“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
-Howard Thurman

I have been reaffirmed. To make a long story short, after my posting about feeling like I was wasting time, a farm in Cornwall e-mailed me asking for immediate help. I won’t be going there now, since they don’t want to deal with the (remotely) possible VISA issue, but the place I’ve been staying at here in Wales has offered to let me stay for free in exchange for helping out with the animals, garden, house, and barn renovation.

When they offered, it was quickly obvious to me that of course this is the right thing; I’m comfortable and happy here, in this place and with this family. Plus it seems that the whole series of events happened for just this outcome; having trouble finding a host, having the VISA snafu, being contacted by that last farm just to be rejected, to plant the seed in these people’s heads, for me to stay here.

It is a lovely small farm with chickens (and chicks), 2 horses, a vegetable garden, greenhouse, upkeep of multiple stone buildings, and they’re currently renovating another stone barn. I’ll probably also help out with the BnB, cooking breakfast and cleaning. Plus I can continue on the Coastal Path (I’m becoming a long distance walking junkie already)! Plenty to keep me busy!

So with that good news (and the plan I hatched last night to meet a friend in Thailand in September), my state has changed. I have been enjoying it here but now that I feel like I have a role, and a place where I ‘belong,’ I feel even happier, more free and more confident. This is good, this is where I should be right now.

Although I think I may take a quick trip to Ireland first, since it seems so serendipitous that the ferry is 30 minutes from here…

Anyway, now you know the news, so back to my usual update!
Yesterday I took the bus back to Cardigan and walked through a bird sanctuary and wildlife reserve to the town of Cilgerran, to see Cilgerran Castle!

Swans

Giant wicker badger at the visitor center!

A herd of water buffalo, supposedly to control the bulrushes

Crazy old old old slate stone wall

I could feel my knees starting to tighten up, part of the reason why I didn’t do a coastal walk yesterday (lots of up and down cliffsides), but unfortunately they started to actually hurt today. I took the bus to Cardigan again and continued south from where I left off on Saturday and planned to only walk 4 hours instead of 6…. Yes, I know that’s not quite the best way to take care of myself. But there is so much to see!

The walk today was actually spectacular. I ended up missing the bus by 10 minutes because I just kept stopping and staring at the cliffs. I did do a fair amount of almostrunning to try to make up for it, playing scenes from Braveheart and Rob Roy in my head 🙂

I had so much fun today that I actually reflected on the fact that I was having fun! I realized that many people would not consider being alone on an overgrown path, 5 feet from a sheer drop into the ocean, in the spitting rain, tripping over badger holes, fun. And definitely some days I wouldn’t either. But today was glorious. I even thought ‘If I do fall off a cliff into this ocean and die, that would be a pretty good way to go.’ Although if course I was careful, because there is more to see!!

This is a 500 year old yew, in the courtyard of a 1,000 year old Norman church ruin.

The mouth of the river, and you can just make out the Mwnt that I hiked over on Saturday, the pyramid shaped hill on the coast way in the distance.

Absolutely amazing geologic formations

Did I mention the wind was gusting today?

I also saw a peregrine falcon and a few razorbills (closely related to puffins!!), but no close pictures.

As I’m writing this in bed, I have no idea if in 24 hours I will be here or across the Irish Sea. But even more amazing than that, I am completely at peace with it. Either way will be good. Amen!