Outandabout March 2022 Issue195

Clambering
over Rocks
Sitting one Sunday at a bar near the Lonja I was
reminded about former times when I would
clamber onto the rock-built breakwater that
protects Moraira Town from the open sea.... the fact
that I was looking towards the inspiring reality of
the timeless Ifach underlined the moment!
Every Sunday I would walk carefully along
the breakwater, not just taking a light-hearted,
adventurous stroll but also performing a kind of
‘ritual act’ to acknowledge the Presence of Mother
Nature,
She who cannot/will not be ignored.
Each step I took along the uneven surface of the
breakwater was a calculated risk. If I put one foot
wrong I could easily coggle or twist my ankle, fall
over and do myself serious injury. If I misjudged
any of the narrow gaps between the rocks I could
end up with my foot wedged in an awkwardlyangled
space, unable to extricate myself!
When I found a comparatively level crouching
or sitting area there came a feeling of relief! Now I
would be able to better enjoy the panoramic vistas
and think great thoughts.... able to feel at one with
the world around me!
Go back 50 years to the early 1970’s - we (my wife,
our 4 pre-teens children and I) were sun-bathing
and relaxing in the summer heat on Moraira’s
Ampola Beach (no official lifeguard look-out stand
in those days - only a basic beach bar).
The 4 were clambering over the jagged rocks that
still fringe the Castello promontory today, jumping
into the shallow waters, clambering back up onto
the rocks, jumping and splashing into the waters
time and time again with inexhaustible energy!
Just watching the children was enough to send
my wife and I into a drowsy siesta.... for a while
at least!
Go back even earlier (the late 1960’s) - a deserted
Loch in the Scottish Highlands, calm weather,
picnic hamper waiting, our children clambering
over a jumble of rocks and boulders at water’s
edge, their grandfather (my father) with us on that
occasion, all looking forward to a simple alfresco
picnic.
The water was in no hurry and lapped gently
onto the shore, lightly blessing mossy rocks and
boulders.... at that moment, at least!
FEBRUARY 2022 | 21
by John
David
Moorhouse
Now go back even further in time (the 1950’s -
65 years ago) - I was courting my future wife, headover-heels
in love with her, thinking wedding bells
and looking forward eagerly to starting a family!
As an only child I was determined to create a
family. Not that my childhood years had been
unusually challenging or dysfunctional (although
my mother had died when I was only 5 years
old).... in fact those young years (looking back
some 70 years from the present) had been exciting,
challenging and full of colour!
The thought of Eunice producing a family
of “happy, healthy wee bairns” thrilled me
enormously.
In 1956 and 1957 I was invited to join Eunice’s
family for two summer holidays on the Isle of
Arran in Scotland.... two unforgettable holidays
(full of love-filled moments) that remain clear in
my mind to this day!
On one occasion (1957), led by my future inlaws,
6 of us went climbing up one of the many
challenging, mountainous slopes that inland Arran
offers to energetic folks. We clambered upwards,
negotiating rocky outcrops, wild heather tangles,
tricky little streams, etc.. It was a lot of fun as we
helped each other up the steep terrain!
Actually, we never reached “the top” - there
were more than enough “thrills” in the clambering
towards it!
Why ‘clamber’ if you can use an uncomplicated
‘easy route’, e.g., a well-paved road.... there are so
many ‘easy routes’ these days!
But, oftentimes, the ‘easy route’ can be
uninteresting, not to say boring!
Let’s face it, we need unsettling challenges in
our lives (from time to time!), circumstances that
cut across our ‘normal routines’, that drag/push
us into new and invigorating activities, making us
react creatively!
Does my “clamber over the rocks’ fascination
reflect my primeval antecedents?
Go back no further than when each of us is
born.... we emerge into a strange, uncomfortable
(?) world.... we have no choice but to ‘clamber
forward’ as best we may.... and the ‘process’
appears to be lifelong!