We’re back from an urban weekend. How was it? Hot…stiflingly hot, noisy and smelly. It was great to see parents and old friends, but I was amazed at how my home town had grown to become a cosmopolitan city. Apart from the woods, I love water and especially the sea and the history associated with it in this city. This seemed to be the saving grace of the trip; to visit the coast, revisit the old ships and listen to the sounds of the sea. It wasn’t long before this sound was spoilt by human intervention in some form or other.

I thought on whether I could ever leave the countryside. I must admit that I’m spoilt where I am. I have access to woods and I love the solitude it affords. Yes there are better places depending on whether you prefer to hike, climb or canoe. I sometimes miss being able to do this locally especially access to water but I would never give up where I live to reside in a city.

I started to get frustrated and miserable. I started to get a headache, and it was all I could do to see the final night through. Same again next year? Well, duty must call, but I might just wait until the weather’s bad!

Now where’s my rucksack.