Tag Archives: walk

20 March 2009

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As promised, another Winterton dunes picture: this time it’s Amy investigating one of the ruined structures at the village end of the valley. She heard us calling them sand dunes, so she decided to call them flower dunes. Very independent-minded girl.

I was wrong about the gas man: he arrived very early and said our boiler was not totally efficient but was working fine. This means the company has to tell us we should buy a new “green” boiler, but there’s nothing wrong with the old one, so throwing it away doesn’t sound very green to me. I am being environmentally friendly by continuing to use the one we have.

I won my fourth chess game in a row on Monday evening, and on Tuesday Dot, Barbara and I worked on a new leaflet for Philosophy4Children, which worked out quite successfully, I think, using Pages.

On Wednesday I visited my artist collaborater Ruthli and saw her second picture. I got quite a bit of inspiration as I looked at it, and several phrases sprang to mind. When I got home (after her husband Douglas showed me his amazingly organised garden) I managed to write a poem quite quickly, which was fortunate, because I had to get all four poems for the Norwich 20 Group exhibition in by the next day. This I managed to do, which was a relief. I quite like the poems, too. Ruthli’s house is amazing – absolutely full of art works of various kinds. The garden has sculptures too, so there’s no getting away from it. It’s totally wonderful.

In the afternoon, after Dot’s DSSO meeting, we had another visit from our financial adviser, who seems to be sorting out the best thing to do with Andrew’s money and Dot’s life insurance. I sense some coherence returning to our financial affairs – until, that is, we try to do Dot’s next tax return. This was followed in the evening by a district church council meeting and a distinct loss of coherence. For some reason these meetings always leave me depressed, even though 90 per cent of this one seemed quite uplifting. Then we started talking about decision-making and dialogue, which is all to do with whether we should attach ourselves to organisations like Transition Norwich, which in my view is quite wrong, since it is nothing to do with Christianity, is purely political and represents a point of view that would certainly not be shared by everyone in the church. Me, for instance.

Yesterday was quite cold and grey after some sunny days earlier in the week, and I was reluctant to go for a walk, though this is what I had planned to do while Dot was away on P4C business in Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich. In the end I got in the car and set off half-heartedly. I parked by a public footpath (part of Boudicca’s Way) at Arminghall, and the path over the field looked so inviting I decided to go a little way. But I was lured on and eventually did nearly four miles, round the lip of a quarry and across hilly fields to Caistor Lane, and then back by a slightly different route. Really enjoyed it in the end. Although the quarry is only yards from a road I have known well since my childhood, I had never actually seen it before. Since it is an amazingly large hole, this is quite surprising, but it is well shielded. I have become very fond of the countryside in that area around Caistor St Edmund. I suppose that area was part of my childhood, and I’ve always liked it.

I have more or less finished all the work I can do on the Paston Guidebook at the moment and need to try a couple of the walks and get back to Lucy for discussion. At the moment she is more concerned with the Grapevine exhibition which is coming up at the end of the month. I have sent out a large number of e-invitations and printed out some other stuff for it. More to be done, though.

26 February 2009

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This is the weathervane on Knapton Church in North Norfolk – designed by the famous Norwich School artist J S Cotman. The church also contains an amazing angel-strewn double hammerbeam roof, if you like that sort of thing. It is quite spectacular, and I visited the church yesterday, during a walk from Pigneys Wood, near North Walsham. The wood is in fact in the parish of Knapton but also part of the sprawling old village of Paston, which is why I was there, because it is the start of one of Lucy’s Paston Walks, which I was checking out. After walking down to the North Walsham and Dilham Canal and back (1 mile) I did most of the walk, a distance of about 4.5 miles. Lovely part of Norfolk, especially the green lane along the low ridge towards Knapton, though it was bit muddy in the milder but wetter weather we’ve been having.

Earlier in the day I’d driven to Barnham Broom Country Club to have lunch with Dot in between her visits to Barnham Broom School and Carbrooke School, in her role as diocesan school support officer. Very pleasant bar area and a good sandwich. The previous day I’d driven to Caddington to spend a couple of hours with David while Dot was at Terrington St Clement School running some very successful P4C sessions with Barbara. They stayed in a Premier Inn at West Lynn on Sunday and Monday night and did two full days on the Monday and Tuesday. An excellent response from children and teachers. She really does do an awful lot of good stuff for schools.

I had spent most of the Monday preparing stuff for Ambient Wonder: my chess match was cancelled in the evening. In the morning the cooker man had come to insert the new thermostat, which he did by taking the entire stove out of the fitted surround and then reinserting it – all of which can only have taken about a quarter of an hour. Amazing how quickly you can do something if you know what you’re doing. Late afternoon Lisa came round to record some of her poems for the Paston exhibition, and I delivered the CD to Lucy after the walk yesterday. I’ve entered three poems for another competition in Stafford and have re-entered three for the Wigtown competition, because the first three went missing. Sadly I seemed to have no record of which three they were, so I had to guess. Probably wrongly. Ho hum.

30 January 2009

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How Hill nature reserve, near Ludham. I did a 4.8-mile walk in the area yesterday, after Dot and I had visited Jessie and then left some flowers at the cemetery in North Walsham. It was her mum’s birthday. We also left some on what Dot thought might have been her grandmother’s grave, though there was no gravestone. Then on to Ludham where we shared a turkey baguette in the King’s Head before she dropped me off and went on in her DSSO role to a school at Sutton, about four miles away. I walked some very damp roads before venturing into a deserted How Hill, where I walked down to the River Ant and took a couple of pictures before continuing back to Ludham church. No sign of Dot, so I walked on to Womack Staithe and back. I was about to go into the church when she pulled up. The longest walk I’ve done since my operation, and I felt reasonably OK, though tired. In the evening I went to a St Augustine’s local ministry team meeting in the Ribs of Beef on Magdalen Street, which ended with Nicholas, Howard, Phil and I (the only attenders) discussing concerts we had been to and the first albums we’d bought. Dot stayed at home. She’s been working too hard recently.

It was a cold day, as it is today, with a wind that’s biting if not particularly strong. We’ve just heard that my second cousin Jeanette and her husband, who were emigrating here from South Africa, have decided to go home. They did pick a particularly cold winter to come over here, and their holiday home rental in Cornwall has not given them much warmth. And in the current credit crunch crisis they haven’t been able to get jobs. Sad, really. I’d been hoping to get to know them via visits to Cornwall!

Today I’ve spent a few hours at Paston learning how to use iMovie with assistance from Lucy, who also gave me lunch. She’s a bit better at the moment, though long-term prospects aren’t much different. Naomi is also going through a rough patch and will have to come home for treatment, since the medical people in Durham have proved particularly inept at looking after her.

17 January 2009

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Another three-mile walk today, and the halfway point turned out to be French Church Farm (pictured), on Caistor Lane, where my paternal grandparents lived when I first knew them, in the early 50s or very late 40s. Later they moved up the road to The Hawthorns, a bungalow about half a mile away but on the main Norwich-Poringland road. I suspect the first at least was rented, and possibly the second. Strangely, despite all the changes in Poringland, The Hawthorns remains more or less as I always remember it – at least from the road. I assume that the chemical toilet has been replaced. French Church Farm now looks smart and is probably worth quite a lot. The barn where the pigs used to be has now been converted into a rather swish-looking quite separate residence.

The countryside there is quite undulating and strangely beautiful, at least in winter. There was a bit of a wind, but it wasn’t too cold, and we would have walked further if Dot hadn’t had stomach problems, which meant we had to cut it short. We’d parked on the low ridge where we saw the shrew a few days ago and have now completed another section of a walk given in a book we got for Christmas from Dot’s cousin Peter.

On Thursday we went to Bernard O’Brien’s funeral at Earlham Crematorium. I didn’t know he’d died till Peter Wright rang on Wednesday to let me know. Apparently he died on Christmas Eve: he’d been unwell for some time – with bad arthritis apart from anything else. His death resulted from pneumonia and heart failure. Bernard and his wife Barbara (and son Bart) had been our neighbours at Yelverton for 12 years. They lived in a chalet bungalow called Mallow, and Bernard was very mellow – a gentle giant who was generous and kindhearted as well as rather eccentric and full of esoteric knowledge. He made me a 7×7 “chessboard” which I still have beside my computer. There’s a Viking game you can play on it, and I may take it up in his memory. Barbara looked quite well, and Bart was extremely emotional.

I’ve decided to sort out all the files in my room, which is a bit of a mammoth task, but I suspect it will free up lots of space. I am determined to enter some competitions and am digging out a couple of plays I wrote but never got round to offering to anyone. They don’t seem bad to me, but then they probably wouldn’t, would they? I wrote a very short piece yesterday to enter in a short short story competition. I’d also like to continue with my autobiography-up-to-a-point, encouraged by Peter Beales publishing his. He sent it to us yesterday, and Dot has already started reading it. Haven’t written any poems this year yet, but I’ve discovered a few from the past that I think are quite good and might be worth entering in competitions.

We’ve just been practising the songs for tomorrow. I’ve written a new one, called Echoes of God, but I’m not sure it’s quite ready to be sung.

Norwich City have just won 4-0 after sacking their manager. Brian Gunn was the caretaker manager for today. Perhaps he should have a shot at it…

14 January 2009

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We’ve just been for a three-mile walk at Venta Icenorum, the Roman town about three miles outside Norwich, and this is Dot approaching the church in a mist that lifted as we arrived and came down again as we left. Other pictures on Flickr. In between, quite briefly, bright sunshine. We did the longer walk around the site, found a couple of swans on the river, which was flowing briskly, and some magpies on the hill on the other side. The combination of mist and sunshine was spectacular at times, with naked trees coming out of the mist like Romans emerging from the past. After finishing the round we walked a further mile and a quarter on permissive paths that have only recently been opened along the sides of fields. We walked up to a low ridge (the only sort you get in Norfolk) and sighted a tiny shrew by a marker post. Then walked past an Anglo-Saxon burial site marked by pines reaching into the sky, through the mist, towards the sun. All very pleasand and unexpected: in Norwich it has been bright sunshine all the way.

Earlier today looked at some cottages in Scotland for a possible holiday with David and Vicky and the children. We also received the sad news that Bernard O’Brien had died on Christmas Eve. It is his funeral tomorrow, and we hope to go. Bernard was our neighbour for 12 years in Yelverton – a gentle, eccentric giant.

Dot has been busy with her philosophy for children. She spent most of Monday at Terrington St Clement with Sue and Roger Eagle, and they have another three dates there in the next couple of months. Then she was down at Barbara’s all yesterday afternoon after we had had our hair cut. Naturally I have been putting the time to good use, though I can’t quite remember what I did. Our Tuesday Group was at the Archers’ last night, which meant we didn’t have to worry about cooking.

28 December 2008

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Grandson Oliver takes a break on the way round the Attenborough walk on Boxing Day, which was brilliantly sunny but with a fair ol’ chillin’ breeze, as they might say in Norfolk if they spoke Norfolk as badly as I do. It had got gradually colder as Christmas week went by, and this morning it barely crept above freezing, though there was only a light frost on the windscreen.

Andrew is here for a couple of days. We picked him up on the way back from Nottingham, where we’d spent a very calm and peaceful Christmas with our family at Julia and Dave’s home. Spot the deliberate error in that sentence: yes, it wasn’t calm and peaceful, because Oliver and Amy were there. But it was a lot of fun, and there were far too many presents for everybody. The journey up to Nottingham was very good, but there was a lot of traffic on the way back yesterday, and we eventually diverted off the A14 just after Huntingdon, and Dot navigated a new route through the southern Fens via places like Earith and ending at Mildenhall. We’d stopped earlier at the Thrapston Little Chef, which is usually good, but the service was appalling and the food only passable.

This morning I led morning worship at St Augustine’s. There were nine of us and two children, which is rather more than I expected. Mark Heybourne did a really good talk on Mary, and on bringing light into a dark world. Called at Phil and Joy’s afterward to pick up Andrew, and after a light lunch I took Andrew for a walk via the Rosary (put some winter plants on mum’s grave) and on to St James’ Hill, then back by the river.

23 June 2008

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For comparison, this is today’s picture of me, exactly a fortnight after the operation, in the garden. The latter is recovering after yesterday’s high winds, which broke a few pots and scattered shrubs. It also brought down quite a hefty branch into the drive of No 19, which was cleared away by the council this morning. When I went out for a brief walk yesterday afternoon – although it was windy, it was also warm – I was struck on the shoulder by a much smaller branchlet as I made for the steps. Felt reasonably good after the walk, and in the evening we did go to Poringland to see the Robinsons and the Walpoles. Stayed for a couple of hours, and I didn’t really have any trouble, though I was feeling tired by the end.

Today my catheter has been a bit painful, and I took some paracetamol this morning after Phil had visited – but nothing too bad. In the afternoon I went for another walk – this time down by the river. Had quite a long chat with Anton on the way out and Phyllis and Mairead on the way back; so the street is up to date on my condition!

30 March 2008

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Yesterday we swapped the new sidelights for the sitting room, which had proved to clash with the new paint, and decided to go for a walk. Earlier it had been bright and promising, but by the time we reached Hemsby it had grown rather dull, and it was very windy. We negotiated quite deep water at the entrance to the car park and then walked along the valley and up into the dunes, where I took this picture with my mobile phone. I hadn’t really gone prepared: I think I thought we’d be going home before walking, so I had no camera and the wrong shoes. We walked back along the valley, and not long after we got back to the car it started raining.

As it was a day for taking things back, we called at Sainsbury’s and swapped a bright blue bath mat for something browner.

I had been feeling pretty brown the previous day – very down, in fact. It had rained all day and been extremely grey. Several things got on top of me, and it just felt like a wasted day – not part of real life. Strange, because the previous evening we had had a lovely time, going out for a birthday curry with Heather and Sam, who was 14, and some of their friends. Excellent food and company, and the weather had been good enough to walk to and from Ali Tandoori’s on Magdalen Street.

Today the weather was much improved. It could almost be described as warm, which was appropriate as it was the first day of British Summer Time. Happily I remembered to put the clocks forward, unlike LD, who arrived at church with her guitar and looked astonished to find that the service was well under way. It’s always nice when someone does that (he said sadistically). One day I will do it myself. Anyway, we decided to go for another walk – down by the river beyond Heigham Street – a path I’d discovered a couple of weeks ago after visiting the chiropractor. Quite a pleasant three-mile walk (back along Marriott’s Way) but although the river level has dropped dramatically, the edges and fields are still very wet.

In the evening almost forgot to go to Ambient Wonder, but made it in time. Seemed to go well: Annette liked my poems, which is always nice.

19 March 2008

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This is a picture just received of three of my cousin Howard’s four daughters: they are Beverley, Charmaine and Jeanette, and the picture was taken at the engagement party for Bev’s son Leonard (named after his grandfather, presumably) and his girlfriend Lauren in South Africa. I’ve met Bev recently, of course, and am e-mailing Jeanette on a regular basis. Nice to keep in touch with a branch of the family I’ve known little about.

The hectic life continues. On Monday I took Andrew back to Coventry (about 300 miles round trip), with some heavy traffic entailing two diversions. Then in the evening I played chess and got a good draw against our B team’s top board, which was quite pleasing.

The weather’s turned quite cold, and I’ve been busy preparing for the Easter weekend and for the Paston open day on Saturday, which promises to be Siberian, given that the church it will be held in is icy at the best of times. The forecast indicates that the best of times weatherwise is not any time soon: there is even a risk of snow. Ho, hum. Despite all this, I’ve managed a couple of nice walks in the last couple of days. Yesterday, after visiting the chiropractor for a cursory look at my back, which has been good for some time now, I walked along Heigham Street and found a path by the river leading out to Sweet Briar Lane. I never knew this existed, and in the circumstances it was quite enchanting. The river (Wensum) was very high, with some flooding which no doubt covered a multitude of sins. Some lovely shades of green, swirling water, and nobody about. There was a conserved marsh – unfortunately too muddy to walk round – and the sun kept peeping through, glinting off the water. After reaching the ring road, I walked up it, looking for the long-distance footpath that I knew was there. When I found it there was no access, but I scrambled down a steep back on to it, and followed it back to my starting point. Just when you think you know the city, it reveals something unexpected.

Today we had our hair cut at Reepham, and I walked nearly to Salle and back, then revisited it while Dot was being seen to and spent some time looking round Salle Church, which is huge. I then drove a circle of a few miles through delightful countryside – again rather unexpected, as it isn’t on the coast or near a river. But it was very open, with long views, and quiet. Even the huge ploughed fields had a strange kind of beauty. Good walking country. We both said we wouldn’t mind living in the area. I met Dot for lunch in our usual spot – Kerri’s Barn, and then drove back into Norwich, where I continued with my preparations while Dot did a big shop for what promises to be a very busy weekend. She still hasn’t quite finished her inspection report and has just shot off to Gillingham, for a governors’ committee meeting.

1 March 2008

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Another picture from last weekend, showing grandson Oliver shortly after an attack by a giant ball, which he eventually defeated. It’s roughly how I feel at the end of a week when I’ve slept badly for three nights and failed to get anywhere with the insurance company. I’ve now written to the chief executive (recorded delivery), but no response yet. Feeling so out of sorts that I had a go at the guy in the building society yesterday when he suggested I wouldn’t have to queue for the one till that was open if I had a different account. On the plus side, I didn’t punch him in the mouth.

March has come in like a lion, with huge storms last night – hail battering at the windows and high winds from the north. It’s calmed down a bit this morning, and the sun is out, but it’s still turbulent, and colder weather is promised for next week. Despite this, it will turn out to be a warmer month than normal. It always does.

On Thursday it was calm and sunny, and while Dot visited her aunt in Hethersett, I went for a four-mile walk from Hethersett to Ketteringham Hall and back. This was a delightful walk over open country that’s quite high for Norfolk, but it did have the drawback of crossing the A11 dual carriageway – and we’re not talking bridge here. I resisted the temptation to thrown myself in front of a truck (not very strong, actually) and was patient enough to cross quite safely. Not something I’d like to do with my grand-daughter Amy, though. Oliver is a different matter: he would be very careful and do exactly what I said. Still, a bit hairy standing in the central reservation waiting for a gap.

Afterwards had lunch at Park Farm with Dot: extremely civilised, with lots of well-behaved elderly people like us (!) . The ancient gentleman before me at the counter had trouble ordering two drinks: he got two halves of lager and then decided he really wanted one half of lager and a glass of wine, which turned out to be white when he wanted red. He was then asked what food he wanted, which threw him completely, and he started looking vaguely towards the restaurant section and muttering to himself. Fortunately, someone else served me at this point, or we might have had the first ever incident of Park Farm screaming.

Dot has been painting a lot over the last week, and is still doing it as I write. The ceiling in the living room is finished, and so are a few walls – I’m not sure how many. I have been trying to get some stuff ready for Paston, but have found it hard to concentrate. Yesterday I went up to have a blood test and forgot the paperwork, which is very unlike me. Happily I knew what the test was for (PSA, of course), and she did the test, allowing me to return later with the correct form.

Lack of social events in the past three days has enabled us to catch up a little with a huge backlog of recorded TV, but we’ve really been sitting in front of the screen too much. Still, my weight is down to under 12 stone, which is encouraging.