Tag: Nature

A thin, ephemeral blanket of white

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3 February 2015

On Monday night I made a careful plan for a long walk. Maybe it’s time I learned my lesson and stopped making plans because it seems something always happens to scupper them. When I got up in the night I did a double take as I passed the hall window from bedroom to bathroom, either there was a really heavy frost or it had been snowing. It was too dark to see for sure so, sleepily, I trotted back to bed. The answer, when Tuesday morning came, was snow! Finally the Yak Trax would come out of hibernation. At least they would if I got a move on and got outside before it melted or rained. Continue reading A thin, ephemeral blanket of white

Hum Hole, Facebook and urban legends

image 1 February 2015 I’m not a great fan of Facebook. In fact, I resisted it for a very long time but, working in marketing for Dream Factory, the day came when I could resist no longer because I was put in charge of the company Facebook page. This meant I had to sign up for myself. These days I run a Facebook walking page, Walking Is Exercise Too and, recently, I discovered another very interesting page, Southampton Heritage Photos. Lately, there’s been a lot of talk on there about Hum Hole. Continue reading Hum Hole, Facebook and urban legends

the common and another lucky escape

Commando, getting ready for a run onTthe Common
Commando, getting ready for a run on The Common

27 January 2015

Commando took up running almost four years ago. He’s always been slim and fit. He used to teach martial arts but it’s a dangerous occupation even if you do have black belts in several disciplines. There were injuries, broken ribs, black eyes and any number of strains, sprains and assorted bruises. Throw working nights and lack of time into the mix and it became harder. Something had to give. Continue reading the common and another lucky escape

A new trail and a lucky escape

 

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27 January 2015

In the end I decided to carry on and walk down to the start of the Navigation to see how muddy it was. It would be handy to know in case I manage to go to Twford in the near future. A little forwarning is always handy and I could always take the road way back if need be but I’d rather not get half way along and have to turn back. Some fishermen looked up as I passed under the road bridge and I wondered how far along the Navigation I could get in the time available.   Continue reading A new trail and a lucky escape

a different perspective down by the river

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27 January 2015

The weekend had been a little light on the walking front. There was some Sunday retail therapy, when Commando treated me to a slap up lunch in Burger King. Not the most salubrious of establishments I admit but it did give me a different view of the Bargate. Monday was mostly about cooking.  As I had a date with Commando on Tuesday afternoon to take running photos as publicity for his London Marathon fundraising, I thought I’d better get my finger out in the morning and get a few miles in. The original plan had been to take a train to Shawford and have a wander around Twyford before walking back, possibly on the Navigation, mud permitting. This would have been an all day walk though so I had to have a rethink. Continue reading a different perspective down by the river

Moonwalk Deja Vu – first published 9 November 2012

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After my first Moonwalk was over I told anyone who would listen, “never again.” The training took all my spare time. I had horrible blisters, all sorts of aches and pains and some of those long walks in bad weather were the stuff of nightmares. Waking twenty six point two miles around London all through the night was gruelling to say the least, especially for someone who likes to be in bed by eleven. There was a terrific buzz crossing the finish line but it didn’t quite feel worth all that pain. When I said it I really meant it… Continue reading Moonwalk Deja Vu – first published 9 November 2012

Frost, ice crystals, sun and ships

What a difference a day makes
What a difference a day makes

21 – 23 January 2015

Wednesday morning couldn’t have been more different to the day before if it tried. The cold was still there but the beautiful skies I’d seen on my early morning walk were now grey and brooding and the sparkling frost was nowhere to be seen. Seven cygnets were foraging around in the mud by the slipway and, as I passed by, their parents came rushing over to see if there was bread to be had. There wasn’t.

Continue reading Frost, ice crystals, sun and ships

Cold weather eating urges – first published 7 november 2012

 

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As someone who has always struggled with my weight winter is a testing time. The cold weather brings on cravings for stodgy comfort food while, at the same time, there is less opportunity for exercise. Let’s face it, we’d all like to snuggle up in front of the fire with a big box of chocolates or a bowl of sticky hot pudding and custard. Doing that for three months of the year would really pile on the pounds though so it’s something most of us fight. This post from the archives is all about why it happens and how I try to beat the cravings. Continue reading Cold weather eating urges – first published 7 november 2012

The journey, not the destination

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18 January 2015

When I woke on Sunday morning I was expecting to see snow. My weather app had been full of snowflakes and a seventy per cent chance of the white stuff when I’d checked it the night before. The Yak Trax were in my beg ready and I’d drifted off to sleep thinking about good routes for snowy weather. Outside though, the garden was wet, the sky cloudy and grey and the fickle weather app had sun peeking out from behind little clouds. The disappointment of not being able to break out the Yak Trax was tempered by the prospect of a brand new walking route. Continue reading The journey, not the destination

water water everywhere – first published 4 November 2012

A very wet Lyndhurst
A very wet Lyndhurst

In early November 2012 Commando was training for his first ever half marathon. His longest race at the time was 10k, just over six miles, so a thirteen point one mile half marathon was a huge step. Sensibly, he had a proper training plan and was sticking to it religiously despite some rather wet weather. On the first Sunday in November he decided to go out to the New Forest for his longest run ever, fourteen miles. He didn’t have to ask me twice if I wanted to come along. It turned out to be quite an experience. Continue reading water water everywhere – first published 4 November 2012