Melonhead

In the hills of Yorkshire and Derbyshire, I often come across old stone gateposts like this one. Soon I am wondering about who hewed it and when. I am thinking about the men who manoeuvred it into position and how they talked to each other. What were their values? How far were their horizons? Of course I will never know - I can only imagine.

Weatherwise, July has been very unsettled here in England but today a dry day with some sunshine was promised so I planned a walk east of the village of Holme up in the Kirklees district of West Yorkshire. I was last in that neighbourhood in September 2020.

Above, I was walking along a track to Yateholme Reservoir when I spotted this photo opportunity.  Deep pink blooming willow herb with the village of Holme beyond. Below, I was looking down on Ramsden Reservoir. There are several small reservoirs in this district - saving water for the populous West Yorkshire region. You can see that the reservoir is only half full.

By Brownhill Reservoir, I stopped to admire somebody's creative handiwork A planter in the shape of a swan has been fashioned using three old tyres. I don't think I have seen such a thing before. The world is filled with old tyres and perhaps more of them could be used in this way.

Below, specially for Ms Moon, a picture of a mama sheep and a lamb born earlier this year. In the background you can see Emley Moor TV mast - the tallest free standing structure on this island and the 25th tallest tower in the world.

It was at this curious gate that tragedy almost struck when I stopped to snap the picture. Halfway down the hill I realised that I did not have my precious hat with me. It is a cheap bucket hat that I bought in Malta a decade ago. It is precious because I have an unusually large head - the size of a water melon - and so I can never find hats that will fit me. 

I decided to trudge back up the hill, telling myself that I had a 50/50 chance of finding my hat and there it was lying on the path near that gate. The smile that split my face in two suggested that I might have just won a million pounds on The National Lottery.

It was a lovely walk but I was zonked out at the end. Use it or lose it as they say.

from Yorkshire Pudding https://ift.tt/gU1YmLp

PT chronicles

 PT chronicles

Let me says rehabbing a knee is agonizing. Yesterday in the span of forty five minutes I wanted to lace expletives, clench teeth and collapse in my own sweat. I had to be reminded to breathe and rest. The burn didn’t feel too good. My physical therapist took a look at my face, and couldn’t help but chuckle. She knew I could do hard things. I’m realizing that as well. I feel like a rubber band this morning. I see that I need challenges. I don’t rise without it. If I’m bored, I get complacent. Sounds like my spiritual life. God is using PT to fully trust and seek Him. I’m realizing that my body is weaker than I’d like to admit. I realize that the therapists see that I need the time under tension, the duress to feel a sense of accomplishment. I need to see results even if they’re not measurable. I don’t know if I could measure my spirit, but with His name on my lips, it is enough. 

Love one another and self

from R's rue https://ift.tt/fBujhYq