Taking Things for Granted

    When the autumnal sun came streaming through the windows of my home yesterday morning, I couldn't wait to get outside and inhale the cold crisp air. So after a hearty breakfast my partner and I set off in the car and parked up at a local beauty spot called the Helix Park.
   
    We decided not to walk through the park but to walk along the pedestrian and cycle path on the banks of the adjoining Forth and Clyde canal. The cyclists ting, tinged the bells on their bicycles as they passed by us and the dog walkers greeted us with a "Hello," or "Good morning." We all had something in common and that was, we wanted to enjoy the morning sunshine.

 

     The blackbirds and robins were gorging on the plump and vibrant coloured fruits of the wild blackberry, raspberry and rose hip bushes that edge the path.

 

 

    Splashes coming from the water caught our attention and an adult swan posed for a picture before he carried on munching through the plankton. Another splash and the air bubbles rising to the surface of the murky waters drew our eyes to the thick reeds on the opposite bank. We laughed when a water fowl appeared with a small silver fish in his beak, which he/she proceeded to toss in the air before consuming it.
 

 

    Finally we reached the canal basin and sea lock, where the moored barges and boats groaned as their hulls bobbed on the water. I was sure they were trying to tell me the story of their last voyage, or their voyages to come. However their voices faded when my eyes fell upon the wondrous sight of the two Kelpies, the mythical marvels that each stand 100 feet high and dominate this once industrial landscape.

 

    Once the camera was put back into it's protective casing, we about turned and started to make our way back to the car. We didn't say much as we took in more images and sounds that memories are made of. But these types of memories, made up of both sights and sounds are not possible for all of us.

    Communicating with the dog walkers, or stepping aside to allow the cyclists to ride by, for some of us is impossible without help. 356,000 people are deafblind in the UK and face every day difficulties. For them taking in the beauty of the world we live in is not so simple as jumping into a car. deafblind.org.uk