Relaxing And A Happy Day So Far...

I had a lie in today and it must of been after 11 before I pulled myself out of bed. I had been trying to decide whether to go for a walk today or tomorrow, getting out of bed kind of decided it for me (it'll be tomorrow).

I used to always go for a drive up Weardale every weekend if not more often than that, not quite sure why I haven't so much recently. Maybe its the price of petrol or just because I've been busy and sidetracked by other things. It's somewhere I go to think, to get away from everything in beautiful surrounding that is on my doorstep and I know the roads like the back of my hand. Over the years I would often go there to drive fast and release some aggression. Throwing the car into corners that I had no right to come out the other side in one piece from (always made sure I could see there was nothing coming the other way). I have been driving a lot slower the last couple of years, maybe its the old man's car. Although I'm sure I could still throw it about ;-)
Today though was different, I plugged my iPod in and set Oasis - Definitely Maybe playing and set off for a slow drive. I had forget just how good the album is and meandered my way up the dale through Wolsingham, Frosterley, Bollihope, Stanhope and turning up to Rookhope at Eastgate. All the time my mind was lost in the music and my own thoughts, although for a change with a smile on my face and a positive outlook.

Above Rookhope I could see the line of landrovers in the distance which could only mean one thing (grouse shooting). Which is a welcome sight, there hasn't been much grouse shooting over the last year or so due to some disease or other (I think?). I then realised that the shooters were less than 20 foot from the road and aiming over the road and the beaters were the other side of the road up the bank. I'm sure I'm not imagining it but I'm almost certain they are breaking the law, you have to be further than that from a main road or footpath and certainly a bad idea to shoot towards the road. You could all to easily shoot someone. Anyway it's still a welcome sight to see grouse shooting, which reminds me I saw a hunt or at least practicing earlier in the week for one, maybe it was last weekend. In Roddymoor as well, haven't see one for maybe ten years around here. I am a supporter of hunting and was pleased to see a traditional country sport locally. Even though any hunt would have stupid restriction imposed on it.

anyway my journey headed on up to Allenheads at the sort of pace that I would normally of been swearing and cursing about, if I had been following behind. Allenheads is the furthest point in my journey before I start heading back down the dale through Cowshill where there always seams to be some huge character made up from round bales outside a farm. At the moment its a snowman (I think couldn't see because was watching the road but it was white). Then its back down the dale through, Wearhead, Ireshopeburn, St Johns Chapel, etc..

Before I got this far the album had ran out, so I was listening to variety of songs from Christina Aguilera to Dodgy. I didn't really want my journey to end because I was enjoying the music and my own thoughts. I pulled into the car park in Frosterley and started listening to Adam Currys - Daily Source Code Podcast before continuing on the final 10 miles home.

I'm not sure why I'm more relaxed and happy today. It could be because I was having a text conversation last night with someone who suddenly seams to have a very similar outlook on life to me. Trying to make up for lost time and enjoy themselves, finally getting around to all those things you put off. This is the second person who I am friends with who has started doing this recently. Whatever the reason it feels good (probably back down to earth with a bump on Monday).