Good morning.
Off the top of my head. . . . .I can see sunshine outside. There was a lovely blue sky yesterday which prompted me to go out for a walk. My usual around field edges, big wide open spaces. Food for the soul.
Something came up on our village page yesterday. Someone making a comment that a certain footpath is in poor condition. The surface had been scraped by a machine and is difficult to walk on. When it rains it is going to become a mud bath. So says the disgruntled village person. They ask who's responsibility is it to keep it in good order for walkers.
I walk the path often, and so does this person, apparently. I wear proper walking boots, and expect there to be some dodgy muddy sections, it comes with the season. I can navigate around it. The person says someone might fall. I say get some suitable footwear, and buy some walking poles. Go Outdoors sells all the equipment you need.
This person says I am missing the point. I did not want to get into a detailed discussion with them so I think best left alone. Let them think they have a valid point. I have offered a solution, but their reply is that it is someone else's responsibility to keep the public footpaths nice and tidy, and navigable for walkers.
And there is the crux of the matter. It's a classic case of 'always someone else's job to sort out a problem'. If you go looking for problems you will probably find some. I don't look for problems because I work out things for myself. I can easily bypass that particular muddy patch. I can go a different way. Or I can pussyfoot around it. I reserve one pair of trousers for winter walking. I expect to get some mud around the bottoms. I don't wash them very often because they will pick up more mud on the next walk.
My reply to the disgruntled walker, there is no easy solution to this problem. Someone is not going to come along and lay a perfect path for you. Use your skills of risk assessment, and if you think you might fall then choose a different path.
Have a good day. The sun is out again. Looking good. Picture from August 2022
Toodle pip. ilona
You are so right it’s a national disease ( It’s not my fault ) Kath
ReplyDeletePeople are always looking for somebody else to blame, instead of how can I make this easier for myself. The answer is often inside ones own head.
DeleteSome people are ALWAYS going to complain. I think it’s fabulous you have all of those public foot paths. We do not have anything like that in my part of the US. Strap on your boots and enjoy your walking mother!!!
ReplyDeleteThe UK has a great network of footpaths, some local, some long distances. We have the freedom to walk them, for now, and must do so to keep them open.
DeleteSo many people don´t want to take responsibility for themselves. Not only with small things like a footpath, but also about how to live their lives. They expect someone to make their decisions for them and blame them when the outcome is not as they wanted.
ReplyDeleteHilde in Germany
You totally understand, Hilde. When trying to convince people that their future is in their own hands, I constantly hit a brick wall. It's sad, but there are those who will not have the life they desire because of their perceived limitations.
DeleteSadly many people fail to make their own risk assessments and are happy for the nanny state to do this for them. Hence the number of older adults dutifully trotting off for their booster and flu jaaabs because the government deems anyone over 65 regardless of their state of health to be frail and vulnerable. I’ve definitely seen a rise in ageism and particularly benign ageism since the plandemic.
ReplyDeleteThe individual who posted about the state of the footpaths has now had the seed sowed that the route is risky and they or someone might have a fall. Funny how younger people are deemed to fall over whereas with older people it’s ‘ they had a fall’ regardless of the cause. This person probably won’t find a solution such as good boots and walking poles and will simply avoid going for a walk in the winter months. A few months later they will have lost much of their fitness and mobility and will no doubt be a customer of the NHS.
I am all for helping each other if someone needs or asks for help. But to play the roll of savior of all mankind is a bit OTT in my opinion. To add restrictions to every activity in the hope that no one gets hurt is pie in the sky. Remember how everyone repeated over and over again, 'stay safe', just as you were saying goodbye.
Delete