Celebratory walk

Well that’s it, all done, the book is now finished and will be off with the publisher in the next day or so after a final check and tweak. I’m pleased with how it’s gone, but it’s very nerve racking now to hear what the publisher thinks. It’ll be out sometime early in the New Year, so really all I can do now, is to forget about it and leave it to the publishers to do their bit.

So after spending hours and hours and hours at the computer I now feel free and on Monday morning decided to celebrate both the completion of the writing and the gloriously warm weather that has finally decided to arrive. I took the girls out to one of our favourite local places.

As you can see, there’s lots of open space and fantastic views and I was amazed when we went back there for the first time in a month or so last week at just how green it had all become in such a short time. It’s part of the North Downs Way and the hills opposite are the Surrey Hills and nearby is the famous Box Hill, a very steep hill that hosted the Olympic Cycle Race in 2012. It’s a gruelling walk up the hill, we haven’t done it for years but hope to get over there soon to give it a go. For now, we’re enjoying the more leisurely hills over this side.

The girls love the freedom and when I see them hurtling down that hill towards the little gate at the bottom, I just feel so happy to see them run and enjoy their early morning exercise, especially Twinkle and Susie-Belle who have missed out on years of freedom.

The views on this walk are stunning and it’s remarkable that we are only about 20 miles from London here.

One thing we love about this walk is the variety of environment we cross, there are pathways through the woods and plenty of open land which is chalky which provides a dry’ish surface and fascinating plants and flowers. At certain times of the year there are rare orchids that can be seen, at the moment the hills are covered in wild oregano.

It was quite warm on Monday, despite it being early and the shade of the woods was welcome before we came out onto the chalk path again.

Twinkle is getting a little calmer with us, but is still very hard to handle and highly nervous when people approach, this walk is perfect for her as she is confident and happy when out walking and because we rarely meet anyone on this route, it allows her to really relax and enjoy just being herself.

Here Susie-Belle was having a break after taking a bit of water from me to refresh herself, Twinkle despite being hot and panting wouldn’t approach close enough for any, so I sat and waited and let her relax and enjoyed the views. She never did take any water till we arrived back at the house, but one day she may realise she doesn’t need to suffer and I’m here to make her life as easy and comfortable as it can be. One day.

We went back there again this morning but couldn’t see out across the hills at all, as they were cloaked in fog, most weird as by the time we’d finished and were back at the car about an hour or so later, the sun was out.

We’re off to France in a few weeks time, but when we get back in September we plan to explore a lot more of this wonderful place, the girls are keen 🙂