I recently read Mark Boyle’s book, “The Way Home: Tales from a Life Without Technology.”
The writer wanted to live without anything containing plastic, using electricity, or made in a factory. So he moved to a rural farm in Ireland with his girlfriend, and had no tv, computer, phone, car or electric lighting. He wanted to do this to show that it was possible to live in a simpler way than we do in developed countries, and have a happy life without damaging the planet.
It was interesting to read about how he learned lots of necessary skills. He had to learn to kill farm animals by hand and prepare the meat and other products. He collected herbs to use in tea or as remedies for colds and fevers. He started making his own alcohol, and growing vegetables organically.
I wasn’t surprised, though, when this man’s girlfriend left him towards the end of the book. Living so simply might have been his passion, but most people would find such a life very limiting.
It reminded me of a song by the Talking Heads called “(Nothing but) Flowers”. Two lovers in the song leave human towns and industry behind for an idyllic life in nature. Everything starts well.
“Here we
stand, like an Adam and Eve -
Waterfalls,
garden of Eden;
Two fools
in love, So beautiful and strong…”
But then
the practical difficulties become apparent.
“We caught
a rattlesnake,, Now we’ve got something for dinner…
There was a
shopping mall, now it’s all covered with flowers,
If this is
paradise, I wish I had a lawnmower…
I miss the
honkey-tonks, Dairy Queens and 7 – 11s.”
Vocabulary:
idyllic – of
a place, extremely peaceful and pleasant, especially a simple and natural
environment
[eg., This riverside is an idyllic spot to have a picnic.]
a lawn
mower – a machine for cutting grass
[eg., On a
sunny Sunday afternoon in summer, you can see many people in their gardens,
using a lawn mower to mow their lawns.]
a honkey-tonk – In America, a honkey-tonk is a traditional working class bar or dance hall where country music is played
[eg., I
went into a honkey-tonk for some beer, music and a rowdy atmosphere]
