There was a heavy drizzle my entire walk this morning, it started as I walked out the door. The morning was quiet, I only passed a few other people. The overcast day and the rain put me in a baking mood, so I decided to roll out a batch of sugar cookies. They will be the perfect dessert tonight. I might have snuck one or two already, but that was just for the purpose of quality control!
As the line goes from one of my favourite Bob Seger songs, “I awoke last night to the sound of thunder. How far off I sat and wondered?” We had one heck of a thunderstorm last night and on my walk this morning I had to navigate a minefield of puddles. They were more like mini lakes than puddles.
There was a mist trailing through the woods and wrapping around my feet as I walked. I didn’t pass anyone today. The woods belonged entirely to me. The air was cool and the world smelled of earth.
As I headed out for my walk this morning, the sun was glistening in the sky and there was a nice breeze going, that was offsetting the warmth of the sun. It was a walk that started out full of optimism and excitement over what discoveries I would make along the way.
Half way through my walk, I was already down trodden and it wasn’t the heat, or the fact that I was tired from not sleeping that great last night or that a blister on my heel was rubbing against my sneaker. No, I can deal with all of that and still stay upbeat. It was the people I was passing! In the 50 or so other walkers, joggers and strollers I passed, I said “Good Morning!” to every single one and in all of those, “Good Morning’s!” only two people responded, TWO!
One man only responded because the path narrowed and there was no way for him to get out it, I guess? But he didn’t look at me and just mumbled a gruff reply. The other was from a gentleman who like me, was smiling. He cheerfully replied while his cute little fluffy white dog ran down the path. Everyone else pretended they didn’t hear me.
I have to tell you, this morning my walk left me disheartened and terribly missing the South. There is no way I could do the walk I do in the time I do it in if I was in the South. Because, everyone stops everyone else to comment on the weather, the gardens, the seasons, a simple “Hello!” to a neighbour turns into a catch up on family news and life. I miss the South where gentleman hold doors open for you instead of rushing past you. Where people are simply polite to one another. I miss being everyone’s, Sweetie, Honey, Lil’ Miss, Ma’m and Shuga. Where no one is a stranger.
Now, I’m not saying I’m after the other walkers, joggers and strollers life stories. But if someone offers you salutations the polite and basic human kindness thing to do is to reply.
Hopefully, tomorrow will be a better walk! Here’s to the weekend, long may it last!
I was up early this morning and went for a walk in the woods. It was breezy. Last night it rained and the air this morning was so clean. The forest smelt of earth. The sun was dappling my path, the birds were singing and every time the wind blew the raindrops pitter-pattered down. It was magical. What a wonderful way to start a day.
Yesterday Mr. Michie had a conference near Regent’s Park and I had the afternoon off, so we decided to meet. It was wonderful! It felt like we were being naughty, just walking around, taking in the world, while everyone else was at work.
He bought me a surprise and as the sales woman wrapped it, she asked if it was a special occasion? To which we replied, “YES! We are together for the afternoon!”. Just being together is special occasion enough for us. We wandered slowly, letting everyone else pass us by. We were absolutely content with our stolen afternoon. Here’s to more stolen afternoons!
The roses were in full bloom this weekend at Regent’s Park. We ate breakfast in the Japanese Garden and then went for a walk amongst the roses in all their heady lushness.
Yesterday, we took our first official walk, of spring 2015. We headed straight to the Japanese Garden at Regent’s Park. It is our favourite park to walk in, and the Japanese Garden is the perfect place to begin.
We wove our way around the park taking in nature’s changing face and ended up on the “free” zoo tour, which stretched along a high path on one side of ZSL. We watched the kids play with the goats and sheep in the farm area and the camels munching away on hay, while people stared at them over their fence. Finally, we ended our walk by heading over the bridge to glance in at the warthogs, but they had decided not to come out, and so we watched people walk along the canal instead.
If you were in any doubt, spring has sprung. The trees are beginning to blossom and the bulbs and primroses are in full bloom. Happiness is!
We had some errands to run on Saturday. So, we got up early and left the house not long before seven.
We stopped off for breakfast:
Strolled by Lina’s to look at the giant candy Easter Eggs in the window:
And just happened upon this fella:
I love when errands become lazy strolls, walking hand in hand down almost deserted streets. It’s as if all of London belongs to you, or at least a small slice of it.
Merry Christmas! Or, as they say in Copenhagen, “God Jul!”
