In my world when all is not well I put flour to the clouds, but that is causing some problems too!!! What you may ask. Weight gain I answer ! Logical I hear you say!! Well that had to stop. It is not as if I have sorted out the backpack weight problem (wrote about that on the missing post ) and I need to gain weight. I really would have liked to lose 10 lbs but instead I gained 5, so cupcakes are not on the menu. Someone please tell me how a beautiful light as a feather dainty little cupcake causes weigh gain ??
I have now moved on from cakes and bread to jams chutneys and pickles. My rhubarb was abundant so we now have lots of rhubarb and ginger, rhubarb and vanilla (yummy) jam and rhubarb chutney and spring rhubarb relish. I have preserved some of our raspberries in brandy and syrup for christmas if they last that long. Yesterday I made red pepper relish and some tomato and red pepper chutney. It is starting to look like most of my tomatoes are going to come in when I go away. I just can't see Ray making chutneys and roasted tomato ketchup in september.
Where is all this leading ??? to my present state of mind. I am full of apprehension about this trip and here are the main problems
1. 38 days is a long time to be away from all that is familiar and all that I love.
2. Am I as fit as I think ?
3. I may have lost my mind as well as my excitement and blog posts.
4. Will I be able to contend with life on the camino?
5. Will I die of loneliness?
I am hoping when I read this back later that I will say to myself "build a bridge woman you will be grand you are losing your mind is all that is wrong with you" I am breathing a heavy sigh of relief as I write this just realising I have that lost my mind already. I have now managed to knock one of the 5 main problems of the list. Sure everyone thinks I am nuts doing this camino anyway.
If I can get Ray to agree to collecting the elderberries, wild plums, damsons and crab apples while I am away and just freeze them until I return I will chillax a little bit, or maybe my timing is wrong for going will I wait another year....?
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You will be just fine ! Although I do see your point about being lonely. Yes, the Camino is WORK. The payoff is worth it though, so just keep putting one foot in front of the other.
ReplyDeleteAll the best !
~ Alan
Thank you Alan, I think I am ready for it now :-)
DeletePerhaps.
DeleteNow you know the dark side. This is where mental toughness comes in. There is no training for that. It comes down to two things ...
1) What is driving you ?
2) Can you avoid injury ?
I was fortunate enough to find a driver that overcame all obstacles. Will you ?
I was aware enough to avoid injury that would send me home. Will you be that aware ?
These are tough questions, Doll. The Camino will answer them for you.
I do not know what trials and tribulations await you. I do know they will challenge you.
I know what the Camino challenged me with. The physical aspect was no problem, but it was uncomfortable. The emotional aspect was something of a problem, as I cried hard and often. The spiritual aspect was transcendent. God spoke, I listened.
The key for me was understanding that the spiritual aspect was most important. Working through the physical and emotional parts were the necessary exercise to get to what I needed.
The result has been a life completely changed.
You have the benefit of a wonderful family, that has protected, supported, and encouraged you. What, then, is the Camino going to do for you ? Oh my !
Perhaps the better question is ... what are you going to do to make the Camino better for someone else ?
Oh yes, this is a two way street Doll ... and you will certainly get what you need ... but the real challenge for someone who has such an abundance of giving ... will you give enough ?
Something special is about to happen ...
Be prepared ...
Big hugs !
~ Alan