Moses speaking from long ago: ‘ Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid for the Lord your God, He it is that goes with you. He will not fail you, nor forsake you.’
I liked that old word He won’t ‘forsake’ better than He won’t ‘ leave you lonely and sad.’ He won’t though He likes to be invited.
… and so our friends brought us pink and white Asters.
They were staying a couple of nights to go to Sue’s funeral. She had taught one of the four sons and not the daughter.
Once upon a time when our children were young, we had cycled the C2C. We had five children with us including my sister’s son the age of our youngest.
The C2C (Coast to Coast) bike route is a famous long-distance cycle path in the UK from the Irish Sea at Whitehaven in Cumbria to the North Sea at Sunderland or Tynemouth.
To walk to the bedrooms in the eaves of our house there is a metal staircase and sheltered from direct light are snapshots to celebrate this time. These are in long pine frames of times together cycling.
The hills were green, the forests dark and the views of heather were forever. I remember mists in the north Pennines but no rain. I personally walked a lot of that uphill part the sheep being rather amusing.
We travelled using the two cars. Our bike load was water and a little food. The cars had all we needed to keep five children and ourselves happy.
I remember two ladies who looked like they were going to the shops except they weren’t. Skirts and blouses and small bags on bike carriers (old-fashioned doctor’s bags that open with a clasp on the top but are deep inside.) We chatted. Yes, they were doing the C2C and had left their hubbies watching cricket.
Roy says we spent five days, but I can’t remember that we hurried anywhere. It was days outside until it got too dark and then Youth hostel beds until we woke up. No fixed time. It was great.
‘ In general, any form of exercise, if pursued continuously, will help train us in perseverance.’
Mao Zelong
… and so I put the pink and white Asters in a jug and remembered our young children those years ago. Their lives are now their private possessions but what of ours? Mine belongs to me but then so heavily connected that my pen will stop moving on the page…
Take care,
Sandy 🙂