6/8 - There’s a movement in our stillness and however much we move we’re bound to stand completely still.

What I did:

Before leaving America, I was pretty sure that I would ultimately wind up living like and doing the things I do at home. I did not think that a trip or even living in a different place would really change any of that. Today confirmed that hypothesis of mine.

I woke up and kind of got ready thinking I might go to Stonehenge today and possibly Bath. I had not made any set plans, but I knew what train to take and kind of what buses. After getting ready, I realized that I probably did not have time to make both places, so I decided on Stonehenge. Then, I looked out the window and saw that it was really cloudy. I checked the weather forecast online, and noticed that it is supposed to be rainy until Friday. Today had a low chance of raining, but I then walked outside and it was pretty chilly. I went back and forth as to whether or not I should go. I finally decided after loading up my backpack and putting on my jacket that I should just wait. I have plenty of time here, and I can wait until it is a nicer day. Besides, I will be traveling back to where I have been staying on Friday and that will be a perfect opportunity to check the places out.

So, that left me with a day of relatively nothing to do. So, I naturally found my way to a couch and got on my computer. I noticed a post on facebook of a clip from Man vs. Wild of a special episode, Men Vs. Wild with Will Ferrell. I could not pass that up and watched the whole episode through YouTube. It was mildly funny, and a very unlikely match up, but Bear had some funny things to say too.

Then I finished a book (one of the ones Graham gave me), which I consider research, because those books are really helping me understand what is going on over here more and more. They really have been invaluable in getting me up to conversational levels with the fresh expressions movement. Then I started a new book. Like I said, pretty much what I would normally do. At this point, I started to get a little bored and I couldn’t believe I had spent another day indoors. Little did I know, my day was about to change.


I was really down the whole day that I stayed inside and just didn’t feel glad about it. I was somewhat upset that I decided against going to Bath and kind of moped about, especially since it still had not rained and would have been a pretty good day for it. But then I decided to go walk around and maybe find the pond and nature reserve that Ann had told me about several days ago. So I did, and the more I was out, the more I felt alive and good. There was just something really vital about being outside. Not that I think it is purely limited to the outdoors, but that is definitely where I find it the most.

I walked around and easily found the lake. It was not very far from the house at all. And it was a pretty large lake tucked in between several groupings of houses. It had a bunch of ducks and was nicely landscaped. I sat for a while and just watched the pond. Then I got up and walked around the path some more. I saw a gate and a little map so I went to check it out. It turned out to be the nature reserve. So, I went in and followed a nice path around. I immediately noticed that it was much larger than I thought it would be and that it just kept going. There was lots of vegetation, but the only wildlife I saw at first was birds. It was also very different from the lake area, much more wild and unkempt. I kept walking around the trails, then I found what looked to be a kind of road. I decided to follow it and eventually came across some cows! Haha. Don’t worry, I was wary of them. Then the road just kind of stopped and a trail started. This was different from the other paths (more like a hiking trail than a park trail, if you can understand the difference). At this point I was really close to a busy road, and it was pretty noisy, much different from the front. I followed the trail and it gradually got narrower and narrower, but it eventually connected back up with the main paths. I followed them back around and eventually to the lake where I sat for a while again. It was really nice and great to get outside.

I came back and read some more and watched some more cricket. I went to the store and got some dinner to cook and came back. I turned on the tv and saw that Avatar was on Nicktoons, but, curse my luck, the channel was not available. So I settled with the news.

Overall, a really good day after I got out and walked around. Maybe tomorrow it will clear up and I can go out somewhere.

What I learned:

I never really thought about how ducks move around in the water, but they do it so smoothly, and it is all by moving their feet. It just seems cool how relaxed and calm they are even though they are working to move themselves.

More about all the discontent and raciness, but growing popularity of the BNP. And the pressure the Labour Party now faces.

If you are just sitting around and bored with life because you have nothing to do, it is always a good start to just go outside and start walking.

When I am trying to make a decision that really only impacts me, I just cannot make up my mind. I kind of knew this before though with my inability to choose a camera before I left.

There are some ‘irresponsible’ dog owners around here.

Reindeer eyeballs are eatable.

There are structures called hibernacula that are basically snake houses made of logs that kind of serve as compost heaps.

*I am indebted to Aaron Weiss for the title of this post.