January 14th 2021
Round Iceland with some Mates
‘Round Ireland with a Fridge’ is a book by Tony Hawks which I read when I was at university. It is an entertaining read about the author re-evaluating his life whilst transporting a fridge around Ireland. I thought about this the other day as I began a mission around Iceland with some friends…...virtually...and without any kitchen appliances! In my village, there are a group of us who like to have challenges to do in order to keep us motivated, and our new one is a 1300km journey around Iceland!
If the lockdowns have taught me anything, it is that there is nothing wrong with wanting to keep busy. I’m one of those people who likes to discover new places and enjoy new challenges in order to keep my mind ticking over. Otherwise, I will be sitting and over-thinking which is a dangerous combination! How we use our free time is something that can easily be judged by other people because everyone is different and has their own activities that they enjoy. Many people have questioned my logic of going to Bath on a stormy Friday night to watch a game in the pouring rain which ultimately ends in disappointment. My response to someone who does question it would be simply…...that’s what makes me, me!
When I was growing up, I was definitely one of those people who considered what the crowds were doing before committing to take part in things. It is something I regret as I feel I perhaps missed out on a few fun experiences or events that I would have enjoyed. What is great about teaching at Moulsford is that boys are encouraged to show more about what makes them who they are and carve out a niche for themselves in the world. They are encouraged to ‘have a go’ and not choose things because their friends say so which is so important in life. In the senior part of the school, I sometimes get the boys to write an essay entitled ‘What makes me, me?’ which has produced some of the most powerful and thoughtful work I have ever seen. They are encouraged to talk about the ‘inner self’ that we perhaps don’t see so much and with little prompting can write for a long time.
Lockdown has really taught me a lot about myself and ‘what makes me, me?’ and I would encourage everyone to reflect on this question as it has been a rewarding experience for me. Anyway...must go now as I need to go past Kleppjarnsreykir in Iceland before dark!
