Wonders of the World Charity Cycle

This is a shout out for my nephew, Jake, who sets off tomorrow to cycle round the world!  He and his mates, Mark and Russ, will be visiting as many wonders of the world as possible and raising money for four great charities en route.

They're super well-organised and have an impressive website which they're planning to update regularly whilst travelling.  It's an amaaaaaazing adventure and I'm filled with admiration for them.

If you'd like to take a look at what they're up to or encourage them by donating to their chosen causes, here's where to go.

Bon Voyage, boys!  See you in 2015!!!

Just Sitting

Like the rest of the UK, the Pennines have enjoyed a fabulous summer….and, up on the moors, I've frequently spotted folk on rocks….just sitting….just NOTICING.

Drinking in the view, watching the play of light and shadow, revelling in the warmth on their faces, listening to the hum of insects, smelling the dewy earth and the scent of wild flowers.

It makes me ridiculously happy to see people simply being aware of their surroundings.

You're The Only One!

Speaking of The Tigger Song (last post, remember?), here's a little coaching tool I've come up with that's guaranteed to make you feel all springy and on top of the world.

Click on this link and listen to the song (it'll take precisely 84 seconds).  Then re-write the words, replacing Tigger's name with your own.

If that doesn't remind you how gloriously and irresistibly unique you are, I don't know what will.  ;)

New Playlist

I've been compiling a new exercise playlist….and it's a bit eclectic, to say the least.  There are rousing classical numbers like Land of Hope and Glory and Zadok The Priest; film tunes like The Dam Busters and the finale from Much Ado About Nothing (the happiest music I know); a bit of 40s nostalgia with Glenn Miller and his band playing In The Mood; upbeat rock classics like Queen's Don't Stop Me Now and Bonnie Tyler's Holding Out for a Hero; and even The Tigger Song from Winnie the Pooh ('cause bouncing on my rebounder makes me feel very Tiggerish).

If you have any fave tunes to move to, let me know in the comments.

(Oh, and if you're wondering what the photo has to do with music and movement, the answer's, 'Nothing really'.  Except what you see is pretty much my view when I'm bouncing and hooping it up of a morning.  Not bad, huh?)

Time To Linger

The heather's in bloom on the moors right now.  So it's time to dawdle.  Time to linger.  Time to wallow in the purpley-ness of it all. To gaze at the colour washing across the hills to the hazy horizon.

Time to wear plum-coloured sweaters and bilberry-hued wrist warmers and blend into the landscape.  To sit amongst the springy stems and pretend I'm modelling for a Brora catalogue.

Time to snip dainty sprigs of the ling….to tuck them into ribbon-wrapped parcels or raffia-bound jars of jam.  And send tiny fragments of the fells out into the world.