Tag: Little things to make me smile

Under the sea to gay Paree

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21 November 2014

Friday morning began with a latte in Costa Coffee and a long wait on the cold platform of Southampton Central Station. We’d arrived way too early. The lesser of two evils, it was that or leave later, get stuck in rush hour traffic and possibly miss the train. In my time I’ve spent many hours on platform one of this station. As a teenager I worked in the offices above and caught the train to and from work every week day for five years. On Staurdays in the summer I helped out on the platform, guiding people to their connecting trains. Some of the announcements are imprinted on my brain. Continue reading Under the sea to gay Paree

a walk through the New Forest

Bolton's Bench
Bolton’s Bench

18 November 2014

Now I’d visited Alice in Wonderland’s grave and quenched my thirst in the Mad Hatter’s Tea Rooms it was time to go back to the real world. What I’d really have liked to do was walk up to Bolton’s Bench and over White Moor to Matley Wood and then through the forest to Deerleap. This is a boggy walk at the best of times though and with all the rain we’ve had it wasn’t one I dared attempt. Continue reading a walk through the New Forest

Lyndhurst, an adventure in Wonderland

Illustration by Gwynedd M Hudson
Illustration by Gwynedd M Hudson

18 November 2014

One of my favourite childhood books was Alice in Wonderland. My copy was a thing of beauty that once belonged to Pappy and had colourful illustrations by artist Gwynedd M Hudson. I read it countless times and it captured my imagination. Alice Liddell, the inspiration for the story, lived most of her life in Lyndhurst in the New Forest and is buried in the churchyard there. As the Tuesday weather forecast hardly mentioned rain at all I thought I’d pay it a visit. Continue reading Lyndhurst, an adventure in Wonderland

A palace and a souk in one walk – first published 11 august 2012

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One of the delights of North Africa for me is haggling. For some reason I’m quite good at it. Morocco is a very male dominated society and the shopkeepers find it very strange when I do the bartering while Commando stands by and watches. On our penultimate full day in Agadir we decided to take a little trip to the souk to see if I still had the knack. Continue reading A palace and a souk in one walk – first published 11 august 2012

the Gosport half marathon

Runners gathering at Bay House School
Runners gathering at Bay House School

16 November 2014

Shortly after eight on Sunday morning Commando and I were in Mattie Matiz setting off for the Gosport Half Marathon. Unsurprisingly it was raining. It seems I’m going to have to learn to love walking in the rain or give up altogether. The first option is difficult, the second impossible. This was the third Gosport Half for Commando and the first one we haven’t got lost getting to. Before you say anything he has always been both driver and navigator. Continue reading the Gosport half marathon

chasing rainbows

Riverside Park
The end of a rainbow at Riverside Park

15 November 2014

Despite it being the first day of my holiday, there was no let up in the rain on Saturday morning. Unfortunately, there was no chance of staying inside in the dry and warm because I’d been invited to my granddaughter Bea’s birthday party. As Commando had an appointment at Commando Senior’s little crooked house this meant a six mile walk for me. Another walk in the rain. Continue reading chasing rainbows

here comes the rain again

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12 – 14 November 2014

There was no let up to the rain on Wednesday morning. My coat was still damp from the Tuesday walk, my gloves and hat still sopping wet. Luckily I have a selection of hats so I chose another but I don’t have a selection of gloves so I had to do without. If this rain keeps up I’m going to have to start a glove collection because my hands were freezing. Continue reading here comes the rain again

sun, food and bad manners – first published 7 & 8 August 2012

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Holidays are about relaxing and a little indulgence. So far on our 2012 Moroccan adventure the heat had killed my appetite but, unfortunately, this didn’t last and there was a little overindulgence. Some of it was accidental. Continue reading sun, food and bad manners – first published 7 & 8 August 2012

A VISIT AND A RADIOACTIVE SEAGULL – First published 6 August 2012

Agadir Marina
Agadir Marina

Holidays are about relaxing, sampling the local food and culture, and seeing the sights. There was one particularly unusual sight on our Moroccan holiday in August 2012 that I don’t think I’ll ever forget. Continue reading A VISIT AND A RADIOACTIVE SEAGULL – First published 6 August 2012

Echoes, ripples and connecting circles

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2 November 2014

This weekend was supposed to be the Walking Is Exercise Too! November walk. There were big plans for lots of miles. When I woke to the sound of rain dashing against the window and howling wind I revised them. There is only so much water a girl can take after all. After a lot of head scratching and some googling I decided to visit two local places that complete the circle of last weekend’s walk. Continue reading Echoes, ripples and connecting circles