We’ve covered a few miles this year. Some metaphorical miles, but also a lot of real actual ones, and a lot of real actual walking. Not all journey’s ended up where we expected, or hoped for. Some are still ongoing. But along the way we’ve seen some sights, and learned some things. To travel is to live.
Journey’s Endings.
Early on this year, we came to the end of our time with Jayden, the little boy we fostered through most of 2018. It has been a difficult journey at times and the ending was painful for us. Saying goodbye to someone we had tried so hard with and invested so much into was painful, but in the end the choice was not ours. Looking back, we remember that there were many positive times and experiences, for him and us. He continues to be in our thoughts and prayers, and always will be: our walk with him has ended, but he will not be forgotten.
Not long after Jayden left, our dog Blaze had his last walkies. He’d been with us from a puppy, our boys had grown up with him, he’d shared our holidays and adventures and (often) our dinners for thirteen years. But over the last year it had become increasingly obvious that his health was deteriorating, and in the end we took the painful decision to have him put to sleep.
So many good walks we’ve had with Blaze, so many great memories of our faithful friend. I would say Rest In well-earned Peace, but part of me believes that his soul is running joyfully across the fields of Heaven. Not good theology, perhaps, but my heart can accept nothing less.
Short Walks
Prize for the most significant short walk of the year goes to Charlotte, for walking up the aisle to stand with Tom and become the latest Mrs Trembling. It’s got to be love, to take on a name like that! Tom was the perfect groom and perfectionist Bridezilla – everything planned to the finest detail! And what a great day it was as well – happy memories for the entire family.
Home and Away
No, I haven’t taken up watching Aussie soaps! Home is Matt, having finished his time at Uni and got his degree, he’s come to join us down in Bath (since this is where the cheapest accommodation is – the Hotel of Mum & Dad!). He’s settled down here for a while, working in town and chilling.
Andy is still Away up in Liverpool Uni. Amazingly he’s already started on his second year of Veterinary Science and is loving it.
Long Walks
Annie had a well earned sabbatical over the summer, and decided to use it to investigate the subject of ‘Pilgrimage’. So… we started walking. Just shorter walks at first. A day here and there. Then a couple of days with an overnight stop on the way. Then three days, camping overnight as we (with Andy on this one) crossed Cornwall from north to south.
And finally, the ‘big’ one. St Cuthbert’s Way. Sixty miles from Melrose in Scotland to Holy Isle, Lindisfarne, off the coast of Northumberland. Following roughly in the path the Saint himself, and many other monks, would have followed as they travelled between monasteries.
One of the questions we were asking as we travelled was, ‘What’s the difference between a pilgrimage and just hiking?’ And actually, there could be many answers to that. But for us, pilgrimage was walking in the context of God. Walking with God in mind, walking with the purpose of walking with him.
Along the way, along the many ways, we learned a few things. We learned about wild flowers and birdsong and how long it takes wet boots to dry out. We learned about train times and bus times and tide times and meal times. I learned about labyrinths and how following one twisty path may be the most direct route. And we learned how much freedom there is in just walking, day on day.
(For more on our pilgrimages, have a look at my blogs - 'Two Pilgrimages', 'The Aqua Sulis Way' 'The Saint's Way' and 'St Cuthbert's Way').
New Walkies
In the autumn, we got a new dog. Edna is a lurcher, a rescue dog, who we think is about a year old. So different from Blaze! White not black. Tall not short. She likes her walks, but doesn’t have the single-minded intense desire to always be in front that Blaze had. She’s always hungry – and will eat or attempt to eat anything: Do NOT leave anything out where she can reach it – and she can reach quite a long way! She is also very affectionate, and likes a hug and a cuddle. If you come and visit, she likes to meet people, but be aware, there’s a strong possibility of getting a wet doggy tongue in the ear!
Metaphorical Journeys
My latest book, ‘Local Legend’, was published by Lion Hudson in November (and is now available! Click on the link for a preview and sites where you can buy it). It’s been a bit of a long wait, as it was completed early this year, but publication was delayed for various reasons to do with distribution in the US. But that gave me time to work on the fourth in the series, and ‘Local Killer’ was sent off to the publisher just after ‘Legend’ came out!
For me, writing a novel is a journey, and one that always takes unexpected directions. I often don’t know how a story is going to end when I start writing it. Or if I do, I don’t know how it’s going to get to there. And sometimes when I do get there, it’s changed. But that’s a good thing. It keeps it exciting, it keeps me interested. And hopefully, it keeps the readers interested as well!
So – 2019. A lot of ground covered. How was your year?
Journey’s Endings.
Early on this year, we came to the end of our time with Jayden, the little boy we fostered through most of 2018. It has been a difficult journey at times and the ending was painful for us. Saying goodbye to someone we had tried so hard with and invested so much into was painful, but in the end the choice was not ours. Looking back, we remember that there were many positive times and experiences, for him and us. He continues to be in our thoughts and prayers, and always will be: our walk with him has ended, but he will not be forgotten.
Not long after Jayden left, our dog Blaze had his last walkies. He’d been with us from a puppy, our boys had grown up with him, he’d shared our holidays and adventures and (often) our dinners for thirteen years. But over the last year it had become increasingly obvious that his health was deteriorating, and in the end we took the painful decision to have him put to sleep.
So many good walks we’ve had with Blaze, so many great memories of our faithful friend. I would say Rest In well-earned Peace, but part of me believes that his soul is running joyfully across the fields of Heaven. Not good theology, perhaps, but my heart can accept nothing less.
Short Walks
Prize for the most significant short walk of the year goes to Charlotte, for walking up the aisle to stand with Tom and become the latest Mrs Trembling. It’s got to be love, to take on a name like that! Tom was the perfect groom and perfectionist Bridezilla – everything planned to the finest detail! And what a great day it was as well – happy memories for the entire family.
Home and Away
No, I haven’t taken up watching Aussie soaps! Home is Matt, having finished his time at Uni and got his degree, he’s come to join us down in Bath (since this is where the cheapest accommodation is – the Hotel of Mum & Dad!). He’s settled down here for a while, working in town and chilling.
Andy is still Away up in Liverpool Uni. Amazingly he’s already started on his second year of Veterinary Science and is loving it.
Long Walks
Annie had a well earned sabbatical over the summer, and decided to use it to investigate the subject of ‘Pilgrimage’. So… we started walking. Just shorter walks at first. A day here and there. Then a couple of days with an overnight stop on the way. Then three days, camping overnight as we (with Andy on this one) crossed Cornwall from north to south.
And finally, the ‘big’ one. St Cuthbert’s Way. Sixty miles from Melrose in Scotland to Holy Isle, Lindisfarne, off the coast of Northumberland. Following roughly in the path the Saint himself, and many other monks, would have followed as they travelled between monasteries.
One of the questions we were asking as we travelled was, ‘What’s the difference between a pilgrimage and just hiking?’ And actually, there could be many answers to that. But for us, pilgrimage was walking in the context of God. Walking with God in mind, walking with the purpose of walking with him.
Along the way, along the many ways, we learned a few things. We learned about wild flowers and birdsong and how long it takes wet boots to dry out. We learned about train times and bus times and tide times and meal times. I learned about labyrinths and how following one twisty path may be the most direct route. And we learned how much freedom there is in just walking, day on day.
(For more on our pilgrimages, have a look at my blogs - 'Two Pilgrimages', 'The Aqua Sulis Way' 'The Saint's Way' and 'St Cuthbert's Way').
New Walkies
In the autumn, we got a new dog. Edna is a lurcher, a rescue dog, who we think is about a year old. So different from Blaze! White not black. Tall not short. She likes her walks, but doesn’t have the single-minded intense desire to always be in front that Blaze had. She’s always hungry – and will eat or attempt to eat anything: Do NOT leave anything out where she can reach it – and she can reach quite a long way! She is also very affectionate, and likes a hug and a cuddle. If you come and visit, she likes to meet people, but be aware, there’s a strong possibility of getting a wet doggy tongue in the ear!
Metaphorical Journeys
My latest book, ‘Local Legend’, was published by Lion Hudson in November (and is now available! Click on the link for a preview and sites where you can buy it). It’s been a bit of a long wait, as it was completed early this year, but publication was delayed for various reasons to do with distribution in the US. But that gave me time to work on the fourth in the series, and ‘Local Killer’ was sent off to the publisher just after ‘Legend’ came out!
For me, writing a novel is a journey, and one that always takes unexpected directions. I often don’t know how a story is going to end when I start writing it. Or if I do, I don’t know how it’s going to get to there. And sometimes when I do get there, it’s changed. But that’s a good thing. It keeps it exciting, it keeps me interested. And hopefully, it keeps the readers interested as well!
So – 2019. A lot of ground covered. How was your year?