Seasonal Shift

I don't know how the seasons are running where you are but here in north-east Scotland it feels like the end of summer, some of the time it is even autumnal. It started with the morning and evening air blowing cooler, then cooler breezes followed us around throughout the days. The light is different. Is the sun sitting lower, illuminating the sides of buildings? There are already leaves on the road for goodness sake.


So the penny has dropped, we have spent the whole of the summer in Scotland and some of its neighbouring islands. We headed north in May and we are still here at the end of August. It just happened. Once again we chose a general direction with some definite must-see places and here we are three months later.



I was able to get hold of a copy of Yoga Journal in Perth the other day. I need to find this magazine from time to time to remind me that I have a yogi heart, if not always a yogi's discipline. In this copy there is a sequence of poses to be practised in the spirit of turning the senses inward. Learning to be present without getting distracted by external stimuli will lead to equilibrium in daily life and ultimately wisdom in one's actions. Sounds like a happy goal to me.

So, feeling physically tight and mentally tossing around ideas for the next phase on our journey, I knew a slow, gentle and focused practice was exactly what I needed. I set myself up with my lightweight mat (bought specially for my travels), some foam blocks and a blanket for support and propping up, and my magazine with its routine and guidance.

As I took my time steadily working through the sequence, concentrating on maintaining comfortable long breaths and surrendering to the postures, a deep feeling of quiet washed over and through me. I realised what a seasonally apt practise this is. The exuberance of summer has passed and it is time to accept the cooling of the breezes and the shortening of the days. Time to make plans to hunker down and keep warm and dry. Time to reflect on where we have been, where we might be heading and time to get on with the writing and the knitting.



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This is your final call...

The next of our biannual Airstream Gatherings is happening in a fortnight and it isn't too late to add your name to the list...

If you have an Airstream and a free weekend over the 11th to 13th of September, please come and join us at the Bracelands Caravan and Camping site in the glorious Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.

If you're interested, please drop me a line via the "about us" link up there on the right.

There will be a modest selection of Airstream trailers, ranging from a very lovely 1959 Tradewind through to brand new European models.

If you don't have an Airstream and would just like to come and see us, please drop me a line too, so that I can warn the site manager. (Please don't just turn up or I'll get into trouble!)



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Landmarks and Milestones

Sorry we've not been around much, but we've been busy in Scotland. We haven't had very much luck with getting online (the occasional internet cafe has been about it), but now we've found a campsite with free WiFi, so we'll be doing some more posting in the next few days.

In our absence, we've clocked up a few "milestones." Back in May we reached our 500th night under Aluminium. August 1st was the eighteenth monthiversary (is that a proper word?) of the start of our Big Adventure. That's also about how long it took us to travel the 20,000th mile. Finally, today, this very blog received its 10,000th visit.

I'm not sure how I should feel about all of that. Proud? Exhausted? Thirsty?

It has been the greatest adventure of my life. If anyone out there is thinking about doing what we've done, stop thinking and do it. We haven't, for one second, had a single regret about the trip. Some people have suggested that we've wasted our time by not traveling abroad. I can only reply that 18 months in the UK just isn't enough. We've barely scratched the surface of this remarkable part of the world.


But what next? Fear not - we will be carrying on. There's a lot of world out there, and we want to see it.

So thank you, dear readers, who have followed us along our journey. We promise to keep you updated of where we've been and where we're going. In the meantime...



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What to do if it rains...

May I introduce our new crew member? This is Busby. Don't look too long. He'll mess with your mind.

He is a Stupid Sock Creature. That's not me being disparaging about my own handiwork. He is made from a pair of socks following instructions in the funny and practical book, Stupid Sock Creatures by John Murphy. If you Google him you will see many far more bizarre creations. Plus, I haven't adhered to his ethos of creating something from discarded socks. I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Our socks are not fit for recycling once we've had our use out of them. So I'm scouring the markets for cheap and suitable socks. One day you have a pair of slightly dodgy socks, the next thing you know, they have metamorphosed into a crazy creature, and you've only got yourself to blame (and Mr Murphy of course).



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