The Hiatus and After

After a long delay (20 days after we were meant to hear), we finally learned that we were not successful in our bid for the project in Cambodia. Naturally we were gutted – more so because the feedback on our bid made us feel we had been treated unfairly in many ways.

The period since the last blog post therefore divides into two: the ongoing hiatus in our lives while waiting to hear but couldn’t make any plans, and the few days since when we’ve been frantically making plans in the knowledge we won’t be going to Cambodia.

In limbo

Our main activity during this period was going out for walks of different lengths. We had both bought ourselves new hiking boots, and wanted to make sure they were well broken in before (possibly) doing a walking holiday. We therefore planned a carefully graded series of hikes of increasing length in the neighbourhood of Wycombe:

• 3 miles through Burnham Beeches (cut short by rain)
• 5 miles from the Dog and Badger at Medmenham, including Hambleden Mill and a walk along the Thames
• 7 miles to Hazlemere (finding a nice new pub) and back via Loudwater
• 10 miles including Downley, West Wycombe, Bradenham and Hughenden Manor.

Hambleden Lock

The Disraeli Monument at Downley

Autumn acorns

The Mausoleum at West Wycombe

These boots are made for walking

After all that, we reckon the boots are definitely ready for anything! We also managed to attend the Marlow Folk Dance Club twice in September, once walking along the Thames from Bourne End.

Rowers on the Thames

Reaching Marlow at sunset

Roof decor at Marlow

Another day we made an excursion to Oxford by bus, and spent a pleasant day exploring the city, home to the second best university in the country.

Punts on the river

Intense heron

One of the colleges

Carved head in a college

Ceiling of the Sheldonian Theatre

Dreaming spires

Blackwell’s bookshop

Back in planning mode

Now that our life is no longer on hold, we have been busy planning for the rest of the year. We aim to return to Sarasota early in November, but before that have booked and organised a trip to Spain, including a short walking holiday in the Rioja region, where Ian’s favourite wine comes from (just a coincidence). We were delighted that the company were able to book us in at very short notice, so we fly to Bilbao to start the trip next Monday (3^rd October).

Today we did our final training walk, five miles with our friend Caroline from Lane End and back. The rest of the day was spent getting ready to go. More news in our next blog post.

Striding out

Fascinating fungus