Sunday 13th March
Biggin Dale with the Stockport ramblers
Parked in Biggin- 24 of us gathered on a sunny day and set off along the Tissington Trail.
After a few miles we turned off towards Alstonefield with a deep descent to the river.
After some muddy stretches and waterlogged fields we turned right along Miller's Dale to Biggin Dale which felt cut off and remote. There was a gentle rise back to Biggin so an easy and leisurely walk.
A pint at the Waterloo Inn concluded another enjoyable outing.
Sunday, 1 May 2016
Still no gardening
Its a wet and gloomy Sunday, so time is available to put down a few thoughts here. About time too my reader might say!
The weather has been very strange lately. Some lovely sunny days a couple of weeks ago, but cold and frosty nights and even a couple of blizzards, so definitely not time to be planting anything out yet. I have been to the allotment occasionally through March and April, so I will say that its looking pretty tidy- prepared for the planting to come- but still no sign of that being possible. Hopefully not too much longer now.
So what else have I been up to during April? No more rambles as weather definitely not fit for us. I'm sure hardier people than us have been striding round the hills, but we are definitely fair-weather walkers.
Plymouth Grove has occupied some of my time and this month I even organised a public event, the first since work days. April 21st marked Charlotte Bronte's 200th birthday and my dear friend Libby and I put together a short programme of readings from Elizabeth Gaskell's Life of Charlotte Bronte. These readings were placed round an afternoon tea, in 3 segments. Scones, jam & cream, Yorkshire Curd tart and small patisserie, left our audience replete . The event was a sell out and seemed to be well-received. We hope both Elizabeth Gaskell and Charlotte Bronte would have enjoyed it too.
Otherwise I have continued with my regular days at the House, though I haven't been seen in the garden there lately.
I have caught up with some very long-standing friends this month. A day-trip to Shrewsbury was very enjoyable, meeting up with someone I first met 43 years ago! We haven't met that much over the years, but they seemed to have flown by. We had a lovely lunch in a restaurant I can thoroughly recommend- Csons.
Last weekend I met up with my real, longest standing friend Mary for a few days away. We hit Whitby, Scarborough, Robin Hood's Bay and Staithes over the course of 3 days and had a great catch up and some good meals. The decades have given Mary more isssues to deal with than me, but its wonderful how she manages to stay basically the same, no matter what life throws at her.
Otherwise, reading, history course, visiting mother, shopping and making plans. Life never seems dull and time never hangs heavy, for which I am very grateful.
The weather has been very strange lately. Some lovely sunny days a couple of weeks ago, but cold and frosty nights and even a couple of blizzards, so definitely not time to be planting anything out yet. I have been to the allotment occasionally through March and April, so I will say that its looking pretty tidy- prepared for the planting to come- but still no sign of that being possible. Hopefully not too much longer now.
So what else have I been up to during April? No more rambles as weather definitely not fit for us. I'm sure hardier people than us have been striding round the hills, but we are definitely fair-weather walkers.
Plymouth Grove has occupied some of my time and this month I even organised a public event, the first since work days. April 21st marked Charlotte Bronte's 200th birthday and my dear friend Libby and I put together a short programme of readings from Elizabeth Gaskell's Life of Charlotte Bronte. These readings were placed round an afternoon tea, in 3 segments. Scones, jam & cream, Yorkshire Curd tart and small patisserie, left our audience replete . The event was a sell out and seemed to be well-received. We hope both Elizabeth Gaskell and Charlotte Bronte would have enjoyed it too.
Otherwise I have continued with my regular days at the House, though I haven't been seen in the garden there lately.
I have caught up with some very long-standing friends this month. A day-trip to Shrewsbury was very enjoyable, meeting up with someone I first met 43 years ago! We haven't met that much over the years, but they seemed to have flown by. We had a lovely lunch in a restaurant I can thoroughly recommend- Csons.
Last weekend I met up with my real, longest standing friend Mary for a few days away. We hit Whitby, Scarborough, Robin Hood's Bay and Staithes over the course of 3 days and had a great catch up and some good meals. The decades have given Mary more isssues to deal with than me, but its wonderful how she manages to stay basically the same, no matter what life throws at her.
Otherwise, reading, history course, visiting mother, shopping and making plans. Life never seems dull and time never hangs heavy, for which I am very grateful.
Monday, 29 February 2016
Rambling
Sunday 28th February and we went out with Stockport Ramblers for the first time. I joined us up at Christmas but what with wet weather and various other activities this was the first opportunity we have really had to go. The walk was scheduled to be an easy 6.5 miles starting at New Mills Newtown and the weather forecast was excellent. Chilly but sunny and dry.
I joined us up because we love walking but often don't get round to making plans or deciding where to go. When we do get out we are not always very good at finding our routes- though we have never had any major disasters- we do sometimes find ourselves puzzled and struggling to get out of fields. I thought that this would make us plan to go out more and would relieve the stress of route-finding. I also hoped that we would discover walks we hadn't known about before and might even enjoy the company.
If this first experience is typical, then I'm not going to be disappointed. Because of the good weather and the short route, there was a good turn - out- over 30 people and some other novices as well. We quickly found ourselves talking to other people and the general feeling was friendly. Several people seemed to be there on their own and so keen to chat.
The route was easy. Up out of New Mills, crossing the main road and following a track through fields. We turned right and soon found ourselves on a mini-Edge- looking across to the back of Lyme Park. We could just make out the back of the cage appearing above a lower hill. The view was tremendous right across the valley to Manchester and the hills beyond.
We then descended again through some reed beds and started bearing left, surprisingly passing right by a residential school (High Peak School) which I had never heard of before. A gentle climb took us up and over a small hill with Lyme Park now behind us. A short pause & detour to a "Dipping-stone" gave the walk leader time to tell us some history and folklore.
We paused for lunch in a lovely field with a handy stone wall that could be sat upon and which gave us views across Whaley Bridge in the direction of Chapel and another valley.
From there it was downhill all the way to join the canal just outside Whaley Bridge. Then along the canal towpath all the way to New Mills and for us, at least, straight into the Beehive Pub. The pace of the walk had been perfect for us. We weren't striding ahead in the front "bunch" but nor we right at the back. Just going at a pace that seemed right for us in the middle of the group. I guess in a smaller group then pace might be an issue- possibly too slow or too fast- but in a group of this size, hopefully everyone can feel comfortable.
We found the experience very enjoyable. The general atmosphere was friendly. We certainly didn't have to worry about the route, so could relax and enjoy the countryside. We also found ourselves on a route and looking at views we had never seen before, so all my boxes were ticked. On the train home I found myself looking at the programme, already looking forward to going out again.
I joined us up because we love walking but often don't get round to making plans or deciding where to go. When we do get out we are not always very good at finding our routes- though we have never had any major disasters- we do sometimes find ourselves puzzled and struggling to get out of fields. I thought that this would make us plan to go out more and would relieve the stress of route-finding. I also hoped that we would discover walks we hadn't known about before and might even enjoy the company.
If this first experience is typical, then I'm not going to be disappointed. Because of the good weather and the short route, there was a good turn - out- over 30 people and some other novices as well. We quickly found ourselves talking to other people and the general feeling was friendly. Several people seemed to be there on their own and so keen to chat.
The route was easy. Up out of New Mills, crossing the main road and following a track through fields. We turned right and soon found ourselves on a mini-Edge- looking across to the back of Lyme Park. We could just make out the back of the cage appearing above a lower hill. The view was tremendous right across the valley to Manchester and the hills beyond.
We then descended again through some reed beds and started bearing left, surprisingly passing right by a residential school (High Peak School) which I had never heard of before. A gentle climb took us up and over a small hill with Lyme Park now behind us. A short pause & detour to a "Dipping-stone" gave the walk leader time to tell us some history and folklore.
We paused for lunch in a lovely field with a handy stone wall that could be sat upon and which gave us views across Whaley Bridge in the direction of Chapel and another valley.
From there it was downhill all the way to join the canal just outside Whaley Bridge. Then along the canal towpath all the way to New Mills and for us, at least, straight into the Beehive Pub. The pace of the walk had been perfect for us. We weren't striding ahead in the front "bunch" but nor we right at the back. Just going at a pace that seemed right for us in the middle of the group. I guess in a smaller group then pace might be an issue- possibly too slow or too fast- but in a group of this size, hopefully everyone can feel comfortable.
We found the experience very enjoyable. The general atmosphere was friendly. We certainly didn't have to worry about the route, so could relax and enjoy the countryside. We also found ourselves on a route and looking at views we had never seen before, so all my boxes were ticked. On the train home I found myself looking at the programme, already looking forward to going out again.
Monday, 11 January 2016
January slump
This is it. The first week I have faced that looks relatively empty. This is what I have been worrying about since before I retired; how would I feel when my time isn't full? I guess it isn't full because the outside isn't really beckoning at the moment, When the sun shines its good to get a walk but, despite the climate, gardening is on hold. I'm really hoping that we do get a cold spell soon to hold the gardens back for a bit longer. The ground is too wet to walk on but bulbs and buds are growing. If everything comes out now we are going to have very bare gardens later in the year.
Some thoughts are turning to holidays and trips, though with such flexible time its quite hard to focus down on dates and plans. Yes we can go away a lot now but when is it best to go? Should it be the Northern Lights or long summer days in Norway? Just where and when should we be in Scotland? Oh yes, we want to go to Berlin, but I also want to go back to Austria; and we musn't fly too much because of the environmental impact. Its the old problem that besets us in the "first world" of too much choice.
I know we will get organised eventually. In the meantime I should, and do, appreciate time to read more, potter about the house, watch the various TV series we are currently hooked into. It just all feels a bit quiet and not what I'm used to.
Some thoughts are turning to holidays and trips, though with such flexible time its quite hard to focus down on dates and plans. Yes we can go away a lot now but when is it best to go? Should it be the Northern Lights or long summer days in Norway? Just where and when should we be in Scotland? Oh yes, we want to go to Berlin, but I also want to go back to Austria; and we musn't fly too much because of the environmental impact. Its the old problem that besets us in the "first world" of too much choice.
I know we will get organised eventually. In the meantime I should, and do, appreciate time to read more, potter about the house, watch the various TV series we are currently hooked into. It just all feels a bit quiet and not what I'm used to.
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