Tag: Beaches

The Gosport Half Marathon and PB for Commando – first published 17 november 2013

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Saturday 16 November 2013 was completely devoted to food. First there was a wander around Sainsbury’s with a basket that ended up so heavy I could hardly carry it. “Why didn’t you get a trolley?” Commando said when I moaned. The simple answer was, if I could fit it in a basket I knew I could carry it home. Even so the walk back down the hill was a struggle with four heavy canvas bags, two slung over each shoulder. After that it was packing away food and cooking food. Seriously, all I did all day was that and a quick bathroom clean. The kitchen was filled with containers of curry, home made curry pastes, pastas and a chicken noodle stir fry. The reason for all this mad Saturday activity was the Gosport Half Marathon.  Continue reading The Gosport Half Marathon and PB for Commando – first published 17 november 2013

On Tour!

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7 May 2016

Saturday is Parkrun day, at least it is in our house. This Saturday was a little different though because, for once, there was no Parkrun on the Common. A big event was going on there, a kind of obstacle race with giant inflatables like bouncy castles and the Parkrunners had been ousted for a week. Commando thought he’d probably go to Victoria Country Park instead and, remembering the last time I’d watched him run there, I was quite looking forward to it. There’s nothing quite like a stroll beside the sea first thing in the morning to set you up for the day. Continue reading On Tour!

sunrise, sunset, sea and being careful what you wish for – first published 23 October 2013

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Our last evening in Lanzarote ended on a high wth us watching the sunset by the pool. Then we had a morning to fill before our transfer to the airport. What do you do on the last day of your holiday? You have to check out in the morning so you can’t go back to your room for a snooze or a shower. Ok you can use the hotel facilities but swimming wouldn’t be the best idea when you have no room to get changed in and you don’t really want a wet costume in your hand luggage. What we did was go for a walk… Continue reading sunrise, sunset, sea and being careful what you wish for – first published 23 October 2013

Paradise and cold hard reality – first published 22 October 2013

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The trouble with holidays is they’re always way too short, and cold, hard reality is always there at the end of them. Commando and I had come to the last full day of our 2013 Lanzarote adventure and it was almost time to say goodbye to the  volcanic paradise where the sun always shines. For some reason I’d woken every morning at around seven, later than I would at home but earlier than I normally would on holiday. Each morning I crept out onto the balcony as quietly as I could and sat, listening to the pigeons cooing, the birds waking up and the sea crashing against the rocks below my window. Slowly the sky would turn from dark, inky blue to white clouds tinged with pink. It was nice to have the time to sit and watch the dawn. Continue reading Paradise and cold hard reality – first published 22 October 2013

Timanfaya National Park – first published 21 October 2013

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Lanzarote, and another day of lazing on the beach. It was a holiday after all, even if I was beginning to feel slightly under exercised and over fed. There was the occasional stroll down to the marina with coffee in Nud d’Naplun. While we were there we sampled the delights of the frozen yogurt shop next door. I’m not sure if the yogurt was low fat or not and the toppings most certainly were not but it served as lunch so I guess it didn’t matter too much. Continue reading Timanfaya National Park – first published 21 October 2013

Lost in West Wood

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20 April 2016

With the cool salt air in my face I strolled across the grassy area where the kite skateboarders hang out thinking about ice cream. Sadly there were no lads performing acrobatics with their skateboards today. In fact there was no one about at all. Still the sun sparkled on the sea and the grass along the promenade was dotted with daisies. It was enough to keep me smiling. Continue reading Lost in West Wood

The butterfly trail

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20 April 2016

This morning I thought I’d get out early, well earlyish, and try to get some miles under my belt. Ever since my adventure in Tickleford Gully with CJ I’d been thinking about walking a circular route to the shore through the gully and back via the trails in Mayfield Park, or perhaps the other way around. Since we’d had a couple of days with no rain I thought today would be a good day to try it. If I was lucky there wouldn’t be too much mud. Continue reading The butterfly trail

a little walk along the beach – first published 18 October 2013

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Part of being on holiday is relaxing and the second day of our 2013 Lanzarote adventure was a chill out day. After breakfast we wandered round the pool looking for some sun beds that hadn’t already been nabbed by the early morning towel brigade. It was going to be a lazy day. Continue reading a little walk along the beach – first published 18 October 2013

Goodbye England hello Costa Teguise – First published 16 October 2013

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Early in 2013, in a spirit of optimism, Commando had booked a holiday in the Canary Islands, a place neither of us had visited. Now the time had come my world was crashing around my ears at home, with my job crawling slowly to an end and the future looking very shaky. A holiday was the last thing I thought I needed but probably exactly the right thing to stop me falling into a deep dark pit of depression. Continue reading Goodbye England hello Costa Teguise – First published 16 October 2013

Beach huts and fat squirrels – first published 6 October 2013

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On an autumn morning that was turning out far hotter than advertised I walked along Boscombe beach front worrying about Commando. He was running his first marathon. So far the Boscombe beach huts had been disappointing but, just before Boscombe pier, they became slightly more colourful and behind them some fetching metal screens festoned with seagulls made up for any shortfall. Continue reading Beach huts and fat squirrels – first published 6 October 2013