draconusde

An Update and Mission statement for 2024.

So its a new year, and a new blog post. The first since May 23, so much for
keeping on top of it.

But that doesn’t mean I haven’t been busy, I have, to an extent. In the intervening
time I have been on a fair few walks, and got away a few times to pastures new
and then….I stopped. The black mist is all around, and I have found it hard
to do the most basic of things, instead sitting back and letting the world go
along without my interaction. Hopefully this is the start of turning hat
around, but we’ll see.

So where have I been. Well since my last blog, I had a great few days in
Birmingham, including a super date around Dudley Zoo (that I never even knew
existed, as well as a trip to one of my favourite places, Whitby, complete with
brand new tent that’s enormous, and way too big for 2 people, but worth it.

This is all part of my current focus, which is searching for waterfalls. (Well
not Birmingham, but Whitby was). The campsite chosen in Whitby was right at the
start of the woodland walk to an amazing looking waterfall, although the
‘gentle 20 min walk’ is almost political in its falseness. It’s more like a 2
hour walk up and down wood paths, through very nice woods, to get to the waterfall
and much needed cafe. The walk back was much easier, as there was a straight
hill path between the cafe and site, so that was a just a straight 20 min walk,
even if it was all back up hill.

A few general drives out for tourist walks added to a lot of steps that
weekend, including the railway station used in one of the Harry Potter films,
in the same village a lot of the Heartbeat series was filmed, two facts I never
knew. The only let down was giving up on visiting the Abbey itself, as a very spooky
mist came in out of nowhere, and meant visibility was measured in feet. Literally
wasn’t safe to drive.

In local views, I finally took a walk up to the higher stages of Rivelyn valley, and finally found the small waterfalls hidden up there, and there a lot more impressive than was expecting. I’d have gone further, but the only way across one section, via stepping stones, were definitely not in the ‘safe to cross’ description, so left that for another day when I had better waterproof clothing on just in case.

So soon after….I had my ICD fitted, a defibulator. And after a year plus
of it being talked about, about it being my choice, but not really being given
any other options, I stopped. Just stopped. And I have struggled since. I
really couldn’t be bothered with going out walking, or doing anything. Part of
me is desperate to get back into painting, but another part just cant get past
actually doing it. Everything has lost its point, and I cant work up any
feelings towards anything, having to fake any emotional response other than despair. I
feel like I’m a fake in my own life, and a problem for anyone around me, just
making life harder for everyone around me. I want to walk away and disappear
from my life, knowing that it will bother nobody, but that takes effort and I haven’t
got enough to do anything about it. I know this has taken a down turn, but that’s
where I’ve been for a long time, and my reason for getting out of the habit of
doing anything, this walking blog included.

Hopefully, I’m on track to get back up. I’ve spent some time with my Doctor,
who agrees that I’m suffering from severe depression, and its common after the
medical problems since the heart attack. So were starting on a plan to try and
do something about it. Time will tell. But the effort of admitting I’ve gone
past the point I can cope myself has pushed me into trying to get back into it.

So today, I’ve been out on my first proper walk for a long time. It was pleasant,
not too far to be too much, although I did need a longer sit down mid point
than normal, and it is soooooo bitterly cold that my fingers are still hurting
from the difference once I got inside. But it’s a start, and I need to feed on
it, and keep going.

I’m registered on two medalmad challenges, a 50 mile one, which I am only
recording one off walks, such as today, and a 365 mile challenge which I’m
recording my weekly steps, so I’ll keep you posted.

Future plans include a camp site at York, for a combination of fishing on
the site lakes, and trips out to 2 or 3 highlighted walks in the North
Yorkshire dales where waterfalls are again the end goal, along with a possible
trip to Buxton to look at an ancient rock (its much better than it sounds, I
hope).

As always,if anyone is interested in supporting my journey, you can help at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Draconusde

I was going to finish with some insperational or sarcastic quote, but maybe next time

First, a shout out to everyone who followed the link and bought a coffee….so no one then. If you’d like to do this simple act of generosity, and get you name in a future blog, just follow the link and go to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Draconusde

So I have been lax in keeping this part time blog up to date. I have a reason, other than laziness. Which is a major factor, but not the only one.

So, firstly, about 4 weeks ago, for our wedding anniversary, me and the missus took a trip to pastures new, to stay in a railway converted railway carriage just outside of Wisbech – ‘Capital of the Fenlands’. I have never been to the area, and I’m always looking for something new, be that a place or a building.

To begin with – our accommodation. A converted Victorian railway carriage, definitely something different. When we arrived I was a little disappointed, and in awe of the amazing photography that made it look twice the size, and not right on (what turned out to be) a very busy country road. However, for the two of us, it actually turned out to be a comfortable size, and we quickly settled in. The place had everything you could ask for, and more, and if I could afford the cost, I could easily live there. The only strange thing (well apart from it being a Victorian railway carriage) was the bed, which was the single tallest and softest mattress I have ever slept in. If I was shorter, then it would need a step ladder to get in and out.

Full marks to the owner, and if ever we wanted to go back to the area, we would definitely consider returning here. It made a perfect base of operations and was close enough to amenities such as the local Asda store within a 10 minute drive, and from Wisbech itself the same.

I managed a walk around Wisbech, and unfortunately for a centre hub of local tourism, it was a sad place to be. It has some beautiful places and things to see, but the town centre itself is just a dying town centre, with the main walk into town just a parade of shops that were either closed, charity shops, or, for some reason, a remarkable amount of hairdressers. The central church is a beautiful building, but again spoilt by groups of people sat in the grounds drinking. I know this is nothing new, but it just added to the general sense of the end of a tourist centre. I suppose it’s ok, and as you head away from the centre all the expected and needed supermarkets are all there, but the town centre is a no no. An prime example, on the first night, it was unbelievable difficult to find somewhere to eat, everywhere being either closed or closed down. However, this was to the plus, because when we did find somewhere, the Red Lion, it was amazing, great food and great value. So much so we went back later in the week, something we don’t normally do when away.

However, of particular note, next to the church, is the Fenlands Museum. Like a lot of local museums, this is just a large collection of random items donated, however it is a good collection, including a rather famous manuscript. I was suitably impressed and spent a lovely hour looking through. At the time, it was free entrance, but I believe they are charging soon, which is a shame, but understandable these days. If nothing else in Wisbech, go see this.

As a complete contradiction to Wisbech, a little under an hour away is Kings Lynn, and we loved wandering the town centre here. It seems to bustle, all the shops are encouraging, and business seems booming, especially with the large number of ‘retro gaming’ shops, so I enjoyed wandering round. Plus, the historical buildings and statues are a encouraging of a city that has the balance right between tourism and living there. I would definitely go back. Not so good, on the way, we stopped off at the ‘Wash viewpoint’ and was very disappointed. The lighthouse on the way there is worth seeing, the view isn’t, although there is a breezy but fine walk along the banking, but well beyond my capabilities.

Other highlights included Flag Fen Archaeology site, The Raptor Centre, and Hunstanton, all a little far to drive from out railway carriage, but the Raptor centre, (the birds, not the dinosaurs) and Hunstanton were worth every second. Flag Fens was underwhelming to say the least, but something different.
All in it was nice to get away, and after a week we didn’t want to come home, so finished off the trip with a day in Skeggy, the other half’s favourite sea side, and a great week was over. Which meant a week of work, before ICD day………

draconusde

It is what it is

New Year, Almost New Me?

Little good, little bad….pt 1 ….The Good