BREAKING THE SILENCE

 THE ROAD AHEAD

A Long and Winding Road (The Beatles)

The Road is Long with Many a Winding Turn  (The Hollies)

Keep Right on till the End of the Road (Harry Lauder)

So many songs have been written about travelling a road. It is, it seems, part of the universal human experience. A metaphor for life itself. 

There is a certain melancholy about such songs, A certain realisation that such roads are difficult and challenging. Demanding fortitude and determination. 

But in practically all of them HOPE remains constant. No road goes on forever The promise of better times lies ahead.

Good heavens JW . That was a bit over the top for a bunch of old fellas pottering around rural (and urban) Lancashire. 

Well yes , dear reader, you're right,  but if we wind it down a notch or two (or three) The Meanderthals have been on the road for quite a number of years and just at present the road seems to be definitely winding and rocky.

A New knee for one walker.  A heart needing attention from another. A health related driving prohibition for another and major surgery on a foot for another. All these things combined with long list of chronic health conditions mean the Meanderthals can at times be rather depleted.

And then of course the BIG ONE...............  OLD FATHER TIME !

After many, many years of walking together.............

............ The Meanderthals are...  to a man ................. arriving at or have already arrived at.......... OCTOGENARIAN status.  Like an old car,  parts need repairing or replacing and the whole  system needs a service. The only question now to be asked and answered    "Are we Veterans or Vintage ?"

We are, most of us, becoming aware of our advancing years. Some of us are beginning to find more than a mile or two challenging. Others (e.g, Danny) seems oblivious or immune to the accumulation of past birthdays. We are agreed, though, that the most important thing is the continuation of our camaraderie. So our Thursday walks are now more accurately  "Thursday Gatherings" which may and usually do include a walk of varied lengths and a visit to a cafe for a  coffee/snack  of UN-limited length. Where much talking , laughing and hot air is exchanged.

And So....... to misquote Toy Story's Buzz Lightyear...... "To the unknown...and beyond." ................  together.

See you all in the future ?

JW