Thursday 8 November 2012

the rewards of getting fit(ter)

I have made a tentative pact with myself to walk down to the seaside every other day in an attempt to get myself both fitter and slimmer. Tentative because I have a pretty poor track record when it comes to getting fit, but the slow creep over and under 11 stone horrifies me and, having been quite poorly recently, I figure I owe myself a bit of a tune up. The walk is downhill in one direction, and uphill all the way back (obviously!). The distance (according to Google) is around 2 miles, and is about the extent of my comfort zone when it comes to walking, so a good thing to be doing just now. The pleasure of pushing myself just a bit on the way back is enormous; when we first moved here I couldn't walk back up the hill at any pace without a calf muscle threatening to tear and I'd limp for days afterwards. Being able now to stride (and huff and puff) uphill is exhilarating. I smile wryly at the joggers who overtake me and think to myself that my knees are probably happier than theirs. On the way there and back I watch people's gardens, blink at some of the larger houses with their posh cars parked outside, say hello to passers by and generally enjoy just being. When I get to the bottom of the hill, there is the wonderful sea and the view along the coast to Beachy Head.

Today I saw
 the sun breaking through amazing deep dark clouds over the sea

 beach treasures, washed up by a spate of recent heavy winds and high tides














 rust wood and stones

and sea smoothed groynes

On the way back, there is a garden which has a wonderful set of small leaved shrubs, all pruned to rolling shapes - far too artistic to call a hedge, though I guess that's what it is. It gives me pleasure each time I pass it, but my pleasure was greatly increased today by the sight of an elderly lady with her hedge trimmers, clip clip clipping away. I stopped for a chat, discovered that she was 87, had a 93 year old disabled husband and didn't believe in "giving in". She was delightful, was very grateful to me for stopping and complimenting her on her hedge, and I walked on with a smile on my face and a spring in my step - glad to have been able to thank her for the pleasure her pruning was giving. I always feel that our front gardens are the gift we give to passers by and most of the time we don't know whether they are bringing a touch of brightness to the world or not.

2 comments:

  1. I can't tell you how green I am with envy at your nearness to the seaside - I love walking on beaches, but as is the way, have lived all my life in landlocked counties, about as far from the sea as it's possible to be! Lovely pictures - how marvellous - perhaps you'd motivate yourself to go every day if you took a photo every day to show the sea in all its moods? Well, good luck anyway.

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    1. I've lived by the sea for almost all of my life and have loved it ... it so constantly moves and changes and seems to be a space one can take ones troubles to for peace, as well as being beautiful.
      I did consider every day, but thought is might be a challenge too far, especially since it's dark when I get hoe from work these day. Perhaps I'll build up to it slowly!

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