I looked out of the window at Saturday morning. It was cloudy, but not raining. I opened the front door to feel the air. It was cold, but not freezing. The day was growing light, a busy week was behind me and the next hour would be my own. As I crept out of the … More Saturday morning secret
I’m on the hunt for the orange, the ‘Queen of the Orchard‘, on the outskirts of a Portuguese town. However, a three-legged dog is after me. It fixes me with an amber-eyed gaze and its muscled form jumps when it barks. It may want to run with me, or it may want to bite. Friend … More The Queen of the Orchard is not rotten yet.
I know a woman who sprays herself with perfume each time she goes for a run. Afterwards, she takes a shower and washes both sweat and fragrance away. I know a man whose right hand clenches into a fist when he finds his running rhythm. His left hand always remains relaxed, even when he tries … More On ‘Being young until you get old’.
Last time I was in Cambridge I ran past a lady. A ‘lady’ because she held herself so. It was a bright Sunday morning, early and quiet, and I had emerged from the secret gardens alongside Vicar’s Brook – a magical land of giant daisies and squashes, sweet peas and potatoes – to a prosaic … More The Lady
I run early before heat encases the city, although its grip is palpable already. I slide beside walls and stick to shadows cast on slivers of street littered with last night’s debris. Morning tourists are few but strewn like slowly perambulating hazards. Smart locals in shades dodge them whilst speaking nineteen to the dozen on … More Madrid anti-clockwise
I expect that the idea of International Happiness Day 2018 will summon a sneer of disdain from my sceptical sixteen-year old (writes his cynical mother) … I learn about today’s significance in the village shop, where one fellow customer observes, “I’d quite like to be happy tomorrow as well.” Me too. The day isn’t going well in … More International Day of Happiness – really?
Too cold for running in German as sleet stings my face. I skate across snow-packed surfaces smoothed by sledges. I skip over small mounds where grass strains through. I stumble when I sink in surprises of deep white. As gusts of wind constantly sear my cheeks. All I can do is yank my hat down and pull … More Snow run in English (it’s too cold for German)
Snow run number 2, featuring my favourite Treeo. And a welcome pitstop at Otto’s coffee house. Before the snowball fight begins. I love them, but when will they go back to school? Schneelauf Nummer 1 here.
I’m training for Berlin so I’m running in German. It’s a Schneelauf (snow run). I’m walking with my daughter so I’m talking in English. It’s a snow walk. I’m home warming up with a chocolate brownie bake-up. Good in any language.
Cold, bright and still. It was all about light, shadows and textures at Knole today. A brisk run for me and a walk in the park for the deer.
Have Paprika, Will Travel 