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| Hawthorn blossom brightens the scene |
I MUST admit, it’s been quite a tussle this weekend between
my ‘lazy bones’ and my ‘lively bones.’ My ‘lazy bones’ just wanted to roll over
and have extra sleep, lounge around on the sofa, mooch about without having to
do warm-up exercises, pound the pavements and generally exert myself.
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| Beautiful splashes of red and yellow from the broom bushes |
My ‘lively bones,’ however, were telling me to get up, get
out, make the most of the sunshine and stop being such a lettuce. Well, the
lettuce insult did it, and the ‘lively bones’ won the day.
I’m also reading iconic choreographer Twyla Tharp’s book The Creative Habit, in which she
describes how she wakes at 5.30am and heads across town for a workout at the
gym – every day! Well, I thought what’s good enough for Tharp is good enough
for me; in a slightly modified form, of course, and certainly without the
finesse!
I’ve recently discovered a route alongside a river bank and
around a field near where I live that’s become my favourite walking ground, at
least for the time being. I’d actually tried it some time ago, but it was so
densely overgrown I had to turn back.
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| Even an 'ordinary' dandelion has its appeal |
Lately, however, it’s been clear enough to explore, and I’ve
found myself following the river before taking to the criss-crossing tracks in
the fairly ‘wasteland,’ and usually deserted field with, up to now, its dead
and gnarly vegetation.
At this time of the year, bluebells, snowdrops, hawthorn,
broom and other bright and colourful plants are beginning to splash gorgeous colour
into the scene. I’ve popped some photos from the walk on here. Even just getting out and seeing these 'wonders of nature' is enough to give you a boost.
I think I did more picture-taking than calorie-burning today (I turned the cardio app off while 'snapping'), but thank goodness I didn’t just roll over this morning and become a lettuce!
- I notice that Good Housekeeping magazine (GH), who promoted walking in a feature recently, have followed it up with another double-page spread extolling the benefits of the activity and carry four case studies showing different ways in which walking has benefited people.
- GH supports Walk the Walk’s Moon Walks and Sun Walks, which help breast cancer causes. There’s a Moon Walk in London next week ( May 10) on a Rockabilly theme. It’s sold out, but the organisers are still looking for volunteers, and other events are coming up.
As ever Richard, wonderful photographs
ReplyDeleteThanks Christine. It was such a lovely morning!
ReplyDeleteNice blog. I liked the markings in the felled tree. They remind me of the massive ground markings as seen from the air in Peru (not that I've seen them in real life). And in your GH blog reporting trying to make a 1% improvement on various aspects of exercise, it is a similar attitude my wife has when exercising - just one more push-up, just one more squat etc, each exercise, each session, each day, brings success almost every time without overdoing things and making improvement achievable and rewarding.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your encouraging comments, Hatman. Yes, the '1% improvement' ideas is useful, isn't? It's just pushing yourself that tiny bit more each time. It brings progress and success but, as you say, without overdoing it. I like your reference to the ground markings in Peru. For me, the marks on the trees evoke cave drawings and certain kinds of writing, but you're is another very helpful reference. So thanks for that.
DeleteTruly beautiful images….Thanks so much for sharing your walks with us Richard!!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks, thinkfirst. There is so much to see in the 'ordinary,' the overlooked and the 'taken-for-granted.' Hope you're having a nice weekend.
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