Dec
31
2024

Walking towards 2025

Filed under , , , , by

I‘m walking towards 2025 in fair strides, there is a lot to do this year.

We can only go forward and as I say goodbye to 2024, I hope that I can find some exciting new walks to do where I plan to do more walking outside of London in 2025

Walking towards 2025 I have in mind a couple of new ventures.

I’ve joined a walking group in Scotland and another in Northumberland. It’s been a while since I have done any new walks. I intend to spend more time outdoors away from LONDON these two UK destinations seem like a good start.

At the end of February 2025, I make my first strides forward . I’m heading to Stirling, Scotland

it’s not a walking hill retreat this time,  but to work in the kitchen! ( a working holiday!) something I can’t quite believe I have signed up for. In return for that, I get to stay in the beautiful house and get to do my daily walks alongside Loch Voil. As well as learning some chef skills and vegan cookery, I get to spend time reflecting on a new future. Where better to do that than this beautiful location?

The road towards the Pink Hotel two miles away. A road I never get tired walking along.

 

Dhanakosa Retreat

7.40 :am early morning mist on Loch voil

 

2025 and onwards.

My role as lead research assistant in breast screening will end in Summer 2025. It’s been a learning curve, but like all good things, it must come to an end. An adventure of some sort beckons.

In the meantime as is tradition here are a few memories from 2024.

A new walk I discovered on my last visit to Dhanakosa retreat. Through the woods down to Rob Roy’s Grave.

looking out across Loch Voil a landscape of stunning beauty

 

Scattering my mums ashes from Aberdeen to Newcastle & South Shields, February 2024.

Coast at South Shields, scattering some of my mum’s ashes.

A river near Huntley, Scotland another spot where I scattered my mum’s ashes.

 

A series of Days out from London.

A DAY OUT IN BRISTOL

A LIME AMONG LEMONS. I FOUND THIS MURAL WANDERING AROUND THE ST PAUL AREA OF BRISTO.L

 

BATH

A day out in Bath

A day out in Bath, it rained all of the day.

 

DaYs out from London

East Dean to Seaford Linear Walk. A return ticket on a train from Victoria to Seaford Sussex.

My favourite walk  here is the starting gate to the south downs  from East Dean. to Seaford.

 

LONDON

Many days do I spend walking about London , taking photographs, is something I do when I have the time to wander. This one I especially like, taken at The New Battersea tube station.

 

Old boots, featured in the people’s Summer Exhibition , at the Royal Academy of Arts.

 

This caught my eye walking from Euston to Goodge Street.

 

St James Park, a home for many pelicans. I often walk from Victoria station , through St James Park to Charing Cross and Covent Garden.

 

 

GREAT YARMOUTH

SEALS

SEAL WITH MISSING HEAD. Taken from my Seal Post Great Yarmouth.

washed up on the beach, sunny but cold.

 

I am amazed to report I spent the whole of 2024 alcohol-free,

I’m feeling pretty good about that. I didn’t bother having a drink last New Years’ Eve, and haven’t since. There were many occasions throughout the year that proved extremely challenging. It just goes to show that change is possible, even a change as deeply ingrained in me as it is in a lot of people.

DRY JANUARY A sign outside the Cock Tavern Fleet Street January 2023. (unusual for a pub to advertise Dry January)

A weekend facing Storm Darragh

A pre-christmas weekend,, was impacted somewhat with the stormy weather. One of the outdoor lights events at Leazes Park was cancelled. We stayed with love short stays UK and were upgraded to a flat with a view of the sea.

It was great to watch the waves crash onto the pier;  as I sat on the chaise longue, ( A wet leg tune  I love ) gazing out of the window, at a ship anchored firmly.  It sat waiting patiently for the storm to pass. By Monday, the clouds shifted, and there was movement again at sea.

Wet Leg- Chaise Longue, (dedicated to Raymond Deeks, senior.  https://youtu.be/iLX2WvGDbL0?si=AVEtK12C0NamuFcW

SOUTH SHIELDS

https://www.loveshortstays.co.uk

There are plenty of Indian Restaurants along Ocean Road , South Shields, I haven’t tried them all, but returned to this one as the last visit was enjoyable. Great food.

 

South Marine Park South Shields.

 

A deceptive lethal rain that soaked us to the skin. attempted a coastal walk and managed 3 miles before retreating.

 

GREY BLEAK BUT BEAUTIFUL

JESMOND DENE NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE

Before heading back to the train station to travel back to London, I wanted to revisit Jesmond Dene. first a quick decent lunch in West Jesmond,

Jesmond Dene, a must see place for anyone visiting the area. 

we walked down into this  beautiful oasis a mile outside the city centre.

Jesmond Dene – so many nooks and crannies. A great escape from the city.

I GOT ROOTS!

AUTUMN BRAMBLE.

WATERFALL GUSHING into the river Ouse.

Ye old mill!

 

For further info on Jesmon Dene, See below.

https://jesmonddene.org.uk

UNTIL NEXT TIME

I resist the urge to write Onwards and Upwards, but at least onwards and forward into 2025.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

 

RIP Jan, Bryan, Raymond, Mums and Eileen.

 

Nov
30
2024

Walking with old friends

Filed under by

 Bryan was someone I had been friends with since the 1980s The last time I saw Bryan we were out walking, near Wylam Northumberland,

A tribute to Bryan Wilkinson Born in 1962, died November 2024 aged 62

The last time I saw him in person, we had walked along the river by Wylam, in Northumberland, This walk was led by a couple of friends from South Shields.

Bryan always tried to see the positive in everyone and everything.

 

The history of any friendship is long, what a privilege to have good friends.

Back in the 80s, I formed a band called Hot Wire. It was short-lived but we did a handful of gigs and recordings. Then, I formed Casino another short-lived adventure.  Bryan started coming down from London to visit and take photos of the band in rehearsals.

The Jam Dragons

Later, Bryan played the guitar, Malcolm (Actor, tarot card reader, poet and musician,) on drums and vocals, and I tried to sing and play bass, with varying degrees of out-of-tune wailing and punchy rhythms. We called ourselves The Jam Dragons.

We had such fun, playing in various studios around Brixton and Kennington.   I listened back to one our the old tapes, recently, Bryan was on fire.  Rock on Bryan.

They were promising days, but real life got in the way.

It wasn’t a sustainable lifestyle. Eventually, we parted ways. I returned to higher education and Bryan to the North to live his life out there. Walking alongside Bryan, life took many twists and turns. We remained friends until the end,

 

Another tribute is to my oldest friend Jan Greenwell born in 1960 in Newcastle Upon Tyne.

 

At the back of The Sportsman’s Inn. Jan’s dad was a pub landlord in Newcastle and Bishop Aukland. This was taken of me and Jan after a break from working as a chambermaid in London.  a very long time ago.

 

Jan and I first met in the back lanes of West Jesmond, I had moved to a new area,  from the West End of Newcastle and I didn’t know anyone in that area. We became instant friends, we both loved music.

Inevitably we found ourselves running around the town centre and hanging about The City Hall.

It was worth it. We got to see Ian Dury and the Blockheads, in the front row as well as Elvis Costello again in front row seats. I think we just hung around the city hall waiting to see if someone let us in! We were thrilled to meet Ian Dury and The Blockheads backstage.

 

Working in the trendy shop Fynd had its advantages too as famous people often visited when in town, and often would get people into gigs.

I stayed in London and Jan stayed in the Northeast as well as moving bout a bit in the 80s and 90s. We drifted apart,  without mobile phones or the internet. to keep us connected.

It was good we eventually reconnected as Jan settled in a flat on the quayside of Newcastle and I visited frequently, dragging her up the coast for long walks.

Jan left us in June this year. RIP Jan, I wish you had stayed longer, I miss you.

A weekend in the North East

Escaping the heatwave

 

I love the Bill Bailey TV show Perfect Pub Walks.

Bill Bailey’s show has remarkable walks in some of the most scenic parts of Britain. He shows how exhilarating it can be to spend a day with a friend walking and talking, it can be one of the most beautiful ways to spend a day.

https://www.channel4.com/programmes/perfect-pub-walks-with-bill-bailey

A perfect interview with Bill Bailey for you to read here,

https://walk.ramblers.org.uk/walk-talk-bill-bailey/

 

Another inspiring programme on Radio 4, is Claire Balding’s show called Ramblings

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0025539

Last but not least- Raymond Deeks

RIP Raymond Deeks. Father of my partner Ray. A truly lovely soul left us on November 20th at age 88. We both had a shared love of the TV show Vera, the detective story, based in the North East.

He’s gone to join his loving wife Eileen. Thanks to Raymond for reading my blogs and saying positive things about them.

Until next time, keep on keeping,  on – Do that walk, and have that talk.

 

I plan to spend a few days up the South Shields coast next month. There will be a few long coastal walks involved for sure.

 

 

 

 

Oct
31
2024

SEALS

Filed under , , by

Why Seals?

While staying in Great Yarmouth recently, I read that there were lots of seals in the area, and I was excited to see one swimming in the sea the following day. On the first night,  a little time for a quick stroll around the sea front, before a bar meal.

Arriving at the Dizzy Heights of Great Yarmouth

I was very disappointed to be told by the dog owner, that there was nothing in California!  While strolling along the sea front, back to Great Yarmouth, a seal popped up it’s head , it was a delight to watch it bobbing about.

Seal spotting. You won’t find it if you stare too hard!  I spotted it while not staring at all!!

sandy beaches. seals love it here.

Lots of long stretches of sandy beaches.

 

What to do in the rain?

The following day it rained a lot, so it made sense to head for Norwich City. My first visit to the city.  While there, it was a perfect day to go to the cinema to see The Outrun. The narrator of The Outrun ‘Saiorse Ronan summarised Orkney’s folklore story about seals.

SEALS

Seals are known in Scotland as selkies; the mythology about what they represent varies in different cultures. One interpretation that I quite like is that if a girl goes missing at sea they say she has gone to her selkie lover.

THE OUTRUN

The dramatic landscape of Orkney was a perfect backdrop, its turbulent crashing of waves and its isolation reflected the flight of the main character who had run from her life in London to live alone in Orkney with the twists and turns of turbulent, or magnificent weather as well as stretches of  bleak days to fight her alcohol addiction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFv-v_wFsK8

https://www.vikingrune.com/2008/11/selkies-norse-mermaids/#:~:text=Selkie%20is%20a%20word%20for,take%20off%20their%20seal%20skin.

IT DIDN’T TAKE LONG TO WALK AROUND NORWICH.

A blast from the past. Not sure what it’s function is these days. Do they exist as a media company?

A RAINY DAY, IS ALWAYS GOOD FOR SHOPPING, CINEMA AND LUNCH IN A CITY.

AN ATTRACTIVE BEATEN-UP MEDIVAL DOOR, NEXT TO A DUSKY PINK WALL.

CUTE BLUE CAR OUTSIDE ZIZZI RESTAURANT.


A walk from Great Yarmouth to Lowestoft ending at the most Easterly point in England
STARTING IN THE TOWN CENTRE, walking through a very industrial part of the East Coast

Great blast of industry around this area. One of the few days it didn’t rain.

DOCKLANDS’, not commercially developed as yet. There are signs of some work beginning.

WASHED UP AT SEA

SEAL WITH MISSING HEAD.

ANOTHER WASHED UP YOUNG SEAL?

 

WASHED UP SEAGULL

 

NOT SURE WHAT SORT OF FISH THIS IS. ANSWERS ON A POSTCARD!

SEA BARRIER BREAKING DOWN – taken ON WALK FROM GREAT YARMOUTH TO LOWESTOFT. The walk turned into 12 miles, due to sea erosion preventing us from walking the more direct route along the cliff tops.

 

Heading up to the cliff tops but not for long as it’s a no-go area further up.

I love driftwood, blue Skies and sand.

sandy beach /driftwood.

The sea keeps breaking through.

About halfway to Lowestoft.

Breaking down near Lowestoft!

Strangely enough, I had been to Lowestoft before in the early 90’s.

I don’t know how I came across it. but a job was going on for a week or so, working with deprived kids from London on a camping holiday. One of the little kids followed me everywhere he was so in need of his mother I remember him and it felt very sad. On a brighter note, we all went to Great Yarmouth on one of the days to see Terminator 2 at the cinema, it was such a laugh. The kids loved it.

 

Climate Change Research Group in London

After my change of scenery it was back to work but I had one more day to take part in the Climate change focus group.

I enjoyed  4 focus group sessions at Kings College London University in the Science Building London Bridge. It was great to take part in paid research I hope they valued my contribution.

 

 I managed to capture a shot of this new mural around the corner from where I live ( without a van parked in front of it,& before the local graffiti artists got it.)

MURAL. AROUND THE CORNER FROM WHERE I LIVE.

Sep
30
2024

A day out in Bath

Filed under by

Eventually, I got A day out in Bath -County Somerset UK.

I don’t know what took me so long but this was my first ever visit to Bath. A day out in Bath is certainly doable from London on public transport. The train only took an hour and a quarter. I had considered staying overnight but due to the expense, I decided on a Day out in Bath I figured I could see a lot in a day and could always come back if I liked it. We were greeted at the station by helpful volunteers, taking shelter under a makeshift stall.

I got my day out in Bath, where a barman told me -it never rains it pours.

It never rains it pours. My first sight of Bath in the rain. It poured all day long.

 

all of the streets have this lovely font in big letters which is so easy on the eye.

 

THE GREEN ROCKET- escaping the rain part 1.

The first port of call had to be lunch and we found a great restaurant serving vegetarian and vegan options with no meat on the menu..some people use the app Happy Cow (an app for vegan travellers) when travelling but I had my Google assistant with me on this day who found this place.

.https://thegreenrocket.co.uk.

The Tofu Green Curry was good, and plenty of gorgeous desserts but a bit early in the day for that. read.

After a walk over one of the country’s most filmed bridges, we opted for the indoor market and then opted for the bus tour. (It was pouring and not going to stop) Bath was charming enough to get away with the onslaught of rain.

This is so beautiful and it was said on the bus tour, it was one of the UK’s most photographed bridge.

 

The river Avon.

A place to contemplate the next move!

 

 Touluse-Lautrec and teh Maters of Montmarte

The Victoria Art Gallery Bridge Street, Bath, Somerset.

Fortunately, I had booked in advance two tickets for the Toulouse’-Lautrec and the Masters of Montmartre exhibition. This gave us another hour indoors from the rain.

https://visitbath.co.uk/whats-on/toulouse-lautrec-and-the-masters-of-montmartre-at-victoria-art-gallery-p3250393

One of many of Toulouse Lautrec’s posters of singers. I loved the summary of this young Irish Girl.

May Belfort

She performed in many of the bars and cafes in the Montmartre area of Paris. She used to dress as a little girl carrying a kitten and sing lewd verses! Very Punk.!

The exhibition hosted almost 100 posters from 189-‘s France including every poster designed by Toulouse Lautrec. Toulouse Lautrec was a fascinating character, he had a remarkable glittering career but died young at age 34.

It has to be my favourite image and I have this in various formats at home.

 The 2nd bus tour of the day.

How it works is you buy a ticket from the driver and you can go on two trips.

One is just the city  Tour of Bath and the other is called the skyline tour that goes around Bath. It was far too wet to get off and explore. So not as many photos as usual. The Roman Baths is on my list for my next visit. It is famous for its spas and that is something worth saving up for.

if you book ahead online you can get the bus tickets at a discount from tootbus.com

http://tootbus.com

Part of the old town centre. The centre hosts all the good shops and wasn’t over busy. (the rain might have had something to do with it) I’m sure it’s packed at The Height of the summer.

 

A GOOD OLD PROPER IRISH PUB.

A reflective drink watching the world go by before heading to the pizza place near the station. Guinness 0% for me. I’m having a year off the old booze.

We had time in hand to hover about a little from just after 7 pm before our 8.15 train.

I  prompted us to take a little walk behind the station the rain was at long last starting to ease off. Noting where the canal was for future reference on my next visit.  Had it not been raining there would have been a lot more walking and exploring. At least I got to see Bath and my day out in Bath despite the heavy rain was worth it.

 

Walking from Bath to Bristol, or vice versa

This is now pencilled in for a spring weekend possibly April 2025. It’s 12 miles so it’s perfectly easy as it is flat.

I went to Bristol earlier in the year and picked up a brochure about that walk. It means staying overnight. Possibly two nights. I would start at Bristol. I’ve been to Bristol a few times but still feel there is more to see. You can either walk along the old railway line to Bath or along the canal. Both sound good.

See my previous post about Bristol here.

Days out from London include a day out in Bristol

At the time of this post, I’m taking some time out from work in the Great Yarmouth area near the coast.

More on that and much more next time.

 

 

 

Aug
31
2024

Summer in the City

Filed under , by

I spent a lot of my time this Summer in the City,

I didn’t plan to spend the Summer in the city as such, but it turned out that I  spent most of the summer in the city of London and quite a bit of time in The British Library.  Usually, the desire would be to get out of London. Apart from my work, I have been studying at weekends at The  BRITISH LIBRARY. https://www.bl.uk 

Instead of long walks out of London, it’s been a lot of walkabouts most of the summer in the city.

There is so much free space in the library and The Reading Rooms are fantastic. It’s somewhere with minimum distraction. I’m not one for long lengths of study but an hour and a half to two hours I get something done, and then can go for a walk.

Kings Cross St Pancras International

 

The Summer Show is my favourite annual exhibition,

I got to use the last of my member’s card for a couple of Exhibitions at The Royal Academy.

The yearly exhibition is an Aladdins Cave where the general public display their ideas and works of art. The inspiring huge rooms with thousands of unique art pieces on display are highly attractive. There is always something to capture the imagination

Battered walking boots.  well, you know how I love to walk everywhere. (Just a random Royal Academy type of feature.)

 

I liked this piece. A clarinet in pieces. One of the 1st instruments I learnt to play at junior school Westgate Hill Newcastle Upon Tyne. ( We had a great music department at this school.) the red dots indicate how many people want to buy a print of this.

some of you may recognise this guy whose face seems familiar. He is an Irish Actor, any guesses?

 

I LOVE THIS QUIRKY NEW-AGE SORT OF SCULPTURE. NOT SURE WHY? it’s just sort of cheerful to me. Summer Exhibition London.

 

A PREVIOUS EXHIBITION a little earlier in the year. AT THE ROYAL ACADEMY- Entangled Pasts- Art, colonialism and change. 

A powerful exhibition,

 

https://www.royalacademy.org.uk

THE TATE SOUTHBANK YOKO ONO -A COLLECTION.

Yoko Ono’s art installation at The Tate represents the fate of the refugees. All of the blue is from pen-written messages from the general public. What is your message?

An original art piece. I had forgotten how much I used to like Yoko Ono. There was a chance to listen to a collection of her on vinyl.

 

Yoko is a bit of a comedian at heart. She had lots of these snippets as an art piece.

 

Local Art- around where I live, work and play

Local mural, in Poets Corner Chaucer Road a Black Lives Matter mural

 

STREET GRAFFITI CAMBERWELL. Well, it’s very colourful.

 

SOMEONE HAD STUFFED A WHOLE LOAD OF OBJECTS IN THEIR FRONT WINDOW, I TOOK THIS ON THE WAY TO WORK.

 

THE WELLCOME FOUNDATION

This caught my eye as I was in the building looking for a quiet place to read. The British Library was closed that day) This dress has the tiny contraceptive pills’ shiny wrappers sewn into the dress It looks very glamorous then when you look at it very closely you realise what they are. Taken in July at The Wellness Foundation Charitable Museum

 

Bloomsbury at the back of Euston Road. A glimpse of a rosier past.

I love this shop front but resisted going in for a tarot reading this is in Bloomsbury

Closed French bookshop near Bloomsbury- early Saturday morning in July.

 

RANDOM PICTURES AROUND LONDON

 

PHONE BOX MAYFAIR IN a quiet corner near a public library. Someone was storing their mattress inside. Plastered with pictures of the kidnapped from Israel.

 

This caught my eye walking from Euston to Goodge Street.

 

PARALLEL UNIVERSES

The more I walk through London’s different boroughs, the more I see. Poverty is rife, Homelessness has spread from borough to borough, even the exclusive areas like Mayfair. I always find it sickening walking in some of the richer areas where people eat at cafes with outside pavements and beggars walk by.

Even in Brixton, you get the ‘out of towners’ drinking Processco at noon in the trendy bars, out on the sidewalks, while people beg them for money. On the trains, there are frequently beggars with elaborate hard luck stories asking for money. It’s a sad state of affairs.

LIFE IS RANDOM

Sometimes I’m not sure what I’m going to come across.

Round the back streets of Kentish Town, I came across this.

Once a public toilet now a rehearsal studio in Kentish Town.

We have the power- Hope not hate

Last, but not least, I was asked to cover an event for The Brixton Bugle (local free press) it was a March against gun and knife crime. organised by The Seventh Adventist Church.

Leading the march was The WAYFARERS DRUMMING BAND. It was a lively walk through the streets walking to Clapham, Stockwell then back to Brixton to Windrush Square. It was. a peaceful march highlighting the need to stop knife and gun crime.

Marching to the drums down Clapham Road towards Brixton I  saw this potent sign.

 

THE BEAT GOES ON and the message Is Hope not knives, love not hate. (Is that graffiti Kope or Hope?)

Approaching Brixton

 

September is already promising to be. a busy month. I hope to get out of London a lot more.

Until next time- Keep on Keeping on.