Thursday 26 September 2019

Reboot... reconnect

Desperately in need of a chance to reconnect with the land, with my feet, even with my boots  - perhaps the part of my brain that comes here too – I took myself out for a long, long overdue walk this morning. Blimey, I needed that.

I take a familiar route, but enjoy noticing unfamiliar things.  

Down the path at the side of the field, looking down, I take care to avoid falling down shallow holes.  Some have been rather curiously filled in with rubble and stones.




What’s that all about?  Actually I do know.  My neighbour P – a fantastically youthful 80-year old who still drives around in her black sports car – explained it the last time I walked this route and met her. 

“It’s J and his metal detector”, she’d said.   Oh, I’ve seen him with that!  Bless him.  With the mind of a 7-year old in the short, squat body of a 60-year old who wears very bad trousers, J is quite a local character.  I think his metal detector is probably one of those ‘Power Rangers’ models as once featured in an episode of  ‘Detectorists’.   And I don’t believe he’s ever found anything interesting with it, but he does at least remember to “always fill in your hole”.  Rather badly, though.

“Did you ever see him with his long black lace gloves?” P had asked after we’d discussed J’s treasure-hunting exploits.  I hadn’t.  “He used to wear them all the time…,” she continued,  “…even asked me if I wanted to try them on one day!”  

I keep walking, thinking about J with his metal detector, pushing broken bricks into shallow holes with stubby fingers clad in goth girl gloves. 

At the bottom of the hill I double back, head up the other side towards the church.  There’s a lovely, pretty row of old houses here, roofs all different heights, roses and jasmine round doorways and porches, a vast stretch of green in front of them.  A couple of estate agent signs and the line of cars parked along one side are the only indication of the century we’re in.  Then my attention is drawn to the broken wing mirror on the ground.  Next I notice a front windscreen and the intricate spiderweb pattern of its shattered glass.  And then the side window, completely smashed in.  Oh, and then the other side window too… both back windows… and the whole of the rear windscreen of the shiny black estate car, totally devoid of glass.  A little magic tree air freshener blowing about in the breeze inside.  This isn’t an accident, it’s an act of vengeance - there must be a story here, somewhere, a series of events.  The vandalised vehicle so much at odds with its picturesque, peaceful setting.

Familiar route, unfamiliar things.

I stride onward, up to my favourite tree-lined walk.

As I pass the entrance to the ancient manor house where they're preparing for this year's Hallowe'en events,  I find myself seriously considering whether or not I’d like to be a scarer. 


Can you be one if you wear glasses?, I ask myself.  Has anyone ever seen a bespectacled ghoul?  Perhaps I’d have to take them off just when jumping out at visitors.  Or simply wear a hood that covers my face, that’d work.  I quite fancy it.

Talking of scares, this is the walk where I saw the devil - my whip-cracking Lagartija Nick.  I am pleased to report that he is still here.



I stay on the wide grassy verge, look down and notice a little pile of hedgehog poo.  It always raises my spirits.  I know.  I have become something of a wildlife faeces expert;  sometimes it’s the only evidence you have of the nocturnal adventures of the secretive beings we share our space with while we sleep in our beds.

No, don’t think about the (presumably) nocturnal adventurers who vandalised that car now.  I hope they didn’t, erm, you know, in it.

I decided not to take a photo of the hedgehog poo - sorry...

Further on, I notice odd little metal things in the grass that J would have probably been excited to pick up with his metal detector - he wouldn’t even have needed to dig a hole.


What are they, what are they doing here?  Bits off a tractor?

Finally, I take a circular route back past the graveyard and the benches. There’s definitely something to be said for glancing down when you walk; you really do notice the unexpected.




As I get back home, I feel just as I had hoped I would – rebooted and reconnected, at least for now.  It was only natural that this blog post would follow.  Walking feels good - writing does too.

23 comments:

  1. Welcome back C. Great post- a walk clearly does you good.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks SA, walking definitely helped. I think it's like "free your mind and your ass will follow", just the other way round!

      Delete
  2. Yes, welcome back. Love this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Martin, I've decided there must be some kind of correlation between walking and writing. Must try and do more of both, preferably not at the same time though...

      Delete
    2. Got a dictaphone? To capture thoughts as you walk...

      Delete
    3. Ooh, maybe I should try that - could turn into an audio blog post! Though I probably talk to myself anyway without realising it...

      Delete
    4. I'm too shy shy, hush-hush,eye-to-eye...
      Back in the early days of this blog one of the regulars here from across the pond used to post videos of his thoughts, they were fantastic to watch and listen to because he was so funny and engaging (and had the most brilliant Southern accent). I miss those! Would you ever?

      Delete
    5. ...I can't believe I've just quoted a Kajagoogoo lyric.

      Delete
    6. Ah, you've outed yourself there, a secret Limahl fan...

      Would I ever? Well... I have thought about reading a short story or two and posting them on YouTube. But my voice is very ordinary. As for videoing, I think I'd crack the lens!

      Delete
    7. I just liked his mate's beaded hair...

      Youtube for your stories could be something fun for you to try though? I doubt anyone else could express the words as well as the person who's written them.

      Delete
    8. Nick Beggs, wasn't it?

      I might try it, sometime. I may use my pseudonymous alter ego to give it a go. Watch this space, as they say.

      Delete
    9. Hmm, methinks you know rather a lot about Kajagoogoo, Martin ;-)
      Hey, yes, go for it! That's what pseudonymous alter egos are for...

      Delete
  3. A great way to get the balance in life back and thanks for sharing your interesting finds. Dare you to sign up as a Scarer - Could be fun and an interesting blog post?

    You have inspired me to do some blogging - been MIA this week but maybe a brisk walk will do the trick. Enjoy your weekend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Alyson, yes it really does help restore some balance and has been long overdue, I get sort of mentally chained to my desk when I'm fretting about deadlines and immersed in projects - the adage about needing to get out more has never been so true!
      I think I'd be a crap Scarer to be honest, I'd be more likely to laugh! Either that or scare myself silly too. But who knows?!
      Hope you get in a good walk and a new blog post soon too!

      Delete
  4. I'm guessing you've never seen Halloween.

    Sadly, I can't post pictures in comment boxes, but if you scroll down a bit on the page in the link below, you'll see what I'm talking about...

    https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2432079/new-halloween-reboot-footage-nods-at-the-original-movie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha, thanks Rol, that's my Scarer outfit sorted then.
      (I saw Hallowe'en many many years ago, don't remember that bit at all!)

      Delete
  5. I/We haven't been on a good walk for a few days. But I feel like I have been on one now. Thanks for sharing. I love that little Teddy under the bench. we have a few similar ones dotted around the house from when we used to collect Peter Fagan.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Darcy. A walk can become so much more when you really look around, can't it? I'm amazed I even noticed the little teddy, it must have been calling me subconsciously to look down at that moment. I liked the randomness of it being there somehow!

      Delete
  6. I used to take one or two long walks every day, but since acquiring my job at the supermarket a couple of years ago I find that I rarely have the time or energy. Usually when an opportunity presents itself these days I have to really talk myself into getting off my backside, but when I do eventually stride out along the country lanes I always end up feeling so much better for it, physically, mentally and spiritually. Must do it more often.
    Thanks for taking us along with you on your recent walk C.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I totally know the feeling TS - I get stuck in one place even if it is my home/Shedio rather than an outside job keeping me in, getting out properly still requires a bit of self-pushing! I was doing so well earlier this year and fitting in several decent walks every week, but various factors (mostly work, also the hot weather) caused that to dwindle - then it gets harder to pick up the habit again I think. But so worthwhile when you do. We should perhaps all spur each other on!

      Delete
  7. Lovely post, C. You certainly stumbled upon some fine and unusual things on your way. I've been getting back into walking myself recently: always good for the soul.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks RR. I've not been able to get out much lately due to pressing deadlines but can't wait 'til I have more time to roam freely again! Good to know you are getting out there too - and taking your photos!

      Delete

Please come in, the door is open

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...