I am asked to return on a regular basis as an adviser and I have been travelling there ever since – the last time to supervise the planting of lavender hedges and, when I return, I still get that warm, contented and happy feeling. Do I believe in reincarnation? I’m far too much a sceptic to say ‘yes’ but there are too many coincidences to give an emphatic ‘no’…..
Life in the English Cotswolds 
I am a firm believer in the joinedupness of things, whether it is reincarnation or not. It is so nice to see new views of the Cotswolds and it looks like a beautiful house.
Nice blog. Enjoyed going through it. Keep it up the good work. cheers 🙂 Beth http://www.iflorist.co.uk
Hmm Food for thought. It sounds as though you came home.
Thank you PG, Beth & Joanne for your posts. It certainly feels like I've known the place for ever. Johnson
Interesting post. I will risk saying that I do believe in reincarnation but that I don't have any recollections myself. It is often the case that you can go somewhere where you feel totally comfortable and other places that you don't!
I think, Chris, it is probably easier for a gardener to believe in rebirth as we are witnessing it all the time in the garden … I suppose I just like to play safe over it by sitting on the fence!
I'm not sure, myself, but it does give you a warm feeling to think of what was, what might have been and what will be to come.
I just found your blog through Blotanical, and I have read every one of your posts. Now, I am daydreaming about the (too few) years when I lived in England, and wishing I was there.
I read through it twice to really get the whole story. It is really interesting. I guess you just never know about these things, anything is possible and I find these stories fascinating. It is such a beautiful place.
To Ribbit, Kilbournegrove & Catherine: Thanks for the posts and for visiting, I really appreciate it. It is a fascinating thought, isn't it? I just try to keep an open mind and enjoy the place while I can – it really is in such a beautiful location and the gardens and grounds are a delight to work in.
Anything is possible and that's why I love stories like this. Thank you so much for sharing.
Yes, Deb, who knows – perhaps!
Hi Johnson, riveting story, and a little scary too, even though it gave you a warm feeling. A child's death is always sad. I am a believer though, in many things that cannot be explained by science or logic. Lucky you to be able to continue to see the house of your dreams. Love the lavender hedge too. :-)Frances
Thanks Frances for the post and glad you enjoyed mine. Johnson
What a heart warming story. I am on the fence about a lot of things and reincarnation is one. But I have had the feeling that I had been in a place that I thought I was visting for the first time. If that makes sense? I know if I get to come back I would like to come back to my home now or the farm I grew up on. Who knows!
Yes it would be good if we could choose where we cam back to – and perhaps even better if we could choose who to avoid! Thanks for visiting and hope you will soon be back. Johnson
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