Friday, 21 June 2013
Final post ...
We're closing the sponsorship page now and won't post any more to this blog. But with a number of additional donations the total is now £1300 (plus Gift Aid). Thankyou again to everyone.
Tuesday, 28 May 2013
I made it!
Well, I made it – 100 miles on foot from Winchester to Eastbourne! It was an amazing experience in all sorts of ways I hadn’t predicted.
To now look at a map of the south of England, and realise that I have covered a significant chunk of it on foot gives a whole new perspective to distance, and geography, and in some sense with connectedness to the earth.
To be, a lot of the time, walking up on the high ground, among the grazing sheep and cattle – and the singing of the larks – and the richness of colour in the greenness of full spring and the dainty abundance of the flowers, just put the busy-ness and bustle of normal life in a whole new perspective.
It was a joy to have the space and time to carry in my thoughts the life and being of Southover Counselling and those it serves.
My grateful thanks to Chris and Geoffrey for providing the Winchester "launch pad", Tony for providing the “thoughts for the day” and the daily logistics of getting me from/to my end/starting points, and those who joined me for sections of the walk!
And to all of you who have supported this venture by adding your own thoughts to mine, and your generous donations – which have so far raised over £1,100 (plus Gift Aid) to sponsor those unable to pay the full cost of the service.
To now look at a map of the south of England, and realise that I have covered a significant chunk of it on foot gives a whole new perspective to distance, and geography, and in some sense with connectedness to the earth.
To be, a lot of the time, walking up on the high ground, among the grazing sheep and cattle – and the singing of the larks – and the richness of colour in the greenness of full spring and the dainty abundance of the flowers, just put the busy-ness and bustle of normal life in a whole new perspective.
It was a joy to have the space and time to carry in my thoughts the life and being of Southover Counselling and those it serves.
My grateful thanks to Chris and Geoffrey for providing the Winchester "launch pad", Tony for providing the “thoughts for the day” and the daily logistics of getting me from/to my end/starting points, and those who joined me for sections of the walk!
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| Cocking - departing, 23rd |
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| The SDW's least helpful signpost |
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| Alfriston - arriving, 26th |
Monday, 27 May 2013
Triumphantly home
It's been a privilege to share today from Exceat to Eastbourne: the last ten miles or so of Stella's hundred. I'm even prouder and more amazed at the achievement! Today's walk started at Alfriston: Exceat is three miles or so downstream (literally: the stream is the Cuckmere river) and a good place to leave the car since it's easy to get back to, by bus, from Eastbourne.
We came down the last "down" to the end of the SDW at around 4 p.m. and absorbed a welcome and excellent mug of tea, before finding that we were exactly on time to pick up the hourly bus into the centre of Eastbourne and, then, another short wait to get back to Exceat. The only snag was an accident which closed the straight road home from Newhaven, so we had to backtrack and go the long way round.
A final meditation. Evening hymns from past ages tend to be sentimental but this one was always a favourite for being so in tune with reality.
Ere I sleep for every favour
This day show’d
By my God
I will bless my Saviour
Thou hast order’d all my goings
In Thy way,
Heard me pray,
Sanctified my doings.
Thou my rock, my guard, my tower,
Safely keep,
While I sleep,
Me, with all Thy power.
Leave me not, but ever love me;
Let Thy peace
Be my bliss
Till Thou hence remove me.
John Cennick, 1741
We came down the last "down" to the end of the SDW at around 4 p.m. and absorbed a welcome and excellent mug of tea, before finding that we were exactly on time to pick up the hourly bus into the centre of Eastbourne and, then, another short wait to get back to Exceat. The only snag was an accident which closed the straight road home from Newhaven, so we had to backtrack and go the long way round.
A final meditation. Evening hymns from past ages tend to be sentimental but this one was always a favourite for being so in tune with reality.
Ere I sleep for every favour
This day show’d
By my God
I will bless my Saviour
Thou hast order’d all my goings
In Thy way,
Heard me pray,
Sanctified my doings.
Thou my rock, my guard, my tower,
Safely keep,
While I sleep,
Me, with all Thy power.
Leave me not, but ever love me;
Let Thy peace
Be my bliss
Till Thou hence remove me.
John Cennick, 1741
Kyrie
Today is the last day of the walk, and not one of the longest: Alfriston to Eastbourne by way of Beachy Head, within sight of the sea most of the way. I'll be joining Stella for the last few miles from Birling Gap.
David Adam offers these Kyries
When our days are at their longest
When our life is at its strongest
Kyrie eleison Lord, have mercy
At the turning of each tide
On life's ocean, deep and wide
Kyrie eleison Lord, have mercy
At the ending of the way
At the closing of the day
Kyrie eleison Lord, have mercy
(from Sixfold Kyries, Tides and Seasons)
Help us, Lord
To live in your light
To act in your might
To think in your wisdom
To walk in your kingdom
To abide in your love
Your presence to prove
David Adam offers these Kyries
When our days are at their longest
When our life is at its strongest
Kyrie eleison Lord, have mercy
At the turning of each tide
On life's ocean, deep and wide
Kyrie eleison Lord, have mercy
At the ending of the way
At the closing of the day
Kyrie eleison Lord, have mercy
(from Sixfold Kyries, Tides and Seasons)
Help us, Lord
To live in your light
To act in your might
To think in your wisdom
To walk in your kingdom
To abide in your love
Your presence to prove
Sunday, 26 May 2013
And now I'm home again - resting up ahead of the final onslaught over the whole run of the Seven Sisters tomorrow! It has been the most amazing weather conditions today - walking over routes previously familiar, at least in parts - but with visibility such as i have never seen before! Without bias, of course, there is no doubt in my mind that the most beautiful part of the beautiful South Downs landscape is right here on our own doorstep! And so - a truly amazing journey (in many senses) draws towards its closing stage.........
A thought for Sunday
Starting from home today, down to Alfriston. This repeats last Sunday's thought, though I didn't realise it!
Photo: setting off from Kingston Ridge, to walk back up to the main route
A new day bids us wake
To clear and cloudy weather,
And for each other's sake
Restores us to each other:
Remembering God, we say:
This is his world, his day.
As all life needs the sun,
Which never ceases giving,
Even when day is gone
Its energy for living:
Forget God, though we may,
This is his world, his day.
So now, in solitude,
Or met in Christ together,
We praise our loving God
And pray for one another:
Believing, come what may
This is his world, his day.
Fred Pratt Green
Photo: setting off from Kingston Ridge, to walk back up to the main route
A morning hymn
A new day bids us wake
To clear and cloudy weather,
And for each other's sake
Restores us to each other:
Remembering God, we say:
This is his world, his day.
As all life needs the sun,
Which never ceases giving,
Even when day is gone
Its energy for living:
Forget God, though we may,
This is his world, his day.
So now, in solitude,
Or met in Christ together,
We praise our loving God
And pray for one another:
Believing, come what may
This is his world, his day.
Fred Pratt Green
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