16 December 2014
After almost a whole week with no walking of any kind unless you count from the bed to the loo, the December hundred miles were looking more and more doubtful. My little Tuesday morning jaunt up the Big Hill, steep as it is, and a wander around the garden didn’t really help matters. Still, I had a plan to get a few more miles under my belt before I went back to work on Wednesday and this involved a little night walking. Continue reading Night walking and shining lights
My village perches on the top of a Big Hill, the one I’m always moaning about climbing. The hill is actually called Lances Hill, after David Lance who once owned the land stretching from the village down to the river. It was David Lance who originally built the Big Bridge over the Itchen, more correctly called Northam Bridge, to connect his grand estate to the town of Southampton. After yesterday’s grumble about struggling up the Hill to the shops I thought I’d share a post I wrote back in 2012 to give you a better idea of the problem. Continue reading a tale of two hills – first published 15 September 2012
15 & 16 December 2014
Being ill and housebound for almost a week has meant not only a lack of walking miles for December but a decided lack of photos or things to write about. There was a fair bit of looking out of the window from the sofa when I was awake but the energy to pick up the phone and take any pictures of what I saw out there was decidedly lacking. On Monday Commando drove me into town for a little more Christmas present buying but, still feeling a little wobbly, the only picture I took was of one of the cheery decorations on a stall in the German Market. Some presents were bought though so I’d call that progress. Continue reading The holly and the ivy
Toilets, or the lack of them have always been a bit of an issue on some of my longer walks. Back in September 2012 a slight toilet emergency had me thinking about some of the lavatory related close shaves I’ve had in my walking career. Continue reading walking and the eternal problem of finding a loo – first published 7 September 2012
8 December 2014
As I walked through the gate into the woodland behind the Bursledon Windmill I wasn’t entirely convinced no huge, slavering dogs would appear. At first I was looking around nervously but, when I spotted some jelly ear fungi on a fallen branch, I forgot all about dogs. Looking closer there were patches of some semi translucent, creamy spots that looked suspiciously like slime mould on the same branch. As I’d probably only walked about ten paces at this point it seemed like a good sign. Continue reading One walk, two woods and lots of fungi
My first week at the new job ended just as the month came to a close. It looked like it was going to be a steep learning curve, not only on the work front. The office was in a part of town I didn’t know all that well and I spent my lunch breaks exploring, trying to work out the quickest routes to and from work. Sometimes things didn’t turn out as planned. Continue reading A long short cut leading to much wetness – First published 30 August 2012
8 December 2014
Usually Monday is mostly about cooking and shopping, with a little cleaning thrown in for good measure. Outside the window the morning sky was bright and blue, the perfect weather for windmill visiting, and, as I’d already made a tasty lamb casserole on Sunday afternoon, I decided everything else could wait. Continue reading Sails the on Bursledon Windmill
3 – 7 December 2014
Over the last week the weather has got markedly colder. Hats, gloves and scarves are the order of the day when I set off for work in the morning and, even then, the icy air nips at my fingers and nose as I walk. Down on the river the swans and cygnets huddle by the bank in the mornings seeking what little warmth they can get from the low sun. For the cygnets it’s their first winter and, after such a mild start to the season, they must be wondering what is going on. Continue reading Winter starts to bite
25 November – 3 December 2014
Our Paris adventure was over. Dusk was falling as we left the train and pulled our bags past Paul Day’s huge bronze sculpture, The Meeting Place at St Pancras. We made it to Waterloo with prefect timing, the Southampton train was just about to leave. Outside the dirty train window the English countryside sped past as the sun went down. At one point I spotted a sliver of the Itchen Navigation as we passed through Allbrook. We were home. Continue reading Back to reality
23 November 2014
Commando collects football scarves from every city we visit and, once he’d had a shower, he wanted to go back to Boulevard Saint Michel to look in a shop he’d spotted where he thought he might be able to get a Paris St Germain scarf. With all the getting lost and the extra walk around Jardin du Luxembourg time was getting on and, when we found ourselves back on Boulevard Saint Michel passing La Croissanterie St Michel, we realised we hadn’t had any lunch. The display of baguettes and cakes was mouthwatering and, after a lot of drooling, we finally settled on a chicken salad baguette to share and a muffin each. Delicious. Continue reading Doing the tourist thing