Look to the right of you; look to the left of you.  There are women walking everywhere.  On the beaches, in the mountains, on the shores and in the plains.  Where we live and where we work.  All the livelong day.

And as we walk we talk.  Oh yeah, it all gets solved on our morning treks.  Pilates?  Aerobics?  Swimming?  Weight training?  All good.  Necessary, even.  But we who walk share a communal spirit; it’s not just the physical exercise but the emotional connections that fortify us as we go.  Secrets are shared, issues discussed, and by the time we say goodbye and head off to the rest of our lives, we feel, as comedian Larry David would say, prretty prretty good.

Mood enhancement without pharmaceuticals is not a small thing, and as we get older, the list of benefits grows.  Want to sleep better?  Eat less?  Feel calmer?  Exercise of any kind is the drug of choice.

But for sheer pleasure, especially on a sun-dappled day, nothing beats time spent with a friend by your side, keeping a brisk pace,  just putting one foot in front of the other.

…and then maybe stopping for a cuppa tea and a biscuit.

Mint Ginger Lemon Tea

It’s a magic soothing drink that, according to all the latest research, will suppress your appetite, aid digestion, and add anti-oxidants to your diet  …   a “January-is-good-for-you-month” delight.

3 slices lemon
3 slices fresh ginger
16 mint leaves

Brew in boiling water for 3 to 5 minutes.