On Monday I did a complete circuit of Rutland water on foot starting from Oakham Station. Well I have to get out when its sunny or I never will. It'll probably soon be raining again.It seems to be getting harder to walk longer distances like this but it was also quite warm and I felt pretty much knackered by the time I went home after approx 6 hours.






This is Oakham where I began.

[IMG]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5581/14206143296_162bdfbdf3_b.jpg[/IMG]...

The garden has been quite neglected over the last couple of years. Looking after my mother as she slowly died took priority. I have tried to start the long task of tidying it up and replanting. Its not a garden for food although I used to grow tomatoes in the greenhouse and there are a couple of apple trees. It was always intended as a wildlife friendly garden. A small oasis in the heart of the city.

The pond which I built myself many years ago.It quickly attracted frogs and dragonflies....

A very different week than normal as I had the chance to stay with a friend at Whitby for a few days in a holiday cottage. My anxiety was not particularly good (it wasn't great before I went though). First it was a 1 hour train to Sheffield followed by a 3 hour train to Scarborough followed by a one hour bus to get there on a bank holiday Monday and then 3 trains and a bus back on Friday. Too many changes and it starts to not only affect my mood but also my bowels but maybe that was due to two...

Recently I have been trying mind control relaxation techniques to help with my ever escalating and out of control anxiety, paranoia and general mental health problems. There is obviously quite a lot on youtube and the net. Although having the talent of an arthritic wombat I have always been fascinated with art, artists and enjoyed watching painters. This was probably partly due to watching the late great Bob Ross on discovery channels. I wasn't just interested but also found them deeply relaxing...

I went to the local woods again last Thursday. It was somewhat harder to find the kind of peace I crave as it was still the school holidays and bluebell time always attracts a good deal more people than usual. I took some photos but the sense of tranquillity and peace was broken with screaming kids and a gangs of teenagers lurking around (not to mention several photographers).I have noise induced anxiety which has plagued me for many years now and caused many sleeping problems and once quite chronic...