Mark went back to work today.
It is January, and the time had arrived for being resolute. I did not make any formal New Year resolutions this year, because of there not being much point. Over the last few years my success rate with this particular endeavour could be described as ‘none whatsoever’.
Despite the absence of a firm written commitment I had thought that I really ought to make the effort. I would very much like to become thinner and fitter. Mark was out from under my feet, the January sun was shining on the silvery frost, and a golden opportunity was presenting itself.
The first jobs of the morning take ages, and it was ten o’ clock before I had washed things and put things away and brought things in, but when it was all finished, the dogs and I set off up the fell.
We have not done this for ages. We did lots of walking in Orkney, but it was all very gentle strolling, interspersed with retreating to the camper van to peel off a few layers and eat biscuits. Also Shapinsay is almost completely flat, at least compared to the Lake District.
Roger Poopy bounced out with great excitement. He has a new indestructible ball that Mark found, inexplicably, in the muck heap at the farm. It is bright orange, in order not to be lost in an absent minded moment, and made of tooth-resistant rubber. Despite having been gnawed with some considerable determination, it is still ball shaped, mostly.
I threw his ball whilst we crossed the Rec, and then we climbed the fell. There were some tiresome middle-aged lady hikers, who were whittering loudly and annoyingly about supermarkets and parking spaces, so we hurried up in order to leave them behind and have peace and quiet.
I even managed to run a little bit of it.
I was glowing with health and virtue by the time we got back. I hung the washing up and took my library books back and went to the bank, after which I was starving.
It is important to eat healthily as well as do exercise, so I had a banana for breakfast. After that I was still hungry, so I had the other one, which would only have gone brown anyway if I hadn’t.
After that I was still hungry and there were no bananas left, so I spoiled it all by accidentally eating two slices of bread with peanut butter and then finding the home made chocolates in the fridge.
Also my legs were hurting so much that I had to have a little sit down.
I did some leaf painting for a while, because of it being an untaxing activity that could be undertaken whilst sitting down.
I felt discouraged by my lack of resolution, it looks as though 2020 is going to be pretty much like every other year in that respect. I put the paints away and went to Sainsbury’s where I bought some more bananas in order that I do not fall into that trap another day. Then I did lots of cleaning and organising and tidying up and putting things away in the loft, which is up so many flights of stairs that it must be good for me.
I considered taking the hoover up there and having a thorough clean up, but some things are just too difficult.
I will have to do it soon. I have not changed the sheets since Number One Daughter visited at Christmas, and Number Two Daughter is coming back in May.
I shall make it my new New Year Resolution.
