I even got up on Monday Morning's and said..I love Monday's..the hills will be quiet again after the weekend walkers have gone back to work.
I spent a lot of my free time climbing and exploring every way I could think of reaching the summit of Dumyat, my local hill. I loved the yellow, brown and orange colours of the winter hills, followed by the bright yellow blooms of the spring gorse that grows on its southern flanks.
I spent a lot of time in the country and loved watching it awaken from its winter slumbers. Perhaps it was because I had no stress and plenty of time, that I was very aware of the wonders of nature around me.
Then a month ago, the industry that was sapping my energy, contacted me and asked if I could help them out for a short while. I agreed and went back to work.
I guess I hadn't quite lost all my capitalist notions. Yup..the remenant memories of money motivation took over and I lost my freedom.
I love foxgloves. They used to be my signal that summer had finaly arrived. Unfortuntely, I have been that busy with work and pooch painting, I did not have the time to see if they were in bloom yet. I was very aware that the past few years I have missed seeing them too, because I was so busy , one way or another.
I made a concious effort to get out on Sunday just to find a fox glove or two.
I had seen plenty of signs of them on Dumyat during the winter so thought it a good place to look. I wasn't disappointed as they were everywhere :-D
Pink ones and white too, they turned the lower slopes of Dumyat into a radiant field of colour
Im glad that I took the time off my busy schedule to see them. They reminded me that it is all too easy to get lost in work and not see what is happening out side its strict confines. As I climbed higher on the slopes of Dumyat ..I started to loose sight of the fox gloves again in the grey mist.
As I walked, I imagined that the mist symbolised my work and the fox gloves my early retirement.
Moments later, I was surrounded by the swirling mist and put my camera away.
I got to the top of Dumyat by instinct and experience but I didn't see a thing except a grey swirling ..... yuch.
I have completed one month of my three month contract. It will be interesting to see if my capitalist instincts keep me at it if it is renewable, or if I chose to go with the freedom of the fox gloves when my contract expires. I guess I dont know myself as well as I thought I did ?
2 comments:
Hi Donny.
I think one of the main benefits of working, apart from the money ,is that you seem to get more out of any time off as free time becomes so important.
I Like the foxgloves.Always think of them as end of summer flowers for some reason in the highlands.
It looks like its going to be a dire summer this year outdoors.
As always, smashing photos Donny. They show Dumyat from an unusual angle. I can't work out from where you have taken them.
Alex / Bob. I've found out that the biggest advantage in being retired is that you can pick good weather days for the hills. The main disadvantage is that its made me a bit obsessional about ticking off new hills.This is because I don't have to worry about work problems. Going out on the hills with Donny is great for me as he appreciates the views, flowers, wildlife, etc instead of worrying about stupid lists.
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