The great outdoors

I was beginning to forget what the world outside looked or smelt like. Crazy I know it had only been 5 days but those days dragged. A good friend got me out not just out the front door but out into the countryside where there was real greenery and a running river. Result batteries recharged.

Sounds easy plug into the real world and a person feels more human, well kind of. I am a country person no matter how much I try to fool myself I am townie as my late great uncle used to call us people who live in town. But people forget how much of my life I have spent either in the countryside or the seaside. Most summers were spent in either in Devon or up in Scotland, and weekends running throw what ever forest let a load of orienteers go crashing through. Then as I got older it wasn't unknown for a load of us pub workers to jump in a car after a weekend in the smoke and head either to some where like Leith Hill or even the coast to clear our heads as we saw the dawn in. Then I got dogs and discovered the joys of walking them in every green space we could possibly drive to. So yea the countryside and its freedom is very important to me. When recovering from swine flue (the real version) I spent every day at denbies sitting outside building Lego bricks for the Lego house (thank you Mr James May)! It was the only thing anyone could do to get me to heal, and being exposed to the sun and every element the British summer cared to throw at us did me the world of good, which was lucky as I couldn't even face food at one point.

So today was a blessing for me, I owe my friend big time, as I think she had a bit of a shock how much I had deteriorated in the month since we last went out. That time I was walking and at one point climbing up mud banks to get out of the rain, now I am reliant on crutches. But she moan about it, far from it she took it all in her stride. That really helps the situation because I am sick of those embarrassed looks you get from people when they just don't know what to say next over it. I am actually dreading going out more and catching up with other people who I haven't seen for best part of year as they will last remember me as the idiot under cars seeing whats wrong and other equally daft things. But this time is going to be a much slower person, although my wit is just as sharp. As my god daughter agrees with me I learn two languages at school apart from English, sarcasms and Anglo Saxon. But they aren't enough to distract from the initial shock of a years wear and tear.

Anyway I will deal with that on my own terms later, but for now I am still basking in the warm glow of catching the lasts embers of the great British summer. My skin still feels warm from the warmth of the sun it finally saw. True to form there were a few and I do mean few drops of  rain. What was funny was the sight of 6 big tough bikers in the table next to us running for shelter whilst us women sat tough especially as it was less than 6 drops of rain per table. Nothing like a laugh like that to make a person feel good. Bikers tough? yeah right not that lot. Then there were the children playing in the stream, call me old fashioned but it was refreshing to see children being children with out the help of every electronic devise known to man. All they had were fishing nets and wellington boots, the latter being pointless as their removal revealed. In fact the afternoon is picture perfect well behaved children and dogs, pleasant pub staff and the better side of British weather.

I have even collected a leaflet on my favourite wine vineyard Denbies having expanded to having its own brewery (guess where my next non medical outing is planned for). So yes I am a happy bunny. The only worry I have is hubby has gained two tickets for Thorpe Park in 11 days. There is a big difference between sitting in a pub all afternoon and hopping round a theme park, let alone attempting rides, most of which won't let me on. But he is adamant so yes I have to go. At least I have one more planned outing before that and pain clinic, so I am praying for a miracle and that I will be more mobile. But that's not going to ruin the day for me. I have seen the great outdoors and for now that's enough.

So next time some one you know says they wish they could get out to the country, or what ever their place of sactuarary is, may be instead of thinking that would be a hassle, see if you can do it for them. There may be a multitude of reasons they are asking. One being sanity and another just to reconnect with the person they are. Thank you to the friend who knew what I needed.