Boundary Stones – Page 3

A swan experiment and the changing face of Townhill Park

26 January 2016

When we were shopping at the weekend Commando veered off into a shop I’ve never visited before, Pampured Pets in the village. Since the demise of our ancient and slightly peculiar cat, Pippin, and the sad and far too early loss of the cheeky Fluffy, we’ve had no need of pet shops. For a moment I wondered what he was up to. All was explained when he made for the rows of little hoppers filled with bird food. Last week I’d mentioned I really should get some proper swan food if I was going to keep feeding the swans. This was my chance. Continue reading A swan experiment and the changing face of Townhill Park

Common conundrums, beating the bounds

25 January 2016

On Monday I had boundary stones on my mind so, for once, there was a real plan for my morning walk. This was no half arsed wandering in the general direction of somewhere or other and seeing what I’d find. There was a proper purpose and some real pre walk research. On Sunday morning I’d thought about walking to the Common and having another poke around for the boundary stone that’s supposed to be there somewhere. When I got up though, it was pouring with rain and Commando had left early for his fourteen mile Sunday run despite it. Not being sure whether he’d taken his door key or not seemed like a good excuse to stay at home and clean the kitchen. It also meant I had time to find out more about this boundary stone. Continue reading Common conundrums, beating the bounds

Some you win, some you lose, black swans and boundary stones

23 November 2015

For all my plans to walk down to the river every day until I spotted the black swan cygnets I hadn’t been back once since the beginning of the month. This was mostly down to terrible weather so, when I looked outside this morning and saw blue skies I knew it was time to have another look for them. Maybe this time I’d have more luck. Those sky and the unseasonable warmth made it feel quite springlike, a feeling compounded when I spotted blossom on a tree near Monks Walk. For a moment I thought I’d entered some kind of time warp and it was actually May, then I remembered seeing this same tree flowering last December too. Either it’s a magical tree or it’s totally confused by the weather. Continue reading Some you win, some you lose, black swans and boundary stones

Netley Castle, a reminder of why I’m Moonwalking – first published 19 April 2013

Moonwalk night was getting ever closer and, on the day of the last short walk before the big twenty six mile training walk, I had a plan. Ok, so the original plan went by the wayside because of Commando Senior’s accident and a total lack of time, even so the modified plan gave me a huge reminder of why I was doing all this in the first place… Continue reading Netley Castle, a reminder of why I’m Moonwalking – first published 19 April 2013

The Thames Trail, a catalogue of errors

26 April 2015

Once I’d left Cutty Sark and crossed Deptford Creek, it was a relief to be away from the crowds and walking along the empty embankment. The creek, I found out later, was the site of the Battle of Deptford Bridge, the last battle of the Cornish Rebellion, on 17 June 1497. Created as a Royal Dockyard by Henry VIII, in the sixteenth century, Deptford Dockyard gave employment to many shipbuilders until its closure three hundred years later. In fact, in 1580, Queen Elizabeth I knighted Francis Drake there on board the Golden Hind. The ship remained moored in the creek until it broke up. It seems it a pity it couldn’t have been saved and restored because I would like to have seen it. Continue reading The Thames Trail, a catalogue of errors

Freedom, boundaries and trespass

29 March 2015

“So, where are you going walking this weekend?” Elaine asked me between calls on Saturday.
“I don’t know yet,” I said, “I’ll probably have a look at the maps and see if I can find somewhere that looks interesting.”
“Maybe you could look for another one of those boundary stones. I’m quite curious about them myself.”
“Actually there is meant to be one down by the river somewhere on Mansbridge Road, I’ve been meaning to check out.”
So that was that, I had a plan. Continue reading Freedom, boundaries and trespass