Really proud!

 

One posting leads to another!
I'm sure I am wearing those same boots about 16 years ago.

I LOVE THIS PHOTO!

I am clutching a stick used as an arm extension and support and in the other hand probably a sprig of thyme for the cooking pot as we were camping! 

I think even that stone had been used to carry my weight!

I still own the clothing, the top has faded and the shorts are a bit tight!

I had just climbed up and crawled down a dead volcanic 'mountain' in the Auvergne region. 

It had been a major achievement whilst I was recuperating from fibromyalgia. 

My dear friend had patiently re-trained me, as he said he would, to walk again.  I owe him much!  

I know this is a favourite pic of his... and I know he covets it... 

In June 2011 ( ah.. a first anniversary gift of our separation whish I did not wish for)
he sent me a copy which he had taken with his Nickon digital camera.
I don't know why he send it. Maybe it reminded him, like me, of fond times.
I am sure I had a framed version of this but I didn't find it when I sorted photos in the Autumn!
I know I have the original print which was taken with my Canon analogue camera bought so that I could take it to Sri Lanka, the only long distance haul I have ever made. 

It was point and shoot and I bought long lenses for it. I still have it and wondered about taking it out from the attic and re-mastering it! Film of course! 

I am becoming wistful that I would like to travel. I thought I didn't wish to go to S.E. Asia but now I have seen photos of Luang Prabang and the Mekon River I must say that I am slightly jealous of my former partner travelling on a boot string currently in Laos! 

Those Boots

had to be cleaned... I know they could do with more wax on a weekly basis, so will try to do that!
I need to be at a boot camp as cleaning shoes is not a favourite occupation. I think though that shiny or unshiny shoes tell one a lot about the wearer! 
Unfortunately, the right boot had the leather partially cut through by wire on a walk!  They are quite old.. about 18 years...and were broken in on a route march through a Sri Lankan forest, after we had crossed a replica of the Bridge on the River Kwai used in the film of said name. 
NOTE: the real bridge is in Burma http://www.bridgeriverkwai.com/
These boots had to keep marching because if they stopped, the leeches jumped onto the skin.  Mine was fully covered.  My feet wore double lined socks. Those who did not heed instructions, who still wore shorts, screamed as leeches were lanced from their skin with a swift swipe of a knife. Boots with memories of fear and laughter, success and achievement.
Isn't the www interesting because I didn't know this was happening at Kitulgala. Also the river below that bridge was where the group did white water raft riding... just the once.  I didn't wear my boots, but did wet my knickers. We also had to cross the river in a canoe of a tree... balancing whilst we stood in the dug out part!
Would I do that again?  White water riding?
Yes, I think I would, even though in our raft, the leader fell out and it was down to the front two of the six to fish him out of the water whilst I bounced in the bottom of the raft, sobbing in fear, then laughing as I realised it didn't matter what I had done...and when I heard that the leader had fallen out on that particular bounce, I scrambled myself together enough to get back on the edge to balance the raft, and had a whale of a time... even to the end where we floated down the river in our life jackets. Everyone hugged me as I couldn't stop crying and laughing at the same time! For me, it was personal success, achievement and happiness. I had conquered that fear for that moment....ah, nice memories! 
The moral of the tale is that I got back onto the edge of that raft.... and I endured fear and conquered... I should remember that !!!!