Reconnecting with the northern coast
After almost five years working for American software company Automattic out of my bedroom office, I took a voluntary redundancy offer at the start of October 2024. It was a messy end to a rollercoaster time, but the decision was easy. The company was embarking upon a lengthy legal conflict, and I didn't want to become part of someone else's fight that has nothing to do with me.
Looking back on my older posts here, like this one, I'd been questioning for a while what I should do with myself work wise. At least now one decision has been made.
Leaving was a very odd experience, rather like waking from a dream or emerging back into reality. I'd found the experience of working online quite immersive - experiencing the busy Slack chat 'rooms' like offices. I was part of a global, synchronous community, and logging on felt like donning a virtual identity and checking out of the physical world.
Coming out of that environment seemed to require some recovery. So I set out on various projects to recapture my sense of place, my physical fitness and, honestly, my connection with reality.
A few weeks after leaving the company I walked part of the England Coast Path (now renamed after King Charles III), a long distance National Trail.
I took the train to Marske, and set off to the coast from the station, before turning south east down the beach path towards Saltburn.
Because it's part of an official national path, the way across the dunes and cliffs is well marked and well trodden. It was a blustery but dry October day and I was alone almost the whole 3 mile walk. It was pleasantly breezy and fresh.
Most of the path is perched on the clifftop, though it meanders inland through farmland as well. A popular option is to walk one way along the cliffs and then return along the beach. I just did it in one direction, then caught the train back home from Saltburn.
As you get closer to Saltburn from the Marske direction, the majestic Huntcliff (inhabited since at least Roman times) hoves into view.
Then, the climb down to Saltburn . I did this walk at high tide, but at low tide there are vast expanses of sandy beach at the base of these cliffs.
Saltburn was grey and solitary on this October day, but it wasn't depressing or bleak. It felt fresh and atmospheric in its northern mist and blunted autumnal hues.
This walk was a symbolic step to remind me where I'm from, and blow away the dust that had settled on me. It was the start of a sort of reevaluation that's still going on.
I am postdating this, and it's more past-tensey than it would have been, as I'm writing it in December 2024. I have a few other drafts to produce from this interim period before I plan to become a synchronous blogger again.
