Ahh…another weekend…otro fin de semana.

I’m just home from town after, well…..I had better explain my day in the post. The day started early with the end in sight. Positivity. Fridays tend to start off well, they have a good vibe about them. Today was no exception. The office was encouraged to take part in “wear a jersey day” with all donations going to Alex’s Room. Unfortunately, I left my change at home but I wore my 2010-2011 United jersey to raise some awareness. It looks a shocker! I usually wear Camino gear when not in work.

The day chugged on and at 5pm, I ventured into town and Trinity Street – Cotswolds Outdoor to be exact. It’s a fantastic little store behind College Green that has everything for your outdoor need. An information talk on the Camino de Santiago was to start at 6pm and I wanted to offer some assistance. A good few people turned up, from those with no knowledge on the Camino, to those who had their flights booked to Santiago in September. It was fun listening and offering advice, whether it be about gear, or where to travel to.

Following the talk, a few of us took a walk to Drury Street and took a chance on Juanitos. “LA Soul Food” – is framed on the outside. The owner, from Brazil, served us up some smashing food – a mix of latin and asian styles. I’ll be back for more. And on the way home, we made one last stop to the famous Mulligans pub where I had ‘just the one’ before I left to take my train home. A long day, but one that has been good.

• The Camino is Opening to Pilgrims – Weekend Watch #80
• Good news as Spain to welcome pilgrims from June!
• New Podcast – Adam from England
• Weekend Watch #79 – Irish pilgrim on the Camino Francés
• This is worth waiting for…

Well it’s Friday again…where did that week go? I’m still trying to figure that out. Not that I’m complaining or anything! We have a Bank Holiday on Monday here in Ireland so that means an extra day rest and possibly a day’s walking with a full pack. I now have 30 days until I return to Madrid and on to Burgos.

This day last week I was chilling in Limerick on the west coast of Ireland with C & J whom I met on my 2013 Camino. I feel honoured to be still in contact with them and to have them part of my life. They very much live the peregrino way and every time we meet, we talk about our previous Caminos. There are so many good memories. We live in the moment, just like everyone does while walking on the trail. On the Saturday and Sunday, we walked a total of 45 kms despite downpours of rain. They weren’t a pleasent 2 days, but  I’m really happy with my rain gear. However, if the weather in Spain remains the same as it is now, I don’t think I will need them!

C & J are returning to walk the full Camino Frances the day I return to Ireland…so I can vicariously follow them as they walk to Santiago and on to the sea. My Camino looks like ending in Astorga but if I feel good and feet hold up, I may make it further..possibly to the Cruz de Ferro. But who’s rushing?! 🙂

We are a a few days past the mid-way point in 2017. Time flies eh? Only a matter of months ago, I was finishing off the turkey and badly singing Christmas carols. Badly.

I like to take stock of the previous few months once in a while and 2017 (so far) has been one to remember. For good and bad reasons. I started off the year with my hand in a cast. I won’t get into how that happened as I’ve gone through that many times in previous posts. I also discovered the Camino Prep Training group on MeetUp.com and that has grown from strength to strength.  I have moved from a position where I had very little to do during the weekends to being pretty busy most Saturdays or Sundays. This is a good thing but that may change soon.

I also spent a month in hospital, which seemed like a lifetime, but it also seems like a lifetime ago. That was March, everyone was wearing green and it rained alot. I was in a good place but I needed to get back walking once I returned to normality. On a positive note, I received the keys to my new apartment in April. Excitement kicked in and to this day, I am in the process of decoration. There is a lot to do and there is not alot of time to do it. I hope to be fully moved in before the end of August.

June saw me lend my humble hand to Camino Society Ireland and their Information Centre. Where else can I talk for half a day to future pilgrims about the many ways in Spain? It’s ideal! I’m a peregrino who doesn’t switch off and I look forward to each day I volunteer there. June also saw me walk the Irish stage of the new Celtic Camino from Bray to St. James Church in Dublin. I will be given a certificate and will present this at the pilgrim’s office when I complete my walk from A Coruna. I will receive a compostela then. This is a great new initiative and let’s hope it takes off.

It is now just under 2 months before I walk from Burgos. The meseta is such a vast expansive place and I have always enjoyed walking through it. That said, this “may” be my final time on the Camino Frances for a while as I consider other routes. But I don’t write the future, so who knows!

So that is where I am this year, a lot has happened but the next few months are important too as I focus on a new casa. I may have to lay down my backpack for next year to concentrate on that but a short Celtic Camino is still on the cards.

Onwards we go! Adelante!

I’ll let you into a little secret..

In another lifetime..well, not too long ago, I used to enjoy putting one word after the other to create sentences. From the age of 12 right up to my mid-20’s, I got great enjoyment out of writing and playing guitar on a regular basis. It was a pretty fun thing to do and I was even in a band at one stage. Sure, every 20-something was! It was a rite of passage in life.

However, in time, life got in the way and writing reports and reaching deadlines replaced this little obsession of mine. I have still listened to music all along, but my two guitars are now gathering dust in the corner of my room and my collection of songs are in a box alongside them. I haven’t looked at them in years.

But tonight something happened that hasn’t happened in quite a while. I put pen to paper and wrote eight lines. It’s not much, but it could be the spark. My inspiration? The Camino, walking and its memories.

I’ll probably forget about it tomorrow and leave these few lines lying where they are but this whole thing surprised me. Will I kick on from here? I’d love to. If I can write a part of a song without music I’d be pretty happy. It’s all about being creative I suppose and this is a great way. I had also thought about buying a ukelele before Christmas as it is so easy to learn (plus they only have 4 strings).

So I’ve been thinking of creating a new series for this blog, and with the coming of the new year, there is no better time to start it then. I plan on uploading a photo a day starting from way back in 2011. I hope I won’t be spamming my followers, but if that is the case, please let me know. It will be a challenge for myself as I tend to leave the blog unattended for more than necessary. So January 1st will be the beginning of #caminophotoaday. Of course, there will be a brief pause in my postings of this series, while I walk from Leon to Santiago in April / May!