February 8th. Part 1.

God is the Mind with which I think (Lesson 45).

Good, Monday, morning!

I awoke at four with excitement at the challenge of the next few weeks. Did my laundry at six, having turned over in bed for a couple l of hours before deciding it was a waste of precious hours. My rucksack I packed on Sunday evening. It might be a little heavy. I am not sure I will need a bivouac really and the two banana rye breads I baked last night are fairly heavy - a kilo at least, but I assume they will be gone before France(I read on Wikipedia that rye bread keeps weeks but I am not sure bananas don't go rancid if not totally dehydrated?)

After a really very hot bath ... The last for a while ... I opened the window to be greeted by rain, so what. Yes I will get wet. So what. As long as the jacket I own doesn't give out too readily ... I have gaiters and eVent trousers and plenty of wicking layers.

Last night I stupidly decided to update my rooted Galaxy Tab S and found I was stuck in a loop. Infuriating is this Samsung device! So un-user friendly. Eventually I installed a stock ROM on the device, but it turned out to be a Korean firmware! Oh well, I chose English(UK) in the start up. It now directs Google to .co.kr but this I can cope with as long as the camera function is working - it wasn't on the custom ROM - but now I am back at Android 5. I am waiting to see if the screen flicker and device crash I've had since the original stock ROM Kies update Samsung sent eight months ago. It's better than a Sinclair ZX Spectrum 48k... Just!

How long are my boots going to manage? Should I just forget the leak and accept a little dampness? It's not trench foot. I've had numerous discussions with employees of the walking shops who state Meindls would only last about two years with the amount of walking I do - two or three dog walks and then my own pilgrimages (my daily walking average is about two hours). So next time I am going to think heavily about paying £200 for a pair and perhaps go lower - below £100 - and only expect one years durability? I hope that the treatment if NikWax and sealant will get me to Reims and back?

For reading material on the journey, after I've found a place to bed down, etc, I've Robinson Crusoe which is really very good. It's quite exciting and I really get a sense of being at the whims of the sea and wind in those early days of south sea trade. He discusses slavery without any consciousness that this was a abhorrent concept, but I know that those working in cottage industries were no better than serfs. The lower classes always have had to endure oppression from those in position to purchase the people in world they travel. They never feel guilty?

The world goes on here on Albion Street. The working week returns to Leeds. To feel called by capitalism with its conformity. Time keeping and appropriate attire. And now the number of folks in desperation for their coffee charge (I am guilty) with Baroque playing unseasonably. This is not Greenwich in 1749! No I don't like "classical" music as a vague attempt to appear "classy" ... This is Caffé Nero. They go up the hill to their various modern boxes. I with retreat to the highway out of here. Waiting for the stage coach to depart with the baggage train behind.

One of the Baristas here is having trouble sleeping. But I just over heard she didn't get in until 7am on Sunday morning. Yes, the drugs don't work. Well sometimes they do! Antidepressants do work if you don't drink - this is so obvious now I drink little. What chance did they have when I still thought alcohol was good for my life? First do no harm. Remember the oath.