Looking Back - 2016
31st July 2025
Hello everyone. How are things for you today? Do let me know. Maybe you will leave me a message. Then, I will probably answer you.
This morning, deciding to organise my journals, I find an interesting entry for 13th September 2016. Firstly, the date strikes me as significant given that Peter died on the 12th Sept 2024, and this year it will be 9 years almost to the day, since that entry.
The irony strikes me when I see that I' ve reflected on preparing for "our camino", especially, given that Peter died at the end of the one we finally got to do. To be honest, I didn't remember that we'd looked at it seriously at that time. So seriously that we were practicing.
I write in my journal at that time:
13th Sept 2016: ......"We went out on our first trek this morning to see if we will be able to do the Camino. Going out early, around six thirty, we completed a seven mile walk, to Reculver and back, setting a surprisingly good pace of about about 3.5 mph. Not bad, I thought. As we walked we watched the golden sunrise in front of us creating a changing yellow light across the sea, a blueish sky unfolding before us with each step we took. We hardly spoke, not wanting to break the meditative silence which was only interrupted occasionally with the gentle movement of the waves.
We really started yesterday walking the two miles to mass and back. Not much, but it's a start , and Peter is totally behind the project now. In fact he's more enthusiastic than I am.
I have another challenge on my mind. No, it's not my writing . I want to do the London Marathon. Doing the park run most saturdays has inspired me. That, and Jo was talking about applying for it. Well, I filled out the form and sent it off. Next week Ill find out if I got in. If I have, I'll concentrate on that, putting the walking practice on hold for a while.
If I don't get to run the marathon, we plan to walk the Camino in the Spring of next year. And yes, we are mad.
Peter is now reading everything he can get his hands on about doing the Pilgrimage. We will be so well prepared.”
There is another reference on 24th Sept:
After pages about writing group and the exhaustion of minding grandchildren,
I think his enthusiasm shines through here:
..."In the the background to all this , Peter is checking out extra lightweight tents so that we can go backpacking, especially on Pilgrimages. We are now planning our Camino for next year, and looking forward the the adventure of it all. I hope that I'll be up to the hardship of sleeping in a small tent night after night and carrying everything we need on our backs . We'll see.
Peter's friend and his wife recently completed the Pilgrim's Way from Winchester to Canterbury. They camped with a small tent and big rucksacks. They're older than us. Of course he is more eager than ever now and wants us to do this soon too. He says it could be a first real practice , apart from the long walks that we are already doing , that is. We'll do more research and when we do it Ill write up the adventure. Look forward to that. Maybe write a book - "Our Camino" . That's a little way off yet, but not so far that we can't work towards it. Till next time..."
As I copied this entry from my journal it occured to me that the book , "Our Camino" has yet to be written.
Obviously it'll be a very different book now.
We never did get to do the Pilgrims Way from Winchester to Canterbury. I don't remember why. But I'd sure like to do it now, given that it was on his mind. Must look into that.
Yes, you know, it's
so interesting,
so meaningful,
so comforting,
now, to me,
that exactly nine years ago,
we were getting ready,
you and I,
getting excited,
about Our Camino.
And that, eventually ,
nine years later,
you died,
left me, left us,
having completed your beautiful,
spiritual pilgrimage,
as your grandaughter said,
"all the way to Heaven, Grams.
You were so happy,
we were so together,
had so many plans, so much to do,
together.
Now, there is no longer,
we,
no longer together,
no longer one.
Now I remain, recall, remember,
Now I am thankful,
Now, I hold our oneness close,
as special.
Yes, it's hard.
But, what we had, I give thanks for,
Yet,
Who am I now?
Who am I now?
San Martin Pinario
( Where Peter died)
