Louise Macdonald / Has CERN started working early?
I think I might be in a parallel universe… Here I am, a woman who has aspirations to become a “weel kent face” in Prada and Gucci stores around the world, about to embark on an “experiential change through nature” escapade on Knoydart - which everyone gleefully describes as one of the last wildernesses in Scotland.
Speaking of “everyone”…so far, the common response of everyone that I have told this fact to has been to laugh, long and hearty. But then, but then….a sense of envy comes into play, and then real intrigue as to what it is all about. To be honest, I’m not THAT sure myself, but we talk about how this is something challenging and exciting, plus how important it is to do something that really scares you every so often. And then back to more fundamental questions about how I’m going to snap my achilles heels walking in flat shoes for five days and was I aware there is no Clinique counter on Knoydart???
My most recent exchange with one of the project co-ordinators didn’t help. Commenting on how the only items I possessed on the (very) long and (very scary) packing list were a notebook and pair of sunglsses (naturally!), the response came back: “I know - it means you get to go shopping at Tiso - heaven!!” Sorry? Tiso? Isn’t that that place in-between Cruise and Jaeger darling??
Yup, it’s a different world I’m heading for. And that - THAT - is absolutely the point….
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Well, I am one of those who laughed heartily at the thought of Mrs ‘Jimmy Choo’ heading up a hill (that’s usually my teritory!) But I knew the ‘other’ Louise atop those precarious heels would get so much out of it… I certainly felt a tinge of jealousy when I heard about it. Having come through the toughest 18 months of my life (new baby!) I remembered with longing that feeling of exhaling as one leaves behind all the noise and pressure associated with living in a city. And so I planned a few hours to myself in a country park - not Knoydart but still enough connection with the land (there goes that strange language Louise mentioned) to help keep things in perspective, to regain a bit of who I was and to vow to bring the little chap to the countryside as often as possible. It is a constant battle, I find, to keep your head above the constant flow of messages telling us we need ’stuff’ - especially, I think as a woman (a tan, a blowdry, certain shoes-!- the interior decor etc etc) and there is nothing like a mountain and some trees to remind you that all that is perhaps fun, but not necessary, to be happy.
October 2nd, 2008 at 3:33 pmComment on this post...