Week Seven
I have discovered a sound that I really enjoy, it makes me smile, and it is the sound of rain on my coat. Which given the weather is rather a good thing. On a return journey from a long walk it was raining so hard that the drops felt like shards of glass on my face, yet for some reason I smiled all the way home. 
The sound was fabulous! When it is bitterly cold but sunny, it seems that the landscape is ‘sharpened’ and the clarity of every strand of grass seems intensified. I feel that my eyes are opening wider and wider, and my sight is getting clearer and clearer, I seem to spot something new everyday. 
I have started a project called ‘Feet That I Meet’ and as the title suggests I record the people’s or animals feet that I meet on my daily walks. It is somewhat odd I agree to ask a complete stranger “may I take a picture of your feet?”……pause…….”yes….. just the feet, is that ok?”. 
To my relief I have only been met with incredulity rather than adverse reactions so far. I have been informing people that this will be a repeated occurrence throughout the year, and, am now wondering, will I reach a stage where feet are offered to me straight away for their photographic capture before any civilities commence. I am also taking shots of my own feet and filming them whilst walking. 
I think you’ll agree that my red wellies are a splendidly juxtaposed with the black tarmac. I cannot stop singing in my head “walk a mile in my shoes, walk a mile in my shoes before you criticize or a abuse…walk a mile in my shoes”, a splendid track by Henrik Schwartz. I’m sure there must be a plethora of ‘walking’ songs to get through whilst I think about this project. 
I am rather enjoying living on my own (and so is Andy back in Bristol!) and found myself relieved that no one was witnessing my giggles as I tucked into a tin of corn beef for breakfast one day, it seemed like a good idea at the time, however I can’t say for sure that I felt that after completion. However it did make me feel like I was on some survival solo expedition, to somewhere like the Himalayans whilst I battled with a corn beef key still bleary eyed with the sound of extreme weather outside. 
However driving on my own in extreme weather conditions across the fells in the pitch dark is quite another matter. I am still finding it difficult, and had the scariest drive of my life trying to find another route around a flooded section. The rain was horizontal, the mega wind was, well, errr dangerous and the pot holes were….well errrr serious. I never actually made it to my destination of meeting a rather lovely sculptor called Julia for dinner, but ended up instead in the local pub in somewhat a state. I did feel like a city numpty I must admit, in a state, no money on me, and in need of contacting my host, however a kind local did buy me a drink, reassured me and got the bar man to lend me the phone. 
I did end up leaving my car and wading through the flood rather than having to repeat the stressful journey I had made. To top it all I was tired, stressed, and somewhat hungry and it was the first time in seven weeks that I was not wearing wellies or walking boots! Lo and behold for some insane reason I seemed to be modelling a pair of trainers instead. Consequently, floods, severe rain and walking in trainers don’t quite go together. Nevertheless this has been a real wake up call, I do have to respect the environment and the effects of the weather conditions here, I must learn the routes more, I must be more prepared and I must make better decisions whether it is safe to go out or not! 
Saw my first ever woodpecker visiting my bird-feeding pole and woke up one morning to see red squirrels in the trees form my bed, not a bad start to the day. Apparently the highest population in England of red squirrels live in Northumberland. Nevertheless there has been a complaint from the council about the mystery signs that have appeared saying ‘Go Home Grey Squirrels’. They have requested that the signs be taken down, although I do hope I see one before that happens! 
Went to an auction night at the village hall, it was thoroughly entertaining and a pleasure to see so many locals trying to raise money for community projects. The first item to bid for was a bottle of whiskey, the auctioneer had us all in shock, delight and stitches when it went to highest bidder, he stated that it was his (obviously someone must have been bidding for him), opened the bottle, poured himself a rather large glassful then proceeded the funniest auctioneering ever. A fantastic night! 
If you have been following the blogs regularly you’ll know my general excitement when a courier arrives with a package for me. Now that I’ve controlled my urge to rush up and hug them for finding me, I was shocked that the courier the other day was so delighted by my excitement, he asked me if he could have a hug! Over and out….week seven done!