Henley-on-Thames (an extract from a travel diary)

It’s been a long, long time since I was last here. But it’s just as lovely now as it was when Tricia and I visited.
Once again I find myself down by the river with carrier bags full of sliced bread for the ducks and the swans. This morning I was the centre of attention for about 30 swans and a couple of dozen ducks on the far side of the river.
I’ve walked all around the town several times this morning, met Steve for lunch and bought a pair of pin CAT style boots (which apparently, I found out at lunch, had spoiled Steve’s birthday surprise for me! oops!) and lo and behold! Where do I find myself this afternoon? Feeding the ducks along with a pair of Canada Geese and a couple of swans on the ‘trendy’ side of the river.
The weather is beautiful, sunshine and warmth, occasional clouds floating overhead casting shadows of people and buildings across the water. Now that I have run out of bread the ravenous ducks and swans have moved on to one of the trendy bars at the edge of the water. They are noisy, arguing amongst themselves, jostling for the best bits of bread.
There are people around me, some talking, some reading, others just watching the birds and the water, content in their existence. An elderly lady asked me if she could watch me feed the birds again tomorrow, I had to apologise and tell her it was a one day only engagement!
There are people in ‘put puts’ floating down the river, jovial and noisy. It is so easy to see why they are so happy. It’s a beautiful summer’s day in Henley-on-Thames. They seem to know what makes a content life.
A local boat is mooring up near the ‘trendy’ bar, just as a ‘trendy couple’ are walking past. The constant looking around at people, checking them out up and down, darting eyes ever self-consciously of how they look to those they are passing by. It is the fate of every ‘trendy’, spend a fortune of clothes, hair, shoes, sun tans and jewellery and then worry about ‘who’s checking out who’ and ‘who’s in and who’s out?!’ Why?
It’s getting cooler now, off into the town centre, towards the coffee shops in the town square.
Hot coffee in hand, I sit on the bench in the middle of the square, the town hall is to the left of me, a beautiful neo-classic sort of building. To the right is the main shopping area and church. You can be forgiven for thinking it’s a mini castle by its style and substantial build for such a small town. Quite imposing. Where I am sat, the square is full of tables and chairs from the cafes surrounding it, its late afternoon and those that have been out most of the day are leaving, heading off for home and their teas with their families or to the hotels they are staying at. As these people head off home, the tables start to fill up with the college students drinking coffee and coke and talking animatedly and relaxing loose from the strictures of college work.
As I sit watching the people around me I see a sea change again in the people at the tables, the students have meandered off on their way to their homes and their favourite hang outs to be replaced by the office workers who fancy a glass of white wine or a beer in the sunshine before heading off.
It’s been a lovely day and I am very lucky to have been able to revisit a town that held such lovely memories for me. Reminders of walking with Tricia round the shops and then down to the river, feeding the ducks and laughing at the silly behaviour of people who think that to be cool you have to be ‘trendy’.
Time to go and meet Steve and start the journey home.
Jane x

Life Begins at 49 - Part 6

Life is full of twists and turns. From restarting my life at the Flat I am now rebuilding my relationship with my husband. Soon I will be returning to our marital home and starting yet another new adventure at 49! I do not regret my time at the flat, nor my decision to leave my husband. Sometimes it takes drastic measures to show you the answers you were too close to see. Both of us have been able to step back and look at things more clearly. Not overnight in a magical Hollywood feel good chic flick way but in an honest, sometime brutal, way on both our parts. Sometimes you need to get down to the nitty gritty to resolve issues you don't want to face. For the both of us it is a fresh start based on a good foundation. We have learned things about each other, learned about our issues but most of all learned to love each other again. Our trust builds daily and the fun has come back into our lives. Once again I am looking forward to a future full of bright ideas, adventures and plans (and a fair bit of the 'other'!!! ha ha)

Life Begins at 49 - Part 5

I have been thinking lately about the fragility of life, how you take things for granted, that people will be with you always, that your life will merrily carry on without mishap or sadness. But unfortunaely that is not the way of the world and life in general.

One of the most special people in my life lsot her mum a couple of days ago and I feel awful that there is nothing I can say or do to fix things or make things better. It reminds me of how futile petty arguments that escalate out of control are just that petty arguments. It reminds me that there is more to life than money and shoes, fashion and celebs. It is the true friends around you that matter above all else. Those you love and those who love you back.

We should never forget those who have loved us, those we have loved, those we have lost. We should celeberate them and their lives everyday in everything we do. Keeping them in our hearts at all times, keeping them close to use even when we are apart.

When we remember our loved ones, those with us and those we have lost, we benefit in our own lives. We grow stronger, happier and wiser. The love they showered us with, the wisdom they shared with us, makes us a better person on the inside and beautiful person on the outside.


Carramea xx

Life Begins at 49 - Part 4

My friend Lisa's boy Tim is 21 today. I remember when I first met Tim as a cheeky little boy who was pretty good on a PS1 who used to laugh his head off at me as I tried to fight off the villans (very badly) with his mum.

Now he is a grown man with a lovely girlfriend, Holly, and a cool sister, Chelsea.

Lisa and Mark, be proud of your boy, he' turned out ok.

It's nice when you see your friends doing ok.


Carramea xxx

Life Begins at 49 - Part 3

Today was a good day again in Blackpool, sun shining, a brisk spring day. Unfortunately both Yas and I were too busy to get to do our lunchtime constitution today but with a bit of luck this wonderful spring weather will hold and we can go out tomorrow.

Still it doesn't do to dwell.

The sunset as I drove down Waterloo Road was magnificent, the redest I have ever seen. It made me smile and feel proud to be living in Blackpool. That we can have sunsets as maginificent as those in Goa or Egypt is just simply wonderful.

Life takes many turns and you never know when you will next experience a silver lining from a dark cloud or an unexpected turn of events that turns a very sad day into a beautiful night.

Carramea xx

Life Begins at 49 - Part 2

Today has been really good. The sun has been shining on Blackpool, chatter in the office was calm and happy. Sunshine does that to you, makes you feel happy to be alive, all excited and refreshed at the prospects of what’s to come.

Back at the flat I have had my favourite tea, scrambled egg on toast, sat in my jammies watching TV and writing this simple blog. Got a beer too!

Life is the most unusual aspect of this world, it causes a myriad of opportunities. You never know what is around the next corner but there are always positive options even if the negative ones seem to loom larger and heavier than you can bear…

Enjoy life to its fullest, don’t waste a moment to negativity. Turn a negative into a positive and nothing can get you down.

Carramea xx

Life Begins at 49!

Whatever your circumstances or age the most important thing to remember is that no matter what life throws at you, you can get through it, you can turn it around and you can enjoy life to the fullest. Never let anyone get you so sad, so lonely or so scared that you only see the dark of the tunnel and not the light at the end of it.

At 49 I am starting again. I am living in a 1 bedroom flat, have little money and few friends, but I am happy. Poor but happy and I would rather have this chance to rebuild my life the right way with few material possession and little or no money in the bank than live a fake life of perfect happiness to the outside world.

Life is too short to waste, it is for living to the fullest wherever and whenever you can. Give it a go, you may find you like it too!

Carramea xxx