Hello once again!! It has been a much longer hiatus from my scribbles than I had intended, but I’m glad you have once again chosen to join me in my musings. And alas, if you’re joining me to hear of daring travels from across the pond or faraway lands, then I’m afraid I’m going to have to disappoint – I will not be offended if you now turn your attention to a more appropriate blog….as for the rest of you, find yourself a brew and let us continue…
Since returning from the whirlwind that was Canada, I have
yet to leave the borders of the UK. In fact, I’ve barely ridden a bicycle since
landing back on these shores – partly because I couldn’t balance on a normal
bike with no panniers or tent, I kept falling off…and partly because Bella (my
wonderful two-wheeled team-mate) is still in need of some TLC.
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| Walking out in South Shropshire |
Yet I am getting itchy feet.
Currently however, a change in work commitments, and a certain lack of
funds (apparently lots of fun nights out drinking with friends old and new are
not conducive to saving a bucket of cash for your next adventure) are meaning
that getting away for an extended period of time is at present, unfeasible.
And actually, it’s not exactly what I want right now. I’m
enjoying a renewed sense of freedom from moving into a flat with an incredible
friend, and rediscovering the fun and frolicks that can be had from living just
a short walking distance from a great selection of watering holes, many of
which house my favourite beer...
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So instead of sulking and moping about not topping up my tan
lines (my leg stripes are still holding out!!), I have decided to do something
different for me. Something that will still allow me to explore and discover
new places. I’m planning on riding the current wave of adventuring vogue by hopping
on board the ‘get to know your own back yard’ bus: to spend my time outside of
work on different ‘micro-adventures’; be that running up a different hill,
mountain biking along the Long Mynd, or
trying to find the best tea and cake combo in a new town…or ice cream…or both,
I’m doing this with an open mind.
Yes: this is the year I get to know where I’m from. Not in
the ‘I’m going to sit in a dusty archive and research long gone family members
and trying to find my roots’ sense – I don’t need to do this, my dad has that
covered: he tells me I’m from a long line of factory workers just
outside the Land of the Weegies, aka Glasgow...so proud…
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| Chilling in the new flat |
No no, as much as I’m honoured to call some of my heritage
Scottish (no wonder I chose to study in Edinburgh, clearly my inner Braveheart
was calling me back to the homeland), I’m a Shropshire lass through and
through. Yet I have pitiful knowledge of where I was born, and have seen very
few places within the county I call home.
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| Beautiful Shrewsbury at sunset |
I’m not saying I have aspirations to go on Mastermind with
the inner workings and history of Shropshire as my specialist subject (I would
destroy anyone if the questions were on the Harry Potter books) but I feel it’s
high time I hop off my sofa and back to doing something I love – exploring!
It’s time to get my trusty steed out of retirement (or any
bicycle to be fair, just something that will get me from A to B with minimal
breakdowns…) drag the Tardis teapot out of the cupboard, and get on the road to
once more. I cannot wait! Just got to decide where to go first...
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| Time to plan some new adventures!!!! |
