Location: Lower Leas Coastal Park
Date: Thursday 29th June 2023
Blog Written by: Michael (Walk Leader)
Walking in the rain:
In November of 1964, The Ronettes released a sweet little love song called Walking in the Rain and today a small number of gathered and walked and wheeled through the beautiful Lower Leas Coastal Park.
You can find this song here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PwUn8lmkVk
We virtually had the park to ourselves today apart from the occasional dog walker and their very cute dogs seeking our attention, but as per usual, we always oblige when our furry friends introduce themselves to us.
It rained a lot but there was something very special about today, a beautiful ambience, and as we stood sheltered under trees for part of our walk, the sound of the raindrops provided a calming acoustic harmony to a quiz that we completed together.
The first part of the quiz was taking turns in naming a tree, one for each letter of the alphabet. We did well and with a little bit of artistic licence we nearly managed it, x and z proving challenging. We welcome receipt of you’re a-z of trees.
We then went on to naming a song with a colour in the title, perhaps this was a little easier but the highlight of this was being able to watch a much loved but perhaps now an inappropriate song from 1968 called “Lily the Pink”, written and sang by the band Scaffold, a song about curing all kinds of ailments with a “medicinal compound” Sadly or perhaps wisely we will never know its healing properties.
So, remember it is raining, we are under a tree, but that didn’t stop us watching the scaffold video, or singing along, with the Chorus; in that moment we were singing in the rain, and I would not have been surprised if out of the mist stepped Gene Kelly.
They don’t make songs like this anymore, and there is probably a very good reason but here it is: https://youtu.be/2x8D4T--0v4
The rain was now easing up, so we walked on a little more, admiring the rain splattered leaves and plants, some looking a little bedraggled, but still getting the attention of passing bees and insects.
Today the setting was magical and mystical and as we stopped for our mindful minutes to smell the air and to listen to the waves, the raindrops and the beautiful sounds of nearby songbirds, a ghostly image emerging from the sea mist appeared, a beautiful yacht, seemingly floating past.
We get a lot of rain in Britain and as today proved, most of us prefer to stay inside, but did you know there is a very good reason we should go out when it’s raining.
Here are some of the reasons to do so:
I think this sums up very well the feeling of our time together on this morning, we did it, we enjoyed it, whether sheltered under a tree or in the caves of the zig zag path.
To find out lots more information about rain, look at this website:
https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/learn-about/weather/types-of-weather/rain
And for children and the children at heart
https://easyscienceforkids.com/all-about-rain/
The rain when we are dressed appropriately for it on days like today is just as healing as any other day.
Next time it’s raining, become friends with it, sing in it, dance in it, wheel in it (and yes, I do see it, strictly come wheeling anybody, nothing is impossible). Engaging with and embracing the rain will bring about a whole new world of sensations, enjoyment and feelings so what are you waiting for, you can be assured in this country it will passing our way soon.
And to finish this video always brings a smile to myself.
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