I'm a poet and don't know it.
Monday morning saw me doing my usual walk to Wymondham and back. It was nine miles in the icy conditions and I had to be very careful. I took old man's steps - short and close. I met a man with a dog coming the other way and he was doing the same. You can't be too careful in the ice.
Years ago I was having a lovely soak in a hot bath in the days when it didn't cost you an arm and a leg to have a nice soak in a hot bath. Suddenly there was a hammering on the door and somebody shouting through the letterbox.
The other threequarters had set off to walk to church and come a cropper in the ice. Result was she was sitting propped up against a wall crying in pain. Off to A and E. Diagnosis a broken collarbone. Came home all strapped up with painkillers and told to rest. That was the day Norwich beat Ipswich five something and we missed the game.
So you can never be too careful. I took it steadily, employing what I refer to as my ginger routine. That's ginger not as in the colour of hair but ginger as in gingerly trying not to go apex over whatever.
On the walk I like to sort out the problems of the world, either that or plan my next blog or next book but when it's icy I have to change things and think of nothing. I have to stare at the pavement and work out where the really icy bits are and then I have to walk with straight stiff legs ensuring that I plant one foot safely in case the other goes AWOL. A patch of grass is a bonus. It's easy to walk on grass. Leaves help as well.
But it's important not to get lulled into a sense of security because on the return journey it looked as if the thaw has set in and then suddenly you hit an icy patch.
I did nine miles in those conditions and didn't fall over once, although there was a rather hairy bit on Morrison's Car Park and that brings me to an important point. Morrison's hadn't sanded or salted their car park. In the past this would have automatically been done, but not now. I suppose it's cuts or shortage of staff.
Then I was waiting outside a shop in Wymondham when a man said:
"Bloody council. They should be ashamed of temselves."
I soon cottoned on that he was referring to the non sanding and non salting of town paths or car parks.
* * *
I am reaching the end of my marathon walking effort. With 18 days to go I have just 40 miles to do to complete my 1,500. This is the 347th day of the year and I was intrigued to find out on how many days I have failed to walk. So I looked my records up and the answer was just five days. I intend walking every day until the end of the year and that will mean walking on 360 out of 365 days.
Enough for today.