Walking for Exercise and Reading!
I miss going into town. It’s strange not meeting up with people (except via Zoom!) and strange to not just be out and about. However, I’ve always been a techie and worked online with people across the country and indeed across the world, so it’s good to be able to use these skills to do my work and community support activities from home. I’m also planning on putting some of my creative and tech classes online and rebuilding my websites. They are a bit out of date, which is not good when I host websites, helping people get online, then tell them to keep up to date…!
My work at the Chapel (on North End, behind the Cricket Field) is coming to an end, but I will still be on the team of organisers helping get bookings and looking forward to welcoming you all back as soon as we can. We’ve just finished the end of project survey, thankyou so much to everyone who has answered it, really good to see overwhelmingly positive responses, thankyou. I hope some of you are enjoying using the Cemetery area to relax on your daily exercise. Here’s a beautiful photo from regular walker and volunteer across the community, Ruth Freeman.
Some years ago I enjoyed an opportunity to work with children in creating “hugs for the trees” as Fr Paul (priest at the time) called it. I’ve recently heard from one of the children, who remembered me and what we did together (and how much she enjoyed it, I was pleased to hear). Her mother has started a brilliant idea – leaving books around where they live for others to pick up, read, and donate back into the community. With many people taking a walk a day, the idea of a “walking library” is perfect for these times. I particularly like the idea of adding a notebook for children to write their thoughts on the book and pass on with it. Join the Facebook group to donate books, help with putting them out, and leave a message when you find one (like a hyper-local Book Crossing – the international movement of books left “in the wild”).
Search Facebook for “Walsoken Walking Library”, and say hi to the lovely Asta and her daughters. I look forward to seeing them again very soon, at one of my classes, or to do more with the Walking Library!