Category: Cautionary tales

A little shed update – first published 4 July 2014

This was the plan – the shed is photoshopped though

Quite a bit of 2014 was taken up with the problem of buying a new shed. You’d think it was a simple matter but, as always seems to happen to us, it turned out to be long winded and frustrating. After much debate, we chose our shed and ordered it. There was a bit of a wait for delivery but we were patient. It didn’t arrive though. The supplier was less than helpful. Apparently there had been quite a run on sheds and there was a delay. They promised to call back with a progress report. They didn’t. More than a month later the debacle continued.  Continue reading A little shed update – first published 4 July 2014

Thoughts on desperation, joy and the Itchen Bridge – first published 21 June 2014

Midsummer 2014 and a rather disturbing comment was waiting in my morning inbox. It was in response to my post about the lure of the Itchen Bridge and the content was graphic, not really breakfast reading. Coming across it again I was tempted not to republish, not all my old posts make the cut after all, but something about it haunted me. In the end, I felt it was worth resharing.  Continue reading Thoughts on desperation, joy and the Itchen Bridge – first published 21 June 2014

An ancient chapel, a blister and a long hard walk

7 February 2017

And so we limped away from the duckpond towards the place I’d really been heading for all along. Well, I limped anyway. The huge, spiny tree trunk in my boot gave me a sharp pain whenever I put my foot down and I was convinced there’d be a puddle of blood when I finally took the boot off. CJ still had no real idea what we were about to see but I did and the memory of the tranquil little church went a long way towards making up for the pain in my foot.  Continue reading An ancient chapel, a blister and a long hard walk

Limping through Manor Farm Country Park

7 February 2017

When CJ spotted the sign for Manor Farm Country Park he was surprised and delighted in equal measures.
“I can’t believe we walked so far,” he said.
“Only five miles,” I said, with a quick look at my Garmin, “less if it hadn’t been for the getting lost, and quicker if it hadn’t been for the mud.”
“I haven’t been here since I was really little. I think it was with school and I was about six.”
He had a big grin on his face as we set off along the muddy Farm track. Continue reading Limping through Manor Farm Country Park

The conclusion of the camp fire tales

17 January 2017

Every Saturday morning we drive up The Avenue to the Common for parkrun and, for several weeks now, we’ve commented on the broken drinking fountain on Asylum Green, the grassy verge in the centre of the two carriageways.  Now, while we were deciding which route the Frontiersmen and their Remount horses would have taken to Portswood, I took the opportunity to take a photo of it.  Continue reading The conclusion of the camp fire tales

A windy walk around Hurst Castle – First published 11 May 2014

May 2014 and, after a nightmare of mud and water on the Itchen Navigation I was hoping for a more sedate walk. Typically, the stroll along the shore I’d expected had turned into a battle against seemingly never ending shingle and strong wind. Hurst Castle was ahead but I was so exhausted I’d given up on reaching it and turned around to head back.  Continue reading A windy walk around Hurst Castle – First published 11 May 2014

Allbrook and wet feet -first published 3 May 2014

May 2014 and I’d reached Kiln Lane on my attempt to walk the whole Itchen Navigation from Winchester to Northam Wharf. After meeting a man on the path who told me it had been waist deep further along the trail I didn’t quite know what to do next. Should I attempt the Navigation or should I take the road along Kiln Lane? I stood for a while looking at the footpath sign and then along the road, dithering and uncertain. Continue reading Allbrook and wet feet -first published 3 May 2014

Exbury Gardens, a Halloween adventure

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24 October 2016

So far this autumn has been decidedly subdued so, when Commando suggested a trip to Exbury Gardens today, I wasn’t exactly hopeful. We last visited in Autumn 2015, just after we returned from Canada. Then, the trees might not have been as startlingly bright as those in Toronto, but they were beautiful all the same. This year I had the feeling everything would still be green. I was wrong…

Continue reading Exbury Gardens, a Halloween adventure

Wednesday walking first published 26 February 2014

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When I set out on the last Wednesday morning of February 2014 I had grand plans for an epic walk. Not too epic because I had even greater plans for Sunday and I didn’t want to wear myself out. What I was thinking was maybe nine to ten miles. Although the sky was blue and the sun was out it was cold so I wrapped up well. This ended up being my downfall. Continue reading Wednesday walking first published 26 February 2014

Last over the finish line at Winchester

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25 September 2016

Before Commando broke his leg he was scheduled to run as a pacer for the Winchester Half Marathon. It was an event I’d been looking forward to because it would give me a couple of hours to wander around Winchester while he was running. Of course the injury meant this wasn’t to be. Then, a couple of weeks before the event, I was asked if I might like to be a tail walker. Of course, as soon as I found out no running of any kind would be expected, I jumped at the chance. With Commando’s recovery well under way he decided to tail walk with me.  Continue reading Last over the finish line at Winchester