Life is a journey not a destination

Hello all,

I wanted to write earlier but it’s probably a good thing that I didn’t have time, as I was feeling very emotional after watching a program on demonstrations and then one on children refugees (in Britain) who at 18 are stripped of all benefits and often sent back to their country of origin. Regardless of whether they have finished their a-levels or apprenticeship, that they have no family left or could face retribution.

Anyway, that is not the mood I’m in now. My best friend, Martin, is cooking dinner whilst another friend and Martin’s potential new girlfriend chat in the sitting room. It’s 9.50pm and as much as I would like to be with them, if I don’t write to you now, it might be a while before I get the chance again.

England has been fantastic. I can’t remember the last time I had such a good time in this country. Three boy’s nights that were, as ever, very chilled although the inconsequential chat about the latest playstation games and women’s breasts has been replaced with property prices and mortgages…..??! I suppose we all have to grow up sometime ; ) Boy’s night has always been one of my favourite parts of coming back to England and it’s lovely to see that the tradition is still strong and friendships stronger than ever.

On Bank holiday Monday, one of my best friends, Pat, spent the day walking around London looking at architecture, art galleries, photography exhibitions and… strangely enough… banks… Think the security guards were about to call the police on us!

Delfest is a festival in Del’s backgarden full of kids toys, bouncy castles, bubble makers and inflatable footballs. It’s apparently to celebrate his birthday but I think it’s just a chance to act like kids again! Fantastic : ) Later at night, he projected star wars on the side of the apartment building – clearly a man of taste.

Last weekend was the university reunion. A return to Sheffield and this city has really changed. I spent the first day wandering around not really sure that I’d been here before, let alone spent 3 years living here! In the end the group totalled 11 of us and involved several pub crawls to our favourite haunts. There were too many for us to visit them all! Of course we had to finish the night clubbing at the Leadmill, and the Ballroom. Seeing old friends, sometimes ones you haven’t seen for years can be a little strange at first, but the years always melt away and you just remember all the times you spent together, as if they were yesterday. Much, much, much laughing!!

I also spent time with my Mum (walking on the common – me in my rucksack preparing for the trek), and saw my Uncle, Aunt and cousin – it’s very strange when your cousin is taking GCSE’s but it feels like you were only giving him the video of Aladdin just the other day!

Lunch with friends from school…, the list goes on. I even managed to fit in a visit to the cinema (don’t see the new Spiderman – it’s cr@p). It’s basically been a hectic time of visiting, preparing for the Road to Santiago and learning Spanish.

Up until a couple of hours ago, I was fairly nervous about my 800km walk, the first day over the Pyrenees, but now I’m calm and excited. What will be, will be. I’m not really sure what to expect. For sure I’m going to be extremely tired. There is internet on the route so I should be able to write, but this is also a spiritual, emotional and physical test so I’m not sure if I will want to write.

My plan is to end up in Santiago for the festival of St. James which takes place on 25th July (lucky co-incidence, except I don’t believe in co-incidence!).

I hope you are all well and happy.

Lots of loveKathryn – the pilgrim.