Sunday Drunch
30/05/2021
Drunk on hills!
Hills I have never been particularly fond of, probably ever since my parents decided we would live atop a very steep one from the age of 7. It took me about 20 years to finally appreciate the view from my family home, being able to see the sea for me just meant a breathless struggle when coming back from school, coming back from playing on the road, and coming back from securing some sweets with the loose change I found in my Da’s jeans.
‘Playing on the road’ sounds so ridiculous in 2021 it was safe I swear! But ‘Playing on an iPad’ in 1997 to me would have sounded like there’s no paper in the house so I am colouring in one of my Mum’s Irish owned brand of sanitary towels!
So when I was asked to go on a hike, my mind debated a couple of things..
I don’t like hills - VS - I’ll climb anything for a good pic
We have to get up very early on a Sunday - VS - You can always go back to bed and probably wake up at the same time you usually do on a Sunday!
You're not fit enough - VS - would my AA breakdown assistance cover me for my legs atop a mountain?
I believed my brother wouldn't take me on a hike that was outside of my very low endurance capabilities. Well there was my first mistake - it’s my brother - he’s one of those people who has no sympathy for the weak. ‘Excuses’ might as well be the name of the next band Simon Cowell forms as he won’t listen to them and lastly even as grown adults there is still something so satisfying about seeing a sibling struggle.
And struggle I did! Through bog, marsh and rivers to get the top of Turlough hill. As we climbed back down towards Lough Ouler, a heart shaped lake. My arse hit the ground more times than it had a toilet seat in the past week! We practiced our Wim Hof method of freezing and breathing in the icy lake water. I tell you what I am really digging this new Dutch method of getting high. I almost want a refund on all those times I went to Amsterdam to sit in a cafe when it's sitting in ice that really both awakens and numbs you to the same effect!
I feel more drawn to nature this past year, more drawn to silence and calm to figure out the chaos in my head, sometimes too drawn to the wilderness that I’m one deep meditation away from selling all my belongings to go live in a treehouse.
As I made the descent down again towards the carpark I could hear the birds so clearly and thought to myself I need to be here. I need to live on this hill now. Then I heard the hum of motorbikes In the distance and thought, that sounds pretty cool too actually, that extravagant thing that didn't want to be just another car! Things, showy off things, I need lots of things and absolutely no-thing at the same time and a nice reminder to the way I am existing suits me, like when someone offers me selection of deserts and I want ‘a bit of everything please’
On the way back the roads were busy with cars and cyclists and the parks filled with families. I thought to myself oh people actually leave their houses on a Sunday. I must do that more. If you are someone who has gotten too used to the indoors this past year like myself, go find a hill and take a photo of it and remember the way you are existing is just fine with hills to climb and tumbles to take because your Nike Tenko’s were not made for mountains!
Ok I am very drunk on hills good bye x