The Way to Santiago Blog

I wake early again, not planned but it’s 5.45am. I’m glad I wake now as at 6am everyone is woken to some kind of gregorian chanting.
6.15am and I make my way out of the monastery at Roncesvalles. It’s still dark and I’m guessing it will be for at least another hour. The sky is clear but I can see the fog building around me.
I can’t really describe Spain yet as I’m walking on tree lined footpaths and everytime I enter a clearing the fog has already consumed it. The cows are the same, the cuckoos, magpies and kites too. The flowers and trees all look similar also.
After yesterday’s hike over the mountains I’m disappointed today I have to climb again. By about 8.30-9am the sun is out and the fog is clearing, I see I’m still fairly high up in the hills. My path leads me up & down through forests and along ridges.
The one thing I’ve noticed this morning is, for some pilgrims it’s like a race. Within half an hour of setting off, I had two older gentlemen rush past me, and I mean fast. If I was walking at a casual 4km/h, they must have been doing 6km/h. After that I came across what will most definitely annoy the crap out of me for the rest of my walk….cyclist! I’m walking on a real rough gravel path or down a tricky slope and all you hear is some screaming from behind, or sometimes not even that but just brakes shrieking…followed by four or five people on bikes race past you. I consider the consequences of hoping one of the more brash ones has an accident?! Meh… It’s only wishful thinking, it’s not as if I’m causing it myself…! (I must add I’m more annoyed than usual merely because at one point I had headphones in when said cyclists came past and they made me jump)!
By 11.30am I had arrived at Zubiri, a town larger than I imagined. I was contemplating staying here as it would give me a reasonable 22km to walk tomorrow to Pamplona. Arriving so early I stopped for a quick drink, before heading on. Zubiri is known for it’s bridge which supposedly had healing properties for animals with rabies, they had to cross it three times. I walked across it twice so hopefully I’ll be ok, at least till the end of my trip.
The next village Larrasoaña was my target.
As I left Zubiri I passed a massive industrial zone, which is why the town looks bigger than it actually is. Over the next hour and a half the path carried on undulating between fields and through the tree line. I emerged opposite the church in Larrasoaña. I’m pointed in the direction of the pilgrims refugio, I’m the third person here, it’s 1.15pm and the place doesn’t open until 3pm. By the time the place opens there must be about thirty of us outside. There seems to be an etiquette though, no one pushes in, we queue in the order we arrived. It’s like going to see the headmaster (not that I’d know), one at a time we are allowed in, we put our bags and shoes down and enter the office with our credentials. He confirms we are genuine pilgrims, gives us a ticket, and stamps our passport. It’s 6€ for the night! Being one of the first, I pick a low bunk and rush to have a shower. (Oh, whilst waiting for the place to open I washed my socks and towel in the water fountain outside, it’s almost dry).
I have just walked from one end of the village to the other, it’s a one bar village. I’ve decided to have another day off in Pamplona. I need new magnum boots and I deserve a day off (my last was Figeac). I ring Airmiles and discover they have one hotel in the city centre. I book it, no money, just airmiles. It will be my last day off until Santiago de Compostela (all being well)?!
Well it’s now 5pm. I’m having a quick beer and then getting some food.

It’s just gone 1pm. I’m sat outside a bar in Roncesvalles, there’s a cold wind.
My day started at 5am, I tried to be as quiet as possible while getting up but after someone snored all night I didn’t feel too guilty about the noise I made.
By half past I was paid up, stamped and ready to go.
It was still dark outside, I had my head torch just in case but with the odd street light I could just about make my way.
As I make my way out of St-Jean-Pied-de-Port my thoughts are with those pilgrims I’ve left behind, and how much today is going to hurt…! The climb starts immediately, a few flat stretches, even the odd slope down, but in general I’m going up and it’s getting steeper all the time. The air is cold, but as the climb steepens the sweat pours from my head. I keep looking back, watching for the sun rise which is taking it’s time behind me. As I get close to the gite at Honto, 5km from where I left, the sun rises, showing the whole valley below me is now covered in a blanket of thick fog, the town I came from cannot be seen at all.
Pilgrims from the gite are beginning to make their way up the steep slopes, I’m the only one from the town back down in the bottom of the valley. The lane turns to track and then to footpath. I pass people only to have them pass me again as I stop to take the odd photo. We get back onto tarmac as the lane evens out and follows the ridge. I pass another ‘auberge’ (hostel) high up towards what I thought to be the first summit… Yeah no!
Most of the walking is on single track lane, which makes it easy on your feet but you would not believe how high you go. By 8am there are blue skies all around, the sun is out but the air is fresh. The views are amazing.
As I make my way past a fountain, a girl points out that I’m stepping across the border from France to Spain. If I hadn’t been told I would never have known. The walking starts going down but I’m deceived, I walk out from a wooded track to find one last climb up and finally…. I’m at the highest point (on my path at least) of about 1450m. I’m lucky because there are much higher peaks around me.
The walk down is steep, muddy, wooded and goes on for far longer than I expected. After several swear words at the fact I’ve nearly tripped on tree roots, had to climb back up a hill and slid down the rest of the track, I emerge faced with what was once a huge and important monastery. (It’s still important as it homes pretty much all the pilgrims coming over the mountain).
I must be one of the first to arrive, it’s quarter past twelve, I organise a bed and have my pilgrim passport stamped. I cannot enter until 2pm though. So I dump my bag and move to the cafe/bar.
Just after 2pm I go in, it’s so busy. People everywhere. I find my bed, but it’s so so busy I scrap all plans to shower and wash my gear. (I know I’m a right ol’ gypsy, I don’t care, you should have seen the chaos).
I lie in bed, cold, no blanket. Tonight I sleep fully dressed!

I literally don’t sleep. With hundreds of flies and the odd mosquito, what do you expect?! I even jar my neck in the night…. Aaaargh….
Finally sleep, knock knock, it’s Annette. Half past six, oh today’s gonna be a barrel of laughs…
I’m up packed and ready to roll, I pinch an orange off the breakfast table, I don’t stop to eat, much to the disappointment of the owner! She & her husband have been so so kind! I pay 7€ for dinner bed & breakfast. If there’s one photograph worth printing from my trip, these people should get a copy.
7.15am and Annette and I head off. Back on the trail to find the GR65. I realised last night that by coming here to Uhart-Mixe we have missed the point where three of the four French routes join, I’m disappointed, but I’m not going to walk backwards just to find it!
Today is a long day, but all in all it’s enjoyable. I point out butterflies, finches, mice, snakes and caterpillars to Annette and best of all I see my first Griffin Vulture, then nearly two dozen of them!
The landscape reminds me of the Lake District, rolling hills turn to fells, with mountains to frame them. It’s just so beautiful.
The sun has been forcing grey clouds away all morning, finally it breaks through. Lucky for us there is a lot of shade today.
We stop for coffee in one village, a five minute breather in another villages church porch. Then a beer in St-Jean-le-Vieux. Only four kilometres to go. We have walked slowly again today, it’s coming up to 3pm.
By four we are walking down into St-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Danielle our host is standing outside the gite on the ‘rue du citadel’, she recognises us immediately and calls us by name? Do they have descriptions of all the pilgrims, or do we just stand out from the crowd?!
After our tour to see where the toilets & showers are, I dump my bags and go for a wander. The town is pretty and obviously a tourist attraction. I bump into familiar faces at every turn. So many faces I recognise, greeting people from all over Europe. As I walk back towards the gite I bump into Michael, I assumed he’d be on his way back to Canada by now. I tell him I arrived with Annette, he walks with me to the gite to see her.
After my shower I wash my clothes and then go out again for another wander. I buy more suncream and some food for tomorrow. On the way back I’m met with almost a dozen fellow pilgrims that I know outside the church. It’s decided that we all eat together tonight. Annette has already told me she wants to buy me dinner, which I’d agreed to earlier in the day. I knew she would not take no for an answer, she’d seen my parents worry for me. I guess she was carrying on the responsibility…
I ran (yes really) my shopping up the hill. Before heading back down to meet everyone. We go for a beer, the wind picks up and pub umbrellas scatter everywhere. Michael, myself and a Frenchman help to collect the debris. Everyone else arrives and soon we head to a little bar for food. It’s raining now, my washing is out….pants (literally)!!
After dinner we have a quick drink at the hotel Michael and a few others are staying at. Annette and I have to be back by 10pm otherwise we get locked out…. We get back in time and Danielle bless her has brought my washing in!
I plan to leave early tomorrow, 5.30am. I say goodbye to France and hello to Spain.
I’ve walked 740km give or take in 30 days, with one whole day off and a couple of half days. I’m tired, less grumpy today, my left foot is still swollen. I’m so proud I’ve come this far. I thank my ma & pa for being so supportive (they’re on their way home today). I’ve had ups and downs, but mainly ups I think? I’ve taken in so much but it’s made me realise how lucky I’ve been in life so far.
For those of you who have never been out in the great outdoors, you don’t realise what you’re missing!
Ok it’s late, someone’s snoring and my alarm is set for 5.30am… Spain here I come….!
Xxxx

Today for the first time in a few days, I wake early. I know we won’t leave too early as Anette has breakfast but I don’t mind. The next two days are about 25km each and I’m relieved I have a bed reserved. If it had not been for Anette I wouldn’t have booked. I still don’t believe in making reservations but there are not as many gites down here and all four French routes are about to merge!
We finally left at around 8.30am, the last to go, but only just as we said goodbye minutes earlier to the German family that had stayed.
Minutes turned to hours today, the walking was slow and casual, the sun beat down on us. I applied suncream 50+, ten minutes later I’d wiped it all away with the sweat pouring from my head. I reapplied, I re-wiped and so the day went on.
We’re in Basque country now, all the houses are painted white while the shutters, doors & windows are a reddish colour. Also one side of the roof is longer than the other.
Tonight we have a gite booked which is off the GR65 again. I’m sure at some point it was on the route. So we follow the signs for our deviation.
We get here at just before 2pm. Today has been difficult, not the walking as such, although there were many hills to climb. I think dealing with the heat and trying not to get burnt. My walking slowed today and I hope it’s just a sign of walking through the midday heat.
The views have been beautiful again.
Anette has told the owner of the gite that I haven’t much money, so she puts me up in a caravan out back, still with washing facilities and toilets. I also get to eat with them tonight and I put as much as I can afford in the donation box.
Whilst writing this blog I’ve watched the clouds roll over and rain appear. I’ve also been plagued with flies that I’m trying to get rid of. I’ve broken a slat in my bed. I do hope we stop with just the three things tonight…
I’m tired, irritable, I’m sunburnt (despite all the suncream), and now I have to be sociable with not just strangers, but strangers who have shown me real kindness….
Oh and also it was my brother Richards birthday yesterday, so happy birthday Rich, I hope you had a good day (despite work)!

Once again a late start this morning. Although I did eat breakfast. I know it’s nobodies fault and if it annoys me I should say something, but I’d rather survive the next few days and then I’ll be walking solo again anyway.
We leave gite Nadette and follow our instructions to rejoin the way. Our views this morning are magnificent and it wipes all annoyances from my mind. By midday we are already in Navarrenx, a beautiful fortified town. The walk in has been pleasant, rolling landscapes with mountains standing proud in the background.
On the way into town Marcus mentions he has a pain in his ankle so he and Sylvie decide to have a rest and stay in Navarrenx. I nearly did the same but Anette wants to go on a bit further. I decide I need to start walking early again and knowing Anette finishes at St-Jean-Pied-de-Port I decide to carry on as well. I’m sure I will see the others on the road again.
As we leave the town, it’s ancient defences become even more apparent. We have another 14km before the next chance of accommodation and at the time we didn’t know if there would be any space…
The walking is a much better pace, we walk almost casually between fields and over hills, past farmers cutting meadows with red kites and buzzards circling overhead, and angry dogs barking from behind gates.
Finally we arrive at the top of a hill with a crossroad, on the other corner is some shade welcoming pelerins (pilgrims). At first glance I thought it may serve some cold drinks but as we cross over we see it is just picnic benches and a place to buy pate. We stop anyway with two other pilgrims already here. The owner of the business is supremely kind and spends nearly an hour helping us arrange accommodation for tonight and the next two nights to the Pyrenees. Also, one of the other pilgrims buys me some pate as a kind gesture. I think Anette was telling them I had little money. It’s true, I carry all this kit but my money hasn’t gone as far as I thought?!
Tonight we stay with a retired policeman in Lichos, approximately 28km from Sauvelade.
We make our way down to Lichos, delaying ourselves slightly by first going the wrong way, (again the GR65 has moved) and then seeing a new born calf in a field in the heat with no mother around so we had to go and find a farmer…
Anyway, we’re here now. I’m washing and refreshed. I know I have a bed for the next two nights and by then I’ll be facing the biggest climb of my life. Yes I am worried. No I will not give in, or quit. If I manage successfully I may even put some extra weight back in my bag once in Spain. Don’t ask me why….
I go to bed now, happy knowing I’ve caught up on my blog. I feel more content how today has panned out and know that I have more challenges yet to overcome!
Goodnight & God bless.

I wake up late again, not as late as yesterday but it must have been 7am… Today looks better but there is a real chill in the air.
The plan is to get to Sauvelade today, it’s 30km away but Sylvie has booked beds in a gite for all four of us.
We set off together, the four of us. It’s late again and the day is heating up fast. Todays walking is broken up by plenty of hamlets & villages. By 11am we are in Arthez-de-Béarn, so we stop for a drink. As we plan our next step, we decide to make a tiny shortcut as the GR once again goes in loops just because a landowner doesn’t want people walking round their field! (I’m not even going to start to rant on this subject right now).
Lucky for me I have GPS using the Viewranger app on the iPhone. (You’d think I’d get commission for all this good advertising I’m doing for them). We cut maybe 4km from our trip. Definitely worthwhile, but just as we’re about to rejoin the new GR (I say new as our shortcut actually showed signs of being the old GR65), Sylvie crys out in pain. She is a fairly big lady, not fat, but without doubt stubborn. She has been walking for nearly two weeks with a tendon problem in one of her ankles. Now she cannot stand. After some commotion, Sylvie has to sit and rest while we carry on to Maslacq, which I estimate to be about two kilometres away. Marcus is carrying his bag and Anettes, while Anette carries Sylvies.
Maslacq is a ghost town, the village shop is closed, the bar is closed for another hour. We sit and wait. An hour later we have our drinks as Sylvie turns up and is immediately put on the side of the road for hitching. She heads in the direction of Sauvelade, as we head in a totally different direction?! It’s gone 4pm by now.
Back on the road, in the heat of the day. I have to ask myself why I am torturing myself like this. I enjoy the company I’m in, but by starting so late I’m just dying in the heat.
We finally arrive at Sauvelade Abbey at about 5.30pm. I’m near boiling point. The one saving grace is our host is coming down to pick us up as her gite is off the GR65 (which means it’s not cheating)!
Our host Bernadette is a very vibrant character, her gite ‘Nadette’ is on a hill with views over the Pyrenees. A pool to one side, a new car port with a very old Peugeot convertible in to the other. The house as so many different levels, with some amazing furniture. It turns out she’s madly in love with the local blacksmith/ironmonger. Such a lovely host and a lovely little house.
After almost 30km today I’m now only 74km from my last stop in France?!

The Pyrenees today have looked incredibly with such a glorious blue sky above. With all this beautiful scenery around me, I’ve found the day difficult. I think mainly from starting so late, which meant I suffered the heat. I hope tomorrow is better.
And yes if I sound down I am a little right now.
Tomorrows another day!

Last night was a very noisy night. It turns out there’d been a big rugby tournament in the town, and our accommodation had the main bar in town. It was like being back in Frome with karaoke and drinking till gone 3am… Also, because our room was ground floor on the front we had to close the blinds. This caused a problem as I didn’t wake up until nearly 8am.
Despite hurrying through my usual morning routine, I sat and had a coffee once Marcus was ready.
We set off late, blue skies above and a warmth to the day that had me reaching for the suncream!
By the time we reached our first village, clouds had appearing in every direction. Our blue skies were diminishing quickly. I noticed the landscape was beginning to change again. More hills and valleys with less flat land.
The second church we arrived at, Marcus wanted to stop and eat. So we sat with four American pilgrims and as Marcus ate I talked with the others. The clouds were now over us and the odd drizzle had started. As I had my camera out I decided to put my poncho on again today. Within twenty minutes the sun was trying to shine through. I kept my poncho on as I knew if I took it off it would rain again. (So I looked like a muppet just to keep the other pilgrims dry)…! I catch my first glimpse of the Pyrenees, they look truly majestic in the background of this vast landscape. I feel like Frodo Baggins making my way to Mount Doom…
15km from Arzacq-Arraziguet and we arrive in a tiny hamlet called Uzan. We find a friend of the Camino offering hot & cold drinks in his yard. So we stop for a tea. We ask about the local gite but he cannot help us. We carry on maybe 300m further up the road and find the gite. It’s open but no one is there, we ring the doorbell of the house opposite. A young girl answers and Marcus starts talking with her about the gite. She goes off to discuss with someone else out of view. It turns out it’s full… The girl goes off again, we must have looked sorrowful as she comes back with her mother. More talking in French. I smile and nod… We are put up in their own house. So so kind. I know it’s only 15km today but with the late start and all the stopping it’s already 2pm. I rest, my feet hurt. Later in the day Anette & Sylvie also turn up and again are put up in the main house. We use the gite for food and washing…
Besides glimpsing the Pyrenees, today has been very uneventful really….
Also you may have noticed that I’m behind in my days. This is Sunday’s blog, I still need to do Monday’s as it is now Tuesday morning… Don’t ask!!!

I slept… Not well, but I slept. Movement from one of the other rooms woke me at just after 6am. I got up, carried out my morning duties and made my way downstairs for just gone 7am. The landlady made me a coffee, whilst I decided to wait for Marcus to walk with today. He appeared ten minutes later and sat for breakfast. The coffee was enough for me. It was almost night outside, black clouds for as far as we could see, with rain. It was just after 8am by the time we were kitted out in our ponchos, covering the rucksacks as well so we both looked like Quasimodo!
The morning climb out of Aire-sur-l’Adour was grey and wet but it made a refreshing change from the boiling sun we’ve become used too. Our pace was quick but we still took in our surroundings, stopping in the churches along the way, taking the odd picture of black clouds looming overhead. At one point there is a tremendous downpour, and everyone seems glad to be wearing ponchos and waterproofs!
Halfway and we stop for a coffee, we’ve passed many of our fellow pilgrims but there are still more up ahead. We should stay here as reports are Arzacq is full?! But it’s only just twelve midday so we decide to continue. The new plan is get to Pimbo and see if they have anything. It’s only 5.5km to Arzacq, which means we’ll have walked a respectful 28km(ish).
The two places in Pimbo are closed or not taking anyone… Oh my feet hurt. Come to think of it so do my legs…
We have no choice but to continue on. During today’s conversations Marcus tells me he’s decided to walk the Nord route rather than the actual Camino Frances across Spain. Basically it follows the coastline rather than an inland route. Supposedly prettier but with more hills and less refuges to sleep… I’m sticking to my Camino, it’s what I’m here for, although I joke about walking back along the coast route… I make a mental note to myself that I’ll need new boots by the time I get to Pamplona. I need wifi to see if Spain sell Hitec Magnum classics in size 44. If not I’ll need to get some shipped out.
My foot is still swollen but as long as I give it some rest it seems ok, the swelling has gone down…
Ok back to the day, sorry I’m getting sidetracked… I dragged myself the final distance to Arzacq-Arrazjguet, a total today of roughly 34km. Oh my poor poor feet! And it would be just over a hill wouldn’t it! We arrive at the tourist information at 4.00pm, I joke about it being closed, nooooooooooooo….. Ah wrong shop front…phew.
The lovely lovely lovely lady finds us a room. Why is everywhere so friggin busy. I can understand Nogaro as the had a big race but Aire-sur-l’Adour and here… Why???
So the good news is we have a room, the bad news, one bed, Marcus offers to use his sleeping mat and bag and take the floor. I guess I should pay more than him?!!
It’s now half six, there are lots of familiar faces around. Everyone has freshened up. Finally blue sky appears and the sun breaks through.

I woke… It was dark outside… It’s just not right getting up when it’s still dark. Not unless your a farmer, postman or milkman?!!
At quarter past six I dragged myself out of bed for the one simple reason. I need the loo.
Last night I’m not sure if I mentioned, I saw a deer outside our hotel and also, a hoopoe (it’s a bird). My dad always taught me if you don’t know something look it up. Back then it was in a book, these days we have google & wikapedia. So go on and look it up HOOPOE…!
Anyway, by quarter to seven I was outside with the others waiting for a lift back to Nogaro, for breakfast and to begin our day. (The only reason I’m eating breakfast is because I was charged for it). I have far better things to do with my time than sit and eat… I have nearly 30km to walk today!
Despite knowing Michael (he’s a French Canadian pilot) walks faster than me, I wait for him and the French couple whose names always escape me (sorry)?! We set off together. As we leave Nogaro, there are once again pilgrims in front and behind us.
Soon Michael and I have a pace going, we chat about this and that whilst striding along road and green lane. We are still in agricultural countryside so the vistas are very, erm, ordinary? Before we realise, Michael’s gps tells us we’ve walked 10km, in two hours. As the day heats up, we turn this way and that following our red and white way markers.
I hear a sound from the hedgerow, explaining to Michael that its a snake rather than lizards as the noise and movement of undergrowth continues for some time. We then talk wildlife for some time.
At 11.30 we stop in a village not even mentioned in my cicerone guide! We’re met by a dozen other pilgrims sitting and eating, taking a break in the shadows of some well placed trees.
Maybe half an hour passes and we’re off again. We’ve had a bite to eat (this eating sensibly is becoming a habit)… A sign tells us we’re over half way. We continue, along straight lanes barricaded with produce growing either side. A plane flys overhead so our conversation turns to Michael’s job and other aviation related topics.
I then spot a hoopoe, (yes another one) up ahead just off the road. I point it out to Michael, despite not having my glasses. As we get closer, it’s crest is clearly visibly, before it takes flight, displaying it’s black and white stripped wings.
We enter Barcelonne-du-Gers, thinking it’s Aire-sur-l’Adour. Soon enough the realisation hits us, it’s only another 2km to Aire-sur-l’Adour but now my feet are tired.
As we enter the town, we come across Michael’s hotel so we head are own ways. As I continue on into the town I bump into Raymond & Slyvie, two more pilgrims I’ve met along the way. I join them to check out the pilgrims gite, it has 90 beds but it’s full, (no bed for me because I’m stubborn and refuse to reserve a bed?!!)
I walk back into town, I passed a hotel on the way to the gite and I remember my book said they have a special rate for pilgrims…score they have room.
I clean up and head into town. I find spare ends for my crook, (the rubber went and now I’ve almost worn all the metal away), I buy two. I get a hair cut, (yes yes even with the small amount that I have). I bump into probably twenty pilgrims I know around town. In the tourist information I bump into Marcus. I recommend the hotel I’m in, he gets a room. I’ve heard very funny stories about Marcus sleeping rough one night and meeting wild boar! Later on several of us go for a beer, the town is pretty and the weather has been good to us.
Reports are coming in that the weather is going to turn and that tomorrow’s destination is also fully booked….
Today the road has been kind to me, I’ve had good company all day, fine weather, and conversation to distract me.

Today I didn’t want to get up (again…). At seven I looked out, it looked very overcast. Everyone was up bar me and one other. I removed the earplugs (yes they’re worn every night now) and got myself up.
By just after eight I was on my way. Today I was adamant I was only doing 20km, destination Nogaro.
Outside there were signs it had rained overnight, quite heavily as well.
As I left the comforts of tarmac and turned up between vines and down footpaths my boots accumulated more & more mud, oh the joy.
Like yesterday, today was very ordinary. No views due to the weather, vines all around me.
Half way and I pass a fish farm, I could sit and watch trout jumping all day, even better if I had my fly rod!
Soon after I pass through a village, Manciet. I thought about stopping in a cafe but couldn’t find one so I continued on my way.
Less than two hours later and I arrive in Nogaro, there’s a problem. Nogaro has a race circuit and yes, you’ve guessed it, this weekend is a big race. The town is booked….solid! Luckily for me a Canadian, Michael, had passed by earlier, he had told me off the predicament. Arriving before us, he had been gracious enough to ask about accommodation for myself and a French couple as well. The owners of a hotel in town are also renovating a beautiful manor type hotel, 4km from Nogaro. They even offer to drive us to and from the place as and when we want!
At present I’ve washed up and sorted a few bits, written the blogs and am now waiting to go back into town to use the main hotels wifi…. (If they have it?!) and have dinner.

My foot is still swollen but seems to have gone down a bit.
My passion for the great outdoors and all wildlife is still strong. (Except of course gnats, mosquitos & biting bugs).
My love of France grows daily.
My muscles ache more with each passing day.
My disappointment at all the equipment that has failed, broken or just doesn’t work grows with each passing day… (But I will name all the crap kit soon enough)…
The amount I miss my beautiful girl back at home grows daily. (Yes yes and all my friends & family…)

All in all, like I told Jaz, I may have only just started my ‘way’ but I have realised, my compassion, empathy and sensitivity are the very roots of who I am. My life may change, my ambitions, my direction, but what is at my core will never change.