Brolly Good

Rain was forecast until the evening.
Fortunately it was the soft gentle sort of precipitation
that clings tenuously onto buds and blooms
and generally enhances vegetation,
rather than the driving rain that infiltrates clothing
and forms treacherous puddles to ambush unwary pedestrians.

A short walk around the nearby roads was on the programme for today.
I spent some time answering emails and researching answers to the afore mentioned emails
and waited untl the laundry had finished before venturing out
(remember Barry’s clothing from yesterday?)
so I could put the de-humidifier on and not get heat exhaustion.

On a damp day only dogwalkers and hardy souls venture out,
those on a mission,
not inclined to linger or pass the time of day.
This suited be fine and allowed the local streets to be my retreat,
letting my thoughts wander as well as my feet.
Conversation is great, but so is solitude.

My route took me along the road where I grew up
- I thought back to the days when I knew nearly every resident- old and young alike.
Names and faces from the past passed through my mind.
Most of the older generation are long gone,
their children could live in the same town or could be miles away and many are now grandparents themselves.

Cars have impacted the neighbourhood.
Back then there were few cars moving during the day and many of the parents worked locally, able to walk to work.
Now there are usually too many cars at the side of the road to play ball games in the street.
Memories of using gateposts as wicket stumps,
until one lad was awarded a six by hitting the front of a house between the upstairs and downstairs windows.
At this point parents simultaneously agreed that cricket games must move to nearby school playing fields.

Fast forward 50 years and front gardens, where roses and shrubs purchased by mail order have been replaced with sterile block paving.
Garages where batteries were charged to prolong life,
have now been turned into store rooms and utilities.

After about half a mile I realised that although I had hung the laundry on the airer,
I had forgotten to turn the dehumidifier on. A quick text to DH and that was sorted.

The play area was empty, two scooters stood guard. The pool was unremarkable in its greyness.

Outside the corner shop, flowers for sale brightened an otherwise drab scene.
I hope someone buys them and brightens their home.
I was travelling light,
so didn’t have a purse to make any purchases.



In the afternoon, a second walk helped me surpass my daily target

 Steps on 2nd March 11,715, 1,715 over target.
1st March 16,508, 6,508 over target.
Total cumulative gain to date 8223

I wonder where I will wander tomorrow?