Well my birthday has started with a bang this year!
For those of you who don't know England is under an enormous blanket of snow. Last night I had to get the train (instead of coach) home from London. The train only got me part of the way and then we got chucked off because it wasn't going any further. I was then faced with an 8.5 mile walk from Dartford to Gravesend through, at times, up to 8" of snow. Doesn't sound a lot but it sure is hard going on the legs and feet.
So there I was, just verging on my 57th birthday, walking home through snow for 8.5 miles!!! Well I now realise why people curl up and die when lost or stranded in the snow. There were times when I really didn't think I could walk any further and all I wanted to do was sit down and curl up under a tree. However with sheer bloody mindedness and determination I made it. I mean I wasn't going to give in! I used to walk that far in my youth - but then I am talking about 40 years ago!
Helped along by the occasional passer by who was also walking and would actually say "good evening" when at other times would ignore you completely I plodded on. At one time there was just me and a little finch that was flying in the same direction and would "beep beep" at me as it flew from post to post.
Well it certainly was an experience and by the end of it I could hardly move one foot in front of the other and upon reaching my house I had to climb up the stairs on all fours as my feet and legs just wouldn't take another step.
How do these marathon runners do it?
Anyway today I'm sitting indoors with a central heating system that has decided to play up - but at the moment it is warm - and I have repaid the birds by sinking a foot deep in snow to clamber out to the tree in the garden and put some food out for them.
Crazy isn't it!
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