There’s a strange and mix of feelings when an endeavour, project or challenge draws to a close. And, of course, a great sense of relief! But, when I calculated that my 300,000 steps in May equated to less than 4 miles/day (including those days when I did not walk) my sense of achievement was somewhat deflated. Then I remembered the period of time immediately after leaving hospital four years ago when merely walking up my drive, assisted on both sides, to the Lane, felt like scaling Ben Nevis! Now, I realise that not only was the Christian Aid challenge was my achievement, but being able to do this was also the achievement of the surgeons who, like a motor engineers “dismantled me and put me back together without my knowing anything about it!” I did need a year or two to “run in”, and cruise ships and transcontinental trains assisted greatly in my recovery, as well as the help, support and encouragement of those around me at the beginning.
Yesterday, perhaps understandably, I had no urge to walk, except a little bit in the Pavilion Gardens, where I joined a church colleague for coffee.
At long last, the weather has warmed up to almost what it should be at the end of May. Bars and restaurants as well as most shops are open and with the roads as busy as ever, it feels as if there is little sign of the pandemic. But, we are constantly reminded of an ever increasing presence of the Indian strain of the Coronavirus and the threatening prospect of “Lockdown 4”. We still can’t sing hymns in church. For me, that’s a blessing in disguise; I hope the dreadful “Hymns Old and New” with many of the traditional hymns re-worded to satisfy political correctness, and the plenteous dodgy praise of the 20th century are eventually consigned to landfill. But, I fear the spread of Karaoke hymns, now commonplace in evangelical establishments.
Already it is 4 o’clock. With luck, I have negated the need to prepare a meal tonight, having had a late lunch at the still excellent Parks Inn, just around the corner. I have used these last two days of leisure to straighten the house up. Although the cleaners came at the beginning of the week, and carried out their usual excellent job, for some reason, the place had reverted to chaos just a few days later.
A good summer lies ahead, “me-hopes!”
Thanks for reading, David, The Parks Inn, Harpur Hill, which I recommend highly, 16.17hrs, Saturday 29th July 2021.
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David's Cruise 