With Christmas a fading memory and the New Year due to start it was a great opportunity to get some boots on my feet and go for a good stiff walk. Well that was the original plan but as the weather had been so rainy of late I decided that a gentle walk would probably more enjoyable.
In England we have experienced some significant rainfall recently, which had sadly made some people’s festivities a rather more trying time than they had planned. Many people had been left without power to cook their Christmas dinner, or heat their homes. Some sadly had also been flooded. Compared with many people around the world, what we had suffered here on our island was small fry – but to the people concerned this was awful and I had great sympathy. It is a time when families come together to share, for some it is the only time of the year they can make this happen.
On this day in question though, the sun had decided to come out and shine for most of the day. It was chilly if you were in the stiff breeze. A little snow remained the other side of this hill, where the shadow fell and the sun had not melted away the frost and light white covering.
For me this was a perfect day, one where I could wrap up warm, take my camera and just have a pleasant walk and enjoy the scenery, the people, the wonderful fresh air, the random thoughts that would surface when one is a little more relaxed.
The picture is at the top of the Malvern Hills – a place that Edward Elgar, the great composer, used to walk. I find these hills really punch above their weight, the highest point is barely 300 metres. They are such a fantastic place to go as the views are just amazing – I have climbed much higher in tougher terrain to be rewarded with views that pale into insignificance compared with these. It was also a delight to see so many other people out with family and friends enjoying the fresh air and nature at its best.
For me though, I wanted a little physical exercise and to think through the plans I had been developing for the New Year and just let any stray thought surface. Think about what I wanted to do, where I wanted to visit, people I wanted to see, journeys that I wanted to make – things that when you try and think them through with a piece of paper and a pen just don’t seem to come. Just letting things bubble to the surface was a perfect way to let my mind add anything I wanted to do – I did have a notepad and made a few jottings lest I forgot.
So some thoughts:
- What plans have you made for the coming year?
- Where do you go to just let things bubble to the surface?
- Where do you get your best thoughts?
- Do you take a notepad to jot your thoughts down?
And that little patch of snow got me thinking too:
- How often do I sit in the lee of a mental hill not allowing the sun to shine on my ideas?
- Why not get up onto the ridge and expose myself to some extra chill and wind – in the process I may see a new horizon?
Hmm, now there is food for thought.
My best wishes,
Peter
