The lakes, the dales, the peaks, our decline into middle-age…
I feel like we should come clean… We’ve joined the National Trust. There are many good and practical reasons for us doing so but that doesn’t stop the fact that we have just aged thirty years and will now be recieving magazines advertising pottery displays and the sale of bird feeders.
Anyway, apart from being middle-aged what have we been doing since we last had an Internet connection? Well if you have some minutes to spare I’ll tell you…
After we left Knighton we went to Oswestry. The trouble was that whatever illness it was that we’d both had it had completely knocked us out. We spent the whole time in this town really tired and unable even to walk for half an hour without getting breathless and really tired. However, we managed to visit the church and pray for the kids about to get confirmed, visit Chirk Castle and have a chat with people from The Haven - a Christian group from many different churches who offer healing prayer to members of the public and have seen many people both healed and saved -so it wasn’t a completely wasted couple of days.
From Oswestry we moved on to Glossop. On the way we thought we’d try and do some walking of some sort so we did a little mile and a half circular walk along the Macclesfield Canal from Bollington but even this wasn’t easy. We just no longer recognised the people who had walked 250 miles carrying heavy packs…
A member of a church in a tiny village called Pott Shrigley had asked us to pray for them so we stopped off their before reaching Glossop. We only had a few minutes to enjoy arriving before we had to set off back to Congleton to pick up a bundle if maps at had left with friends there. This took most if the evening as we were suddenly diverted through Macclesfield due to road closure and then the diversion itself was diverted! We got there though and would really like to thank Dave and Helen for the maps and so much more.
The rest of our time in Glossop was really great. Although we’re both still coughing, we did finally begin to feel better and we were staying in the best place we’ve stayed so far (thanks Lynda). It had a really beautiful garden and we took a trip down to visit the Ladybower resevoir which is just one amazing part of the Peak District - a place we’re now both totally in love with!
We left our little Glossop paradise yesterday morning and drove to Hebden Bridge to pray through the things we had been asked to pray for by a church there before heading on to Malham. We’d really like to have spent more time in the Yorkshire Dales as they were very pretty (enough to put us in a mood for joining certain well known organizations while we were there) but we had to get to Winderemere by seven o’clock. The roads through the dales where somewhat exhilirating - narrow and winding with drops so steep the road disappeared from in front of you - but we arrived in one piece (or two pieces I suppose).
This morning we had the great pleasure of joining the local Methodist church for some worship and enjoyed it very much. Interestingly enough we’ve been thinking a lot about planting seeds of God’s word where we go and that was the topic if this morning’s sermon - all the more of a “coincidence” as we had tried to go to a different church today but couldn’t find it. Perhaps God is trying to tell us something!
So that’s our journey so far. We’re leaving a card with some words of scripture behind us wherever we go and, while we’re sure much will be falling on stony ground, please join us in praying that some of it will be fruitful. We’re off to see whether we can hack walking more than a mile without coughing our lungs up this afternoon and all being well we will perhaps be able to start doing some proper walking and running soon.
We’ll update again when we can. Thanks for all your comments and prayers.
Hi there - (1) nice to be texting the other day
> (2) As long as people read the weekly prayer email they’ll know
> roughly what’s been happening with you
> (3) we’ve been in the Nat Trust since we were about your age - Ian’s grandmother left us Life Membership in her will - it’s been invaluable for assorted holidays over the years! (4) will be praying for you as you carry on - have a great week!
> (5) Laura is now home with little Isaac - who turns out to have red hair once he could be seen properly in daylight!
14 Jul 2008 at 3:10 pm
don’t worry, you can stop all your fretting, as i, and the rest of the prices are also national trust members. And though there is always the tinge of shame when we drive up to the magnificent houses, i still love it.
How about some joint trust visits when you two have finished your mental trip?
As the only thing that could make a national trust visit better, is a visit with me.
x
14 Jul 2008 at 8:33 pm
It’s great to keep up with your tales - you write very well. (Has anyone ever told you that? :p !) All still sounds very exciting! Hope you continue to have an adventurous journey and keep us up to date with things including NT visits. We went to an interesting arts & crafts house near Windemere. The architect built the house as commissioned, well nearly, he had it facing the wrong way so the family didn’t get the best views and ended up hardly ever living there - maybe they’d let you use if for a night? x
14 Jul 2008 at 9:49 pm
I concur - you do write very well. It is always a highlight of my day when there is a new post on this blog. Maybe that says something about the levels of excitement going on in Room 45, Palatine House currently. The thing that came closest on the scale of interesting things to talk about, was the other night when I killed a nasty looking bug on the ceiling with Andrew Motion’s collected poems. Which is the best use for them. Looking forward to seeing you soon! I’m practising my social skills any everything. Love love love xxx
15 Jul 2008 at 9:37 am
oh dear, need to practice proof reading too
15 Jul 2008 at 9:38 am
Hi guys,
Glad to hear you’re going on well with everything since the various setbacks!
Will you be doing any of the trip on bikes? I remember Paul’s bike being rather a calssic, although I suppose riding with a bad ankle isn’t good either.
Anyway, keep going, whichever mode of transport you use and see how God will use you guys throughout the journey!!!
15 Jul 2008 at 1:53 pm
Good to talk to you on the phone earlier.
Glad you’re both feeling a bit better, but don’t rush things! Time and tide may wait for no man, but life very often does. Make the most of this opportunity to take it as it comes.
Lots of love to you both.
15 Jul 2008 at 6:08 pm
Hey sweetpea and banks
just spent a happy half hour when I should really be working reading through all your blog entries! Sounds like your still making the most of it, and you’ll probably enjoy it so much more when fully well not having the pressure of so much walking!
I just spent the last 3 days in Brecon walking Pen y Fan etc in all weathers possible and my legs are now in pieces from the steepness! keep saying I wanna do more tho so it was a good challenge.
And as for National Trust membership- have you forgotten our sadness as kids having National Trust Family Life Membership and trailing round everywhere for years? If you think your old then I’ll join your old club, me and dunc have been considering it as we are sick of paying entrance fees for stuff!
Miss you and am sending you both lots of luck and healthy vibes!!
Love me xx
16 Jul 2008 at 11:02 am
Hope you enjoy Durham and your last few hours on English soil before crossing the boarder on Friday.
lots of love.
16 Jul 2008 at 1:54 pm
Looks like your NT ‘outing’ resonated with quite a few … others are probably too scared to post a comment. We’re off to Dartmoor and will try to avoid NT membership hawkers.
17 Jul 2008 at 9:46 am
Guys,
You are both incredibly brave to have had to face the tough decisions, let alone the tons of daily and overall challenges. You are such an inspiration! Reading all that you have been up to is SO exciting and challenging to me personally.
God is BIG! I pray that you know that more each day and he uses even the tiniest things to bless people. Keep being your lovely selves, and enjoying working as a team. We will be praying for your injuries Chloe and against illnesses too.
God is doing a new and significant thing now and no doubt it will form new dreams and foundations for your future together. Keep enjoying it, and making the most.
x
Julianne
17 Jul 2008 at 11:40 am
Hey guys,
I am ashamed to say I had actually forgotten you were writing the blog as you walked up until today when I suddenly got an urge to check your website.
Due to my useless memory (I blame the degree) I didn’t know about your foot problems, Chlo, and I’m so sorry to hear you’ve had to change your plans. Rest assured though, I am still really proud of you (both of you) and anyone who thinks you’re somehow doing less of a good thing by not walking the entire way doesn’t deserve to call themselves your friend! I know many people who would have gone home and sat and watched TV for a few months instead (ahem…like me right now!) but you’ve carried on and you’re still trying to make a difference to a good cause, so well done!
Anyway, won’t ramble much more as I know internet access is limited, but just wanted to apologise for my previous lack of comments, wish you more luck, and let you know my thoughts are with you.
Game of word association when you get back?
Much love xx
17 Jul 2008 at 5:11 pm