You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching,
Love like you'll never be hurt,
Sing like there's nobody listening,
And live like it's heaven on earth. William W. Purkey.
Personally, I'll be cycling with the wind always at my back!
However, some are not so lucky. My thoughts today are with friends in Ballater, Scotland, hit badly by flooding yesterday. Our house was not damaged, as it sits fairly high up, but lots of friends have had their houses ruined by the floodwaters and the village has been cut off as the roads have been washed away. We will be offering our home for someone to live in as I fear there will be many looking for accommodation. What a way to end the year.
I'm sorry to hear about the flooding and I'm thankful you are o.k. and that you can share your home like that is wonderful. That's a tough way to wrap up the year. May the wind always be at your back as you cycle on. To a brighter new year!
A great image Issi. A Happy New Year to you and yours! The flooding is awful over here at the moment - so sad to see so many people homeless. It takes so long to clear up all the mess!
@pamknowler Yes, I know that some parts of the UK have been hit even more badly than North East Scotland, but we do tend to pay more attention when it strikes 'home'. Dad lives in Braemar, in an old mill, right on a river, but he's dry - miraculously! He says he's never seen the river as high in 51 years. It all happens so quickly and the mess must be awful to clean up.
@elatedpixie It's horrible for those concerned. We're not currently living in Scotland, even though it is 'home' for us. Our house is therefore vacant - so it's a 'no brainer' to allow it to be used by someone in need.
I like your photo. Sorry to hear of your friends' disasters. There has been a lot of weather-related devastation in the US in the last week too. I am so blessed that it has not hit me. Happy New Year to you.
Great capture, fav. I occasionally rode a bike when I was much younger, but never with any confidence or pleasure, so I'm not likely to take it up again now. I think those who ride are very brave! I'm so sorry to hear what has been happening to your friends in Scotland--hope things get better for them.
Mmm I'll pass on the cycling thanks. So many people going through difficult times with all the flooding. Lets hope they get the help they need to get straight as soon as possible. Happy New Year Issi, hope 2016 is a good one for you and yours.
@paulaw I may have to get on my mountain bike when I go over to visit my dad later this month - a huge chunk of the road between his village and ours has been destroyed by the flood! It'll take quite a while to get that fixed, I can only imagine! As Peter says though - out of bad comes good - the whole community is pulling together to help those most affected.Have a wonderful 2016 Paula.
Oh dear! How sobering to have that personal connection to the terrible flooding. I feel for your friends and neighbors - and respect your plan to make your home available. An awful way to end/start a year for the community. Re your photo -- there's something I really like about it -- its whimsy is at odds with the events surrounding your day.
@taffy Indeed. In all honesty, I had prepared the image before I knew of the flooding - I learned about that as the day went on. It is raining again over there - I feel so sorry for all those affected, but at least there was no loss of life. Our friends have a holiday home there and it was completely devastated. They don't know where to start! They have caravans from the local caravan park in their garden, (what's left of their garden), and the water had been 3/4 of the way up the walls downstairs, leaving behind about 2 inches of thick mud everywhere and all the furniture trashed as the water receded. And they're lucky. It was 'only' their holiday home.
I too enjoy cycling, but the majority of other road users don't have time for cyclist and as a result I've begun to feel a little vulnerable on the road. How awful it must be for the families all over the country affected by the floods, I hope the help they need is swift and normality soon returns.
January 4th, 2016
Leave a Comment
Sign up for a free account or Sign in to post a comment.
So sorry to hear about the flooding in Scotland!
Happy New Year Issi!