Good morning 
Woke yesterday morning, to torrential rain beating a tight-drummed melody on the window panes...
The bed was warm, the duvet snug around me...and the thought on waking was , thank goodness I don't have to get up and out there...
...closely followed by...Oh goodness... I do! It is walk day!
Thursday, and a walk/talk session with my counsellor... the first in three weeks. No way is this rain stopping me. Fortunately, my counsellor embraces the weather and the seasons as do many of us... so, whilst Mr OF is on tea duty.. I do my 10 minute wake up the body routine ( YWA), all in the warm comfort of the bed!
By the time the tea arrives, I am sitting up bright eyed, and ready to hit the day... running.. sorry, walking!
Up and out by nine and on the car park at the Downs shortly after... the rain at home had turned to fog at the top of the hill, but, as I reached the Downs, the merest hint of brightness was backlighting the trees.
Greetings over, we set out, after deciding on a route avoiding the muddiest sections of the walks... the very lightest touch of rain on our faces and the unmistakable, earthy smell of a damp Autumn morning. Such a change since our last walk, although both of us were surprised at the remaining green garb of many of the trees. The bracken had long turned... losing the fronded patterns of summer, the brown tight-frizzed leaves filling the hillsides.
We walked and we talked... well, I talked... a lot. This time is not only a chance to lose myself in Nature, it gives me also, the chance to ease my mind , and release my thoughts, any worries, or concerns, or simply let go, without fear of judgement, any innermost confusion.
There are times when we are quiet... and our steps along the well trodden trail are accompanied only by bird song and the sound of the water as we draw closer...
A cheeky robin, on a low branch is not alarmed by our approach and continues to trill his song... a waterfall of notes that trickle down towards us. and fill the heart with sheer joy.
We pause at our log seat... my counsellor brings little fold up mats to keep us dry ! We chat more, until it is time to retrace our steps and return to the car park... I manage a few photographs...I have been looking for numbers... but short of counting the trees.. not many to be found.
We chat to some volunteers working on the trees, and all too soon , a date is set for our next meeting and the goodbyes are said,
I sit a while, changing out of my boots into my driving shoes. I listen to the sounds of the woods and I listen to my own quiet mind... and my steady heartbeat.
I feel at ease. Released and recharged... A good walk.
It is only when I look at my photographs in the evening. that I do notice what I perceive as a number... a very opportune one too... it is the number of worries I had left as I finished the walk... maybe it is me, looking for something that was not really there... making something from, 'nothing' I wonder if anyone else can spot it...?
Thick fog here today... a run day.
Happy walking , people x
Oldfloss xx
final 28 th walk February and my morning walk 
1st brisk walk in ages
