Jul
31
2026

I can’t explain my mind!

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I can’t explain my mind an offshoot of I can’t explain my feet?

Twelve years of walking, looking, and writing. If you’re wondering how much shelf life this theme has left, the answer is: It’s only the beginning.

Am I losing my mind!

Another question to answer. Often in the heatwaves my mind seems incapable of thinking. Decisions seen impossible. What to do and where to go.

Bearing in mind my full time work has ended ;seemingly at the beginning of a great adventure! In reality lost and confused!

After spending a couple of hours in the cinema I make my way to London Kings Cross to check out Coal Drop Yard.

kings Cross- Coal Drop Yard by Regents Canal.

 

Arriving in the area to have lunch and check out where the Light Room is, it is too hot to think.  Among the crowds and heat, everything is chaos.

Coal Drop Yard

I eventually made it to the one day only fantastic David Hockney exhibit. It was visually stunning .

https://lightroom.uk

Honestly I would need to create another website about Art to describe the intensity of this one off show. A lot of the show was live, so I videoed bits. My video editing skills need further developing before posting them here.

The beginning.

 

The end!!

 

I’m getting into art again.

The Royal Academy hosted this exhibition of a lesser known Dutch female Artist, Michaelina Wautier

One of her portraits of a young boy. Michaelina Wautier was a trailblazer living around the same time as Rembrandt..

 

At The Tate I saw the artist Tracy Emin’s second chance exhibition  and another tribute to Frieda Kahlo. A vast collection of colourful artworks.

Visiting Eel Pie Island for the first time was fun.

One of the few artists House.

Most displays are quirky and recycled. Little gardens and old boat yards are now artists workshops.

 

It was another day of intense heat but the island was quirky and inspiring. The Eel Pie Museum is another place to visit. I’m leaving that for another time. There is a musical festival in town on 8/8 weekend. Lots of live music on the streets and bars.

Art is the refuge.

The independent Garden Cinema is now one of my go to places. I’m watching  films I wouldn’t normally be interested in just  to get out of the sun for a couple of hours.

Planning my escape

I was due to go on a Hill Walking Retreat for a week, and changed my plans to attend a funeral in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire.

Instead of going to Stirling I went to Edinburgh The hope of boarding my booked train disappeared from sight as by 9.27 it hadn’t arrived and was due to leave at 9.33.

The journey became less about delays and more about connection.

As chaos piled up, I plonked my self down on the first free seat I could find. I sat next to a young guy who was from Glasgow but lived in Edinburgh, it turned out he was a saxophone player.

An instrument I practiced at New Cross College. There was a common thread at least I had someone to talk to -talking about music at least passed some of the time heading to Edinburgh.

New journey, new plans.

After contacting an acquaintance it happened she had a spare room for two nights. Her  apartment was in the Old Edinburgh area near Marchmont.

Not only did I have a room but  interesting company as well.

It was great to have the company.  She drove me and her son to an open night at an art Gallery, afterwards we went for a meal.

The next day, I had a walkabout in the area and looked in the shops.

Later on that day   we drove up to a reservoir for an easy five mile walk.

Blueberries almost ready .

Daisy, Daisy

Bridge over troubled waters.

Fine pines near water.

 

Travelling up to Aberdeen was crowded and I got stuck in a carriage listening to a couple of guys talking about golf! that was pretty gruelling.

Arriving  late afternoon,  on my own with a rucksack and small case, the reception  allowed me to check in. After dumping the bags, then reluctantly went back out into the streets and the shopping centre.

I’m not sure how much of my mood impacted my vision but the city looked like it had seen better days,  the dark grey buildings, looked cold and grim.

The port of Aberdeen.

The only bit of brightness that I saw. Alley way next to the ABERDEEN DOUGLAS HOTEL.

 

Stonehaven

I really loved this. After the funeral we walked along the seafront at Stonehaven.

Stunning wee sculpture.

 

The following day I took a train back to  Edinburgh for only a couple of hours; before returning to London Kings Cross.

I left my baggage in the National Gallery lockers near Waverly railway Station.

I found this quite intriguing. There’s a bit of a story behind it. In short it was inspired by a story written by Edgar AllanPoe then translated in French by Baudelaire.

 

After my very brief time at the Gallery, it felt like a good idea to go off for a wander around the city. I walked up and down quite a lot of stairs off Princess Street.

I tried and failed to find McEwan Hall. A place that I’m visiting in August for a book reading.  It was a  struggle to  get my bearings in this beautiful but crazy busy city.

Back in London

I found a really cute handbag size pop up map in Waterstones  that shows  the layout of the  streets in Edinburgh.

Next time I will get it.  Previously I had walked through  middle meadow after my two night stay, and walked past a folk bar near there – so close yet so far.

Sandy Bells Folk Club

 

Further escapades and wanderings on the horizon, but who knows where or when.

The heatwave continues in London. See you in August .

 

RIP Brenda Robertson.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jun
30
2026

Tales of June

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The Joys of  June

June always brings many tales to tell, but choosing which Tales of June to share is the real challenge.

If you are going to visit somewhere you might as well try it in June It will be hit and miss whether you get rain, hail, or a heatwave.

As always it is a pleasure to go somewhere ‘new’ and this month I had a few diversions out of London. Luckily when travelling the heat was moderate, nowhere near as strong as it’s been in London this last week, up to 35c.

Staithes North Yorkshire

On the 1st of June, we had already experienced our 1st heatwave at the end of May. It was now sort of an old fashioned British summer, the weather was a bit overcast and a little nippy.

Saithes’ isn’t too far from Whitby, which is somewhere I visited at some point in the 1970’s. This is my real visit to Yorkshire since.

The first visit was a small fishing village with plenty of houses for sale. I can imagine living there somewhat difficult.

We visited the Staithes Museum to learn more about the significance of Captain Cook There were Captain Cook references everywhere and I hadn’t previously been aware he was from this part of the country.

Looking down to sea from house back ally-way

Down at the Harbour -Lobster & crabs anyone? I believe it’s now recognised, that it’s not alright to drop a live lobster into a boiling pan of water. Small Mercy’s for living creatures..

Big sky Big rocks

Massive town house Grade 11 Listed Building with friends Charles and Camilla considering whether to buy it. I could run a retreat there but it’s quite out of the way.

It might rain, it might, hail, it might be a heatwave, either way it will change.

 

Staithes Museum

North York Moors National Park

http://www.staithes-museum.org.uk

It was fascinating to see artefacts from Captain Cook’s Pacific travels. While voyaging he had a permanent artist on board to sketch the findings of tropical animals and tribes. The volunteer was extremely knowledgeable on these subjects and told us loads of stories.

 

Salts mill- Saltaire Yorkshire

https://www.saltsmill.org.uk

Salts Mill is set in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Saltaire. The Grade II Listed historic mill building was built in 1853 by Sir Titus Salt along with the village to house his workers. The whole area is of architectural and historical interest.

A massive old working mill preserved and functioning as an Art Gallery, and other outlets

You won’t get such a beautiful view like this in the Tate Galleries or any galleries in London. This was a fabulous space.

 

1853 Gallery David Hockney

Salts Mill is home to one of the largest collections of David Hockney’s art. On the ground floor you will find the 1853 Gallery which houses a permanent exhibition of works by David Hockney.

Walking from bath to Bristol

It took some time to reach the old train line. after 4 miles of walking about the city of Bath then ambling along the river, and taking wrong turns. We eventually got onto the old train line.

We had gone totally unprepared We saw a sign saying 14 miles to Bristol once we managed to get onto the train line. I knew that me walking a further 14 miles, wasn’t going to happen today.

I dropped endless hints that this might be a bit unrealistic. We walked 4 miles further before leaving the train track.

As we left Bath City, we started off walking along the city canal.

Compared to London this was quiet and peaceful.

We kind of had to go off track to find the railway line, which added on about an hour of our time.  It wasn’t easy to find. The sign post we found didn’t exactly point us in the right direction.

 

Views from the old railway track.

 

Making our Escape into an old railway musem

You will have a long wait here. Preserved old station

 

We met a bunch of lovely volunteer men one of them walked us to the bus stop going into central Bristol What a relief!!!

The cafe was closed but we chatted to some volunteers, they look after the old station and trains for visitors.

 

Getting into the centre of Bristol

The bus journey wasn’t pleasant and it was sad to see a more depressing side of Bristol. Looking out of the window, sitting in traffic and watching a guy trying to stand up straight hanging onto a door.

He was under the influence of some drug that paralyses you What sort of state of affairs is that?

Arriving at Bristol

Modelling my very 1st hand printed teeshirt . It’s a Neil Young Album cover. !

 

The above picture of me is walking out of the hotel in Bristol into  Victoria Gardens where this ruined Temple lives.

Bombed during WW11

 

On Saturday we walked around 9 miles exploring the centre of Bristol

I had visited several times and not come across the old market street before it had a very continental feel about it.

I had wanted to visit Clifden but we ran out of time. I’m saving that for my next visit.

Not really sure what this installation represents, but it wouldn’t be Bristol without some street art.

I thought this building looked a bit Dutch.

 

A very continental feel around the market place off the main streets.

Further exploration of Fleet Street in the Heatwave

A miniature tour of English religious history in a single afternoon. I had volunteered to assist in helping out with events for the Climate Challenges in the city week.

It’s worth doing as you get to learn a lot. I was especially interested in St Brides Church just off the Strand.

Temple Church exploring medieval Christianity, St Andrew’s of the Wardrobe- Anglo-Catholic Anglicanism, and St Bride’s into the post-Reformation Church of England  church of the journalists. (well worth a visit)

https://www.stbrides.com

A plunge in the lake at Beckenham.

My last adventure of the month was my first experience of swimming with ducks and ducklings.

It was the only place I could get a swim. All of the pools are fully booked up in London . I considered going up to the North East as the heat peaked, but I’m heading up to Scotland in a few weeks, so that would be more time out than I can afford.

Can’t wait to visit Scotland again. I have been comparing the temperatures in the Balqhidder area (where I’m visiting) and it’s almost 10c lower than London. Could I have a future life in Scotland?

 

Until next time

 

Keep on Keeping on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May
31
2026

Writing about walking

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Writing about walking & why they go together.

For some technical reason, this post didn’t go out last month. My theme for Last month was  writing about walking, and how they go together.

Thoroughout May,  I volunteered to help out at Fleet Street Quarter Words Festival; now in its second year. The week was packed full of events, based in various building in and around Fleet Street.

Getting Lost

Fleet Street, once the beating heart of the global press, near the criminal court- The Old Bailey and St Pauls Cathedral. There are  many historical buildings running off Fleet Street, with endless alleys and courtyards tucked away behind them.

I got lost a few times, (despite the map! & phone) looking for Dr Johnsons house in Gough Square – It took me over an hour to find it, when it was just a 5 minute walk from my starting point.

Temple Church is situated just off Fleet Street, it’s difficult to describe how exquisite it all is. Very elitist.

 

The 1st two book readings were held here at Temple Church.

 

The Fleet Street Quarter is a new enterprise working towards transforming the area into a cultural hub.

https://www.fleetstreetquarter.co.uk/festival-of-words-2026

Shattered- Hanif Kureishi at Stationers Hall.

The highlight for me was seeing Hanif Kureishi  I read his latest book Shattered when I was in Bruges Last year. A compelling read. After a devastating fall in Rome in late 2022, he was left tetraplegic.

Unable to use his hands to write, he dictates to his son and other helpers. It was clear that he is, despite it all a very open and humorous guy.

He tells stories of every day life and can laugh at how other people view him,  the homeless guys on the streets now see him as one of them. Disabled and dependent.

Many of you will have watched his dramas at the cinema or on  TV: My beautiful Launderette and Buddha of Suburbia. I had seen them but not read the  books so bought them, to take on a future journey.

Hanif was in good form, but  unable to write his signature as his hand is unsteady. Instead he does  thumbprint signatures using an ink pad. ! You can find his writing on Substack. https://hanifkureishi.substack.com

Journalists in the war zone.

Cutlers Hall

Feargal Keane ( war reporter) in conversation with Antony Garvey (BBC News Producer

A memoir of War, Fear and PTSD.

This conversation was held at the historic Cutler House. It was great to be part of the audience for this conversation . I’m looking forward to reading the book later.

Flitting about from building to building trying to find the venues all of them  were new to me.

I met a whole bunch of new people and had some great conversations, as well as access to  the interiors of fantastic historical buildings. It was a roller coster of a  week and I would love to do this again next year.

From flitting about the city to events, I thought it was time to do a group walk and stretch myself  again.

 

Walking from Camden to London Fields about 4 miles.

Bookshop on Canal near Coal Drop Yard -Kings Cross

 

I enjoyed this walk, along the canal we had to break out at Islington as the towpath can’t go through the 878 meter tunnel. Ending in London Fields.

The group went on to Limehouse and I left the group at his point to go to Highbury Fields then Brixton.

A simple walk from Teddington to Richmond.

On Sunday I managed to get an early  start for a walk along the river before it got too hot.

The following day I was ready for another river walk from Richmond to Barnes Bridge

shadow patterns under the bridge.

 

Shadow Bridge 2.

 

Under Barnes Bridge. Shadow 3.

 

AN OFF PEAK DAY AT SEAFORD
When I first started doing this walk over 12 years ago, most of the time it was a quiet place, it is now a tourist hub.
I decided not to walk the Seven Sisters and instead, walked up to Seaford nature reserve and down to Cuckmere Haven.
After some indecision I eventually crossed over to the beach. The tide was out, so I reluctantly gave in to doing the painful crossing myself.
Where the river meets the sea, other people  were fumbling and hobbling over the stony riverbed. It’s not deep, but the current is fast, so trying to balance on those stones while wading across is bloody painful.”

I didn’t bother with the usual pictures of the Seven Sisters. I have done many previous posts about that.

Instead, here are a couple of picture taken from pools on the beach.

I’M REALLY INTO REFLECTIONS AT THE MOMENT. Looking into the water.

Moss -shadows -stones

 

 

Until next time, Keep on Keeping on.

See you 30th June.

 

 

 

Apr
30
2026

Inspiring walks in Spring.

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1st inspiring walk this spring was Margate.

The day trip to Margate was more of a mooch than a walk.  I was on my Todd -my only desire was to see the David Hockney Installation. Margate was busy on account of the sun being out, inspiring other’s to get out walking, and enjoy the day.

My new motto is more and more of less.

I nicked that quote from a yoga teacher who used to say more and more of less and less. When struggling with addictions that’s a pretty good message.

David Hockneys Installation on the huge window on the ground floor stretching up high to the 1st floor. Viewing, the installation from the 1st floor,  you are closer to the sky in the installation you can view the sea through the painting 

Blue/pink section out at sea.

 

Back out on the seafront. I can’t just take one picture as I need to see which looks better from different perspectives.

 

Sir Antony Gormley’s cast-irons sculpture 

The solitary figure becomes visible three hours before low tide. It is part of a series of 100 cast-iron figures that explore the human experience and have been installed globally.   

Antony Gormley’s Another Time. Fulsam Rock
Margate

Busy Bee and her message. I stroll along aware that I only have a few hours today.  Later in the day I walk back from Margate to Westgate on Sea.

Moss walk.

Old balcony on promenade, tree budding in spring.

Faded Glory.

 

LOVELY LEWIS LOOP

The second Inspiring walk was  circular starting at Lewis station. A quick 10 minute walk to get down to the river. Following the river for about 30 minutes before cutting across to a proper pathway all of the way to Rodmell

I hadn’t done this particular circular walk. before and saw the other side of the valley for the 1st time. Seeing a significant chalk pond, within a beautiful nature reserve.

 It was truly a fantastic day for a walk.

BIG BLUE SKY & FLUFFY CLOUDS

 

THE RIVER OUSE

A QUIET PATH

A SEAL ON RIVER BANK- I was so chuffed to catch his face.

 

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the seal. Never in all my many walks have I seen a seal around this area.

(Strangely enough a couple of weeks before this I witnessed a seal down by the river at Rotherhithe. )

THE COUNTRY SIDE AROUND LEWES

HAY -TREE -CLOUDS.

VIEW OF WHEAT FIELD.

EE AW.

THE DONKEY CLAN.

 

Landbottom Nature Reserve

ENVIRONMENTAL CHALK POND, NATURE RESERVE.

 

It’s part of the 3% chalkland habitat that remains in the South Downs. Chalk grassland is one of Britain’s most threatened and sensitive habitats with many lost to development of houses and roads.

SUN REFLECTING ON POND.

 

Back in London a few weekends ago.

Walking from Greenwich with no particular aim, We ended up on the East Side in old Millwall territory. Some evidence of old industry was interesting but apart from that just loads of apartments.

At some point I will do a post about the East End Docks.

 

I took this picture from a bridge high up . It was as close as I could get. I was so excited to see a seal in London. I was aware they were supposed to exist but this was the 1st time I had seen one in London.

 

Tree shadows on the south side of the river,  back on the South side where I feel at home.

 

A day trip to St Leonards and Hastings on Sea..

It was Saturday and it had been a busy week,  An easy day was in store. We started with lunch in a St Leonards cafe called Sleepers for some reason.

Not sure why it’s called this. There’s a row of interesting cafes and shops all down the street coming out of St Leonards train station to the sea.

Canny sells various mushroom type drinks and CBD infused Matchas. I opted for the latter after staring at the menu baffled for over 10 minutes!

One of many smart and attractive building in St Leonards Main Street near the train station.

 

After lunch a walk along the seafront to visit an Arts Fair at East Sussex College near Hastings Train Station. We spent an hour or so walking about Hastings Old Town looking at the shops.

 

Last but not least

A midweek short walk from Mortlake to Hammersmith. It was the kind of walk I needed. Not many people about and the air was cool.

 

Until Next Time

Keep on keeping on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mar
31
2026

Artificial Intelligence & where it can take you

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The uses of Artificial Intelligence

In September 2025 , as my contract in Research ended, I applied and got a bursary toward the costs (from Brixton society)  of a Lambeth Tour Guide course. Six months in I was chatting with AI, about my reasons for wanting to leave the course.

Asking AI to assist me was a great process. I was struggling to keep up with the work and didn’t enjoy certain aspects of the course.  Many conversations later the  conclusion was that my type of personality wasn’t happy with prescriptive learning.

Yes I could hang on just to get the certificate Or I could get back to developing my personal interests and look for work. I chose to leave but there is a possibility (should I want to )I could maybe rejoin at a later date, banking my six months commitment.

I am free again to enjoy my walks at weekends.

I’m helping Brixton Society out with volunteer work at some of their events. As well I owe them a couple of guided walks, which I will honour.  Depending on how this goes I can reconsider the options to revisit the tour guide course.

As the weather improves it’s great to get out of London for walks.

Lewes short walk Firstly a walk around town, and then a short 6 miles or so walk, just up into the foot of the South downs

We walked up hill past the golf course, towards Glyndbourne and back, (steep gradient) back around the town to buy a few plants and lunch at Bills, it was nice n the sun, but otherwise freezing.

Walking in Twilight

Unintentionally I found myself walking along the river one midweek day, from Mortlake to Richmond, I had started at Putney about 2.30pm  and once I got to Barnes Bridge, I decided to keep going .

My favourite part of the river where the woodland is ancient and you can’t see any buildings.

Bittercresses and Toothworts (Genus Cardamine) it has been named Hairy Bittercress, Cuckooflower & Milkmaids, Essentially it comes from the tribe of Cardamine.

 

The pathway from Kew Gardens to Richmond has been repaired. As often is the case I forgot how long that stretch is. I could see the sun going down over the other side of the river.

It felt great to be alone with my thoughts just ambling alongside the river and the woodland.

trees get the light.

 

The Twilight Zone (and fear of the dark)

Daskiss Is an Irish word for Dusk/twilight.

 A time where the light is magical 
and the senses go into overload. 

This river walk was starting to scare and excite me. I wasn’t sure if I could get to Richmond town before the light had gone down. Feeling scared in the dark is not something that happens much these days.

Other Moonlight tales

Many Moons ago I travelled from Dublin to Donegal on a coach, via Sligo, it seemed to last forever but it did feel bewitching.

It seemed a long climb upwards from Donegal town to the cottage. It was maybe a mile or maybe less. We were going to meet our hosts recommended by some hippy we knew living in a squat in North London.

I was so scared and convinced there was a cow in the middle of the road. The darkness made me freeze I refused to budge for what seemed like forever!

The middle of nowhere in the dark

That was a long time ago in the Independent Republic of Ireland, where there was some sort of  anti cultural revolutionary movement going on

A bit of grow your own you know what, and live outside of the system. I was aware and intrigued  with what I had heard about  “The Screamers” who lived in a commune close to the Atlantic. I never got there and maybe that was just as well.

Donegal’s ‘screamers’: The story of 1970’s Atlantis Commune – BBC News

As always I’m all over London.

Back to the present, I had a great walk from Holborn to Victoria, via the South Bank. the day started at The Job Centre Kennington

I jumped on the bus from there to Holborn. then headed down to the river along the South Bank and ventured into The poetry library.

Walking alongside St Thomas Hospital , Westminster is on the right. I walk over to the next bridge, (Lambeth) toward Victoria. It feels like spring.

 

Poetry in motion

Looking for something /anything, that might inspire me, I eventually picked something by Carol Ann Duffy.  I’m currently on a Course of hers and she recommends reading everybody.

I have a few unfinished poems and  an idea to create an illustrated book of poems among other creative ventures, somewhere down the line.

The National Covid Memorial Wall- you can write a message in one of the thousands of red hearts post -its.

This boat collects your rubbish. It looks somewhat hazy, like a painting.

 

This Channel 4 building is on Horseferry Road, it’s one of my favourite areas of London.

PENSHURST VIA Tonbridge or Redhill.

26 wild and rugged Ramblers turned up for this spring day ramble of 10 miles. 

Much of the walk was in woods so very muddy, but I’m not complaining. It was good to get out.  We visited the historic Penhurst Village.

A traditional Letter box still intact on the side of a shop front, near the old church yard.

 

https://www.penshurstplace.com

 

The highlight for me was meeting the pigs!

Sandy

I couldn’t quite photograph them  at the right angle, as they ran about a lot.

Eddie

I had some bread in my bag left over from my vegan sausage baguette. They were delighted at this little act of kindness and Texas Jane fed them with some healthy tortillas

so cute.

They had plenty of space to run about in and huts to hide or sleep in.

It was lovely to see. Many factory farmed pigs don’t have that privilege.

 

more walks n things in April.