Flat Feet

Time for another dip into my Australia tour diary, on this day in 1991...

I was roped into going on a hike and I must admit that I was less than enthusiastic about it at first. It was good of David and Wendy to go to so much trouble to find things to entertain me, but really, a hike seemed too much like hard work. However, the plans had been made and there was no backing out, so off I went.

We journeyed to the John Forrest National Park, about 30 minutes out of Perth by car, and started off on our walk around 10.45am. Granted, the scenery was indeed beautiful: lush green grass; a rushing river; immense boulders; flowers of a dozen colours. However, I was a little apprehensive about the length of our hike and this preoccupied me for some time.

Stopping for lunch by the beautiful Hovea Falls, we watched amusedly as a group of Asian students messed around at the water's edge. They asked me to take some photos and I obliged, whilst Wendy took one of me standing by the falls a short time later. Then, it was time to set off on foot again, even though mine were starting to kill me. *

We eventually completed our round trip around 3.15pm, after a hike of fourteen kilometres (about eight and three quarter miles). No wonder my feet felt flatter than pancakes!! I did enjoy myself, though.

Back at the house, I finished reading Lord Of The Flies. Whew! What a book. I wonder if anyone will ever use the words "beautiful and desperate" to describe one of my pieces of work? [2026 note; after reading this today, possibly yes] 

I was feeling inspired by all this, so I returned once more to my own writing and, you know, I think I can actually see the end in sight... someday.

I seem to be in the throes of an explosion of creativity at the moment. I've rediscovered my ability to draw; I've been able to put pen to paper again; everything I've hoped to achieve so far I've done. Thank you, Australia!

Meanwhile, whilst I was spared the interminable hogging of the UK singles #1 spot by Bryan Adams with (Everything I Do) I Do It For You and a largely depressing Top 20, there were some poptastic glimmers of hope...

1) Pandora's Box: O.M.D. (#7)

2) Move Any Mountain (Progen '91): The Shamen (#9)

3) Chorus: Erasure (#11)

4) Just Another Dream: Cathy Dennis (#13)

5) 7 Ways To Love: Cola Boy (#18)

* [Foot note (sorry!) I wasn't just whinging about walking. Years later, I was found to have hyper mobile feet, which has gifted me with collapsed arches, chronic sprains, plantar fasciitis, and a lifetime of orthotics. None of that excuses my bad dancing, though.]