| A Long Game Played Ever Slower |
| Main Image – Sunrise on the River Stour today. |
| Fisherman’s Wharf |
| Music Score – Contemplate – Morning Light Music |
| Sandwich has become very quiet in recent months. It’s busy enough traffic-wise as in cars and buses, but it’s not that busy for visitors and tourists. On this morning’s walk, whilst strolling up the tree-lined avenue of the quay, l noticed a few cars parked for the 50’s Music Festival but not the turnout l thought there might have been. Mind you. These are just parked-up cars, not the event being held and showcased in St Mary’s Church. I heard some music being played last night as l walked back from the reserve where l had been assisting with removing some vandalism damage to the water sluice. Perhaps the church will be busier today and tomorrow, but the group’s turnout will be lower than expected, but then, it’s a new feature of the town, and maybe the turnouts will improve in coming years. But overall, the footfall in Sandwich is way lower than in 2021, even though there is considerable vehicle traffic through the town. That, too, is lower than average. The cost of living is going through the roof. Price hikes left, right, and centre is everyday occurrences now. Energy and fuel prices are also sky high, and many people are experiencing tweaks of concern about how they are likely to afford the coming months and more now since the announcement of a potential recession. Joys. The twenties, for sure, are making themselves unforgettable! Everything is changing and, in some ways, very quickly indeed. That’s hardly surprising. The twenties as a period are changing the way people look at the world and, more importantly, themselves. I have changed significantly since the arrival of the pandemic in 2020, which seems like a millennia ago, and yet the reality is just a little over two years now. It seems longer. Time is short, and time is extended, reminding us of the phrase, a long game played slow! It looks longer and slower at the same time. I am no longer the person l was before moving here. I was mostly lost and searching for my new identity when l first started living in Sandwich. I wonder at times if we genuinely ever find out who we are. I am not sure anymore. I don’t have the energy to keep performing the soul discovery angle. Now it’s just a case of knuckling down, cracking, and surviving. Many of us now are in the same boat, making ends meet and cutting back on everything … whilst l am not ‘worried’ l am, it’s very troubling times in the world today. I laugh when l think back to the start of this year and thought the worst thing would be a nuclear war – mm, that’s the least of our concerns. The more pressing issue is making it through the next stage without becoming homeless or something like that. I don’t think l care anymore about who l am so much. It’s more a case of what l am and what am l to do. Well, l need to launch my business and make a profit, and that’s it for the time being. That’s all that matters; l can worry about stage 2 of life when l am more content with the current stage. I am not depressed, demotivated or uninspired; l am more aware of the importance of things in life and getting from a – b in one piece. I’ll do it; l always manage to land on my feet. I need to focus. It was a quiet walk this morning; l am always thankful for my early morning walks and not being surrounded by people. It was also lovely temperature-wise, not too hot and not cold, just right. The pollen count was lower, so my eyes weren’t so painful or weeping. I could walk in the meadows and think and contemplate the day ahead of me. |
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Earthly Comforts 
It’s good to know that you’re now at peace with your life. I admire your level headed approach to life Rory. Lovely shots
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Thanks Sadje 🙂
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You’re welcome
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I also admire this approach to life. Sandwich sounds like a wonderful community. Pictures are lovely and inspiring.
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Sandwich is a wonderful community 🙂
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Thistle! Good for Butterflies and Eeyore😂 two of my favorite things.
How wonderful to have the temperature finally settle into the comfortable range. And you, comfortable in your skin… mentally or psychologically anyway. I know the physical is a constant roller-coaster.
Happy Official, unoffical…. or is it Unofficial Official? Today IS the 6th, right?🤪
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Today is the unofficial official, whilst tomorrow is the scheduled official – easy right 🙂
How are you diddling ? 🙂
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Ben still isn’t sleeping well and now he’s on break for 3 weeks. Daughter generally works Thur, Fri, Sat nights so there’s the driving to, then the picking up and Couch Sittin Fri, Sat, Sun… busy busy peasant I am. And brain fried from lack of sleep. Generally holding together well, just having trouble forming complete thoughts, and I’m constantly interrupted when I do🤷🏼♀️
All in all… SSDD at the Casa😂😂
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Aha, it is indeed SSDD sadly, but l am guessing despite everything – the Zen is still intact? 🙂
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There have been a few bumps, but I think I’m finally secure in my Zen. It comes from truly accepting that the only thing I have any control over is my own actions. I don’t always *like* it, but I accept it.
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That’s entirely it – the only control we have is our own 🙂
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Congratulations on your wonderful new start, Rory! Thank you for the lovely musical morning stroll!
Yes, good message here! It’s been a long haul and every new beginning has scary parts, but we made it this far, my friend, so let’s celebrate that and just keep moving on! 😊 I remember the commercial from back in the day – “You’ve come a long way, Baby!” And I think, we have all come a long way since the beginning of 2020! We are not the people we were – it is a different world and changing all the time (so are we!). And another old saying comes to mind from my Southern heritage, “You done good!” Poor English, but you catch the drift. 😊
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Hey Betty, thanks – yes l remember the old adage of ‘you done good’ too 🙂
We all have ‘done good’ 🙂
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Yes, indeed! 😊
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I can relate to your feelings, Rory! I like your commonsensical attitude and your approach to whatever comes your way. I think many are feeling the strain of the current ways of the world. More and more I realize it’s important to live in the now, and not worry about what we can’t control. Keep on keepin’ on!
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Hey Eugenia, and that’s the best we can hope for and work towards – the whole shebang on keep on keeping on 🙂
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Yay, I found you again, Rory. I hope you have found yourself.
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Hey Geoff, indeed, but as Yoda would say do we ever truly find ourselves unless of course we are in a bush?
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Wow, I did not remember Yoda saying that!
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It was between his lines …
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