Route Walk: Season's cheer on a cold and frosty morning

Festive scene in lights at a neighbour's house

I HOPE you're all having a nice festive break (even if you've had to go back to work on some days) and are looking forward to the New Year.

I confess I haven’t done quite as much walking as intended. You know how it is; there’s been family around and films on the telly, and food and the occasional drink and more food and . . . well, you get the picture (basically, insert any excuse you like to remain slouched on the sofa tucking into mince pies and whatever!).

At the beginning of the week, I really didn’t feel like going out at all. Along with others at this time of the year, I was battling a headache, sore throat, cough etc. My voice was not so much ‘alluring husky’ as ‘irritating raspy,’ although at times I was unable to speak much at all; virtually silent, in fact – which some around here would count as a blessing!

But, as is often the way, once you get up and go, you actually enjoy it more than you thought you would. It’s the getting-up-and-going in the first place that often takes the effort.

I did a ‘power walk’ on my regular route that I know takes half an hour, but have since done a couple of more leisurely strolls. That’s the beauty of walking, you can take it at exactly the pace to suit your mood – and energy level – at the time.

How the environment changes with the seasons. A noticeable difference now, of course – at night-time, at least – are the homes bedecked with Christmas lights; in some instances, you can hardly see the houses for the glow!

Santa's still glowing in some homes!

Early this morning there was a sparkle of a different kind, with a fresh coating of frost. Although it was nippy, it was quite refreshing, and gave a sense of season's cheer. The ground was extremely slippy, so you wouldn’t have been able to walk fast, even if you’d wanted to. I took a leisurely walk around a local park.

I didn’t record it on my cardio app (my last stats were for the 23rd). It was more ‘mooch’ than ‘march,’ and I stopped to snap a few shots on the way, so it would have been a rather odd read-out. I enjoyed the more relaxed approach.

As for my good intentions of doing more? Well, it’s nearly the New Year. I can always make some nice new resolutions and put my best foot forward, so to speak, with even better intentions for 2014.
Until then . . . another mince pie anyone?