As anyone who was in the city yesterday will know, Edinburgh was a bit on the damp and breezy side. But I'd committed myself to having another walk, the first for a couple of weeks, and who knows what conditions may be like in September, so out I went into a less than summery summers day. It provided my most "interesting" walk to date.
Down to Newhaven, head east along the coast, until I finally reached Musselburgh a couple of hours further on. It was wet, I was wet. It was windy, I was... 'refreshed'. Looking north there was no sign of Fife. No sign of anything but a short stretch of water and a dense wall of greyness.
When you wear glasses there are two choices on a day like this. Take them off and not really be able to see where you're going. Or leave them on and not really be able to see where you're going. I chose the latter, but I don't think either option would have helped me avoid having an involuntary lie down. I was on Baltic Street, an uninspiring location even when the sun shines down. Nobody around, just a few cars passing, which I tried to keep an eye on in relation to their juxtaposition with the massive puddles that sat kerbside. One second I'm pushing on through the rain, the next I'm horizontal. The speed with which it happened probably saved me from any real injury, as I didn't even have time to stick an involuntary arm out (which is what often leads to broken bones). Picking myself up I swiftly identified the culprit, given there was nothing else around. A loop of thick wire, just big enough to capture both my feet at once and propel me asphaltwards.
I did think about turning back and getting a bus home. But an assessment of the damage concluded that the worst thing seemed to be stinging palms. And I don't walk on my hands, so on I went. I was glad I did, or I'd have missed out on the most exhilarating walking experience so far. Walking along an empty Porty Prom with the rain and sea blowing into my face was a glorious feeling and more than made up for my brief recumbent interlude.
Still no airing for the kilt yet. I was glad it wasn't with me yesterday, what with the potential for damage, and the general sogginess that accompanies wet weather kilt wearing. But it needs to come out soon, so look out for an update in July.
Plenty of Advocard duties in the last week. Two of the things I most enjoy about the role is the variety and unpredictability of what I'll be asked to do from one service user to another. In the past couple of weeks it's included helping someone work out their options for getting their employer to make reasonable adjustment for their anxiety in the workplace (it may work out as simple as moving to a different desk); going to see a housing officer about getting a move because the person I'm with is experiencing health issues from his current accommodation; and helping someone speak out to ask for different treatment from the mental health services. Two of those people talked about suicide so there's sometimes some real urgency in helping them towards a resolution of their difficulties. I also went on a short training course about understanding and working with people who self harm. Advocard are good about trying to provide us with the skills we need to do the job better.
A negative side to the weather yesterday was it made taking photos tricky, so I've nothing much to show for my eight miles , except this brightly coloured little boat in Fisherrow Harbour. That and a graze on my knee....
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