Forwards and occasionally sidewards – everyday musings of life

As I pulled into the recycling centre with yet another car boot overflowing with cardboard, a heavy sense of repetition washed over me. This is rapidly becoming a weekly pilgrimage; I must remember to ask the attendants if they issue loyalty cards.

My morning of productivity continued back at the house, tackling the caravan exterior and finally disconnecting the various umbilical cables and pipes that have sustained us since May. I felt a genuine sense of gratitude for the old girl—she served brilliantly as our temporary shelter and project control centre—tinged with a slight touch of sadness that we’ll soon be bidding her farewell.

By lunchtime, the sun was blazing and my energy levels were dropping in direct proportion to the rising temperature. I was more than ready for a bite to eat and my weekly chat and tech-support call with Mum, who was suffering from the oppressive summer heat. Thankfully, there were no major digital catastrophes to navigate today; her primary essential service—WhatsApp—was functioning mostly without incident.

Later, as I sat on the deck nodding off in the afternoon sun, a favourite adage from our friend ‘Ruthless Ruth’ surfaced in my mind:

“If you’re feeling tired, go for a run.”

Now, I was certainly feeling tired, and both I and the dogs were in dire need of exercise. However, I wasn’t about to start running. Instead, I opted for one of our alternative walking routes, hoping a change of scenery might re-energise me. It did—but not half as much as the surprise phone call that interrupted our stroll.

In a recent moment of desperation over a nagging dilemma regarding my table tennis grip, I had reached out to a specialist club in London that coaches the pen-holder technique. I honestly hadn’t expected a response; I assumed they’d filed my query under ‘indecisive eccentric.’ You can imagine my shock when my phone rang, and even more so when the coach, Sammy, offered me a two-hour session tomorrow morning!

Instantly, the heat-induced sluggishness evaporated. My pace quickened, my spirits lifted, and I finished the walk buzzing with excitement at the prospect of finally resolving my grip crisis and taking my game to the next level.