Tag: Fungi

A surreal experience and an interview – First published 5 December 2013

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Red sky in the morning, shepherds warning, or so they say, and the morning sky on 5 December 2013 certainly had more than a hint or red about it. As I ate my granola I watched it change from hint of pink to deep rose with a touch of purple in the clouds. The wether news was not good, storms and high winds were on the way and maybe a flood or two. Not quite what I’d hoped for on the day of my interview but those are the breaks I guess. Continue reading A surreal experience and an interview – First published 5 December 2013

Putting CJ to the test

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24 May 2016

When I told Commando I was going to walk the Itchen Navigation to Winchester today and CJ wanted to come along, he was concerned. He didn’t think CJ would cope with a fifteen mile walk, no coffee stops and nothing but nature to look at. In fact he suggested we get the train to Eastleigh and start off there, on the pretty part of the Navigation. CJ insisted he’d be fine though so, fairly early (at least for CJ), we packed some sandwiches and drinks in my rucksack and set off. Continue reading Putting CJ to the test

A slight cock up in the medal department and a ten mile walk

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27 April 2016

The Southampton Half Marathon was over and Commando and I were both chilling over a cup of coffee. He’d run thirteen point one miles and I’d walked more than half that trying to spot him. In fact I’d even run a little bit but I’m keeping that to myself in case he starts expecting me to run all the time.
“Have you got my race pack and my medal,” he said.
“I haven’t even seen it,” I said with a sinking feeling. “You didn’t leave it in the pub did you?”
“I don’t even remember having it in the pub. I thought I’d given it to you.” Continue reading A slight cock up in the medal department and a ten mile walk

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

the first ever Bournemouth marathon – first published 6 October 2013

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After six months of training, the day of the first ever Bournemouth Marathon had finally arrived. It was also Commando’s first ever marathon and it began very early. When I got up, at six, it was still dark. As I ate my granola and drank my morning smoothie the sun came up slowly outside the gym window. All the while Commando was calmly stuffing himself with carbs. He said he wasn’t nervous but there was a slight frisson in the air, maybe it was excitement. Continue reading the first ever Bournemouth marathon – first published 6 October 2013

Cows, or are they Bulls? – first published 18 August 2013

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My mid August New Forest walk was turning into a nightmare. Not only was I hot, hungry and thirsty, now I was worried about Commando. He’d sounded so down when he called me and knowing he was almost out of water and lost too made it worse. In truth, neither of us were far from civilisation and would be unlikely to die of hunger and thirst but it did go to show how easy it is to get into trouble out in the forest when you’re not properly prepared. Continue reading Cows, or are they Bulls? – first published 18 August 2013

hungry, thirsty, lost and worried- first published 18 August 2013

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While Commando was running his eighteen miles to train for his first marathon I’d walked across White Moor, skirted Matley Woods, negotiated a muddy field and was heading for the shelter of the trees. As usual, I was lost and there were two choices of path. Why does that always happen? Continue reading hungry, thirsty, lost and worried- first published 18 August 2013

Loneliness of the long distance runner – first published 18 August 2013

Commando on a Parkrun
Commando on a Parkrun

Commando was training for his first marathon. His first Sunday morning run of August was fifteen miles, his longest ever. He ended up, hot but otherwise unscathed from his long, long run. He did say his calves were a little achy so I added peppermint oil to some of my body butter and gave them a massage which he said did the trick. He could have just been trying to make me feel better though. Either way I was very proud of him. The next run was eighteen miles. Continue reading Loneliness of the long distance runner – first published 18 August 2013

One door closes, another opens

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5 January 2016

With a feeling of disappointment, CJ and I turned to leave St Edward the Confessor church. We’d expected to see stones from Netley Abbey at the base of the tower but there were none. I’d hoped to find a longer footpath but I hadn’t. We were heading back to the path and the gates when I saw what I thought were gargoyles at the base of the arch of one of the doors. A closer look, showed there was no pipe for water to come out so technically they were chimeras or bosses, used to frighten evil spirits. They were quite badly weathered but I took a picture of the best one anyway. This was when I noticed the door was open. It felt like my lucky day after all.
Continue reading One door closes, another opens

Robin redbreast on the Common

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8 December 2015

Yet again there had been rain and there’d been a fair bit of sitting about talking about Katie and worrying how Maggie and Alan were coping. Messages and cards had been sent. What there hadn’t been was walking, apart from up the hill and back again trying to beat the showers. Commando was going slightly stir crazy, missing his runs so, when the rain eased up in the late afternoon, he decided to go for a run on the Common and asked if I wanted to come along for a short walk. Continue reading Robin redbreast on the Common