Tuesday 28 April:

It’s been quite a long time since I added to this ‘reflection’ blog…

During the course of our self-isolation (and also perhaps as a result of receiving three identical letters from the NHS telling me that I’m “at risk of severe illness” and “stay at home at all times and avoid face-to-face contact for up to 12 weeks), I’ve developed a routine of ‘dawn walking’. Not every day, but perhaps three or four times a week. The only downside is that Moira ‘doesn’t do dawn’(!) and so these early morning walks just involve me (Moira and I go for walks at other times of the day – but I’m somewhat hesitant because it involves ‘confronting’ so many more people). Strangely, today was the first wet dawn I can recall in the six weeks since we’ve been self-isolating (we’ve been incredibly blessed with beautiful clear skies and sunshine).

But I ventured out anyway…

Actually, I love walking in the rain – provided that a) I’m suitably dressed and b) I haven’t got a meeting (or whatever) to go to. Today, I undertook one of my regular circuits (via Vauxhall Bridge/harbourside/Gaol Ferry Steps) and really enjoyed the experience… being able to walk in the middle of the road (literally!) to and from the harbourside; listening to the rainfall on the hood of my waterproof; the utter silence (apart from the occasional car driving down Coronation Road); being aware of my thoughts and ‘taking in’ things that I sometimes fail to notice; and being aware that there was ‘just me’ around - actually, in the course of my 50 minute amble, I came across just two joggers, a cyclist and a dog-walker (whose ‘companion’ looked far from impressed by the experience!).

Then back home for breakfast and coffee!     

Photo: Gaol Ferry Bridge at sunrise (from last week, not today!).

PS: Having been struggling somewhat with my spiritual life and when it comes to praying, I’m thinking about the possibility of using the wonderful Iona pilgrimage guide (“Around A Thin Place” by Jane Bentley/Neil Paynter) as a basis for some of my dawn walks – I’ve used the guide on a number of previous occasions, substituting Bristol locations for various Iona ‘reflection places’… I have a feeling that the quiet isolation might be a useful key. But I might be wrong!