Progressing along the mountain path...

Up To The Rocky Crop

I promised to share some more images from the hilltops last week and haven't come up with the goods yet... so now I'm going to put that to rights

Hill Pass

After getting all of Pope Benedict's luggage loaded into the limo, (and he doesn't travel light), the driver notices the Pope is still standing on the curb.

'Excuse me, Your Holiness,' says the driver, 'Would you please take your seat so we can leave?'

'Well, to tell you the truth,' says the Pope, 'they never let me drive at the Vatican when I was a cardinal, and I'd really like to drive today.'

'I'm sorry, Your Holiness, but I cannot let you do that. I'd lose my job! What if something should happen?' protests the driver, wishing he'd never gone to work that morning..

'Who's going to tell?' says the Pope with a smile.

Reluctantly, the driver gets in the back as the Pope climbs in behind the wheel. The driver quickly regrets his decision when, after exiting the airport, the Pontiff floors it, accelerating the limo to 205 kph.. (Remember, the Pope is German..)

'Please slow down, Your Holiness!' pleads the worried driver, but the Pope keeps the pedal to the metal until they hear sirens.

'Oh, dear God, I'm going to lose my license -- and my job!' moans the driver.

The Pope pulls over and rolls down the window as the cop approaches, but the cop takes one look at him, goes back to his motorcycle, and gets on the radio.

'I need to talk to the Chief,' he says to the dispatcher.

The Chief gets on the radio and the cop tells him that he's stopped a limo going 205 kph.

'So bust him,' says the Chief.

'I don't think we want to do that, he's really important,' said the cop.

The Chief exclaimed,' All the more reason!'

'No, I mean really important,' said the cop with a bit of persistence.

The Chief then asked, 'Who do you have there, the mayor?'
Cop: 'Bigger.'

Chief: ' A senator?'
Cop: 'Bigger.'

Chief: 'The Prime Minister?'
Cop: 'Bigger.'

'Well,' said the Chief, 'who is it?'

Cop: 'I think it's God!'

The Chief is even more puzzled and curious, 'What makes you think it's God?'

Cop: 'His chauffeur is the Pope!'

Or...

The Darkest Hour Is Just Before Dawn

Or maybe just...

The Welshman who went up a mountain and came down a little humbled and more right in the head

Well okay I suppose you've guessed this post is really nothing to do with the wonderful Ms Bush and her Wuthering Heights.

It's about your old pal Usky and the way his crazy head works.

When I'm feeling down and my head hurts I often take myself off to lonely places where I can just be alone with Nature and wallow in my state of mindless desperation and self-indulgence. Oddly it usually helps bring me around, giving me the opportunity to literally howl at the moon and work out my frustrations.

Last week I found myself in a location where with just a little effort I could get to the top of high place and enjoy my sense of self-pity. So I parked my car, changed my shoes, donned my jacket,,, well it was cold, for god's sake... and started climbing.

Having reached the top(ish) I surveyed the horizon and was met by a glorious, if somewhat misty, vista. Deciding I wanted more I made my way onto a rocky outcrop and looked over the edge. On a bright, clear day it would have been nothing short of spectacular.

Not satisfied, I edged myself forward until my toes were literally 'over the edge' and looked down... and for the first time in a couple of years I was hit by strong thoughts of suicide... the need to just step out and fall was so strong I almost gave way to my inner feelings and took a dive... thank god sense prevailed and I was able to step backwards.

I haven't experienced such strong feelings of the need to do away with it all for almost two years now and to be honest the episode frightened the crap out of me. I ended up sitting with my back to one of the rocks facing away from the wide world and just crying... releasing my fear and frustration.

It took quite a while for the tears to stop; I was chilled to the bone by that time and wanted nothing more in the world that a pair of welcoming arms to snuggle into... no such luck sadly. Oh well...

Back at the car I used my heated seat for the very first time, luxuriating in the comforts of modern technology and my selfishness for splurging having received my small golden-handshake. I also spent some time reflecting on my time at the cliff edge and chastising myself for the fool I obviously am. There's always someone worse off than you isn't there? So while I've been so preoccupied with my depression these last weeks, some other poor soul has been having a really nasty time.

Just a few of my thoughts... I'm thankful for being strong enough to step back and carry on... I'm sorry for being so selfish recently... I'm grateful for the love and support shown by friends here... I'm pleased to feel welcome in this community.

On a lighter note, I took my camera with me to the top of said mountain and did manage to capture a few images to remember my visit. Here's one of my captures... I hope you like it.

please click image for a larger view
I do have more pictures from that day if you'd like to see them.

Anyone here remember Kate Bush's wild and windy moors ?

Drop in tomorrow to catch a look at Usky's view of Heathcliffe's domain...