Walking the medieval Southampton walls had been interesting but it had also been a bit of a distraction from the main objective, which was to complete my eight mile Moonwalk Training walk. Although I’d completed a circuit of the walls there was still a lot of mileage ahead… They would be interesting miles. Continue reading eight miles, walls, ruins and parks – first published 16 february 2013
2 May 2015
The day after my wedding anniversary is my birthday, which means I can’t forget the former, at least in theory. Not wishing to work on my birthday I’d booked the day off so there was no waking up at the crack of dawn and walking along the river. Given the cold, drizzly weather this was probably a good thing. A cold wet walk is never a good start to a birthday in my opinion. Continue reading Birthday surprises
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
26 April 2015
Training for a marathon is a long, slow process. It takes fortitude, courage and a dogged determination to get out and run, no matter what the weather, when your mind and muscles are screaming at you to stop and stay in bed. Running twenty plus miles is never easy, even if you’ve done it before many times. Anyone who thinks it is should go and and try. Sometimes doubts creep in. Why am I doing this to myself, maybe I should just turn for home now moments. Only the determined succeed. On our way back from Portchester, CJ and I bumped into Commando on one of his last ever training runs. The end was in sight. Continue reading London, marathon day has arrived
22 April 2015
When I said I thought I might go to Portchester Castle on Wednesday Commando Junior’s ears pricked up. He got that look, like a puppy that wants you to take it for a walk, and I knew it would be cruel not to take him with me. Bearing in mind the Tuesday debacle when I ended up dashing home in a panic I checked out the train times carefully and told him, if he didn’t get up in time, I’d go without him. It did the trick and we set off bright and early for the train station. Continue reading Portchester Castle, stinky moats, prison cells and scary stairs
6 April 2015
On Bank Holiday Monday, when Commando suggested going for a walk, you could have knocked me down with a hummingbird feather. Commando is a confirmed runner and, while he understands my love of walking, he doesn’t share it. It’s all too slow and sedate for him and he gets cross when I keep stopping to take photos.
“We could drive out to Lymington,” he said.
I was already getting my coat so I wasn’t sure I’d heard him properly. I hoped I had though because Lymington has been on my list of places to visit for a long time. The only reason I hadn’t already been was the appalling bus and train service. Continue reading Bank holidays, salterns and walking with Commando
1 to 4 April 2015
The first week of April was also the first week of my change to the early shift. It felt a little strange to be getting up at five fifteen on a Wednesday morning, rather than six thirty, more like my Saturday shift which has been an early start for a while now. Combined with the change of the clocks it threw me out all day. Continue reading Early starts, Easter eggs and Mr Bumble in the desert
5 January 2015
It’s hard to believe that four whole days have passed without me taking a single photo. This is, in part, because I’ve been obsessing over old photos. My Mac has somehow accumulated fifty three thousand of them covering the last few years and, for Christmas, Commando got me a mobile drive to transfer them to. Slowly I’ve been going through discarding the rubbish and saving the ones I can’t bear to part with. It’s a little like walking down memory lane without the actual walking. Continue reading plans afoot and a whole lot of photos
26 December 2014
Our Christmas Day was a quiet affair, lots of food and sitting around with the family. Much of it wearing the silly gold hats from our Christmas dinner crackers, well apart from Commando Junior who steadfastly refused to do something so juvenile. Originally I’d planned on going for a little walk but time ran away and I didn’t. Sitting around in front of the fire eating chocolates all day is surprisingly tiring. Continue reading Blowing away the cobwebs
24 December 1014
Finally, with one more trip into town and two trips to the supermarket, the Christmas preparations were complete. Presents were wrapped, some cooking and cleaning done. One thing we didn’t do this year was put up decorations. Somehow, it didn’t seem right when our heads were full of the big gap left by Commando Senior. This year it will be a quiet celebration, just us, some presents and some food. There may be some walking. In fact there has to be some walking if I’m going to make those hundred December miles. Continue reading Merry Christmas