Clarity

Say hello to Custard. Yep, he's a bike! A small, very bright, and not at all flashy bike. I've not seriously cycled since I was about 15 (I'll spare myself by not revealing how many years ago that was!) and, recalling that swimming and cycling are really the only forms of exercise I ever enjoyed as a child, decided to give the cycling another go.

I realised, you see, that I've been looking back nostalgically for quite a few years now to the excellent days out I used to have with my bike, a bag of tomatoes and some sweets, a book, and a lot of very quiet Test Valley and New Forest countryside, hills and fields. I used to cycle, then stop at the edge of a field and have a munch whilst listening to the natural sounds and watching the birds, continue on, find some haybales in a field that were just begging to be dozed upon in the sunshine. After that, I would wake up and have another munch and probably a read for a while as well before having a speed trial with myself. Several more stops later on the same theme would take me towards dusk, at which point I was expected to be home.

Why did I stop spending time like that? I know of course that work and social life and boyfriends and later the move to London and cats ect ect ect intruded, but when did I get out of the habit of allowing time for me? For something that is good for me, reduces stress and improves my mood no end?