The set up
It’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to write and I have missed it. I’m now on board a flight to the other side of the world – Australia – and have plenty of time and inspiration to enjoy this. I must admit that during December I came across a bit of a writer’s block. Among other things, I wanted to write about my wonderful day in Chelsea and Greenwich that I spent walking with my Israeli special friend who I haven’t seen for over three years, but somehow the words were not there for me to put them down. It felt very strange to me not to be able to account for this beautiful walk which was so precious to me. I do think though that this happened because it is similar to how I feel about taking photos to remind me of special moments. Sometimes I feel that I need to take a photo to be able to remember that I’ve done something or felt something when looking back. Other times I’m content with keeping the memories of events and feelings in my mind. It seems to me that the memories that I’ve created in my mind from being with my friend on one of the last days for 2017 were happy to stay in my mind and heart and did not need too many words to be written down. Still as I need to stay with my theme of walking, here’s how the last few days of the year and the walk to towards the new one unraveled.
The last days of December 2017
It has been a very busy year for me with many happy and only a few sad walking sessions in 2017 and while content about it, I was very eager and impatient for the year to end and the new one to arrive and bring new things into my life. With weather turning to snow in mid-December and with my other foot suffering tendonitis, I wasn’t able to do any serious good countryside walking. Instead I delighted mum and dad with taking them for Christmas Eve at a lovely traditional pub in Little Berkhamsted which gave them a true flavour of English Christmas lunch. And for Christmas day I hosted and cooked the Greek version of Christmas lunch at my little castle the next day.
And then finally the day came that I got reunited with my friend in Greenwich, on a morning where the forecast was saying that as well as being freezing temperature it was going to be raining cats and dogs all day. Not deterred one bit by the prognosis, but just apprehensive of how the walking day that I planned was going to materialise I set off on the train armed with umbrella and optimism and headed for South London. Being someone who doesn’t like things not to turn out how they plan them and most importantly dream them, I was at a complete loss of what we would do with my friend if the downpour was to continue. The angel though who is looking after me in my time of need came to my rescue and when I arrived at Greenwich and met up with my friend not only did the rain stop but there were even a few rays of sunshine.
So after a hot croissant and an underground transit from south east to south west London we arrived at Sloane Square and walked to Chelsea Bridge, through Battersea Park until the Japanese Pagoda and then back to Duke of York Square. We sat at Partridges to warm our frozen bones by that time and had a lovely shepherd’s pie. We then walked through all the exhibitions of the Saatchi Gallery and then down Kings Road with a few stopovers to shoe and tea shops until we finally sat down to warm up again with coffee and cake. Saatchi let me down a bit this time as the exhibitions were very dark, politically dominated and controversial but it was different for my friend as she was exposed to displays of art that are prohibitive in her home country.
My friend said that she was delighted to get to know a part of London that was typical of the English capital that had no tourists making it feel crowded and overwhelming. I was over the moon that I shared with her my favourite part of the capital and she liked it too. Our day ended in Greenwich, with another interesting experience of a local Irish pub where I offended the owner by asking if they offered soup! He sort of let me get away though when I ordered bangers and mush.
Saying goodbye to each other is always hard….However, I walked on back home – well train and bus took me home to speak of the truth – feeling blessed for the time that we had with each other. It was only a day after that, that New Year’s Eve arrived. Again, we decided with my parents to make a change this year and instead of going out in the evening we went for afternoon tea at Tewinbury Farm in Hertford. It was lovely and for the first time after four months I was even able to wear my new court shoes! After what felt like an eternity, finally the year was over at midnight as it always does on New Year’s Eve.
Waking up to the New Year
I’m not sure why I expected that I would feel relieved instantly by the change of a few hours or day between the last and the new year, but nevertheless I did. But the relief didn’t come and for the first time since I’ve moved to the UK I think I’ve experienced what they call the January blues. The main reason is that weather wise there was a dark cloud every day with lots of cold, ice and wind with very few exceptions where the sun made an appearance. The fact that my main heater wasn’t working properly despite two visits from the electrician and after several conversations with the agent both of which were trying to convince me that it’s fixed, made my little castle less cozy this winter.
I guess we have been spoiled in the last few years with milder Januaries and have forgotten how difficult it can be that time of the year. Nevertheless, what helped me go through it was making small changes in the furniture at the lounge, taking advantage of sales to refresh a few items in my wardrobe and in my accessories and watching a very interesting Russian series about the rise of Katherine the Great! And of course, with a countdown to my trip to Australia to visit my brother and warm up!
So here we are. January is over, luggage was packed, spirits were lifted and before I knew it I was on board the plane for my adventure down under. An all this with severe pain on my foot again – I suspect another tendonitis – which I’ve decided to ignore and not give up on walking.
Walks and Smiles 