There have been a few days when I’ve come close, but today is officially the first gardening day of the year and what a joy it’s been. Truth be told I’d forgotten what a simple pleasure it is to take a rather ragged garden and start to smarten it up. ...
I consider one of the secrets of my ‘success’ to be a determination to keep busy. For most of my life I’d never even considered that there was an option, through school and university and most of my working life I always had too much to do, someone else kept...
I’ve had my unfair share of silence this week and it’s been wonderful. There’s something unique about the high fells, when there’s no one about, no bubbling streams, no wind, just quiet. I’ve been soaking it up because it’s so precious. Back in my apartment, I’ve been struggling with the...
A few weeks ago Graham and I were out walking and I mentioned that I favoured repeating familiar walks, while he favoured new and exciting adventures. Since then I’ve been lucky enough to do lots of new walks which I’ve greatly enjoyed, but I still love familiar walks. On Monday...
As I crested the first peak on my laboured ascent of Cat Bells I noticed two red specks in the distance approaching the scramble to the peak. I continued upwards at q pretty good pace (pain free today) and they didn’t seem to be moving very fast. Eventually at the...
Being in the Lake District again I can’t help but think about Alfred Wainwright and how comfortable he was alone. I’m the same, whilst I love the company of my friends and family, the buzz of a busy cafe or the crowded seafront promenade on a summer’s day I’m totally...
If you listen to very accomplished people they often tell you to follow your passion. Passion they insist is the secret to success. Find your passion and then keep driving towards it, never give up. Sorry, but this advise has never worked for me, life is too unpredictable and our...
It seems only a few years ago that I was the centre of my children’s life and they were mine, we would spend most every evening and every weekend together. Now the youngest two of my four girls will soon be 16 and it’s a wonderful time for them, a...
I’m heading for the Northern Lakes again next week and I’m in a reflective mood, last month when I was there I was listening to Commander Chris Hadfields musings on life and I was deeply impressed. Since finishing the book, I’ve been applying some of the lessons he taught and...
I had a very late night last night trying to finish my backlog of document/appraisal reviews and admin before 10 days holiday, but I was up at 6:30 as usual, because I believe in always getting up at the same time (which helps me go to sleep the next night). ...