What I Saw Today.

Some of what I saw today. 

As I strolled along a street in Brighton the other day, on my way to catch a bus, I saw a young blind man, leaning against a wall, chatting on his phone, while his companion waited patiently, clutching what must have been his white stick.

At the end of this road - clearly in my view - was the way to the sea.  I wondered how he felt about not being able to see the what I could and how it would feel to me.

I could conjure it my mind's eye with the memory of many a walk taken and hundreds of hours spent just sitting and staring, but he might never have done either and, anyway, it's no real substitute.

So, today, I looked with new eyes.  Sat on the top deck, I watched it all away along the coast - the greys and greens, the hues of blues.  Oh, how those of us who live here take it for granted.

Once in town, I took more notice of other things too - the childrens' funny flip flops for sale on a stand, for example and the copious colours glaring and jumping out of the shop windows.  What would normally jar, I rejoiced in, today, together with the pretty patterns on the beautiful clothes, the leaves on the trees and the sky - always a wonder - too.

I took more time, slowed right down, paid more attention and appreciated what I saw.

Once home, all chores were abandoned and I went to see the sea again, thinking of that young blind man  - how he would feel the spray in the air, smell the seaweed and taste the salt.  And a paramount part of the pleasure - how he would hear it.

I hoped he could enjoy everything else - especially today.  It was sunny and windy - my favourite, as each of the senses are truly tickled.  I felt extra blessed and humbled for all five of mine.

Later on, I lingered for longer at the trampoline as my son leapt about laughing.  I watched his expressions of excitement and exhilaration and could feel healing in my heart.

I gloried in the green of the grass and the garden, instead of worrying about the weeding and fretting about the stuff that forever never gets done.

I watched the clouds at 9.30pm when it was still quite light.

And on turning in, I lay there realising that perhaps I may not have two ha'pennies to rub together, but I am rich beyond measure.

(Until next door's newly acquired cockerel kept cock-a-doodle-doo-ing and I've had to start all over again!).

What will you see today?

Anya xx

The Power of a Walk.

The other day I went for an amble.  I love the fairer weather.  I am a fair weather walker, you could say.  

Living on the seafront is wonderful in the winter with the gales and gusts and the sea in the storms, but those aren't the days the car is left somewhere after the school run and a saunter home is taken. The time has come for burning the midnight oil and mooching in the mornings in the sun. Spring brings a fresh wind and it's invigorating to let go for an hour and just be.  

In fact, it's the best thing on earth.  No matter how overwhelmed I'm feeling, no matter how many times I've been woken by the students / kids / dustmen refuse collectors / seagulls / next door's pigeons / dogs / cats / a mouse in the house / a random beeping from a car or a handset somewhere - there really is light at the end of some tunnels!    

I'll get right up close and personal with the water's edge and breathe and all will be well with the world.  It gives me a feeling of coming home.  I love the bright sky, the expanse of space, the smells, the sounds of the waves rolling in, the peace yet the noise.  The salt in the air makes me smile.  I feel part of something special - something big, something beautiful and something better.

Little things get perspective, big ones come to the forefront of my mind as I wander and I just listen - to them come and go, come and go, as the tide comes and goes, comes and goes.  It is wonderful and I rejoice in being able to do this.  It is probably the singular thing that prevents me looking for an office job.  I would hate to give this up.  I would miss it.  

This is where my heart is.  Where's yours?  

Thank you to all of you who nominated me in the #Bibs 2015 Best Writer Category.  I'm thrilled to have made it to the shortlist and it would be awesome to make it into the final five.  If you can find it in your heart to vote me through, then please click HERE.  (Thank you very, very much!).  

Blogging My Own Back Yard.

I went walking recently, as we do regularly living by the coast. Everything seemed to have taken on a prettier light in this extended summer we're having.

Still a numpty with my iPhone but loving these pics, I thought I'd share them anyway. Sometimes, you don't have to be clever with a camera when the subjects themselves are so awesome, although some close ups would have been nice, admittedly.

It's easy to take these views for granted when they're there almost every day, but on this particular Sunday -which I suppose you could call our first Autumnal one they spoke to me differently. Long may it continue!

What do you think?

The Story of A Not So Innocent Stroll.

Doesn't this look like an innocent day for a stroll?

As promised yesterday, here's a series of pics that tell another story of a quite unexpected happening when going out for some fresh air recently.  The sea looks so calm compared to these others recently and the sky couldn't be much more of a stronger contrast - it's actually quite hard to believe how little time has passed between the two days until you walk a little longer, look a little closer and see the signs.

 - It took a passing Australian chap to point out the tell tale ones up against the actual cliff wall!


The ones on the promenade had looked a bit wet -

- and it wasn't too long before those of us down there could see why!

And out of nowhere things like this would happen and make me jump a mile!

But it wasn't only me taken by surprise - 

There's a close up of this one on yesterday's post I ruddy love it SO much and it seemed rude not to give it its own special space! 

The waves seemed to come out of nowhere, through and over the defences! 

So despite the sunny weather, this turned out to be a shorter stroll in that direction than anticipated.  It didn't make sense to go any further and I headed off in the opposite one, noting the wet promenade again, but thinking how much safer it looked that way - only to have once more been lulled into a stupid sense of security and not being the only one!

This is Gabi, the lady from earlier squelching her way towards home but not before we'd had a decent chat and a laugh about the sea still behaving in way that we're not used to locally.  She has sportingly said it's OK to post these photographs of her. 

We were fortunate that there was some safe middle ground to head to because, fascinating though it was, I was genuinely frightened by now and glad to be able to run away! 

But doesn't this look like an innocent day for a stroll? 

Linking up with Older mum's #oneweek celebration of Winter.