Blisters, as any walker knows, are a sad fact of life. Anyone who was walked for any distance will have learned this to their cost. My Moonwalk training exploits taught me a great deal about how best to deal with them and these days Commando often refers to me as his blister technician. Back in February 2013 poor CJ had need of my advice, although he wasn’t exactly eager to accept my help. No son likes to think mother knows best after all.
6 February 2013
CJ has blisters from his brand new toe protector boots. Luckily for him his mum is an expert on blisters. After my first Moonwalk I learned a great deal about them, how much they hurt, how long they take to heal, how to tell when you are getting one before it’s too late, how to carry on walking when you have them and most importantly how to stop getting them in future. So, last night I gave him a packet of blister plasters, the dogs dodahs in blister treatment. CJ looked at them sceptically. No young man likes to tAme advice from his mum after all.
Before I left for work I reminded CJ about the blister plasters. He rolled his eyes. For the second day running I walked straight past Gigi’s cut way but realised just in time and turned back. There was a man in the house next to it working in his garden. He watched me walk past, turn round and walk back. He smiled and said, “everyone does that.” Which made me feel a bit better about it. It is pretty much concealed between his house and the one next door which is probably why I never knew about it until Gigi told me. I wonder if he stands there every morning watching people walk past then turn back as a source of amusement?
It was the Vibernam that bought me to my senses. I spotted the pink and white flowers out of the corner of my eye, stopped to take a photo and then it occurred to me that I’d not seen them yesterday. That was because I’d not walked that far yesterday. If I hadn’t seen them I’d probably have ended up back on the road. Sadly the pink and white blooms are not harbingers of spring, they’re winter flowers.
As I left the road behind I was greeted by the cheery sight of bright orange Pyracantha berries tumbling over a wall and wonderful fluffy old man’s beard seed heads as I came down the steps towards the river, almost like tiny bunches of feathers. Yesterday I noticed a rather strange sculpture topping the wall on one side. Actually I can’t make up my mind if it’s a sculpture or a defence against people climbing onto the wall and jumping down onto the tracks. It looks like a bit of both to me, reminiscent of razor wire but with something plant like too.
The quality of the dappled light on the trunks of the bare trees was really beautiful. It had a golden glow to it. The water is such a distraction I’ve never really looked at the trees before but the soft glowing light drew my eyes to them. A eucalyptus about half way along the path had the most amazing bark, peeling in long chocolate coloured strips so the whole of the top of the tree was smooth, almost bare. There were strips of the thick bark all around on the ground.
The pair of swans were closer to the bank today and I managed to get a photo from the rather rickety viewing platform, although the wood looked quite rotten and I was almost afraid to step on it in case I went through and ended up in the water with them. The cygnets were nowhere to be seen though. Once there are leaves on the trees and bushes along the water’s edge I won’t have such a good view of them as I pass. Every season has its benefits but right now I’d gladly give up a bit of the view for a touch of warm sun.
Before long I was passing the big blue anchor that marks the beginning of the little side road and when I passed the Old School there were some children enjoying an impromptu pre school skate on the giant frozen puddle. Children find fun in everything, maybe there’s a lesson there. Still smiling at their antics, I carried on along the embankment, trying to stay away from the noisy road as long as possible. Over the old stone wall and the skeleton ship the golden sun was rising, gilding the water. If this is not the best walk to work I don’t know what is.
Today seemed to be the day for expenses claims, a huge pile had come in for me to deal with. It’s a labour intensive process, making sure every item has a receipt, checking the maths (I know I’m not the best qualified for that but I have a calculator, which is more than can be said for most of the entertainers by the look of it), verifying claims against contracts to be sure they’re only claiming for things they’re allowed and making sure mileage claims are correct. This last item was a bit of a sore point today. As a rule I use Google maps to confirm the distances they’re claiming. One entertainer had claimed double the mileage of the journey she’d taken. I was not impressed. It’s not easy to write an email accusing someone of trying to defraud their mileage claim, I tried to be as diplomatic as possible, suggesting it might have been a mistake or miscalculation but sending a screen dump of the Google results as back up. A few miles either way is neither here not there but double? Her reply should be interesting.
Although it was very cold again it was dry so I went for a walk up through the parks into town at lunch time to see if I could get some Blister Resist Socks for CJ. Before Christmas I’d had a look in Trespass and they didn’t have any but said some more were due in soon so I thought I’d try there. When I looked at the mass of different socks on the shelf I couldn’t see them so I asked the shop assistant if they had any.
“We only stock them in summer,” he said, as if that was a perfectly sensible answer.
“So people don’t get blisters in winter then?” I said. I know sarcasm is the lowest form of wit but I couldn’t help myself. Since when have blisters been a seasonal thing?
There wasn’t much time left for shopping around but luckily Blacks is more or less next door so I dashed in there and asked the same question. They had some, only one make granted and blooming expensive at £11 a pair (perhaps they’re made of gold, who knows but at that price they should be) plus they only had two pairs in extra large (CJ has feet like Sasquatch but less hairy) but it’s better than nothing. They’re called 1000mile socks and they’re supposed to last for one thousand miles of walking. I’ll believe it when I see it.
Unfortunately the journey back to work took me past Pret A Manger. Worse still it was empty. It would have been rude not to go in and get a skinny late. Yes, I know I was just saying how I was going to try harder and I know a skinny latte is an unnessary calorie extravagance but I’m such a sucker for them it’s almost an addiction. It could be worse. When I worked at Mad House there was a canteen with subsidised skinny lattes, I’d have two a day minimum, at least they’ve now been downgraded to an occasional treat. Still I wish there was a Pret right next to the office although the size of my bum would be considerably larger if there was. At least today I had a half hour walk to town and back to work it off. Actually at one hundred and sixty two walking calories I’ve more than made up for it so all’s well that ends well.
When I went to wash my cup up before I left work there was another beautiful pink sunset outside. A few more weeks and I’ll be looking at that on the walk home. Gigi had her car today because she had an out of office meeting. This meant she offered me a lift home tonight. Maybe if it hadn’t been so cold I’d have said no and walked. If I hadn’t had a ton of paperwork to carry home because Arabella emailed to say she might ring tonight to catch up on outstanding issues I might have walked. Then again I might not. Either way I gratefully accepted the lift, especially as I wanted to hear all about her long weekend in Iceland. Jealous isn’t the word, not only did they see the Aurora Borealis, something that’s long been on my wish list, but also they went on two whale watching trips and saw whales both times. I’ve been on three whale watching trips, twice in Gibraltar and once in the Azores and all I’ve seen are dolphins. Much as I like dolphins and I enjoyed each trip, I’d have loved to see whales. Best add Iceland to my wish list too then.
For anyone who’s been left wondering how CJ got on with the blister plasters, he grudgingly admitted I was right about them. It is a very rare event when my know it all son concedes that his mum knows best. He almost seemed disappointed but he had to agree they worked and his feet were fine today. Am I gloating? You bet I am!
Beautiful photos!
Thank you.