The really good photos are on another friend's camera, so just posting whatever I have at hand for the moment.

Weather was good today. Started off pretty cold in the morning, but once we began walking, it got warmer. Bascially, we trekked for about...7-8 hours...and from David's stepometer (or something like that..a device strapped onto his body that calculates how far he walked), we covered a good 10-11 miles today. At least. And...the path he took was no straight road, nothing that allowed the flock (i.e. us) to amble along leisurely, admiring the scenery...it was lots of uphill climbs, rocky paths, slippery, muddy trudges, downhill slides..etc. It's only been slightly less than a year and I've almost forgotten that this is one tough walker who did not believe in taking an easy stroll =) But it was a good walk, with a short lunch break in the middle of our 'valley-path'...and lots of conversations. At several points along the trek I did wonder briefly to myself "just what did I get myself into?" as we moved carefully up or down the treacherous-looking routes (almost literally holding on to our dear lives) not daring to look down while ascending one of those StEeP slopes that looked almost impossible to mount from below...but we did...and then the long valley walk, treading over the seemingly never-ending trail of rocky track, moving along the streams and mini waterfalls... As I confided in Val at one point in our conversation, such memories will stay with me way after I return home at the completion of my studies, and will surely be one of those things I'll miss about this place. Along the trudge, as we passed by these Old-English-looking cottages which had their lights turned on, thus illuminating their cosy interiors, I suddenly felt this sense of festive christmasy mood dawning on me. One of my dreams about England involves spending at least one christmas the traditional way with a local family, because over here (at least in notts), the general christmas mood is surprisingly low-toned, and I think such seasons are really more of a family thing rather than a community thing, quite unlike s'pore, where the christmas cheer permeates the entire street along Orchard Road year-after-year from as early as November sometimes?
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And the SR-CU concert afterwards was really enjoyable too! Was so tired out initially that I felt a slight inertia towards going out again after returning home, but eventually, was glad that I went. Couldn't imagine letting pam down! =p Sang a lot the whole of today, in the car, on the way, during the concert...
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Side-note: As we grow older, our lives naturally become more complicated, riddled with dilemmas and decisions with regards to matters-of-consequence. You usually have little choice on whether you want to be involved in making those decisions or not. Such things make you feel older, and helps you to begin to appreciate more acutely some things that are simply straight-forward and pure. No maybes about them.
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Tired out from the day's events. Time to rest.