The path ahead

About an hour into my walk in Scotland's borders last Friday and this was the path ahead!

The walk had already been a little frustrating and now this. Looking back on it this morning and I was reminded of the path ahead in our everyday lives.

Does your path ever look like this?

On first sight, the path in the picture looked almost impossible. Thistles, shoulder height plants, nettles and thorny bushes and of course the trees on either side.

So what do you do when faced with such obstacles on your life path?

Well sometimes we give up immediately. At first sight of this path, that could have been my reaction but then I looked more closely. This is what we need to do on our life path too. We need to get closer, to study the options, to weight them up and then to make a decision.

Was there a clear alternative route for me? No.

Was there another way through this blockage? In some places yes. There was an opportunity to take a slightly different route in places but only for short stretches so it helped.

Was there anything I could use to help me get through? I did not have a machete which would have made a great difference and there were no broken branches lying around. I had my legs and arms which I used and I had a walking partner so as a team we could move through.

What or who do you have to help you?

What are the dangers you may face? For Janet who was following on it was branches springing back, nettles and thorns.

How do you cope with them?

At the end of the day our path became completely blocked by a building site which had eradicated the path and perhaps this blockage was an indication of what was to come. However, even having had to turn back, we were able to learn from the experience and we would never have experienced the colours and great views had we not pushed on.

Wonderful autumn colours

The weather is superb at the moment and has been for weeks, plenty of sunshine and dry too. I wonder if this is why the trees seem to me to be even more beautiful this year with their vivid colours.

Of course the weather makes the walking more enjoyable and today I was back in Greenwich Park walking with a good friend who lives in the area. She has recently been made redundant so I was doing some coaching as we walked. She was challenging me by finding the highest and steepest hills to walk up so I have the feeling that my legs will be hurting a little tomorrow. And Jude, if you are reading this, I now know that Greenwich Park is even better than I thought for that Great Wall training!!



Just wanted to share with you the photos of France last week and that lovely late afternoon light and those colours.


Here is Ellie and me on our circular walk around the outskirts of the village and below, we are coming back down the lane into the village.

Isn't the light wonderful? It is the best time of the day to take photos and Alan loves to be out experimenting and trying lots of different shots.

Going by the colours back here, I bet the French ones are even more vibrant now.

Blow is the view you get from half way up the hill when you look back at the church which is 12th and 16th century and gives Oudan it's status as a UNESCO heritage village.

Wow moments!!

Have had two wonderful moments today and have had to stop on both occasions and appreciate them. Sadly on neither occasion did I have my camera.

The first was this morning when I was walking in the forest with Marina. We were deep in conversation when I looked up to see this beautiful tree clothed in its gold and rust leaves lit up by the sun and it really did look as if a light bulb had been switched on within the tree. It was magnificent and we both just soaked up the sight before moving on. That's one of the reasons I walk so much. You have time to stop and take on board what is around you.

This evening it was the sunset. I looked up from my desk to see the sky a deep pink with streaks of white and grey which just emphasised it's brilliance even more. If the sayings are to be believed, we are in for another good day tomorrow and I am meeting up with a client to walk in Greenwich Park. How lucky am I?

Just step away.

At the end of the day on Tuesday I felt as if I was in a washing machine being juggled and spun around. There were so many emails to be answered, pieces of work to be actioned, reading to do etc. etc. I really was not sure what to do first and the piles of paper on my desk were threatening to take over.

So on Wednesday, I stepped away from it all and sorted it out. I made lists, I cleared the piles of paper, I collected things together and put them into plastic files and at the end of the day I had a feeling of peace and calm.

Was it worth it? Yes.

I may have lost some time in that a few things did not get done but the clarity that is now there and the fact that I can see the surface of my desk and know where to find things means I am back being efficient again. Walking into my office this morning was blissful. and so conducive to working.