When finally I got back to the mountains and went up to my garden a bit of a shock was in store for me.
Brambles and vines hide a wall down to a secret garden
The beautifully ploughed field was shoulder-high in weeds and very thorny thistle-like weeds, and the trees had all got a lot bigger! Not just a bit, but about doubled in size. I turned my attention to the top terraces by the broken beautiful carcass of a house and there I saw nothing but weeds, ivy, vines, rocks and bloody plastic. I would have to have a proper plan and I needed a less shocked and overwhelmed brain to process it. I would have to put my gardener’s brain in gear and see what could be achieved that wasn’t reckless and well, a waste of time till the rebuild.
In the exposed secret garden, Henry the Tortoise has reappeared and Doggo who ‘helps’ with the garden. I say that loosely as he feels kipping on newly cleared bits and chewing pine cones his main job.
Alert: My artwork can now be found on this link, click on photo:
My limestone Eve and her snake.
I was in a weird mood. My back was better due to sleeping in a proper bed, but I was having trouble sleeping through the night. I’d bought a Melissa tea but hadn’t noticed it had St. Johns Wort in it, which doesn’t agree with me at all, instead of calming me it makes me edgy. I was eating very little and drinking and smoking a lot and the very idea of getting on another minibus to a beach I had discovered on the map just filled me with dread.
OR, LUSH GARDENS IN THE MOUNTAINS AND FABULOUS ARTEFACTS
I made it the other day to my paradise and was exulted to breathe that clean mountain air again and drink water from the mountain spring. After being here in winter the garden had developed into a jungle of flowers (especially orchids), herbs, vegetables and fat fish swam lazily in their pool unaware that for some it would be their last day before being cooked!
The family gave me such a welcome that it brought tears to my eyes. I had been gone so long! A great fuss was made of me which made me very happy indeed. My pals were very impressed too! It looks like I’ll be squeezed into a cabin there as I’m family!
OR A GUIDED AMBLE, RAMBLE, STROLL, STAGGER OR CRAWL.
Due to my laptop being very naughty and freezing every two seconds I will add to this tomorrow but for now, publish and be damned!
Well, I for one am suspicious of the word hike. If I hear someone say it I shrink away. It is a bossy unpleasant word and sounds far too much like hard work to my liking. It sounds suspiciously a word that involves a group of people marching along rather grim-faced and determined and just covering miles rather than breathing in the atmosphere, air and nature. It is the antithesis of a grounding, loving experience rather than a childlike marvel at country surroundings and discoveries to be found all over.
Sue Wickisons exotic lighting feature and my friend Daniel absorbing its wonder
Kew is always a must-go venue when it’s going to be boiling hot, so when my mate invited me the other day I jumped at the chance. What could be better than a picnic and wander around at these venerable gardens on a hot July day?
Although I woke a little late, I still managed to scramble and fixed myself a flask of iced coffee, boiled a couple of eggs and made a pita and cheese sandwich with bits of cucumber poking out in this rather crude fare. I also whizzed up a smoothie and put filtered water in my copper flask to rehydrate during the course of the day. The day was glorious and I wasn’t in a moany mood so I went straight into the gallery to check out the amazing new exhibition which indeed was amazing.
Daniel, my British Museum pal, who has been saving my sanity while I wait on Turkiye and the various disasters that have mercilessly struck me, was quietly insistent about the order of the day’s itinerary. He was spot on as I was to find out by the end of this hot sunny day.
OR, ARTY TURKIYE HERE I COME. Alert: Another unplanned absence folks but been busy getting ready! The Things Old Birds Can Do To Earn a Crust Abroad. Although there can be a lot of casual […]
OR MY SEARCH FOR A BETTER LIFE IS LOOKING GOOD. Depression hit me like a wall after trying to be positive during my horrible break from travelling thanks to the government nicking my savings for […]
OR, TRYING TO KEEP SANE WHILE WAITING ON MY MOVE.!
I’m still waiting, and we all know how I hate waiting.
Haircut and newly designed and upcycled favourite shirt!
Been nearly two months since returning from Turkiye’s beautiful mountains. Easter, Ramadam and Idh had to be got through in my eternal endeavour with the long slow machinations of red tape.
In the mountains in Turkiye.
My seeds should have gone in and I should be half-through rebuilding but one person’s cock-up has ground it all to a halt.
Fairy Dell in Londons Hyde Park
On Monday I got out of bed and cut my bloody hair. Swore I wouldn’t cut it until my move had gone through. This was clearly a bad idea. I looked like I had a mullet and my hair was, well, heavy. Chop chop and that was sorted. Next was to paint over the writing on the back of my favourite shirt. I had already done it once but forgot to seal it with an iron and washed most of the design off with the bloody letters staying firmly in place. So I got to it and was very pleased with my Boho look along with a neat short ponytail.
OR, GENERAL MOT PLUS A FOCUS ON UNSTABLE DODGY KNEE AND AGONISING TOE AND FOOT PROBLEMS.
This year the dreaded sofa for me! Hate, hate hate it but had to fix the foot.
Alert: For those who think this doesn’t apply to them I can tell you it does. You’ll get these mechanical breakdowns eventually and these will screw up travel plans completely. Although I staggered around on a broken foot in Mexico it does take the pleasure out of your wonderful adventures especially while alone. You also become prey to the predator which is not a good look as a woman or man of any age travelling solo. Do some homework and get yourself healthy for any trip. Mechanical injuries are a bitch.
HOLISTIC APPROACH TO MECHANICAL PAIN.
Over this winter I’ve noticed a dramatic worsening of an old knee injury and foot pain on one side and a bunion on the other.
I was horrified. I thought I just had gout which is a roguish condition from overly rich food and alcohol consumption, not an old lady thing, a bloody bunion ffs.
When the podiatrist told me I was very huffy
‘You sure about that? It looks gouty to me. ‘
‘Yes Rebecca it’s a bunion and you need to get a toe corrector to gradually get it growing straight again. This foot is however in very good condition apart from that in fact baby soft’
‘I make my own organic body butter. What about the other one it’s agony some days is that gout?’
(After some weird testing with a tuning fork) ‘I don’t know what that is it’ll require special bloods to check for osteoarthritis……but it’s not gout‘
‘My knee and foot are joined’ I huffed grumpily
‘Yes Rebecca they are and if you don’t do anything about it you’ll have hip problems then lower back problems too’
There we had it. Something sounding irreversible and decrepit hovering at my door ready to stop my extensive Turkiye plans for a bucolic natural life and occasional road trips to the many archaeological sites across that vast land. Finally, along with the precarious knee something that could actually halt my travels. I was going to be crippled and just when it was all coming to fruition, my dream house in the mountains with spring water and clean mountain air at the same time as being in a country full of rich history and magnificent wildlife and natural beauty.
Old Bird Travels Solo! 