Contrasts

Yesterday was a day of contrasts. I woke up, the sky was grey and rain laden. The wind was doing its best to start the Autumn fall. I left the house feeling very sorry for myself which was exacerbated by the time I had got out of the village as my shorts were already soaked through. However, as my journey progressed I started to to enjoy the the ride. As I cycled along I watched small streams washing away the red soil deposited by the tractors on their recent harvesting runs. I heard the patter of rain drops on my helmet and on the tress. I heard the birds singing as they made the most of nature's gift. I was in the middle of the beautiful countryside. Then I reached the edge of Exeter and the main roads. Cars speed past noisily as they progressed along the wet roads. Instead of red mud, the puddles and spray contained black gunk that coated my bike. How I wished I were elsewhere.

The journey back by contrast was still and sunny with little wind. The shadows were long, creating patches of twilight that were frequently pierced by the bright light of the low sun. It was glorious. I though was deflated, lethargic. I was struggling and this was puzzling me. Last night the puzzle was solved, I've been hit by the first winter season cold virus!

Picture this...

8.15 AM - 20 Sept 2010 (between Hele and Silverton Mill)

5.45pm, 20th September 2010. Nr. Silverton Mill

Blackberries

Sunday PM

D: Let's go for a walk to Beacon Hill, to get a view of the village.

Maus: Is that my favourite walk?

D: (puzzled expression) I thought you found walks boring.

Maus: Not my favourite walk.

S: Can I finish my tea first?

Monkey: I not go for walk, I play.

After much debate they finally leave. The walk takes them up the Backs, down the footpath, over a style and past the church.

Maus: Look, blackberries

D: Yes, but these are not so good to eat.

Maus: Ohh...

Monkey: I not like blackberries

S: We forget a bag to collect blackberries

D: (On producing a bag) No we haven't.

They climb up the steep path to a style.

Maus: Look, I can climb over the style by myself

Monkey: I climb as well.

Maus: Wow, look at the blackberries, can I have some

Monkey: I not like blackberries

They carry on walking to the top of Beacon Hill, picking, collecting and eating blackberries.

D: Wow, look at the view!

S: That's lovely.

Maus: Look at the blackberries, I love blackberries.

Monkey: Carry me please!

Road kill

For some reason there has been a large increase in the amount of road kill on the lanes this last week. Two badgers, a rat, 4 squirrels, numerous birds, several rabbits. It's a sad sight to see their squashed and disfigured remains on the tarmac.

Wind, wind go away, please blow another way

The wind is currently the bane of my life. The last few days it feels as if it has been aggressively trying to push me back to make my ride a lot harder than it should be. I would not mind if I only had this battle with the wind on one leg of my journey. Yet, of late, the wind has had this uncanny ability to change direction in the day so that it attacks me from a southerly direction on the way into work and than swings around to the North to have another go on the way back. When will it leave me in peace?

Life on the fast train

Kings Cross International. Hassle free check-in... 30 minute wait... climb on board... speeding along the bowels of London... then the countryside whizzes past... under the channel... France rushes by... into Belgium... arrive in Brussels... 1 hour 58 minutes... get off, get on... 50 minutes... imposing church towers dominate the flat lands... end of the line... cobbled streets, canals... Brugge beer... perfect.

There is an artist in us all

Brittany 2010. The concept is simple. Collect the bits of junk that people throw out and turn it into a beautiful moving piece of art powered by the sun. If only it were as simple as it sounds. I am in awe.

Abandonment??

While it may seem like I have abandoned this blog, it far from the case. It has been on my mind. It's not even as if I've had writers block. The ideas have been coming and going faster than I can record them or even remember them.

So why the lack of words, ideas thoughts and indulgent musings?

Unfortunately, I have been caught up in the fast lane. Work, work and more work (even dare I say in the evenings). I only have myself to blame, procrastination has led to a logjam of tasks. Over enthusiasm has led me to bite off more than I want to chew.

It's time to ease myself back into the slow lane.