My Three Mistresses

Like many my age, in recent years I have found myself getting bored and in need of some distraction. A mistress perhaps? Perhaps not, though the metaphor is apt.

Hiking is a relatively cheap activity and has always been a part of family life but there is only so much you can do on a shoestring budget with four complaining children in tow. To be fair it was often cold and wet and our gear was hardly fit for purpose. With no requirement to feed, clothe and entertain the little ones any more it is now time to take it a little more seriously. Luxuriating in warm, breathable, waterproof clothes we could never previously afford the fantasy of dirty weekends in the countryside are now a reality. Whatever the weather.

I have always loved the natural world and often recall the first time we visited the Isle of Mull. It felt like we were on the set of a natural history documentary. Like local celebrities the otters, dolphins, eagles and whales showed off as if rehearsing for their next gig on Springwatch. We returned to Mull again and again each time staying longer and longer. This, in turn, opened my eyes to my local patch. Though not so celebrated, the Wirral provides an ideal habitat for many and varied feathered visitors. Surrounded on three sides by tidal waters, waders in particular can be readily seen all year round. You just need to open your eyes. Every day now feels like a holiday.

This brings me to my final and perhaps least expected affair: mountain biking. The truth is I have never enjoyed cycling and still don’t. As a child, bikes were always self-made from scrap - except once when I was given new one for Christmas. Problem is it was pink and had a shopping basket. After that they were generally cheap and unpleasant to ride. It was only when my wife (pictured) was given a proper bike for her birthday that I realised what I had been missing. It was fast, it was tough and, yes, it was beautiful. My garage is now full of them: cross country, full suspension, hardtail and more. Each has been loved and then neglected and then sold but all have brought more pleasure than I thought possible without ruining my health.

To my surprise, and Lisa’s relief, my mistresses have become my mentors. My teachers. In different ways they have each connected me with something bigger. The rhythm of the seasons, the flow of the earth, the beauty of creation and I am filled with gratitude and the need to share. This website or blog or vlog or whatever it turns out to be is no more than that. It is first and foremost an overflow of joy, though I suspect it too may become a distraction.