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

Day 22: Happy Christmas Eve!

My walk today consisted of walking all around Carfin Grotto, in and out of the church, to take photos for a Christmas Eve wedding.  I think I did a lot of walking if you combine it - and considering I'm carrying all my camera equipment too, I'm more or less set in terms of exercise!

It was all that could be wished for in a Christmassy wedding.  The bride showed up in Ugg boots under her dress; the bridesmaid had a white furry stole around her shoulders; the snow was still lying, and frosting the trees, but the roads were clear for the wedding cars to get through; all the guests showed up in big heavy coats; the groom shivered his way through the snow photos; the sun shone, but didn't melt the snow. 

I dared a few shops, but the whole time I was muttering to myself, 'comfort and joy, comfort and joy', so that I remembered not to holler at the person or car or trolley in front of me.  I think I missed the ultimate in madness (not completely last minute, but late enough to miss those who congratulated themselves on nipping in early), but still I was thankful to get back to the wee flat. 

And now it's Christmas Eve night and after a hilarious laugh-session with the Fisher family (legend, can I just say, legend) I am ready to put on my fuzzy warm socks and pour myself a cup of tea (hot chocolate? coffee? the options are limitless) and read Harry Potter and, a little later, video-Skype with my family in the States.  Ahhhhh. 

Happy Christmas Eve to you all.

Day 17: From House to House

Today was another example of how this blog & challenge came through to encourage me to walk when I might normally drive.  I did a lot of driving today - to the next town to attend a funeral, then back home.  Dropping off a few Christmas presents.  Into Glasgow to a friend's house.   And I can say unequivocally that I can see why i am walking.  Driving makes me frustrated, ticked off, easily angered, keeping records of wrongs...all those things that love does not do, according to I Corinthians 13, my mind and heart want to do when I am driving in traffic!  

So once I got to my friend's flat in Glasgow, I realised that it was a 4 minute drive to visit another friend nearby - or, according to Googlemaps, an 18 minute walk.  Seeing as I hadn't had my walk yet, I chose that option. 

It was a very wise choice.  Perhaps because I was in Glasgow as opposed to Airdrie, but I found myself not needing my hat, scarf, gloves, and even my coat.  It wasn't just the walking - I've been walking every day in sub zero temperatures and not warming up!  There was a warmth in the air, which I attributed to the predicted snow.  I've learned from experience that when it gets very, very cold and suddenly, surprisingly, warms up - it often means snow is about to show up.  (I remember where I went to university this would happen.  I would leave my dorm and find it surprisingly warm all of a sudden, so I would leave my coat and set off to class, coming out less than an hour later to huge snowflakes falling, and me with no protection from them!)

I passed a Christmas-tree lot, hidden away in a corner of the street.  I wanted to stop and take a photo, but there was a guy standing there looking like a Christmas Tree Bouncer of some kind - he eyed me suspiciously as I crossed over to the other side.  I just wanted to smell the fragrance - the clean, sharp smell of fir trees.  I wish so often I could take a picture of smells like that.  It brings up all kinds of feelings and emotions - family, opening gifts, love, joy, baking cookies, sparkling lights, 'Silent Night' on the radio - all this passes through your mind in a moment as you walk past live Christmas trees.  I left others to purchase their trees, and walked on.

Also passed a place called The Church On The Hill.  It was beautifully lit, with that soft golden light glowing out of the windows.  Not used for a church anymore, as is sadly the case with many such buildings in Scotland, but a beautiful venue, and I never knew it existed.   

Made it to my friend's flat and enjoyed a lovely catch-up and some red wine, and then back out in the mild evening air to Chinese & Indian food and a rousing game of Trivial Pursuit, complete with Christmas crackers.  Then home to my wee flat, where all is calm, and all is...quiet.

Day 13: A Wee Wander In The Grotto

Still feeling a little under the weather today - although how does that phrase work, anyway?  If the weather is excellent, and I feel rubbish, is that under the weather?  What about if the weather is fairly blah, and I feel more blah than that?  Does that fit? 

Either way, I'm not up to the ideal weather today.  But I took a dander round to Carfin Grotto, as I've got a wedding to shoot there on Christmas Eve.  There are plenty of good places to capture the bride and groom, but you'll need to wait for Christmas to see the photos! 

Walk length: 10-15 minutes