iChristian

Today’s Pond Photo…

Hi Friends.

Today was the first time I have tried out my latest album, Ensconced in Light, released on Thursday 1st October, playing underneath my VoiceVista blind navigation app while actually out on the trail. This was, in many ways, the real-world test I had been hoping for when I created the album. The whole idea was to make something that could sit quietly in the background while VoiceVista did its job, rather than competing with it for my attention. I am pleased to say that it worked exactly as I had planned. Because I only have an AirPod in one ear when I am walking, I could still hear the loud birdsong around me, my own footsteps, and, most importantly, other people approaching. That last part is particularly important when you are navigating a trail without sight. There is absolutely no point creating a beautiful soundtrack if it means I cannot hear what is happening around me! Thankfully, Ensconced in Light simply became another layer to the experience rather than getting in the way of it. Mission accomplished. 💪🏼

There was something rather satisfying about hearing the music I had created while walking through the very sort of environment I had imagined it for. And what is quite funny is that, whilst I was out on the trail listening to the album underneath VoiceVista, Sarah is actually at home working in her office and playing Ensconced in Light as a backing track while she works. So, at exactly the same time, my album is being used in two completely different environments and for two completely different purposes: accompanying me on a blind navigation walk through the countryside, while providing Sarah with some gentle background music as she gets on with her working day. I rather like that. It feels as though the album has already escaped from the little world in which I created it and found its own uses. For me, the journey is slightly more complicated than most. I am listening to VoiceVista calling out navigation markers, distances and information, while simultaneously keeping an ear open for birds, footsteps, voices and everything else happening around me. So if Ensconced in Light can successfully find its place in that rather convoluted arrangement, I reckon it should cope pretty well with most people’s listening situations! Hopefully you might (if you like the album (or YouTube Playlist), lol) play it in a place considerably less convoluted than mine. 😀

And perhaps that is also a useful reminder for a Monday morning. Not everything we do has to be loud, dramatic or immediately noticeable to be worthwhile. Sometimes the things that quietly accompany us are the things that help us keep going. A familiar voice, a favourite song, a walk in the fresh air, a conversation with someone we love, a moment of prayer, or simply knowing that we have made it through another difficult day. We do not always need something spectacular to move us forward. Sometimes we just need something steady beside us while we take the next step. That is certainly something I have learned through walking again after my knee injury. You do not have to see the entire journey ahead. You just have to keep moving, listen carefully, take the next step and trust that the path will reveal itself as you go.

MS Walk London…

And finally, because apparently I am only about a week (or two) late, here is a lovely photo from the MS Walk London event on Saturday 26th September! Sarah and I are proudly sporting our MS Society volunteer T-shirts, and she is giving me one of her rather lovely cuddles. I was actually stood at this very location earlier in the day doing my official volunteering duties as Security, guarding the backstage gate. Yes, you read that correctly… have you ever heard of a blind Security guard? 🤣 Apparently there is a first time for everything! Once my highly specialised security operation was complete, we headed over to the Start/Finish line where Sarah and I made it our personal mission to cheer, scream and make as much noise as humanly possible for the more than 600 finishers coming across the line. We wanted every single person to know they had been seen, heard and celebrated as they completed their walk. So,late or not, I finally have a photo from the day – and I think this one captures it rather nicely: me, my gorgeous wife, our volunteer T-shirts and a whole lot of noise in support of an amazing bunch of people!

motivational Quote…

“Whatever journey you are on today, find something that gives you peace, encouragement and space to breathe. Sometimes we don’t need to change the journey – we simply need a little something to accompany us along the way.”

Let’s ‘FitBlitz’ 2026 Together! 💪🏼

Today’s Pond Photo…

Hi Friends.

The trail this morning was drizzly, grey and super muggy, the sort of weather where you don’t quite know whether you’re getting wet from the rain or simply sweating because the air feels like it’s wearing a thick blanket…Still, out i went, because sometimes the best thing you can do is put your shoes on and get moving regardless of what the weather is doing.

Being out there, hearing the rain and feeling the damp trail beneath my feet was actually rather peaceful. I think the black and white suits the mood perfectly because it strips everything back a little, rather like an acoustic guitar when you take away all the effects and just hear the wood and strings. Of course, it’s not just Sarah who gets to see the finished images, it’s you guys too, and knowing that you can see what I’ve captured and hearing you describe the photos to me is fantastic. I guess that’s our version of sharing the view!

“Arancini” 😋

On Friday, we headed off to Guildford on a little adventure of our own. We were trying to find G Live without simply relying on somebody else to get us there, because we’re looking at possibly visiting the venue for some music shows in the future. It was actually quite satisfying working it all out and finding our way there ourselves. And, as if that wasn’t enough of a successful expedition, we also found one of our favourite places for arancini!

Now, regular readers may have noticed that I am not exactly the world’s greatest food photographer. In fact, my usual photographic process goes something like this: eat food, think “Blimey, that was good”, finish food, then remember that I probably should have taken a photo to show everyone what I was eating. This time, however, I actually remembered…Look at me, getting all professional and everything!

“Don’t look back in anger”

The photo above is of my Noel Gallagher Signature Riviera electric guitar, and after watching the film on Saturday I think I’m going to have to riff out a few Oasis songs on it, lol! We headed to the cinema to watch Don’t Look Back in Anger, the new Oasis film. Now, obviously, when you go to see an Oasis film you expect plenty of rock ‘n’ roll, and there was plenty of that! But one of the things that pleasantly surprised us was the unexpected appearance of something rather different: preaching about forgiveness and redemption. There was a preacher talking about forgiveness, and somehow it fitted the story of Liam and Noel Gallagher remarkably well. After years of arguments, falling-outs and all the baggage that comes with being brothers in one of the biggest rock bands in the world, the idea of forgiveness suddenly felt like much more than just a religious message dropped into a music film. It became part of the bigger story. And then, of course, the guitars kicked in again, because this is Oasis after all! It was a surprisingly moving combination: forgiveness, redemption, family, music and the reminder that sometimes relationships can survive things that seem impossible to repair.

motivational Quote…

And perhaps that is a pretty good thought to take into a Monday. Life isn’t always neat and tidy. Sometimes it’s a drizzly trail, sometimes it’s getting slightly lost while trying to find a venue, sometimes it’s discovering that you’ve eaten the food before remembering to photograph it, and sometimes it’s sitting in a cinema expecting nothing more than a few hours of Oasis and unexpectedly being reminded about forgiveness. We don’t always get to choose the weather, the circumstances or the things that happen around us, but we can choose how we respond to them. We can keep walking when the trail is miserable, keep exploring when we’re not quite sure where we’re going, appreciate the little pleasures when they come along, and perhaps most importantly, choose forgiveness when holding on to something would be easier. Redemption is a powerful thing. So, whatever your Monday looks like, keep moving forward, keep looking for the good stuff, and don’t be afraid to put down some of the baggage you’re carrying. You might just find that the road ahead feels a little lighter. 😀

Let’s ‘FitBlitz’ 2026 Together! 💪🏼

The Pond…

Hi Friends.

I think Monday gets a bad rap…The weekend is over, the alarm goes off, and suddenly we’re expected to be productive, motivated and disciplined again. So I reckon we need something a little more exciting to get the week started.

Enter… Motivational Meatball Monday!

Today’s trail was nice and empty with not many people at all to smash into…I mean to say ‘Morning’ and be cheerful, lol! 😀 And after the nice trail, I think I’ve earned some motivational meatballs. Tonight’s dinner comes courtesy of one of my SimplyCook recipes: Hot Cajun Meatballs.

Regular readers might already recognise the SimplyCook name because it has made a rather unexpected appearance on this blog before. In fact, one of their recipes was the inspiration for my song “Sarah’s Tamil Chicken”…Yes, really! 😲

Somewhere between a recipe box and a chicken dinner, a song happened. That’s the slightly strange world of my blog.

Tonight we’re going in a rather different direction, though. No Tamil curry this time. We’re heading over to Louisiana (hey that’s near Florida, lol) with Hot Cajun Meatballs. This dish brings together beef meatballs, Cajun seasoning, peppers, tomatoes and a fiery hot pepper sauce, served over rice. The SimplyCook Cajun seasoning contains 14 different ingredients, including paprika, coriander, garlic and celery salt, so there’s plenty going on flavour-wise. Best of all, SimplyCook puts the calories at approximately 650 calories per portion when serving two…Well a few more as I always have to add baby chestnut mushrooms! 💪🏼

That’s what I like about meals like this. Eating with fitness and weight loss in mind doesn’t have to mean eating bland chicken breast and steamed broccoli until you lose the will to live. You can also choose to have a meal that’s going to blow your head off, lol. Or food that is still proper tasty! Whilst you’re still making sensible choices obviously. 🤣

The Monday motivation

“Taylor’s Turbo Turn” Audio GPS Marker…

For me, staying on track isn’t about being perfect. It’s about making enough good choices, often enough, that they eventually add up. Today that meant getting back out onto the trail and completing a lap. And tonight it means sitting down to a meal that sounds indulgent but can still fit into the bigger picture. A tasty meal doesn’t have to derail your progress. Neither does enjoying your food. In fact, I think enjoying what you eat makes it much easier to stick with a healthier lifestyle for the long haul.

So today I’m celebrating a little bit of trail progress with a little bit of Cajun heat. One lap. One tasty dinner. One Monday that’s gone rather better than expected…Because apparently motivation comes in meatball form. And if that’s not a reason to look forward to Monday, I’m not sure what is!

motivational Quote…

“Progress isn’t always about going further. Sometimes it’s simply about finding your way back to where you thought you couldn’t go.”

Let’s ‘FitBlitz’ 2026 Together! 💪🏼

The Pond Panorama…

Hi Friends.

There were no dramas on this morning’s walk, and that’s exactly what i want. After some of the hotter weather we’ve had recently, it was lovely to get out early while the temperature was much cooler. The difference was noticeable, and it made the walk feel far more comfortable from the start.

I covered 3.46 miles in an hour, keeping a steady pace throughout. There was also around 230 feet of elevation gain, so it wasn’t completely flat sailing. The effort felt moderate and controlled, which is exactly what I was looking for. But as always, the numbers aren’t really the point…The point is that I got out there! 💪🏼

“Karen’s Kaleidoscope” Panorama…

I kept moving, enjoyed the morning and took the time to actually look around me. I stopped to take a couple of panoramas too. The first was taken straight into the morning sun, which gave it a very different feel, and the second captured a view of “Karen’s Kaleidoscope”…We had a nice lunch with her yesterday, so I had to stop and take of photo! 😀It’s easy to think that progress only counts when we’re going faster, going further or achieving something spectacular.

motivational Quote…

“Don’t measure your progress only by how far you’ve travelled. Sometimes the greatest victory is simply choosing to keep moving.”

Let’s ‘FitBlitz’ 2026 Together! 💪🏼