Snapped in the garden today, I always feel that winter is a memory and summer is around the corner when our old Magnolia comes in to bloom
Oh yes, I've done some Lake District climbing [*], but it's not the fat that can't get through, it's the bones. In my case at Stanage Edge (Peak District) I was number two going up a chimney behind a rather slim lead. No way could I get my hips through and spent a lot of time supported only by the bottom of my rib cage. Two months of ribs hurting followed -- and my retirement from rock climbing at 40 years old [*] Edit: .... and a few days on snow, but very gentle slopes.
I recall a trip to England in 2000 with an NAWCC group, visiting tower clocks. We saw 38 tower clocks in 11 days. The oldest clocks were likely mid 18th century. Several (Salisbury Cathedral) were much earlier than that. A lot of these clocks had been installed in ancient churches in which there was no room for a clock when the church was built. A lot of these churches had clocks fitted later on, and this gave rise to some very unusual placements for these clocks. There were occasions where we had to “slither” through tight openings, in order to view the clock.
Joyful anticipation. Like a bashful butterfly breaking free of its chrysalis ready to stretch and dry its wings, the emergence of the year's first Himalayan poppy. Darkened purples and blues in nascence that will soon turn into an azure blue that would shame the brightest sky. Difficult to grow in warmer climes, so not so grim up North after all.....
All my childhood running buddies. Only two of us left now. The other 3 passed before turning 50. Still makes me happy seeing all together having a good time.