19
Jul, 2020

Moon walk

A moon walk under the setting sun, to climb the green hills of home; then greet the Full Strawberry Moon of July.








Take a walk into the night to see the light

Inspiration for the moon walk

You do not need to be an astronaut to do a moon walk.

Being happiest and most relaxed whilst out in nature; I came to realise I was missing out on the darker half of nature, when I pulled the curtains one night.

Unexpectedly seeing a full moon, I thought that if I go outside when I should be coming in; I will get to appreciate natures beauty when us diurnal animals are fast asleep.

A full moon rise over bearded barley

The route and plan

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To fully appreciate the moon rise; I chose to walk somewhere close to home but far enough away from civilization and its houses and street lights. Near to me, overlooking the Wiltshire town of Westbury; lies an escarpment of the great Salisbury plain. This place was recommended by a friend who also appreciates nature; so was happy to join me in search for the full moon. If you are scared of the dark; check out a day walk in the same area: Westbury White Horse

Driving up the escarpment to save our legs; we parked near the White Horse, an outline of a horse carved into the chalk hillside. Leaving the cars we walked away from the road and another source of light pollution. Walking for just ten minutes we were soon out in the chalk meadows with the only source of light coming from the setting sun.

Walking into the dark

The Terminator

A view south and west in the ‘Terminator’

This magical time in the day when the sun is setting and the darkness creeps over the land; is known as: ‘The Terminator’. A constantly moving line between night and day; which travels at a 1,000 miles per hour over the equator but slows towards the poles. It is fascinating to think, that with: a supersonic jet you could fly out of the night; or if on the pole, walk back into the day. To find out more and read a better explanation; check out Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminator_(solar)

Note the concentric circles in the field; visible in the brilliant low light

I find it is so refreshing as well as relaxing to be out walking at this time of day. Birds call out their territories and warn of emerging predators whilst foxes and bats call out good morning; the low angle of the sun brings out every colour of the landscape and the sky can be painted every shade of red. See the photo of above and note the concentric circles in the field that can only be seen in a low light. Is it the remains and earthworks of an earlier settlement?

Corn fields waving goodnight to the sun

The Thunder moon of July

Moon rise!

After comically failing to view the Strawberry Moon of June; due to a thunderstorm blowing in just as the moon was about to rise. I fought off the fatigue of a long day to stay out to see the Thunder moon in July. Yet as we walked out over the meadows; a cool breeze started to grow and threatening clouds sped above us. Yet, we remained positive and kept scanning the eastern horizon for a first glimpse of the rising moon. My friend and I had a light hearted arguement and then wager on exactly where the moon would rise over the horizon. With us both agreeing it would be due east but not agreeing on which way was east! To find out more about the moons calendar and rise and setting time where you are; check out this helpful website: https://www.timeanddate.com/moon/phases/

The twelve moons of the year; from which we get the word month, have their own names. The native American Indian names for the moon are still used now and conjure wonderful images in the minds eye; especially if you too are watching the moon rise like those brave men many moons ago. I have given you the names for the moons of June and July; find out the other ten for yourself or make up your own!

When we had almost felt like giving up and bowing out gracefully to the cold, cloud and dark; a orange smudge appeared on the horizon. Within a minute the smudge had turned into a semi circle of cool light then a hazy soft orb. It climbed in to the sky quickly at first; then slowing as the angle of its orbit changed from my point of view.

Spellbound by the sight, we looked on for a while; then tried to take a few photos with a cheap digital camera and our mobile phones. To take quality photos of the moon; expensive lenses are needed as well as many settings of a well made camera. You can try with your phone or camera; check out this great website for some top tips: https://www.lightstalking.com/how-to-photograph-the-moon/

Yet don’t forget to record with your own eyes, this wonderful feat of nature in our universe.

My humble cameras effort to capture what you should see with your own eyes on a moon walk!

Take a walk into the night to see the light

So find out for yourself where and when the full moon next rises near you. Choose a safe but remote location to avoid light pollution from houses, street lights and cars. Take a lover or just a friend, take warm clothes even it is warm in the evening sun, take a picnic or even a barbecue, maybe take a tipple but definitely take a torch and means of navigation.

Then get out there and enjoy the darker but light side of the world. Feel the power and magnetism of our nearest universal neighbour, breathe the fresh night air, take care in the dark but then relax into the moonlight.

Moon walk
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20
May, 2020

Northwave Origin MTB shoe review

A long term review of the Northwave Origin mountain bike shoe














Durable, comfortable, clever and style from Northwave

The need for a mountain bike shoe

If you are new to cross country mountain biking; you will have come to realise that you need the stiff sole of a road cycling shoe but the ability to walk maybe long distances over unrideable terrain.

The ‘Origin’ shoe by the Italian manufacturer: Northwave; is reasonably priced yet well made and very comfortable. Here I give my thoughts after a year of use.

Intelligent Italian design

Building on the mandatory need for a stiff sole with tread; Northwave have included a couple of features that make this shoe a decent choice.

For a start, they have flared the tongue; to relieve skin pressure on the front of your ankle.

Then there is the simplicity and comfort in using three Velcro straps. Fancy dials or ratchet straps; can and do, fail and break.

Have you ever heard of Velcro suddenly failing?

Look at the Italian design on the tongue!

Continuous comfort

In these shoes I have completed several rides; over 50 miles in distance and eight hours in duration. Not once did these shoes cause me any discomfort. The deep foam inner sole, venting over the toes, a well thought ankle collar and ergonomic padding; let my feet avoid the same suffering of other parts of my body.

Happy ankles at any angle!
I got sole!

Wear but no tear

I have owned these shoes for approximately a year. I have ridden over 1,400 miles in them. I have walked on rough and broken ground on many occasions; once walking up a 33% gradient in the unforgiving Spanish Pyrenees. I have scuffed the soles on countless occasions by not finding the cleat on the first, second and third time! Yet they seem as good as new to me. With double stitching, Velcro straps, a hard tread and care; I think these shoes will last many years.

Tougher shoes than a packhorse!

I would recommend and I will buy again

So these shoes are priced at £85 to £100 on Amazon and other reputable websites. If you are a keen cyclist; I think they are a worthy investment to further enjoy your passion.

I have only ever bought my cycling shoes from Northwave in the past fifteen years; all three pairs of them! The first pair, are about ten years old and worn; yet they are still going strong! After buying the fancy pair pictured above last year; I gave the old ones to my brother who is only just getting into cycling as a great way to keep fit. My other older pair, are Gore-Tex winter boots; which I switched to in the colder six months of the English weather. By having a summer and winter pair of cycling shoes; you stay comfortable whatever the temperature and double the life of your shoes.

The Velcro straps will not fail high on a mountain pass, the padding and sole will keep you comfortable wherever and the Italian styling will give you a fashionable air when you get there!

As for sizing; they fit my wide feet very well, without being tight or loose. Here is a link to the Northwave website; so you can check your size and check their other cool clothing:
https://www.northwave.com/

Here is an Amazon link to buy the current edition of these shoes as well as a similar design:
Please note: “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”

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28
Apr, 2020

Forest bathing to relax

The concept of ‘forest bathing’ or ‘shinrin-yoku‘; is literally walking into a forest, to open and submerse all your senses in nature.









“Whenever we touch nature we get clean. People who have got dirty through too much civilization take a walk in the woods, or a bath in the sea.” – Carl Jung

Forest bathing or ‘Shinrin-yoku’

A great way to relax, is to simply go for a walk in the woods. This has been given the term: ‘forest bathing’; because you are literally submerged in nature. For most of us in Europe; a forest or wood is not far from where we live. By taking just a few hours out from our man made schedules and commitments; we can: boost our immune systems, clear our thoughts and relax to how mother nature made us to be.

Forest bathing in bluebells!

‘Shinrin – yoku’

The ability to go for a walk in the woods has been possible ever since homo erectus decided to stand up on his or hers hind legs and go for a walk! Yet only in recent years, with the overpowering stresses and strains of our man made habitats and societies; has the need to identify ways to relax and return to a state of natural well being.

In the 1980’s, there was a huge increase in the use of technology; with computers, cell phones and other inventions forcing our natural speed to its limits. In addition, more and more people spent time indoors; in: offices, shops, warehouses and factories. With one study by Tokyo Doctor Qing Li; estimating Japanese city dwellers were indoors a staggering 93 percent of their time! The Japanese government noticed that this caused: an increase in: depression, disillusionment and physical pain. So Dr. Qing Li, prescribed to patients not pills; but advice to simply spend at least a couple of hours each week, out in nature. By going to a forest; you are completely surrounded by nature. No houses, roads or machines are visible; so the body can only focus on nature.

Here below; is an Amazon link to buy Dr Qing Li’s book:
Please note: “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”

The Forest of Dean, near Symonds Yat, England

A branch of benefits

Walking through a forest, provides the obvious benefit of fresh oxygenated air.

In addition, by leaving behind your daily stresses from work and social situations; you are returning to your natural self and rhythm. You will give yourself time to contemplate any issues; without being forced into making immediate decisions. Your adrenaline and cortisol levels will drop further as well. Issues that seemed so serious; will often fade into insignificance when you realise they don’t matter out in nature. Take a moment to look for animals and insects and notice their behaviour. Are they: on a phone, on Whatsapp, checking the time? No, they are simply going about their natural need to forage and feed.

Consider your five senses and make sure they are all open to nature. A deep forest will prevent views and sounds of civilization. Touch barks and mosses; smell fragrances of flowers and sap. Evergreen trees give out more beneficial oils but all trees are equally amazing!
Taste any edible berries or just the aromas floating in the oxygen rich air.

Setting sun through trees

The benefits of ‘forest bathing’ do not stop there. Studies have found that trees emit essential oils as they photosynthesise. In these oils, there are chemical compounds known as: Phytoncides. These compounds boost the human immune system by increasing the white blood cells that kill viruses and bacteria that enter our bodies.

This is explained very well by the amazing Dr. Eric Berg on YouTube:

Click on the link

The way to the woods!

I am sure you know of a local wood or forest; that is not too far away. If you are new to an area or just passing through; then you can simply Google: ‘woods near me’!

Try to not drive too far or spend too much time and money getting to a wood or forest. If you cannot get to a lot of trees; try and find just a copse or single tree in a park or street near you.

forest bathing by bike in Grovely Wood, England
Forest bathing in a dark wood in the Lake District, England

As always; take care and be safe. Tell someone where you are going and take your mobile phone but turn it off. Dress appropriately for the time of year and altitude. Check the weather and the sunset time. If you don’t feel safe being alone; then go to forests where there are other like minded walkers.

Try to make a walk in a wooded area part of your daily commute or just go for a Sunday walk with friends, family or alone. Studies show that the benefits of a two hour forest walk last for about two weeks; so set that as a minimum target.

The Avenue; Grovely Wood, England
A small wood in the Benasque Valley, Aragon, Spain

Look at your roots

So by simply going for a walk in the woods; we can reduce stress, risks of serious illnesses and improve our immune systems. Yet the amazing benefits do not stop there. By being outside we are absorbing Vitamin D that again helps to improve our immune system. We are also exercising; so we become stronger and we get another happy hit from the release of the good chemicals called: serotonin.

Do not take my word for it; here are two really interesting articles from National Geographic and Time:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2016/01/call-to-wild/

https://time.com/5259602/japanese-forest-bathing/

Okay, so a walk in the woods is difficult for those of you who live in the Sahara, sail the seven seas or are just housebound. If you are currently under a curfew due to the current world pandemic; at least use the many photos on this page for inspiration. Remember them, close your eyes and go for a walk in your mind!

Get out there and return to nature!

Forest bathing above Benasque, Spain.
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17
Apr, 2020

Trusting to Relax

When we are with people we can trust; we feel relaxed. Deciding who to trust and to what extent is a lifelong art.

“The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them.” 
– Ernest Hemingway

The importance and need to trust

David DeSteno, states in his brilliant book: The Truth About Trust: “the need to trust implies one fundamental fact: you’re vulnerable.”

A baby has no choice but to trust its parents. As we grow; we learn to test the trust of the people around us. We lose trust and then mistrust; yet we find trust in strangers. Everyday, we are trusting people and things; to love us, to do as we expect, to work, to protect us, to stay alive! So when we are reassured in our trust; we feel relaxed.

Two people I can really trust!

We can look to a dictionary for a literal definition of trust; yet it is an invisible force that only really exists in our minds. So ‘trust’ is a huge concept in: sociology, psychology and philosophy. Yet here I wanted to take a light-hearted look at ways of trusting to relax with the people you meet in life.

Definition of trust (noun and verb)

Noun:
1a: assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something
b: one in which confidence is placed
2a: dependence on something future or contingent: HOPE

Verb:
1a: to rely on the truthfulness or accuracy of : BELIEVE trust a rumor
b: to place confidence in : rely ona friend you can trust
c: to hope or expect confidently trusts that the problem will be resolved soon

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trust

Without trust you will never feel truly relaxed

If your trust has been broken just once by a bad experience; it is easy to try and protect yourself by not trusting anyone ever again! Yet, release all your anger and hurt feelings, in a therapeutic way. Then let yourself trust again and you will soon rediscover the pure love and happiness that comes from trust!

It is said that Arab culture is built on a mutual mistrust; yet it has been proven that they lose out in many ways. Opportunities and experiences are avoided or delayed; which could lead to a pretty sad and boring life: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2016/07/11/commentary/world-commentary/roots-mistrust-middle-east-societies/#.XpmlWshKjIU

In popular culture, there is fear of false arrest; simply because the police have been lied to so many times, they trust no one! Or have you ever seen a healthy poker player?! Do crocodiles have any friends? In the old cowboy films; did the bad guys ever look relaxed?

Closer to home: do relationships without trust last long?

Rebuilding bridges…

I believe we are born with a natural want to trust. We are then fed and protected by our parents when we are young and this leaves a lifelong desire to trust and be trusted. Friends and family can push our abilities to trust, to breaking point. Yet it seems to hurt most when a loved one betrays all the love, effort and dedication that you have given to them. However, trust me when I say the best thing to do is trust again!

First of all; let out the anger that protects you from being hurt anymore. Go for a long walk and scream and shout at the top of your lungs. Exercise until you are so tired you can only sleep. Read my blog on breathing techniques; and become calm:
https://routestorelax.com/2019/11/02/breathing-techniques-to-relax/

Then try to calmly and logically understand why your trust has been broken. Maybe your partner could never be true because they are suffering from mistrust themselves? Maybe your partner has unresolved issues; that all your love and care could never resolve? Maybe you caused them to lose trust in you first and never realized through your own ignorance?

However your trust was lost; accept that you can still trust yourself. If you did the best you could; then don’t look back in anger, look back in acceptance and remember people still trust you.

Do not become as bitter as two lemons!

… to the future

If you lost trust in your partner or feel betrayed by an ex partner; then it is never too late to trust again. When the raw emotion and flames of temper have subsided; why not build bridges and have a new but honest and realistic friendship? This is so much more important when children are involved; because our inability to trust should not be passed onto future generations.

Therefore, hold up your hands and smoke the proverbial peace pipe. Sit down and discuss openly why things went wrong. Your partner may say harsh truths but realise that is far better than rebuilding trust on a foundation of old lies. Be realistic, be honest, be pragmatic; to rebuild and relax in a brave new world of trust.

The benefits of trust

So maybe you can start a relationship afresh and be happier, stronger but more relaxed together? Maybe an ex partner can still be a life long friend because you still remember and can see why you got on so well together in the first place. Maybe you will meet new partners but realise the grass is not always greener! If you trust people and show you can be trusted; you will always be happy and relaxed with many friends and family for years to come who appreciate your trust and good nature.

I do not want to go too deeply into the psychology of trust. Not because I am not qualified; but because I also do not want to bore you! Yet the interesting diagram below by Robert Plutchik; demonstrates what comes from the ability to trust. He stated that there are eight basic emotions that are related to each other: anger, anticipation, joy, trust, fear, surprise, sadness and disgust. When you combine the emotions of trust with fear; you become submissive. Yet combine the emotion of trust with joy and you have love!

The Wheel of emotion by Robert Plutchik

Keep trust alive!

So you have realised the importance of trust. You are in a new relationship and want to make it stronger; or in an old relationship that is going the distance after a slip along the way. To keep the trust alive a little work and concentration is needed everyday!

Trust does comes naturally. Yet remember that you can demonstrate your ability to trust and be trusted in simple ways:

– be honest but kind in the words you use
– be honest and tell people your thoughts and not what you think they want to hear.
– admit mistakes and errors in judgement. You will be more trusted ever more.
– be open to trusting strangers; for you are a stranger too!
– trust your feelings
– trust your decisions
– trust yourself; if no one else will!

Therefore I trust I will find you well?

So we learnt to trust when we were young. We are reminded from time to time when we lose trust. Yet take time to consider your actions and make sure they are trustworthy and true. To paraphrase the bible: ‘treat and trust others as you would like to be treated and trusted’. However, when all else fails; you need internal strength and calm, so always trust yourself.

Alone; I trusted myself to climb this mountain!
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    A short ride up into the quiet Castanesa valley made me realise the importance of relaxing now. By being relaxed I could appreciate every second of every passing moment in all its simplicity. High in the Spanish Pyrenees lies the Castanesa valley. Relatively untouched by tourism or main roads; a journey into this valley seems… Read more: Relax and enjoy today

Livin’ it up under ‘Lockdown’

Keep calm and your freedoms will come again

Routes to Relax whilst being housebound during the current world pandemic

So a deadly virus has surprised us all and spread across the world at an astonishing speed. Many of us worry about jobs and money, restrictions on socialising and the great outdoors has been fenced in. Yet we must all count ourselves lucky to be healthy and alive. Look for the good in everything and do not take for granted: a day, an hour or single minute under curfew.

Below, I describe the efforts I am making to make the most of my time under curfew; and weather the storm outside:

Windmills of La Mancha, Spain. Self isolation is necessary but not difficult in a home that works for you.

Cookery classes!

Legumes with chopped tomato and tuna; yummy!
Kale goes well with scrambled eggs, olive oil and seasoning

So there has been a shortage of food because of panic buying and hoarding. Yet why see this as a negative and worry? Relax and take the Breton philosophy of planning a dish after you have gone shopping and not trying to cook with ingredients that are out of stock in the shop?

Draw inspiration from old cookery books and programmes on YouTube, build a dish around a key ingredient, be brave and experiment! Remember though; in these dark days try and help your immune system all you can. Cut out alcohol because that poor old liver is a major part of your immune system. Try to include minerals and vitamins that support a healthy immune system; such as Vitamin C in Kale and Sauerkraut. Also make sure you are taking enough Zinc. Which is not too difficult; when it is found in these tasty foods: red meat, shellfish, eggs, legumes and milk, yummy!

I managed to finally cook a jar of chickpeas by including them in a tasty dish of tomato and tuna. I discovered that I can include the amazing superfood Kale in my diet; by simply adding it to scrambled eggs.

Exercise is a home run with Calisthenics

Exercise is not a trifle; it is an Eiffel!

So you cannot ride across the wide open prairies, the park is closed and you now have a reason to not go to the gym. Yet do not worry; for you can become an Adonis even whilst staying at home! There is a form of exercise called Calisthenics; which involves the use of your own body weight to exercise your muscles. Read up, research and try exercises that suit you.

If you are lucky to have a garden then walk the perimeter as many times as you like; take in every detail and listen to birdsong, or pretend you are walking across a foreign land. If you have stairs, then climb them for fun! The Empire State building has 1,860 steps or the Eiffel Tower has 674 steps; imagine you are there, climbing into the air!

More nonsense by the compiler

Your Academy

Image by Javiermirapeidro from Pixabay

Plato contemplated, thought and taught in the open air; in an olive grove. You too, can use all this time; to voyage through the annals of learning. To think and contemplate the meaning of everything. Dust of those old history books from grandpa, start at the beginning and follow trails of knowledge on Wikipedia. Read ancient Greek poetry like Homers Iliad. Read Dante’s Divine Comedy and descend through your own inferno, find purgatory and then paradise in the comfort of your sofa. Research your family tree, local history, or world history. Learn a new language or just a whole new way of thinking. Learn the six ‘Laws of Attraction‘, the teachings of Buddha and Stoicism and realise your possibilities are endless!

Take a trip down memory lane

Holidaying in the French Pyrenees with my parents. “Excusez moi mademoiselle; où est la pâtisserie“.

No more road trips for now; yet open the door to your mind and take a journey back down memory lane. If you are living with a lover or just your mother; take turns in regaling memories until you are both raconteurs of remarkable repute! If you live alone then not to worry; pretend you are holding a conversation with someone you hold dear to your heart. Start from your earliest memories as a child and recall the long ago acts of every passing year. If you remember someone, you have not spoken to for a while; why not find them on Facebook, and write them a line? Get out all the old family photo albums and study each photo; study faces and body language, the mood of the moment captured in time.

Plan your next voyage whilst you wait out the storm

A local walk or the other side of the world; now is the time to plan your escape!
Captain James Cook(1728-1779). Nathaniel Dance. BHC2628

The viral storm is raging outside; so batten down the hatches! The anchor is holding, you have good shelter and it is a safe depth to leeward. In the warmth of your cabin; unravel your charts and use a bottle of rum as the paperweight.

Research and plan that holiday you always talked about. Plan how to get to your Great aunt in Australia without using a plane! Choose an itinerary for a grand tour of Europe like an 18th Century aristocrat. Discover the quickest way to visit every country in the world. Dream and pretend you are on a first class flight to some hot tropical island, book a room on a luxury yacht and hire a castle but do not enter your card details. Type in: ‘Los Roques’ and workout how to get there. Or just plan a nice walk in the countryside for a hot summers day. When the curfew is lifted and it is safe to venture out again; get out and ‘voyage voyage’!

Voyage voyage!

Le Danse Macabre!

Image by Pexels from Pixabay

Death is an inevitable part of life; don’t be afraid of it, don’t ignore it, accept certain inalienable truths and then let me know how! If you have not written a will; then just jot down a few notes on a bog roll if you can find some. More importantly, write a letter to your nearest and dearest with some kind wise words and thoughts for when you are long gone. Do not be morbid and sad about it. Enjoy life and the party whilst the band plays; yet the clock on the wall is ticking and the bell tolls for us all.

At the same time; spend a while remembering those who have gone on before us. You will end up with tears in your eyes yet smiling and laughing too! In Spain and throughout Latin America; they hold a party once a year to remember their ancestors. They dress in colourful clothes and go to the graves of their relatives; remembering and celebrating past life.

Playtime

Mount Fuji

After all your hard work, research, chores and philosophising over life’s rich tapestry; it is time to play! This is so much easier with children; yet if none are available for at least nine months; then bring out that hidden Freudian child from within:

The stairs do not just go upstairs; they are also the summit of Mount Fuji! The cold carpet or tiles around your bed is shark infested water! The sofa is not for sitting on; it is a fairy-tale castle! The bush at the bottom of the garden; is your new home whilst trekking through the Siberian wilderness! Dress up and pretend to be someone else, put on a play with just one actor, sing in the shower and fart in the bath! It is your simple house; yet open your mind to a whole universe!

Keep calm and carry on


Therefore, you are alive and well; in your homely cell. Enjoy and appreciate every second. Fear doesn’t need windows or doors because it comes from within.
Keep calm and carry on.

So did I need to mention the obvious ideas; like: painting the spare room again?

Well have you ever tried painting ceilings…

Andrea Mantegna, di sotto in sù ceiling fresco in the Camera degli Sposi of the Ducal palace, Mantua
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Relaxing YouTube channels

Ten channels to watch on YouTube to help you unwind and relax in this age of high speed internet and social media

1. Modern relaxation music

An obvious choice is relaxing background music. With the aid of computers and vast music libraries; there is now an almost endless supply of electronic based relaxation music. One of my favourite types of music is synthwave; after the background music from classic computer games such as OutRun.

Here are a few to get you going:

2. Classical music

Although not to everyone’s taste; there is always a relaxing piece of classical music that has been uploaded onto YouTube. If you don’t know your Mendelssohn from your Mozart or your Bach from your Beethoven; simply type in: ‘relaxing classical music’. Most YouTubers make the effort to name the classical pieces in their videos so in no time you will be ‘au fait‘ in no time!

Here is one I listen to whilst composing blogs:

3. Hobby and personal interest videos

We are normally on YouTube when we are bored at work, cannot sleep in bed or just waiting and procrastinating! A great way to escape your current conundrums is to watch videos of people doing a hobby or personal interest that you enjoy. As you know one of my favourite things in life is to head out on the bike!

Below are two videos by two different vloggers that I really enjoy watching when I cannot get out on the bike myself. The first guy called Iohan; has been cycling from Alaska to Patagonia. His amiable spirit, friendliness to every human and animal he meets and his breathtaking cinematography is equal to any Hollywood blockbuster.

This second guy not only goes bikepacking; he hikes, cooks and documents his life living in a minivan. Again his easy going outlook on life and dulcet Canadian patter; leaves me feeling happy and relaxed after every video. Enjoy:

4. Walking with Kraig Adams

Not all of us enjoy cycling but who doesn’t like a little walk now and again? Well if you are unable to get your boots on; put your feet up and watch this guy below. Stunning cinematography, his humble character and an almost silent film style; leaves me speechlessly calm.

5. Life in rural China with 李子柒Liziqi

Here is another channel that transcends the need for dialogue to demonstrate the basic needs in life. Travel to rural China and live, cook and care with the beautiful Liziqi. In the video below; you can see her harvest and process cotton.

6. Missing work?!

Sometimes when I am travelling or relaxing; I have unexplained thoughts about working! Well apart from being a blogger; my real proper job is being a lorry driver. When I am faraway from the hot seat of a lorry; I sometimes watch other drivers on YouTube, sad as it may seem. This guy however is my favourite because of his patient and relaxing style of driving. Check it out to see the point of view of a lorry driver.

7. Watching onscreen personal heroes: Keith Floyd

As we wind our way along life’s wide and wonderful path; we come across heroes that agree with our own moral compass and ‘joie de vivre‘. One of my heroes is the legendary chef Keith Floyd. A true ‘bon vivant‘ who loved food, drink and women; maybe too much. Famed for slurping back the wine whilst cooking; he is the forefather of TV cooking. Below is a link to his hilarious film on how to deal with a hangover:

8. White noise

This may seem an odd choice; yet it can work in certain circumstances to help you relax and even fall asleep. For those of you who do not know; ‘white noise’ is a noise containing many frequencies with equal intensity. For example: the noise coming from water flowing over stones in a stream, wind blowing through trees or cars passing on a distant road. It is even possible to buy a machine that produces white noise; to help babies or night shift workers to sleep.

Here is an example:

9. Old television comedy series from when you were a kid

Another way to relax; is to return to happy places from our childhood. A good way to do this is to watch an old comedy that we enjoyed many years ago with our family and friends. Here is one of my personal favourites Benny Hill:

10. Your own video memories

A final idea to relax after a stressful day; is to remind ourselves of happier times by way of home videos we took in the past. Therefore, to finish, I hope I have given you a few ideas to relax by way of YouTube. Search for yourselves and relax. Here is a video from my own channel:

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10
Jan, 2020

Beating the winter blues

Keeping relaxed and happy through a long cold winter



“No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn”
– Hal Borland

Refreshing routes to relax

The merriness of Christmas is gone now, only the bill remains; the winter solstice has gone but the nights are still long; the sun also rises but we keep spinning silently away from it!
Yet do not despair; there is a route to happiness and relaxation when it seems the whole world is conspiring against you!

Here we will look at easy tricks to keep the darkness at bay:

Good morning!

Set the alarm and wake up the same time you do in the summer. It will be dark outside; yet but you are a shining light from within!

Make the bed, have a shower to freshen up and make breakfast. Make a coffee, brew a tea or just have a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. Whilst waiting for your breakfast to cook; why not step outside for a moment and breathe in fresh cool air? A boost of oxygen and the shock of the cold; will soon cause both mind and soul to be wide awake.

Try salmon, mackerel or tuna; grilled on toast. Go European and have lean steak sandwich. Or if you are a humble soul like me; just scramble up to three eggs or make a bowl of porridge. The reason being, all these foods are great sources of Vitamin D; so a great substitute for when the sun is not shining.

Vitamin D

The best way to get Vitamin D is to be in direct sunlight. With the body making Vitamin D; when direct sunlight reacts with cholesterol in skin cells. The purpose of Vitamin D is to primarily regulate calcium and phosphorous; that makes are bones and teeth strong. Yet there are other benefits too.

Walk into the light!

Research shows that maintaining levels of Vitamin D can help fight the risks of flu to heart disease and multiple sclerosis! Another benefit of the vitamin is that it suppresses appetite; so helps you feel good that way. Vitamin D also helps fight depression by enabling us to better regulate our mood.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

There is a recognised medical condition called Seasonal Defective Disorder (SAD). With symptoms including: moodiness, irritability, lethargy and weight gain. Which is thought to be caused by the natural body clock becoming confused by thee short days. If you are struggling; don’t hesitate to contact your doctor. Find out more on the NHS website here:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad/

Bright Light Therapy

A novel invention to try is a Lightbox or SAD lamp.
They work on the idea that by imitating sunlight; you will suppress melatonin and not be so sleepy and sad!

Indoor sun!

They have a bulb that can reach 10,000 lux; and have the full spectrum of light. Sit in front of a light box for 15 to 30 minutes every morning; with your eyes open but not staring directly at the light. Most people prefer to read in front of them.

Exercise

In the Arctic Circle, the sunsets in winter for almost a month. In Scandinavian countries such as Norway; the government has developed a program to try and get every citizen to attend a gymnasium in these dark days to help stave off the effects of the dark.

Limber up for spring!

It is a sad fact that the long dark nights cause a higher rate of suicide. Norway has realized and tackled this problem head on. They have subsidised gymnasiums for all citizens along with other forms of help. This is because research shows that exercise causes the human body to release serotonin; which normally comes from the sun. Along with endorphins that make you feel well and block pain and dopamine that causes you to feel more awake and elated.

Make use of the long dark evenings

It is cold and dark outside so stay warm and bright inside. Do not get cabin fever; get to know your family again! Put down the phone and turn off the TV and talk!

Read a book; write a book; start a website and a blog; plan your routes to relax for when the sun comes you will be ready!

Study like Plato!

Escape!

If you are still struggling after trying all these ideas and your stiff upper lip is starting to quiver; then escape!

The birds fly south; so why not you? Do not go on holiday in the English summer; save your pennies for a cold rainy day!

Anywhere is!
Tromso, Norway
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