Weekend Longer Run and Family Anniversary
The pre dawn start to our run day on alternate days
continues. Today we had planned to take a longer run and still wanted to avoid
other people if we possible could. Having said that though it seems to me that
most people have got the idea in their heads that it is right and proper in the
circumstances, to move well out of the advised range when passing others, even
when out in the woods. It has to be said that the woodlands are deadly quiet
just after 5am in the morning. Glorious.
The route we had decided on was almost entirely within the
woods, the start is over a purpose made, narrow cinder track, used by the
estate farm vehicles. It is also used by runner’s mountain bikers and local dog
walkers, though hardy any at our choice of outing time, and that is the idea.
We ran for two miles before turning off on a corner, and on to
a muddy track. The canopy of bright green leaves has been thickening of the
past few weeks and the floor of the woods has been performing a progression of prettiness,
starting with the Primroses, then the dainty white Wood Anemones that precede
the glory of the Bluebells, that are in fact fading now. .Dead White Nettle and
Archangel have all shown their faces. Now the
strong arm plants are bullying their way in, to fill out the ground space with
fern and brambles.
My daughter Jacqueline and her husband Martin. Today is their 11th anniversary
I have always loved wild flowers and flowers in general,
having had my childhood lessons from my mother who came from a family of
sisters all names after their mothers favourite flowers; Lily, Rose, Violet, Nellie-May,
Gladys Ivy, and Betty-Pansy. There was a four-penny bus ride for us to get into
the woods from our home in Worthing. Mum would
carry a big bottle of squash and paste sandwiches for our picnic. A splendid treat
for us whenever my brother and I were taken.
After a few slightly off days last week, I was full of the
joys of our early-morning-lock-down-run-ration today and felt that I was running
well. We ran through to Patching, looping around the church there were Steve
and I had our wedding blessed forty one years ago, when we lived in the village.
From the top of the hill there we could clearly see the Rampion Wind Farm. We
thought it an oddity of nature since it was a dull day and yet there it was
sails and towers, miles away in the English Channel.
This is Steve with the ear to ear grin at the start of Ironman Austria a few years ago.
Passing back along the muddy paths through the daily darkening
woods the famous poem by my favourite poet Robert Frost came to mind with its
closing line that I had spoken to Steve for the millionth time whilst out
training;
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
Taken by Jacqueline Rackham Photography.
Once we got home, we did and hour and ten minutes of Qigong,
then managed to get ourselves a coffee and snack, cleaned ourselves up before our
Son-In-Law Martin arrived with the first grocery delivery that we had been able
to get in a while. He has kindly been braving the shopping hazard for us and
didn’t even moan when we told him that we had managed to get a click and
collect slot at Waitrose in Rustington on their 11th Anniversary! It
is close to their home and we are only a short drive away from them. It was a
great treat to see that my daughter Jacqueline had come with him to make the
delivery because even though we are but a couple of miles away, because of the
lockdown we have not seen her at all. Martin has been protecting us all during
this horrible time. Thankfully they have a good sized garden to get out in with
their puppy Jeffery who helps with the digging in their garden. He also came to
say hello this morning but all from the required social distance. Martin piles
the shopping over the front wall and Steve goes out with gloves on the get it
in. He then and wipes it all down before it is put away. There is no slacking
on the care and precaution front.
Happy 11th Anniversary to a wonderful couple,
Martin and Jacqueline Rackham. XX
I have never been so pale; I don’t sit and sun bathe, ever,
but most summers I get a little colour from cycling and some during races of
course. Being keep indoors for most of the time because of my age and inherited
Asthma and skin problems, my only freedom is the early morning run on alternate
days. No outdoor cycling, no swimming, no shopping, no outings, no chit-chat
with friends. I am getting a lot done indoors though, so I thank heaven for
small mercy’s.
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