Monday 31 January 2011

Day 59: Rejoice In Rain

Tonight was one of those days where I wasn't sure at all if I was going to make it out for a walk.  Had a low energy day yesterday and was glad to be feeling better today, but didn't want to overdo it.  By around 9, though, I thought I could take a little walk.  I looked out and in addition to being cold and dark, it was howling wind and pouring rain.  Normally (as in, before I started this blog), I would have just closed the window blinds and said 'I'll try it tomorrow'.  But tonight I just barely glanced at it and my thought was simply, 'I guess I'll need my rainjacket and trainers instead of scarf and coat and boots'.  I barely looked up the entire walk, and I was pretty worn out when I got back, but it was a successful walk.

I'm learning to rejoice in any kind of weather, and the ability to go out in it.  After all, the difference between horrible weather and good weather really often comes down to clothing!

And tomorrow my little sister arrives, and we can go a walk together!!

Walk length: 15 minutes

Day 58: Music In Rest

"There is no music in a rest, but there is the making of music in it.  In our whole life melody, the music is broken off here and there by 'rests' and we foolishly think we have come to the end of time.  God sends a time of forced leisure - sickness, disappointed plans, frustrated efforts - and makes a sudden pause in the choral hymns of our lives and we lament that our voices must be silent, and our part  missing in the music which ever goes up to the ear of the Creator. 

How does the musician read the rest?  See him beat time with unvarying count and catch up the next note true and steady as if no breaking place had come between.  Not without design does God write the music of our lives.  But be it ours to learn the time and not be dismayed at the 'rests'.  They are not to be slurred over, not to be omitted, not to destroy the melody, not to change the key note.  If we look up, God Himself will beat time for us.  With the eye on Him we shall strike the next note full and clear."

- John Ruskin

Saturday 29 January 2011

Day 57: Just To Have My Hair Cut

Just a little Saturday walk today, into the town to get my hair cut.  Unlike Frank Churchill of Jane Austen's Emma, I did not trek thirty two miles into and back from London for the task, but walked perhaps a mile total and had none of Frank's "foppery and nonsense".

But while it's on my mind, I may as well let you enjoy being reminded of the scene from 'Emma'.

"Emma's very good opinion of Frank Churchill was a little shaken the following day, by hearing that he was gone off to London, merely to have his hair cut. A sudden freak seemed to have seized him at breakfast, and he had sent for a chaise and set off, intending to return to dinner, but with no more important view that appeared than having his hair cut. There was certainly no harm in his travelling sixteen miles twice over on such an errand; but there was an air of foppery and nonsense in it which she could not approve. It did not accord with the rationality of plan, the moderation in expense, or even the unselfish warmth of heart, which she had believed herself to discern in him yesterday. Vanity, extravagance, love of change, restlessness of temper, which must be doing something, good or bad; heedlessness as to the pleasure of his father and Mrs. Weston, indifferent as to how his conduct might appear in general; he became liable to all these charges. His father only called him a coxcomb, and thought it a very good story; but that Mrs. Weston did not like it, was clear enough, by her passing it over as quickly as possible, and making no other comment than that "all young people would have their little whims.""

The photo today is of someone looking very like Mr Churchill himself, standing at the door of the Jane Austen centre in Bath when my sister and I visited a few years ago!

Walk on, with no nonsense!

Friday 28 January 2011

Day 56: Everything Stops For Tea!

Went into Glasgow today for my British passport interview.  Had no idea what that was going to involve, turns out there were loads of questions about my application (many of which I stumbled over because I had had to look up the answers myself when writing it!), but I imagine they expect that people don't know all those answers from memory anyway.  Hopefully get my new passport in about a week.  At any rate, after the interview I stumbled across this beautiful little tea-shop tucked into a corner of Buchanan Galleries.  It's called Brewhaha and has these 50's drawings all over the wall, and happy little tables with comfortable and beautiful chairs.  (The tables really are happy - they just look contented to be there.)  I ordered a jasmine green tea and sat writing and thinking and resting and just generally enjoying some me time.  There are statements painted on the wall like "Everything stops for tea!" and I couldn't agree more.  I had plenty of errands to run but for the moment time just took a break and so did I.  It was very enjoyable. 

A lot of walking today - dropped the car off at the garage to get a puncture sorted, and then walked from there to the train station; then walking here and there in Glasgow, and then back to my flat.  I'll need to walk back to the garage later as well.  Again, just rejoicing in the fact that although a little tired, I'm holding up quite well with a good bit more walking than I used to do.  It did help that the sun was showing face today (a little shamefaced, I must say, and rightly so!), but still sharply cold -  I never took off my  hat and scarf, not even during the interview!  (I was a little surprised...I mean I could have just had a wig or even false head on under that hat for all they knew!)

Glasgow was its own inimitable self - a man in full Indian (or should I say, Native American) garb playing some kind of windpipes...a noble statue with an orange and white traffic cone on its head...the sun sparkling off the windows of tall buildings...people hurrying, hurrying...people doing nothing....people stopping in the middle of the walkway for no reason, or to check their phone...so many people on their phones...a building under construction that was wrapped entirely in blue, like a birthday present...people talking...snatches of conversation and snatches of many swear words...frustrated people, happy people, bored people, people who seem to be dead inside....friendly shopkeepers....a helpful security guard who noticed me trying to find a shop and helped me out...and me, winding my way amongst it all and being part of someone else's scenery. 

Took the train home, having to remember to actually get off in Airdrie now that the train goes all the way to Edinburgh.  Still haven't taken the Airdrie-Edinburgh line yet, but it's on my list! 

Walk length:  1.25 hours +

Thursday 27 January 2011

Day 55: Joe's Open Tae

I had a laugh as I returned from one of two walks today.  There is a sign letting everyone know that the road is closed (in spite of which many cars go all the way to the end, realise the sign is telling the truth, and turn around with great disgruntled-ness at the bottom), and another below it indicating that one of the businesses there is open for business as usual.

On that sign, in scrawly letters, someone has added "Joe's open tae".  This just cracked me up.  I'm not sure what Joe's is - I'm thinking one of the snack vans, where the workers get their chip butties and roll-with-sausage and Irn Bru and packets of crisps.  Wee Joe's doesn't sport enough for a yellow sign, but they're going to tag onto Hogg Street Tyres and make sure we all know that they are open, tae! 

Had two walks, which I didn't really notice today.  I found myself wondering when I would fit in my walk today and then remembered I'd already been out twice.  A good sign, I think!  I wasted time purchasing postage online only to discover I had to actually take it in to the post office after all (long story), grumped my way through the post office queue only to remember that I should be 'rejoicing in all things', so I pulled out my handy ESV-Bible-on-iphone and read the book of James while waiting.  Amazing the power of the Bible to actually change an attitude.  Try it sometime.  Right now I'm working and smelling butternut squash cooking in the oven for my dinner, and rejoicing that tonight I have nothing, gloriously nothing I have to do!!

Walk length:  45 minutes

Wednesday 26 January 2011

Day 54: The Two Towers

Tonight as I walked I felt very much as though I am in the 'Two Towers' stage of my 90 day challenge.  For those of you who have read the trilogy by J.R.R.Tolkien, you may remember the Two Towers as the middle book of the three. The Fellowship of the Ring, the first book, is really exciting.  There's a lot of excitement and setting-off and people joining the quest and taking provisions and narrowly escaping disaster and new friendships and old friendships forged stronger and the thrill of the quest.  And the third book, The Return of The King, is also excitement in a different way.  The quest is nearly over, there is a mighty battle (many mighty battles), and the end is in sight.  Those who were weary have become rejuvenated, those who lost hope have seen it regained, evil is losing and good is triumphing and there is glory, glory everywhere, shining on the land of hope and freedom!

But the middle book is neither initial excitement nor second wind.  My overwhelming impression of the book is Frodo slogging on through a quest that is daily wearing him down, his steps growing slower and slower as the weight he carries burdens him more and more the closer he gets to the end.  Enemies abound.  Fear is on every side.  His best friend never leaves him, but Frodo begins to lose the encouragement that Sam gives because he is just so weary, so burdened.

Here is a quote from the middle of the middle book of the trilogy:

"They had almost lost count of the hours during which they had climbed and laboured among the barren slopes and stones of the Emyn Muil, sometimes retracing their steps because they could find no way forward, sometimes discovering that they had wandered in a circle back to where they had been hours before.  Yet on the whole they had worked steadily eastward, keeping as near as they could find a way to the outer edge of this strange twisted knot of hills.  But always they found its outward faces sheer, high and impassable, frowning over the plain below; beyond its tumbled skirts lay livid festering marhes where nothing moved and not even a bird was to be seen."

In my walking I am in the Two Towers stage.  At first it was really exciting, with six inches and then a foot and then two feet of snow!  And I was out tramping in my welly boots and defeating the forces of weather!  And then it was ice, and then snow, then back to ice and frost, then mist, and I was the intrepid explorer, and there were many followers and comments and praise and impressiveness.  But the last few days have been cold, dark, grey, brown.  There is nothing to take a photo of, or else I'm out walking so late it's pitch black outside.  (And considering it gets dark before 5, it's not always easy to get out while it's still light.)  And I'm not yet near the end, and I am walking the same streets I walked before, and tonight it started raining a cold, freezing rain and I had no hat.  Yes, Frodo, I hear you as you lose count of the hours and the ring weighs heavy on you and you wander in circles back to where you were hours before.

But there is a beautiful part where they are still trudging along, and they come to a place where there is a great stone figure carving, a king of old, now crumbled and forgotten.  The head had fallen off and was lying on the ground.  As Frodo looks, he is startled into speech:

"'Look, Sam!  The king has got a crown again!'  The eyes were hollow and the carven beard was broken, but about the high stern forehead there was a coronal of silver and gold.  A trailing plant with flowers like small white stars had bound itself across the brows as if in reverence for the fallen king, and in the crevices of his stony hair yellow stonecrop gleamed.  'They cannot conquer for ever!' said Frodo."

Yes, there is evil in the world out there.  The walk is long, the days get weary.  The weather is dull, and unimpressive, and very cold.  And I am tired.

But "they cannot conquer for ever."  And I will walk on.

Walk length: 25 minutes

Tuesday 25 January 2011

Day 53: Late Night Ramble

After I got in tonight from my walk I realised something.  No hat, no gloves, no scarf...just threw on a jumper and was walking steadily for a half hour at 10pm!  Pretty darn good: I'd say spring is coming! Haha!

I've started to notice something about my walks.  I used to feel every minute of them and have a pretty good idea of how long they were.  Now, I feel like I walk for forty or fifty minutes and I come in to find it was twenty.  Not because I don't enjoy the walk, but because of the ground I cover. I think I'm moving faster. No photo tonight because it was just that dark. 

Wasn't feeling grand today, and considered skipping the walk.  But I feel like I've done that a few times lately, and I had a spurt of energy late this evening so decided to clear the head.  It definitely worked - sometimes going out for a walk just makes me think of everything I need to do, but although that happened some tonight, I think the clear cold air combined with the fact that everyone else was sleeping in their beds made for a perfect late night ramble.  It was more than a ramble actually...I strode pretty purposefully...but I was glad for it, and I'll be glad to start tomorrow with renewed enthusiasm.

Sometimes all you need is a good walk.

Walk length:  30 minutes

Monday 24 January 2011

Day 52: Just Walking...

Today was just a normal , walking day.  I didn't feel like it; I went anyway; nothing out of the ordinary happened; the sky wasn't very exciting; the trees are still brown.  I'm tired; I don't feel well; I'm going to bed.

Walk on!

Walk length:  25 minutes

Sunday 23 January 2011

Day 51: A Flat Tyre

Yesterday was my 'Nothing Day'.  Haven't had one of those in months, really.  Nothing planned, nothing to go to, nothing that I absolutely had to do.  It was glorious.  Every once in a while I just decide to have a no-walk day, even if it's not a Sunday.  I've only had a few of those, but I think it's really important to let yourself off every once in a while.  I learned that when I had to take a few days off because I was severely unwell and worried I might get pneumonia again.  It sounds great, being all steadfast and never giving in or never giving up, etc., but it's also valid and right to take a day off every once in a while, when you need it.  So yesterday I did Nothing at all and really, really enjoyed it.

This morning I got up to drive to church and found I had a flat tyre.  Not just low, or almost-flat: dead.  Literally like a pancake.  So, I walked to church, and to a friend's for lunch, and then home from lunch.  Quite a bit of walking for a day of rest, but it was enjoyable.  It was also gracious of God to organise it so that my flat tyre happened on a day when I could walk instead of drive, and that my very kind neighbour came and changed it for me this afternoon!  I think I could change a tyre if I had to, but I hate to test that theory if there's a man around to help me.  (Yes, very much a non feminist here, and proud of it!  I love having doors opened and tyres changed and jars opened and heavy things lifted for me!)  No photo of my flat tyre - I forgot.  But I did get a photo of the funny, stripy cloud patterns.

I spent the afternoon writing handwritten letters to people that I wanted to encourage and pray for.  It was lovely.  Hadn't done that in a long while.  I have so many cards and so much stationery, letters, fancy pens, stamps, and even sealing-wax: it's a crime to let it just sit there.  Especially in these days of email and text messaging and Skype and iphones.  And blog posts! 

So, if you're missing the handwritten touch lately, drop me a comment on this blog post and I'll write you a real old fashioned letter!  If I don't have your address, email or Facebook it to me :)

Walk on!

Walk length:  50 minutes

Friday 21 January 2011

Day 50: A Welcome Visit

This morning the frost was once again covering everything, everywhere.  I was hoping to go out and take photos of it, but by the time I got out for my walk, the frost of this morning had become the water-droplets of this afternoon.   The air was cold, harsh against my skin.  All the frost and snow have melted, and there is a great deal of brown everywhere.  But I saw the first buds on the trees beginning to open! So that was exciting.  Spring is still coming, in case you thought perhaps it wasn't.

Today is day 50.  I was thinking it should probably have some sort of immense significance, and looked back at days 10, 20, 30, and 40.  They seemed to me to be a bit more 'significant' in a way:

Day 10 - Snow Feathers.  I never will forget the beauty of these incredible patterns in snow.

Day 20 - Handing Round Gifts.  What a joy that was, to show up like Father Christmas on everyone's doorsteps!

Day 30 - A Thief And A Robber.  The day I stole into the Kourion Theatre in Cyprus, leaping over the stone wall...only to find that everyone else had done the same thing.

Day 40 - Walking on Ice.  This was a dangerous day!  Nearly fell several times, and went out in spite of severe cold and many reasons not to go!

Today was, in comparison, fairly 'normal'.  I worked in the morning, met with a couple who are getting married next year, tidied the house, wrote a new post on my photography blog There's Beauty Everywhere, and went to visit one of the older members in the church who is housebound.  I guess in some ways that can seem like it's not very substantial, or significant, or important.  And yet, probably one of the most important parts of today was this visit.  To an older woman who is kept to her home and primarily her living-room chair, who has a few visitors here and there but some days spends all day just reading or watching tv, I suppose it was a great day.  Her hearing aid didn't work, so I wrote notes to her on the back of the paper we found lying about, and she made jokes and I laughed and she laughed and we defied old age to prevent us having a great time.

Yes, on second thought I'd say, it was a pretty momentous day.

Walk length:  20 minutes

Thursday 20 January 2011

Day 49: A Cold Frosty Morning

Two roads diverged in a wood
And I,
I took the left one.
I don't know what difference it has made
But tomorrow
I take the right.

Walking along the paths in the area behind my flat today I was reminded of Robert Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken".  I've always loved that poem, the idea that there are roads to choose from and it always makes a difference what one you choose...whatever one you choose.  And the idea that you must choose now, because you're only heading on.  But my choice today was a little different.  Many of the paths I walk each day are paths I will be coming to again tomorrow, and the next day.  For some reason I never like taking the same path.  I don't think I've done the exact same walk more than perhaps once or twice in the 49 days of walking so far.  And even then, if it was the same route, the weather made it a completely different experience.  I like choosing the left road today, the right tomorrow.  Today it was all lefts until I came back round to my starting point.

I woke up a little late today.  Had been getting up early several mornings in a row for meetings and phone calls, and I took my time this morning.  I was still in my jammies when the delivery man came by with a parcel for me to sign for, and he must have been able to tell from my bleary-eyed look that I wasn't yet on speaking terms with the day.  "Did I get you out of your bed?" he asked, and although it was tempting to say no, I've been up for a while, or explain how late I'd been working the night before, or basically justify why I was just out of bed when he, the delivery man, had been up and at them since five or six a.m. most likely...the easiest (and most truthful) answer was simply, Yes.  So I said yes, and he smiled.  "Well, best go back to it then," he said in a friendly way.  "It's cold out."  And he gave me my parcel and headed out into that cold.  I thought it was very kind.  I always fear that someone who has been at work for several hours will condemn me for getting up later...but he spoke as though he was on my side.  Wanted me to be warm and cosy.  Of course by then I was well awake, so I 'got up' properly.  Looked outside and saw things were looking cold and a bit misty.

Five minutes later I looked out and was humming "Past three o'clock...on a cold frosty mooooorning...past three o'clock...good morrow, masters all!" as I watched the fog come down and looked at the frosty housetops.  I decided to go for my walk immediately, and I haven't enjoyed a walk as much in days.  Everything was frost covered.  Fenceposts, flowers, tree branches.  The mist and fog made everything quiet, spooky.  I would walk down a path and look behind me and not recognise where I just came from.  The ice was frozen in funny, beautiful patterns.  I came to my diverging of the paths and chose left, and passed a little mini-loch entirely frozen over.  A man and his dog appeared, suddenly, out of the mist, passed me with a nod (well, the man nodded, and I think the dog would have done the same but he was busy with a very important water-bottle in his mouth) and then disappeared again into the mist.  It was very cold - my phone tells me it's minus 4.  There were mist crystals in my hair until it was almost wet.  And yet strangely, from the walking, I was almost warm.  My face was frozen cold but my body felt like it was snuggled warm in bed.  (That's the wool jumper, I think.)  So I walked and walked and walked and...tomorrow I take the right-hand turning.

Walk on!

Walk length: 1 hour

Wednesday 19 January 2011

Day 48: Another Reason To Walk

For those of you following my blog from outwith the UK (particularly the States), I'd like to point out another reason that I love walking here.  Petrol is now at £1.24 per litre (a friend of mine on the Isle of Skye quickly pointed out that theirs is at £1.36 and rising), which for those in the States works out to be between $9 and $10 per gallon.  Enjoy buying your fuel this week!

My walk was fairly uneventful today.  Matter of fact I'm getting so used to walking now that some evenings I can't remember if I've taken my walk today or not.  Just becoming part of the day!  I'm glad for that.  That was one of the things I wanted to gain out of this challenge, was to make walking just a normal part of living - not something I have to make a huge effort for.  Many days I just get out to the post office or the grocery store or to run errands - it's great having a flat that's near the town centre. Everyone I talk to lately keeps saying, 'It sure is cold...but at least it's not snowing!'  They always look at me really funny when I say, 'Well, I quite liked the snow, and I miss it!'  Actually that's not true.  They look at me like I just sprouted a few green and purple horns in my head, and they want to rip them off me. But I press on.  If I'm going to be a rebel just walking around with no dog and no exercise outerwear and no purpose to my walks, then I may as well admit that I love snow! 

I was out tonight just walking out to my car, and noticed that the moon is full.  I wondered where that had come from, I thought just the other night it had a ways to go.  But then I remembered there were a few nights it was obscured by misty clouds.  Tonight it was almost completely clear, and "the moon is shining bright as day".  (Ogden Nash)

Walk length:  30 minutes

Tuesday 18 January 2011

Day 47: The Bobble Hat

Tonight me and the famous bobble hat took the walk...nearly the end of the day.  Was going pretty steady from rise to set today and beyond, so late tonight was the first chance I had to get outside.  I was hoping I could clear my head a bit, but I think it filled my head instead.  I started thinking about how to work this and how to work that and oh I forgot about that item and I need to remember to email her about....and before I knew it I was home again and hardly knew that I had left!  Not quite the clarity I'd been hoping for, but that's okay.  Each day has its own challenges, just as each walk does.

It was really cold tonight.  The moon was shrouded in misty clouds that were speeding by it like they had somewhere urgently to be.  My incredibly warm bobble hat did its job well, and I brought the wrong kind of gloves so even wearing them my hands were cold.  Everywhere was completely quiet and empty - didn't even pass someone walking their dog.  I really am the last of the late night walkers!

But I got a lot achieved today, and at the end of the day I finalised the design of a wedding album for a wedding I did on Christmas Eve, and the bride loves it.  So that makes me a very happy...photographer, designer, bobble-hat-wearer, and walker!

Walk length:  25 minutes

Monday 17 January 2011

Day 46: Bond. James Bond.

Soon I will have more in common with James Bond and Jason Bourne than I ever had before.  (Before, I had nothing in common with them.)  Today I walked to the post office to send off an application for my British passport!  Very excited about getting this document - I am pretty confident that I will feel pretty cool having two passports.  Of course, the United States isn't overly thrilled about dual citizenship, but they don't say that I can't do it, so I figured I'd better seize the opportunity whilst it's available.  After all, I remember the day when I applied for my UK residency after having been in the country for four years, and after I got my residency status they changed the rules to five years.  I was pretty thankful I'd done it while I could! 

It's pretty exciting being a British citizen, about to get a passport.  The lady at the post office very kindly commiserated on the ninety pounds I had to spend to get it, but really that is nothing in the grand scheme of things.  After living in Scotland for ten years (in June), I'm thrilled that it is now my country, too!  I got a letter from Visit Scotland today, sending me some information I had requested, and they said, "Thank you for your interest in exploring a bit more of your home country."  What a happy statement!  Of course I have three home countries, including heaven, and I love exploring the two that I have access to currently.  I look forward with great anticipation to the explorations of the third country some day!!

Today was actually 'quite nice', compared to much of the previous crazy, wild, dark, cold weather we've been having.  The sky was blue  - imagine!  No, you don't have to imagine, I took a photo for you.  It's a good thing too, because a few minutes after I snapped it, the clouds started rolling in a bit more.  It was that funny kind of nice day where you step outside and think, gosh, this is lovely, I don't really need my hat or gloves or anything.  Then you walk along a little further, and think well, maybe I will put my gloves on, just.  A little further on and the hat goes on.  By the time you get where you're going you are more bundled up than when you left, and you have to take it all off again because you're inside where it's warm.  What a complicated country to go walking in!

I actually took two walks today - also walked to my MET group tonight.  I couldn't remember how long of a walk it was - at first I thought a half hour and then I remembered it was quite close and so thought maybe 15 or 20 minutes...turned out to be about 10 or a little more.  When I got to the street on which the house was, there was a man walking alongside me, just about the same pace.  I figured he would speed up so that we weren't both walking in the same direction at the same time but without speaking, but he didn't.  So I (following the rules of etiquette for Encountering Another Walker) passed to the other side, but then it was still awkward because we both were walking at the same speed on opposite sides of the same street.  He steadfastly refused to look at me (he, too, was familiar with the rules of etiquette previously mentioned), but he refused to speed up.  So I took the initiative and did so, but I swear he did too because I couldn't get him out of my sights.  I started to wonder if he was going to my MET, too, but I didn't know him! Or at least I didn't think I did.  Finally he turned in just one house earlier than the one I was going to.  Whew.  Wouldn't want to have to Speak To Someone that you're walking next to! Imagine!

Walk length (total):  35 minutes

Sunday 16 January 2011

Day 45: Rest. Again.

"The story is told of a South American tribe that went on a long march, day after day, when all of a sudden they would stop walking, sit down to rest for a while, and then make camp for a few days before going any further.  They explained that they needed that time of rest so that their souls could catch up with them."  - Wayne Muller

This is swiftly becoming my favourite walking day - the day that I don't walk at all.  Not because I don't love the walking - and I'm thankful for the challenge and the opportunity to experience weathers I would normally hide from - but because there is something about the resting that brings out the joy and the hard work and the 'flavour' of walking during the rest of the week.

I believe that it is possible to rest in a way that pleases God - as with anything in our lives that does not break His laws. You can eat in a way that honours Him.  Watch films to honour Him.  Walk to honour Him.  Work hard to honour Him.  Go sailing.  Go shopping.  Read a book.  Play with your nieces and nephews.  It doesn't have to be listening to a sermon or praying in order to be something that is done to His glory.  So enjoy your resting today - and so will I!

Saturday 15 January 2011

Day 44: Oh, The Dreadful Wind And Rain...

The sea was angry tonight.  It's the only way to describe it.  Even before the sun set, the sky was dark and the clouds glowering, the sea flinging itself against the rocks over and over and over, the wind howling and whipping the slightest thing round.  I even saw seashells on my path, and looked down ten feet or so to the sea, realising that the wind and water had flung them so high that they landed clear out of the beach.

I was in Helensburgh today, dropped by Your Wedding Consultant where they were celebrating their first year in business!  Congrats to them!  The drive was pretty wild - blinding rain and rapidly moving windscreen wipers all the way.   I stopped by the shop for an hour or so and when I came out, the weather if possible had gotten worse.  My rain jacket (with hood) was zipped up tight, but even still I had to keep my head bowed pretty far down and the rain was literally beating on me, trying to find every little dry nook and cranny, its goal to make me as wet and miserable as possible.  I actually considered giving up on my walk today.  This was by far the worst weather I'd seen (worse even than heavy blizzarding snow, because at least snow is slightly less wet than rain), and the thought of setting off on the path by the raging sea with the intent of spending more time, not less, in these elements was incredibly daunting.

But I had my welly boots in the car, and the name of this blog is Walk In ALL Weathers (not Walk In Some Weathers Mostly Nice Ones), so I set forth.  I found, thankfully, that I had also brought a hat and gloves, so I put the hat on underneath my hooded rain jacket, donned the gloves, switched from my boots to wellies, and set out.  Woman Against Weather.

As mentioned, the sea was angry.  And yet after only a few minutes of walking I felt incredibly happy, more 'alive' than I have felt in a while.  Why is that, I thought?  What is it about this kind of wild, crazy, difficult weather that makes me come alive?  Because whilst I love being curled up in my big warm bed with a cup of hot green tea and a favourite book, that's not an 'alive' feeling.  It's the fight, I think.  The battle against something.  The alone-ness, too: with weather like this, no one is out for a nightly stroll on the sea path except me.  It's me and the elements, and they are not winning.  Because life is a fight.  It's a pretty darn hard one some days.  And for those who see the unseen, we know we're in a spiritual battle too.  There are angels and demons all around.  There are opportunities to shine - and opportunities to fail and collapse and give up and lose.  Even the slightest decisions have eternal consequences, and some days all I want to do is curl up in bed and stay warm all day long and not have to fight at all.  Or try.  Or work (even at something I love doing).  This morning I briefly considered doing that - staying in my warm cosy bed all day - but this blog was another reason I got out of bed.  I knew I'd have to go forth in that weather anyway, so I may as well do it earlier as later.  So, I fought today.  I fought the elements, and then I went to prayer-meeting tonight at church and fought against the armies of darkness.  And I came home and fought them again when I felt like just eating too much and watching tv shows and giving up on all the things I know I need to do so that tomorrow will truly be a day of rest.

I passed a few - a very few - people on my walk today.  One was a man walking his dog, and as I came up to him I thought, how funny would that be if I just said 'Nice day!' as though it was sunny and warm.  So I did.  I was so thrilled with being out in the fight that I greeted him with joy and I think he would have fallen over if the wind wasn't pushing him the other way.  He went blank, had absolutely nothing to say.  The next person I passed was a lady, so I tried again.  "Lovely day!" I said, and unfortunately due to the wind I am not sure whether she said "Yes isn't it wonderful!" or 'isn't it dreadful!'  I chose to believe the former - her eyes were sparkling and she was smiling and, I think, she was fighting too.

Walk length:  1 hour

Friday 14 January 2011

Day 43: Strange Sort of Rain

I prided myself on waiting until the rain had stopped to go for my walk, but I know by now that there's no need to take pride.  The rain (or snow, or whatever kind of weather I'm trying to avoid) will come when it pleases, not when I think it will.  I live on an island, for crying out loud! So I left when the rain was off and by the time I crossed two streets a few drops were falling, and when I got to the shops my head was soaking wet.  The strange thing was, if I kept my head down I couldn't really feel it at all.  There were these huge drops falling - I could feel them every once in a while, like I was walking in slow motion.  And in the lights of the passing cars I could see it was coming down fairly steady.  But it was as though there were huge spaces between them, or like some of the water got left out when it was all poured down.  Naturally once I reached the shops the rain stopped, and I was able to go in for my passport photos looking like a drowned rat.  They won't let you smile in passport photos anyway, so it just adds to the look.  I imagine this is because when you hand over your passport you are in an airport, and most airports are generally designed to add to your travel woes if they can.  You would think you would be smiling going on holiday, but of course you haven't gotten there yet, and your bag is overweight, and you left a water bottle in your bag so it has to be searched...so yeah, my passport picture will be appropriate!

After the passport photo was completed (and put out of my memory), it was on to the Boodle Bar!  This is our favourite takeaway in Airdrie; I think the owners have a sign that says 'Bar Noodle' but they are clearly mistaken.  Misspelling the name in a text message has led to us calling it the Boodle Bar, and it's a  much more catchy name.  We got our favourites and walked home (in no rain!) to enjoy them, and I taught Caitie how to play Skip-Bo.  An old classic! 

Walk length:  25 minutes

Thursday 13 January 2011

Day 42: A Mild Night


Tonight was milder than many of my previous walks - I still layered up, since I've been caught out before, but I found myself taking off my gloves, then putting them on, feeling warm, feeling cold...the night was a bit confused in terms of temperature.  I didn't go out till five, so it was pitch black outside.  It was strange passing many of the places that I had stopped to take beautiful snow pictures only a month ago.  The little hidden entryway to a sparkling winter wonderland was now just a dark space between two bushes, with wet and sodden leaves underfoot.  The lamppost that shone like it was the entrance to Narnia still shone, but with none of the Christmassy snow that made me feel like Mr Tumnus was about to come round the corner. The hotel where I stood entranced looking at the red berries frosted with ice was now just a dark building with a big tree in front of it.

But there were new beauties, too.  The trees lining the park are still shining with millions of little white lights, so that it looks like ghostly branches are reaching out into the night, no tree trunk evident in the darkness.  The train trundled past, lights shining out of every window, faces looking out and registering me as a nameless walker just as I did the same for them.

I was glad to be out walking, not moving along at a snail's pace in one of the many cars passing me, an endless stop and go halting motion in a vehicle that promises great speed and movement, but at certain times of the day is simply an exercise in doing what everybody else is doing.  I liked being a little walking rebel.  Aha! That's another one! Me, the anomaly.  Walking just for the sake of walking. 

One of the other things I love about my daily walks is that there are no stringent rules.  The whole point is to get out of the house and just walk - anywhere, for any length of time.  Some days it's ten minutes, other days four hours.  There are no rollovers - I don't get credit tomorrow if I walk extra long today, and I don't have to walk for several hours today if I was a little tired yesterday.  I had decided to go for a longer walk today, maybe an hour, but I sped along so quickly that I found myself home in less than that without even realising it.  Excelsior!

Walk length:  45 minutes

Wednesday 12 January 2011

Day 41: Rain on Ice

Went for my walk early today, first thing in the morning. I thought it might inspire me.  It certainly did - I came back enthused to reorganise my office, which I did with enthusiasm.  It is amazing to me though how it can take so long simply to decide what goes where.  Surely I still have far too much STUFF!

This morning it was rain on ice - even more slippery than last night.  The mist and fog were starting to come down, and no one was out unless they had to be...so really no one was out.  The only place safe to walk was on the icy grass, which I did as much as possible.  It wasn't a long walk, but it achieved several goals, not least of which is simply putting on the boots and setting off, whether I feel like it or not.

Walk on!

Walk length: 20 minutes

Tuesday 11 January 2011

Day 40: Walking on Ice

As much as I would like to be walking on sunshine, today I was walking on ice.  Everything looked fairly clear, roads free of snow, only a few bits here and there on the grass, frozen solid.  But I hadn't taken a few steps before I realised the path's treachery.  I felt like I was about to go swooping up, feet first, and land on my bum at any moment.  But once I got into my (careful) stride, I was able to move a bit more swiftly.  Never too swiftly, because any time I felt confident there would suddenly be a very slick patch of ice, and I had to look down a lot - but otherwise a normal winter's walk!  I did pass a section of pavement where there were spread out little patches of ice that looked very much like small bear-tracks.  Apparently a small bear has been walking around. 

I've decided that I am an anomaly.  Everyone else out walking has one of four purposes.  One, they're out walking the dog.  Two, they're going to the shop or some other destination.  Three, they're going for a run.  Or four (in nicer weather) they're out with a friend or partner for a catch up or a wander.  Nobody is in my category, I don't think.  (Walking simply to walk, and enjoy or at least experience the weather.)  I discovered this too when I was in Cyprus, going for walks with my camera equipment on my back.  There were couples everywhere.  People out running.  Families on holiday.  But a single person on their own with no defined destination?...Very odd.  I kind of like being an anomaly.  It's the pale version of a rebel.  Perhaps soon I will graduate to the next level.

One man shook his head as I passed.  "Terrible weather, isn't it?" he said.  I think he was shocked into almost standing still when I said, "No, I think it's all right!"  As I cheerfully walked on I heard him mutter to himself, "All right?  All RIGHT?" and probably a few epithets it was best I didn't hear.  The funny thing was, I think I passed him again on my way home, but I was concentrating so hard on my feet and not slipping on the ice that I missed my opportunity to say, "Terrible weather, isn't it?" and really give him a strange day.  I also considered, as I walked, telling him that he must have met my twin sister earlier, as she was out for a walk too.  This could become great fun.  On days when I feel positive and cheerful I can be me, and on grumpy days I can be...Phoebe.  Or Greta.  That sounds like a grumpy name.

Just as I got (carefully) back to my estate, a boy passed me running at top speeds.  I love the enthusiasm of a ten year old (or thereabouts).  Here I was being cautious and ensuring that I didn't walk too fast, and this boy was running, literally full out, to wherever he was going.  Now that's enthusiasm.  Being me today, I salute that!  (Greta would not approve.)

Walk length: 40 minutes

Monday 10 January 2011

Day 39: Post

Today was one of those days when I just didn't feel like a walk.  It's cold. It's raining.  There's ice on the ground which, combined with the ice, is not a happy walking combination.  But, I went out to the nearby post box despite all that, and it really is a good feeling to go for a brisk walk when you don't feel like it!  The sharp wind, the icy air down your throat, waving hello to the lollipop man, dropping off my letter, and then rushing back home as quickly as possible!  It wasn't a long walk, but it was definitely one of those days when I wouldn't have gone at all if it wasn't for my walking plan and this blog.  So thanks, and press on yourself! 

Sunday 9 January 2011

Day 38: The Narrow Road

Today is, gloriously, a day of rest. I was considering whether to walk to church tonight when I remembered that it is my guilt-free day off.  What a joy.  The sermon this morning was very applicable for my blog, all about the two roads that the world walks on during this life.

"The gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it."  Matthew 7.13-14

You would think that Jesus would spend ages explaining why the 'wide road' is not the one to be on, but He actually makes it sound pretty appealing at first.  'The way is easy.'  How much we would love to stroll through life on an easy road - a road that requires you to do nothing, a road of self-indulgence, a road that is full of friends who will never challenge what you believe or do or say.  Conversely, the narrow road is defined as a hard road.  A road that requires you to make decisions (hard ones), a road of self-denial, a hard and difficult and lonely road.  Doesn't sound too appealing.

The problem is that the wide road, the one that lets you off and makes everything easy and doesn't require any difficult decisions of faith or practice, "leads to destruction".  The narrow road may be very difficult and hard and lonely and weary, but it is also short.  You spend perhaps 80 or 90 years on a hard road (less, for some), but  the entirety of the rest of time is spent in a place of ultimate joy, with no hard roads or difficult decisions or frustrations or pain or sorrow ever again.  Whereas those who have enjoyed their easy and fun and popular life face pain and sorrow and horror and regret and anger and bitterness for the rest of the second life, beyond time as we know it.

Makes the narrow road a little more appealing after all.  Walk on!

Watch the sermon here: 
Which Road? - Matthew 7v13-14 from Airdrie RPCS on Vimeo.

Day 37: Back In Scotland

As I landed yesterday, there was snow falling.  It was a perfect homecoming for me, who loves to see snow falling and to enjoy it as it has fallen.  I was pleased the country welcomed me back with my favourite winter weather.  I took two walks again today - the first one didn't really 'count' as it was a shopping walk, which as noted previously involves a lot of dandering and dawdling and pausing.  So I walked to prayer meeting at church tonight, with that strange snow/rain combination that isn't as pleasant as when big flakes of snow are gently covering the landscape.  There was nothing extraordinary about my walk tonight - the snow is still a combination of ice and brown slush, the air cold, and I've traced this path to and from the church many times.  I did have an opportunity for a lift on the way home, which I refused, but it took a bit of willpower as the combination of rain and snow had worsened and the cold wetness in my face was not as much of a pleasure as I would have liked.  But the Christmas lights are still up, so I feel like I'm still on my holidays, and that's always an enjoyable feeling.

Day 36: Mackenzy Beach

Last day in Cyprus.  It's a bit strange having a flight in early afternoon - enough time to do something, but by the time you realise this you have very little left.  Or perhaps I was just in going-home-mode in my mind.  I did get down to Mackenzy Beach for a short walk - the air milder than it had been, the water so many colours of blue, little umbrellas like bamboo beach hats stuck on poles all along the dark sand.  Even the water didn't feel that cold, although I didn't try going in.  I'm looking forward to coming home.  Even with the cold and ice and rain, there truly is no place in the world like Scotland. 

Day 35: A Glorious Lack of Guardrails

 Woke up to clear blue skies and - could it be? - a hint of warmth in the air.  My experience of Cyprus By Winter has been surprisingly chilly - although I fully expect it to warm up the day after I leave.  But today was a late gift, and I enjoyed wandering along the harbour at Aiya Napa (complete with strolling kitties who wound around my ankles and purred like little machines when I petted them).  Later I found funny a lady who stopped in her own walk to enjoy two small birds walking across her way, until I realised that my enjoyment of these cats probably looked similar to the Cypriots.  Just part of the landscape.  I enjoyed all the blue and white of the harbour, and then went on to the sea caves for a walk along the edge of the rocks, taking great joy in the absence of barriers or guardrails, making it feel , as a friend put it, "like you are the first person to discover it".  I did have a second stalker experience here, but it is conceivable that this one genuinely wanted to point out good photo opportunities, as he spoke very little English and gave up after I showed little enthusiasm for following him to a hidden cave.  Strangely enough, after he rounded the corner he disappeared completely, which was very odd!

As the sun began to set, I drove up to Cape Greco, up a winding dirt road which was, if possible, worse than the road to the sea caves.  I gloried in the 4x4 truck my firends have loaned me here.  I think I will buy one - they're terribly handy!  I wandered up the path to watch the sun set at the Cape, and passed several ladies holding bouquets of picked wildflowers.  One couple I passed was in a friendly argument, the man careering all over the hillside rooting out a massive bunch of flowers for his lady, who seemed slightly pleased but embarrassed that he was picking so many.  "You need to save them for Nature," she said, and her man responded, "for Rachel? who's Rachel?" and continued picking.  "You see, where there are ten flowers, I pick only three," he explained, leaping from flower bunch to flower bunch, dashing left and then right.  "Leaving seven for...Nature!"  He beamed cheerfully and dashed across the path to pick more.  I think his mathematics would be more effective if he was the only one picking flowers, but there certainly seemed many to choose from. 

After the sunset, I returned to Larnaka and went for a very good meal at Art Cafe 1900, a French restaurant with every variety of photo and painting and artistic representation plastered on the walls until there was very little room for wall at all.  There were little blue tables and white tablecloths that looked like something out of a French farmhouse, and meals served on blue and white dishes in the same vein.  They generously gave us a miniature glass of dessert wine afterwards, which for me was just the right amount.  We went back down the stairs past a bar that had been completely empty three hours previously, and now was so crowded we could barely push through, and the air filled with smoke.  We wandered the seafront and then the streets, and I enjoyed the lights strung across the buildings, loosely, as though just flung there.  Every street was deserted and the air was warm...it was beautiful. 

Walk length:  1.5 hours

Saturday 8 January 2011

Day 34: What Is A Walk?

Today I realised that some of my 'walks' have been more like wandering around in the normal business of life rather than a proper, get-on-the-trainers-walk-smartly action that I was endeavouring with this blog.  So, I walked twice today.  Once was shopping in Larnaka, which was the one I wasn't sure counted.  I did walk , but there was so much in-and-out of shops, dawdling, tryings-on in dressing rooms, that I thought I'd try again later.  Typically, when I decided to go a nice beach walk, it started raining. And it was a funny sort of raining - off to my left the sky was clear, with the sun beginning to set, colouring the clouds with pinks and purples.  But above my head it was dark grey and soaking me rather quickly!  I finally gave up, disgruntled, and went back to the car, but by the time I got anywhere the rain had stopped so not to be defeated, I tried again.  This time I got the full glory of the sunset, and enjoyed wandering up and down the beach capturing it.  Unfortunately someone else was enjoying it too, and a very friendly man (a little TOO friendly) began following me about, offering to 'help' with my photo-taking.  I think he imagined himself a feature character.  I refused, I hope graciously, but he was undaunted.  I found myself wondering where the sheer determination comes from. Every signal given out shouted 'Leave me alone', but he seemed to read it as 'Please come nearer, and ask many personal questions'.  Fortunately I was meeting Kait for coffee (answering the questions of "What are you doing later? Tonight? Now?") and greeted her with great rapture when she showed up. 

Now that I think about it, I find it slightly amusing that despite being trailed by creepy stalker-man, I carried on taking photos ("the cat, look, you can see him better over here"), climbing over rocks ("Do you need help?" - "No, thanks" - "Well, maybe I need some help"), and capturing the sunset ("It's a beautiful night, isn't it?").  I refused to be deterred from capturing the beauty I had worked so hard to be near!

Walk length: 20 minutes

Day 33: Yo Quiero Taco Bell

The other day I was driving through Limassol on my way towards Paphos, and saw a billboard for Taco Bell.  I very nearly stopped my touring/photography drive to spend hours searching for it, but I wisely waited until I could come back with someone who knew where it was.  We went in a group today to 'My Mall' (in funny order on the sign reads more like 'MMLYAL'), and thence to Taco Bell.  After filling up on chalupas and gorditas and burritos and "nachos" (tortilla crisps), we wandered around the mall for a little shopping, a little browsing, watching the ice skaters fall and pick themselves up again.  Suddenly I looked around and realised that every person without exception was dressed very nicely.  Very posh. I felt incredibly dingy and a bit of a mess.  And, compared to the stick figures around me, a bit hefty as well.  We finished our shopping and returned home, where I finally worked out how to get HOT water, not just 'slightly less cold', and am enjoying the silence that you can hear. 

Walk length:  20 minutes

Day 32: Rainy Streets of Nikosia

Today we drove to Nikosia (helpfully signposted 'Lefkosia' at random times, as though there was a secret plot to ensure great confusion and, if possible, prevent entrance altogether).  It was, I can safely say, cold and rainy today. Other days I hesitated to use the word 'cold' as I remember the temperatures in the minus numbers in Scotland, but today I was very thankful for my hoodie and, I must confess, a little miserable for a while.  It was dark, and wet, and we got lost. Walked for many minutes in the wrong direction.  I remember thinking that if I was by myself I would probably turn back and just go home.  But I know that there is only one way to enjoy life and build creativity and that is to go places, even if it's cold and you're lost.

Soon we found our way and we dandered the streets of Nikosia (Lefkosia?), did a little window shopping ("Oooh, I like that! I'd buy that for her and that for them...okay, let's go"), and even crossed the border to the northern part of Cyprus.  (A lot of history there...for another day.)  We saw a few mosques, more photogenic walls and windows, Cypriot cats and a tiny kitten who danced and pounced one minute and sat yawning the next, and then walked a much shorter route back to the truck.

And then the torrential rain began.  Blinding rain that slows you from 100km/hour to 40.  It was not easy driving, but soon I noticed that there was an entire queue of cars pulling over at the shoulder to stop altogether. It was as though this rain was so intense they were just refusing to drive in it at all.  I did have some sympathy - it was wild, and more fierce than I have seen in a while, and certainly more than I expected here in Cyprus - but how funny to experience the difference between countries!  In Scotland they slow down by perhaps ten miles an hour (and some don't slow at all), and keep driving on.  Here they stopped entirely, put on the hazard lights, and waited it out.  But I drove on, and got soaked to the skin once I left the truck...ahhh, Cyprus!

Walk length: 2 hours+

Day 31: To The Lord's House

Today is the day of rest. I did walk, briefly, from church to my friends' house for lunch and back again...my leg muscles very sore from my attempt the previous day at Cypriot rock climbing.  (That will teach me for being a thief and a robber!)

The sky went on fire later on in the afternoon - I haven't seen a sunset like that in years.  I kept walking between the kitchen and the living room to look out at the two views, trying to decide which was more amazing!

Worship was a joint English/Greek service which in a way was difficult, but the pause between speech and interpretation was helpful as it gave me a moment to stop and think.  "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  You cannot dance to two tunes.  Choose one, the highest call.  Follow Christ alone, and let all else be for Him.  I pray my living, my working, my photography, and my walking is all done for His glory.

"Put first things first, and you gain both first and second things."   - C.S. Lewis

Day 30: A Thief And A Robber

One of the places I wanted to go while in Cyprus was the Kourion Theatre.  I drove there, today, and was only mildly surprised to find it closed, as it was New Year's Day.  The gates were barred and shut and not a guard or tourist guide was in sight.  I tramped around the sides briefly, considered, and then with two big steps and a jump (and some justification in my mind), cleared the rock at the side of the gate and began walking up the path to the theatre.  'Only a thief and a robber climbs in over the walls,' I thought, but I didn't go back...and then I saw I was in the company of two other thieves and robbers, and pretty soon they were everywhere.  I wandered about to my heart's content while the sun played on the stone steps of the theatre and danced on the surface of the faraway sea.  Three cats made advances to me, purring like little outboard motors and following every step I made.  One even consented to be a model, momentarily.  I walked for a long time, including climbing, and went on later to Aphrodite's Birthplace, where the sun set in purple-and-pink splendour (quite splendour) and I watched it reflected on the waters.  On the hill nearby there were little love hearts made out of beach rocks.  Later tonight I walked the seafront, so I am now officially worn out, and expect I will enjoy my day of rest tomorrow immensely. 

Walk length: 2 hours+

Day 29: Rainy Friday

Today I exercised the exception that proves the rule, and just took the day off.  I know it's meant to be a Sunday, but it was just such grey, cool, stay-inside kind of weather that no matter how much I tried to talk myself into a walk, my mind and body were having none of it.  I read through one of the books I had brought, a random charity-shop purchase, and every time I thought of setting it aside and going out, I found I was putting it off further.  "I'll just read till one..." - and one o'clock would come and I'd shift it to three, and pretty soon I just wasn't going anywhere.  I drank green tea, and ate popcorn I found in a cupboard, and then drove off to celebrate New Year's with friends in Larnaka.  We ate roast pork with cider and cranberry stuffing, curry potatoes, mediterranean grilled vegetables, and some amazing desserts.  We drank wine that sparkled as much as the conversation and laughter, and the language switched between Greek and English with so much rapidity that I didn't even feel lost.  (Well, not much.)  We paused to pray at the start of the meal, and as I bowed my head the words that flowed out were incomprehensible to me, and then there was a pause.  "And we can also pray to you in English, Lord," he said, and amidst laughter continued on in prayer.  We ate German stollen (made festive with a cheery red bow) and drank coffee, and suddenly it was a minute to midnight and we were standing on the balcony watching the fireworks over the city and wishing each other a happy new year.

Happy new year!

Day 28: Choirokoitia Village

Kait came by and we walked to the nearby village, called Choirokoitia (pronounced with a 'K' sound, and apparently the 'oi' is pronounced 'ee', so it sounds more like Keero-ka-teeya).  It was almost cold today - not compared to Scotland, but compared to what I thought it should be, here.  Still very pleasant, and Kait and I enjoyed catching up, sprinkled by stops for lovely photos. (I'm actually horrible at trying to spend time with someone and take photos at the same time - I really shouldn't do it. I kept stopping at random times and poor Kait would keep walking on and then look back and realise I wasn't next to her, or listening to what she was saying...but she pressed on valiantly and didn't complain!)  We found a 'Natural Path' (as opposed to a Nature Path - sometimes the Greek translation to English falls a little short) and were amused to see manmade stone steps taking us down.  So natural! 
Soon this led to a legitimately 'natural' dirt path, which wound around the outskirts of the village.  I stopped every few seconds for a photo - as Mary Stewart puts it in "Moonspinners", "The very dust of this place is photogenic!"  Halfway round we felt a few sprinkles of rain, and then a huge rainbow spread across the whole valley we were in.  It was glorious. 

We passed a small cave, climbed seemingly endless steps, and came back round to the stone streets of the village, with cheery blue and white flags waving to us as we passed.  (One, however, wrapped itself firmly around its post and stubbornly refused to fly.  It was feeling either unpatriotic or just plain grumpy.)  We passed a whole slew of cats, chatted to a friendly man who fed the cats, and when I stopped to take a photo of a fruit truck, its owner stopped, leaped out agilely, and posed winningly by its side for my photo.  I loved it.  He stopped again as he passed us going down out of the village and insisted on giving us fresh apples and oranges from the back of his truck.  We couldn't speak either of us a word that we could understand (curse you, Tower of Babel!), but we parted with great cheer and much waving on both sides.

Walk length:  1.5 hours

Day 27: Blooming Tea and Finekoudes Beach

(Just in case you're confused, I am posting about ten walks in a row as I was - blissfully - disconnected from the internet while I was away in Cyprus! Enjoy!)

It is quiet here in my villa in Cyprus - so quiet, I can hear the silence hum. The stars are out, shining brilliantly and winking at me.  The landscape is even quiet - so few billboards, and many of them are in Greek, so they don't assault my senses the same way.

Tonight we went to a Chinese restaurant.  The tables were layered with brilliant white and red cloths, and the lights sparkled everywhere.  Little white Christmas lights decorated the windows, and a nativity stood on a table nearby.  There were little Chinese figurines set into the walls, little tableaus as though you were looking in through a window to a little old man and woman having tea, or a man playing the mandarin.  The restaurant was called 'Mulan', and on the walls there were canvas murals of the legendary female warrior.  I wanted to take them home.  Turns out that all the decorations were brought or shipped directly from China - everything was so authentic it brought out the enjoyment that much more.  We chatted with the owner (my friend's brother), brainstorming about marketing and encouraging him to take breaks and not work 24-7.  The highlight of the meal was something called 'blooming tea' which I had never seen before.  We ordered jasmine tea and the lady brought out this clear teapot filled with hot water, setting it on a stand with a votive candle underneath.  Then she took what looked like a large brown nut and dropped it into the hot water, and for the next five minutes we watched enthralled as this flower bloomed in the water right before our eyes.  (Well, Henrietta and I watched enthralled....as Mihalis put it, he and Alex were 'being cool' and couldn't get too excited about a teapot and a flower. But we're pretty sure they were impressed as well.)  I loved it so much I planned to come back later on in my holiday , just for tea!

After the meal (and the blooming tea) we took a walk down at Finekoudes Beach, but there was so much debris on the beach that we didn't end up walking on the sand too much.  I wasn't cold until I saw Mihalis come up with a leather jacket on, and suddenly I wished for mine.   Funny how that happens!

My other favourite experience of the day was a simple one of just getting fuel for the truck I was borrowing from friends.  The truck key was supposed to open the fuel door, but it wouldn't work.  The young man who came to serve me tried to open it but without success.  "Is this the key?" - "Yes, yes", I insisted, even ringing the owners of the truck to make sure.  She confirmed, and whilst me and the young man kept attempting the lock, an older man came over, shouldering the young man out of the way and trying the key with no success.  The younger man tries again, and soon there are three men surrounding my fuel tank, arguing vociferously in Greek.  I have no idea what they are saying but by their actions and intonations it sounds something like this:  "Here - let me do it."  -"No. I, I alone, will help the young lady."  "You are not doing it right. Try this way."  The older man disappears and returns triumphantly with the WD-40, which they spray on the lock.  Still no joy.  One of the young men finds a knife and jiggles the fuel door while the other young man tries the key - ah! At last!  And after filling up the tank they all wave me off with great cheer and kindness, and I drive off into happiness.

Walk length:  40 minutes