tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post7056956269937749565..comments2024-03-23T09:47:39.612+00:00Comments on alan sloman's big walk: Book yourself into the soul asylum. Go for a walk.Alan Slomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-68064961361038518912018-02-13T11:26:19.956+00:002018-02-13T11:26:19.956+00:00Great post and sage advice. I've been laid up ...Great post and sage advice. I've been laid up with flu for a couple of weeks and noticed how slow and long the days seemed. Never happens when out walking even on the worst days. There is just something intangible about the joys of a walk either alone or with friends. I always return feeling happier and more content than when I set outAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-41927635690484400472018-02-12T23:16:13.709+00:002018-02-12T23:16:13.709+00:00Very thought provoking Alan, and a great deal ther...Very thought provoking Alan, and a great deal there that I recognise.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-81042770164413762642018-02-12T21:59:03.254+00:002018-02-12T21:59:03.254+00:00Thank you, Paul.
It sounds like you've been t...Thank you, Paul.<br /><br />It sounds like you've been through the mill. I hope that the Challenge will be everything and more that you have hoped for. You need never be on your own on the walk, as I'm sure you will bump into other Challengers and we're a very sociable crew. After a few days you'll feel like you've been a part of this for years. Trust me!<br /><br />All the very best to you, Paul.<br />:-)Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-28640161887185746822018-02-12T21:02:07.571+00:002018-02-12T21:02:07.571+00:00Great post Alan.
I’ve gone through odd times of l...Great post Alan. <br />I’ve gone through odd times of late - lost an overbearing aged mother with dementia, my two grown up sons are now living in distant pastures abroad and I sometimes feel pretty low. My main pastime is walking, whether in an urban setting or in the hills. All mine is done with my wife who is my soulmate. <br />I’m attempting the Challenge for the first time this year but I’m doing it solo - it just felt the right time and thing to do. I’m looking forward to walking alone as well as bumping into new folk and learning about their experiences. I’ll be taking my music along just in case I’m not too exhausted and wake up at my usual 4am slot (no wonder I’m going deaf!)<br />The planning and preparation has helped things along a lot. I’m looking forward to it. <br />Have a great crossing,<br />Regards<br />PaulPaul Edmondsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-76962287889283336712018-02-12T20:47:24.127+00:002018-02-12T20:47:24.127+00:00Not many people have the courage to completely cha...Not many people have the courage to completely change their lives like that, Matt.<br />You must feel like a million dollars now.<br />Well done, Sir.Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-87634320571906652402018-02-12T18:50:16.640+00:002018-02-12T18:50:16.640+00:00I fell into walking almost by accident, but within...I fell into walking almost by accident, but within months it became the only thing keeping me sane. So important did it become as stress relief that I reshaped my whole career to fit around walking, and I've not regretted it for a moment.hillplodderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13534999864214782762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-50830974279616019602018-02-12T17:33:35.381+00:002018-02-12T17:33:35.381+00:00...one day 😊...one day 😊Louisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05089530928216314797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-34165018100769839012018-02-12T17:28:23.827+00:002018-02-12T17:28:23.827+00:00Ah, the wondrous Saint Mary.
:-)Ah, the wondrous Saint Mary. <br />:-)Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-27670916910657133402018-02-12T17:25:56.957+00:002018-02-12T17:25:56.957+00:00"I'm seriously bad at asking for help. I ...<i>"I'm seriously bad at asking for help. I just don't."</i><br /><br />Ah. Yes. I recognise that trait myself. And that leads to all sorts of difficulties.<br /><br />One fine piece of self-medication occurs every year at Lochcallater Lodge, with the massed voices of The Challenge Choral Society. You really ought to try it some day, Missy.Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-1586115925068886612018-02-12T17:21:51.001+00:002018-02-12T17:21:51.001+00:00Music, cooking, and babbling.
Played much, talked ...Music, cooking, and babbling.<br />Played much, talked much.<br />Mary was there toot <br />Mighty times.. ☺ Andrew Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14744521212967848460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-63838999579894012712018-02-12T17:01:50.678+00:002018-02-12T17:01:50.678+00:00I'm just sorry I wasn't able to add a comm...I'm just sorry I wasn't able to add a comment to your excellent blog post, Geoff. Every time I tried all the words seemed inadequate and a ghastly period in my life reared up to engulf me again.<br /><br />The post above is about half its original content as at the point of hitting 'publish' I could not face seeing it in print. It's only in the last couple of years that I've honestly felt properly better.<br /><br />All power and good health to you. And thank you.Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-28226705793643982932018-02-12T16:41:24.042+00:002018-02-12T16:41:24.042+00:00But you are a fortunate chap, Sir; you have the fa...But you are a fortunate chap, Sir; you have the fabulous forest on your doorstep and a small dog to drag you there everyday!<br /><br />Not long now to the PreWalkDaunder!Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-48814528911308677592018-02-12T16:37:32.194+00:002018-02-12T16:37:32.194+00:00I think Challengers are very special gentlefolk of...I think Challengers are very special gentlefolk of the road, Sir. They go out of their way to wade through bogs, clamber over rocky ridges, to be mauled by midges and drenched by downpours. And then they come back for more!Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-31583267253965069752018-02-12T16:34:24.295+00:002018-02-12T16:34:24.295+00:00If you've been up at HMP3's for a few days...If you've been up at HMP3's for a few days your mind will be filled with new thoughts, wild times and music. There'll be no room left for dark, moody thoughts. The man's an incredible polymath.<br />And your sylph-like frame will be a few pounds heavier, as the man's food is superb.Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-55773741246779625992018-02-12T13:54:30.688+00:002018-02-12T13:54:30.688+00:00Walking has been my self-medication fir quite some...Walking has been my self-medication fir quite some time, especially as I'm seriously bad at asking for help. I just don't. There are many of us in a very similar boat which can be a wonderful support network.<br />Thank you for posting.<br />PS. Gareth contacted me a few years ago to review some Berghaus gear. I did the review, got a hoody, which I gave to Conall.Louisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05089530928216314797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-12372556690767521032018-02-12T12:58:03.307+00:002018-02-12T12:58:03.307+00:00A typically well writ piece on a subject close to ...A typically well writ piece on a subject close to my heart. Thanks for your kind comments re my own blog. It's not one of my better bits of writing, but the thoughts came from deep inside me. A gut reaction, if you like. I'm grateful you linked it though and pleased you felt it worth it. Keep walking Alan, you know it makes sense 😉 I wish you well.Geoff Crowtherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10399342651181586442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-22840639028627765832018-02-12T12:40:13.790+00:002018-02-12T12:40:13.790+00:00Walking and backpacking has kept me sane over the ...Walking and backpacking has kept me sane over the past fifteen years or so while I’ve had to cope with my wife’s chronic illness. Music and reading are pretty good too. The great thing about a long walk like the Challenge is being able to leave the world behind and focus on the basics of life: eat, drink, walk, shelter. For a brief time we can reconnect with the life our ancestors led (well not quite as they didn’t have freeze dried meals and cuben fibre tents, but that’s how it feels). I’m getting stir crazy as I’ve not been on a proper walk in the hills since October. Maybe next week. blogpackinglighthttps://blogpackinglight.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-50967204202357041962018-02-12T12:06:56.755+00:002018-02-12T12:06:56.755+00:00A great post Alan, I recognize the 'gentleman...A great post Alan, I recognize the 'gentleman of the road' position and you have reminded me that I need to find him again soon. ThanksAlan Callowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11167461482828542771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-43498998989173253712018-02-12T11:30:58.740+00:002018-02-12T11:30:58.740+00:00And it's a very good thought which I will thin...And it's a very good thought which I will think about. FellBoundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13089687581260477621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-21168623095910071512018-02-12T10:55:12.941+00:002018-02-12T10:55:12.941+00:00In September there's a magazine that will come...In September there's a magazine that will come out with an application form for a long walk in May, Sir. You could fill it in and start working on a route back to happiness, peaceful sleeps and warm sunshine on your shoulders.<br /><br />Just a thought...Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-31569082677596767422018-02-12T10:30:50.186+00:002018-02-12T10:30:50.186+00:00For me Gareth's email acted as a prompt to get...For me Gareth's email acted as a prompt to get my piece finished. I've invariably got four or five unwritten posts and half a dozen drafts on the go - the majority of which don't get written through lack of motivation or a better idea coming along.<br /> <br />I didn't pay much heed to the fact that the people who paid for the survey were an Arts Supplies business; Social media promoters generally pick a whole range of stuff the company can sponsor to get its name out there. The fact that it dealt with stress reduction may well be that it fitted with the company owner's own pet thing at the time.<br /><br />I enjoyed your piece, Mike. <a href="http://northernpies.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/walking-and-mental-health.html?spref=tw" rel="nofollow">LINK</a><br /><br />Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-40288691813070788622018-02-12T10:16:59.131+00:002018-02-12T10:16:59.131+00:00I got the same - I've emailed Gareth asking so...I got the same - I've emailed Gareth asking some questions about why an Art supplies company should commission such a survey and what organisation Gareth works for and go no reply. Nevertheless I've done a pieblog blog thing.Mike Knipehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12792636586674245725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-63296217705308562292018-02-12T10:03:27.374+00:002018-02-12T10:03:27.374+00:00Thank you, Ian.
When preparing this post I ran t...Thank you, Ian. <br /><br />When preparing this post I ran through a list of friends and family and was very surprised to realise that a very large proportion of them had suffered difficulties in this area over their lifetime.And I include myself in the list as well.<br /><br />One thing I was surprised not to see in the list was the support from friends that often comes from unexpected quarters. I was very lucky indeed to have such friends.Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-55721836009085800302018-02-12T09:57:16.447+00:002018-02-12T09:57:16.447+00:00Ah, David. It appears we were both tapping away at...Ah, David. It appears we were both tapping away at our keyboards at the same time.<br />Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496677.post-9464945864228388872018-02-12T09:52:24.397+00:002018-02-12T09:52:24.397+00:00The percentages in the table don't have to add...The percentages in the table don't have to add up to 100, Conrad. If the people taking part in the questionnaire thought that walking, music and reading reduced their stress levels, they would tick each box. If someone else ticked walking, gardening and yoga, the same would apply.<br /><br />The survey broadly corresponds with web searches I carried out, and so I'm happy to include it in the post. The email I received from Gareth Evans was very broad-brush in its approach and I was happy to choose areas that I was comfortable with, from my own and my friends' perspective. I had been working on a post like this since Geoff's post in December (and others' quite a while before) and so the contact acted as a spur to push on and write it.<br />Alan Slomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17966543499033330765noreply@blogger.com