My Walk this Week 199 – Corona Confusion

Posted on 20/03/202024/03/2020 by Alastair

My walk this week is an offer to use my StillWalks® videos as well as these blog posts to keep calm and bring the outside in either for yourself or others who are self isolating as a result of the Corona virus pandemic, the confusion it brings and need to de-stress and cope with the anxiety that inevitably accompanies this unusual situation.

As the isolation strategy is to keep away from other people but not actually to stay indoors if you are living away from an urban environment, the StillWalks® message still applies as it is my hope that the videos and blog posts prompt you to go out if you can, and pay attention to the environment around you.

So this week I am providing a video below and links to one or two others as well as a selection of samples.

Starting at sunrise early on a summer morning in Carmarthenshire, South Wales, you will hear the birds and bees, sheep and a horse as you start out along the lane towards the beautiful woodland of Troserch. Crossing a footbridge, the reflections of light and shade in a river are accompanied by wild flowers and footsteps as you head towards a kissing gate leading out into the open fields.

Other videos you can watch or just listen to are:

A colourful Springtime garden video from France Garden Walk, France

You may also enjoy this StillWalks project video – Happy Muddy People

And this video which, unusually for me, uses actual video rather than still images! Forest February

Then there are further samples available on YouTube.

If these videos can help anyone in any way, isolating or not, I will be delighted. As always, more StillWalks® videos are available to download via the shop.

With My Heart in My Mouth

Posted on 16/08/201712/08/2017 by Alastair

Once up near the top of Mynydd Llangorse on this second part of my walk on the hills above Cwmdu in Wales, I stopped for some lunch. The food wasn’t the only thing in my mouth though, as I watched a hang glider and glider apparently so close to each other that I thought a collision was almost inevitable.

With my heart in my mouth I watched as the glider and the hang glider circled to take advantage of the thermals. Having witnessed an actual collision of small aircraft a few years ago where the occupants died, I had those memories flooding back to me and was seriously concerned for those above me. Continue reading→

Pen y Fan – The Big Picture

Posted on 14/06/201414/06/2014 by Alastair

Having posted about focus and time, here is some physical photographic evidence of me “adjusting my focus” and “allowing the time” to stand back and look at the “big picture” – enjoy the view of Pen y Fan from Brecon, the highest peak in the Brecon Beacons, South Wales.

Allowing Time

Posted on 13/06/201413/06/2014 by Alastair

Following my re-focusing photos in yesterday’s post, I would say that time is also needed to see different view points and understand a given situation.

In slowing the shutter speed and giving time for the water to flow past, the bike becomes clearer – and all because a little more time was given. I try, these days, not to get into a panic if there doesn’t seem to be enough time to do everything – there is only so much you can do.

What’s the point . . . of focus?

Posted on 12/06/201412/06/2014 by Alastair

Some of my recent work has taken me to the town of Brecon in the Brecon Beacons, South Wales. The photos below, which I took one sunny day after school, remind me of the need not only to stay focused on the task at hand, but also to adjust that focus to ensure that I can see and understand more of what I am doing and what is going on around me.

Climbing to the Top

Posted on 09/04/201309/04/2013 by Alastair

Yesterday afternoon I had the need to get on top of things. Without going into details, the answer for me was to climb our local mountain, Graig Fawr.

Even on the lower slopes of the mountain you get a great view over the valley but as I climbed higher this view got better and better. Skylarks twittered above me and I got a good close view of a pair of Red Kites. Up on top the wind was exhilarating and, at least momentarily, my troubles were blown away. Seeing the land and the weather on this scale has a tendency to put other issues into perspective.

Despite its name (fawr means big in Welsh), the mountain is only small but for all that you get a great view over four or five counties in South Wales. I had deliberately not taken my cameras or sound kit as it was the walk and the climb that I needed. However, I couldn’t resist taking one or two shots on my phone. I have not produced a StillWalk on Graig Fawr yet but I think that time is coming soon.

Graig Fawr

Graig Fawr Triangulation Point

Looking to Carmarthenshire

Light and Dark Over Wales

Stress Signal Status

Posted on 31/08/201231/08/2012 by Alastair

Aching, painful muscles?

Tinnitus?

Headaches?

My stress signals include these three symptoms and probably in that order. StillWalks or walking are my most immediate remedies.

Tinnitus – The tinnitus comes second in the list even though it is a constant in my left ear. It is when it becomes a textured and vibrating whine that it gets more difficult to accept and it does this at times of greater stress . . . and then, of course, I get more stressed as a result.

Muscles – It’s the same situation with the muscles – the pain in the muscles (often my neck, currently my shoulders) may be the cause of stress or something else but the result is the tensing of those and other muscles which only makes things worse.

Headaches – These come last on the list for me because I do not generally get headaches. When I do, it is usually the result of stress. I have only ever had a couple of migraines but that is two too many. A good description for them was put up here at the A Word in Your Ear blog last week.

It’s Amazing – I’ve just watched a StillWalk and it’s amazing how well can work! The Garden Park Walk is a full length example – you’ll find it on the Spring Walks page of StillWalks and it is recommended that you watch it full screen.

Here are a few images from this short 6 minute video.

Magnolia, Clyne Gardens, Swansea

Clyne Gardens, Swansea

Rhododendron, Clyne Gardens, Swansea

Time to Pause

Posted on 24/08/201224/08/2012 by Alastair

Time to Pause – This is largely what StillWalks is about – taking the time necessary to keep calm and not get too stressed. Whether it be relaxing at the end of the day or taking 5 minutes out in the middle of the working day, StillWalks can be both enjoyable and a useful alternative to actually getting out there for a real walk.

The queue of things to do – There never seems to be enough time to do all that I want or is necessary. So, considering what I have just said about StillWalks, I have decided to make a priority completing the four or five StillWalks that are half way through the post production stage by the end of September. The production days for these walks date back to the middle of March and completing them should be a priority because this is work I enjoy doing and, like taking a real walk or watching a StillWalk, has it’s therapeutic value.

Current explorations – In the meantime I have been enjoying finding a new place to produce a StillWalk – Singleton Park in Swansea and its botanic garden. I joined Martin Humphreys and others last Wednesday for a Bees and Butterflies walk through the botanic garden – it was very enjoyable and relaxing. The walk will take place again next Wednesday at 10 AM – anyone interested should meet at the botanic garden entrance in the park. Enjoy the photos from my phone below.