I Don't Want to Disappoint You

by leslie on January 30, 2010

Artist's conception of GPS satellite in orbit

When writing here I have tried to make it relevant to one of the Camino Routes.  All that is about to change, I have wanted to write more often but…

But what?  I wouldn’t like the feed back if it wasn’t about the Camino?  Strange…I don’t normally react like this.

From now on there is going to be a lot more of me, a lot more walking routes in different countries, more information on other pilgrimage sites, reviews of walking gear – I buy a lot of this, reviews of GPS toys – because they really are toys, and my comments on what is happening in the world generally – a place to rant and a place to explore.

My worries about the feedback, well after I have a look at the statistics of the website I have nothing to worry about really.  Most people don’t read the blog section, most read the main pages of the web site and then the forum.

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Finding Out I Had To Change

by leslie on December 15, 2009

Before going on the Camino I though that I would meet new and interesting people, and I did.  I also discovered that the same type of people that annoy me at home annoyed me on the Camino.

For some reason I had thought that the type of people that annoyed me were particular to my country and society.  I found on the Camino that they were universal.  I was disappointed and naive.  No matter where I went the people were generally the same and fell into the usual categories.

This meant I had to change my outlook.  If the same people were always going to annoy me what could I do about it?  I don’t like to feel annoyed so something had to be done.

My solution was to act and treat the people that annoyed me differently.  Instead of trying to ignore them or get away from them as fast as possible I spent more time with them.  An extra 10 seconds, an extra minute – this was something that I had to do slowly.  I could not expect too much of myself in the beginning.

As I got to know them I cared, they still annoy me, but now I care at the same time and the balance seems to work for me.

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How Is Work For You?

December 12, 2009

The work that I do is very important to me.  My walking on the Camino became very important to me.  Then I reached Santiago de Compostela.  I did not walk.  I wanted what I could not have.  I wanted to keep walking.
Learning when to stop has been hard.  If I am ill I want to [...]

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First Thing in The Morning

December 10, 2009

I like to have some quiet time when I wake in the morning.  I take my morning coffee out into the garden and feel the trees and the plants that surround me.  My mornings are quiet for a short period before the rush of the day.
I feel grateful that I was born.  I look at [...]

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Getting Ready For Next Year

December 8, 2009

On the first day of the year I try to imagine where I am going this next year.  I write down what I want then I see it in my head, I take a couple of hours to do this and sometimes get quite detailed.  Often though it is a reminder of what is important [...]

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Hello world!

November 25, 2009

Welcome to Plainhelp.com. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

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How Successful are You?

September 24, 2009

This is an interesting one, I drive a BMW – however I feel like I have to tell everyone “it is quite old” – I work for myself doing something I like but I play that down a bit also.
I have a certain idea of success in my head, and much of that is connected [...]

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First Views of St Jean Pied de Port

August 23, 2009

This is the view that most pilgrims first get of St Jean Pied de Port. I remember it quite clearly, I was wondering what was ahead of me. I had not read much about the Camino before heading off there for a month, my flat mate and college friend had been my sole [...]

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The Charlemagne Chess Set

August 7, 2009

Charlemagne was King of the Franks and the first Holy Roman Emperor. Born in 742 AD, he was a medieval king renowned for his accomplishments and charisma. For forty-seven years, King Charlemagne ruled most of western and central Europe.
Although a warrior with numerous geographical conquests during his reign, Charlemagne is nonetheless credited with introducing enlightenment [...]

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A Wet Long Weekend in Connemara

August 4, 2009

Living as we do in the middle of the city we love to get out into the countryside at the weekend.  Last weekend being a long weekend, Monday was a public holiday, I decided last week that we needed a full weekend in the country walking and relaxing.
We have been to Connemara twice before and [...]

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