A weekend away in Norfolk

Off  message but last weekend following English lockdown easing, we hired a self catering chalet in the Norfolk broads and had 2 marvellous days walking in the local countryside. It was great to wake up somewhere different. We even went out on Saturday for a nice outdoor pub lunch (and quickly got fed up with a couple of noisy pub bores on the next door table. We had forgotten about this occasional downside of the Great British pub) .  

On Sunday we walked the 5.5 mile  "How Hill and Ludham" walk from this pathfinder guide book. The start of the walk at How Hill is only 30m high (but classed as a hill in this very flat part of Norfolk). 

I loved the remoteness and the "big skies" you find in Norfolk and East Anglia. The history, the chocolate box villages and all the stunning scenery you come across is unbeatable.  

One thing I noticed is the impressive detached brick house bottom left. It has a plaque on it which says "District Nurse, Norfolk Country Council 1955 (see bottom left of collage). I assume this is from a time when employers cared about the housing need of their workers. 

The walk itself was well sign posted with no obstacles (or angry dogs, gamekeepers or horses) and the directions clear and accurate. 

Cockneyish Thought for Today

Even though I have lived and worked in the East End of London for some 30 years, I had to stop and think about this one for a little while....

Hat tip UNISON AGS Roger McKenzie. I suspect from a London Underground Station information board. 

Before and after: What could possibly go wrong?

Off message but many thanks to Gill for cutting my hair this afternoon with my redundant beard trimmer!

I have always disliked having long hair.

In the scheme of things this is all very unimportant but I thought it may offer folk some light relief.

Recently I spoke to an old friend who lives in the country who had just cut her husband's hair with horse clippers.

We watched a few YouTube videos beforehand and then took the plunge. We didn't have any decent scissors so used the short hair setting on side and long on top. It seemed to have worked.

There is a small bald spot on my left hand side from over enthusiastic clipping but luckily with Zoom and Skype meetings,  all you need is a frontal look.

No one mentioned it at the Newham Council all member Skype briefing this evening which I chaired.

I offered to return the favour to Gill and cut her hair but for some strange, strange reason she said no!!!!!!! 

Llyn y Cau, Cader Idris by Kyffin Williams: Chwefror February 2020

Off message. For Christmas I bought a calendar with pictures each month from the Welsh artist, Kyffin Williams. This is for Chwefror (February). Cader Idris translated into English means "The Giants Armchair".

In 2013 I walked around Cader Idris ridge and took the picture below (from a different angle and light conditions to painting). It was one of the best (but toughest) walks I have ever been on.

#GreatNationWales

Bowers Marsh Walk & the Battle of Benfleet

Off message but went with Gill on a lovely 5.5 mile walk on Sunday courtesy of the free website EssexWalks.Com.

We started off at the RSPB reserve at Bowers Marsh which has a wonderful sense of "Big Essex Skies" and marsh land solitude despite the distant hum of road traffic.

Follow the Thames Path out of the marsh and under the road bridge and along the mudflats of East Haven creek. The path is a little overgrown approaching a second world war pill box so not suitable for shorts or sandals.

It was very pleasant walking along the creek and checking out the boats moored or those abandoned to rot beside it.

At Benfleet there was a memorial to the battle in 894AD when the Saxons defeated the Vikings in a surprise attack and burnt their long ships. Traces of the burnt ship timbers were apparently found when the railway was built.

After walking through parks, back of houses green lanes and horse paddocks (we had to climb over a gate on a public footpath which had been locked shut with a screw - must remember to report to Essex Council rights of way officer) we stopped at the historic 14th Century St Margaret's Church, which is reputed to be haunted, but nothing spooky occurred and the Church wardens who let us in were very friendly.

At least we think... they were the wardens?

We stopped off at the nearby Gun Pub for a beer to re-hydrate then drove home (about 45 minutes each way). You could take the train and start the circular route at Benfleet station.

I do recommended this walk, there is some traffic/train noise and you walk through a few brownfield sites but it has lots of atmosphere and history as well as being a change from chocolate box "pretty" country side walks. EssexWalks.Com has lots of excellent free walks across the county. 

Farmer Hogget Sings To Babe - If I had words.mp4

Off message. Netflix movie. Love it. Great film. Farmer Hogget sketch is amongst my all time favourite. 

Three Cliff Bay Walk (The stunning and beautiful Gower Peninsula)

Off message but last month Gill and I spent a week on holiday in the Mumbles, South Wales. This walk was magnificent. I have heard over the years many people praise the Gower Peninsula as a top holiday destination but have never been until now.

This walk is 9.3 miles and a mixture of classic coastline and inland valley walks. Check out Hikideas for the route but make sure you download instructions and have a decent map. You start at a National Trust car park in Pennard where there must be ancient common law rights for cattle to range at will in the car park and village. Reminds me of our own backyard in Wanstead flats, East London where cattle also used to roam freely before the onset of BSE in the 1990s.

Once you leave the amazing cliff tops and go inland the route is a little overgrown and unclear. A fair bit of up and down work but well worth the effort.

Lots of history en route including ancient green lanes and completely isolated medieval (open) churches and the remains of an early non conformist chapel. The last leg of the walk you rejoin the Welsh coastal path route and enjoy more stunning bay views.

A moderate effort but at times a breathtakingly beautiful walk. Recommended. 

Tal y fan walk

Off message but over Xmas, Gill and I went on a marvellous walk in North Wales. Tal y fan is the lowest mountain in Snowdonia at 2000ft (610m) and an ideal introduction to climbing mountains. It also follows an ancient Roman road, passes prehistoric monuments and a remote medieval church. It might be relatively easy compared to other Snowdonia mountains but it is not a walk to be attempted in bad weather if you are not experienced in using a compass.

The walk starts in the lovely village of Roewen with a steep vertical ascent along a former Roman military road. It is quite tough but the views get better and better as you go up. You pass ancient burial chambers and standing stones.

The summit of Tal y fan is steep and rocky which requires care but the views from the top are magnificent.  Since it was a little late in the day we cut the walk short by going off the suggested "pathfinder" route and headed across the ridge towards Conwy.

A herd of wild welsh mountain ponies ran past us. A fellow walker who passed by said these ponies were descendants of Roman horses who used to work in the local mines and quarries.

Going down the mountain back into Roewen was difficult since it was cold and slippery but we managed to keep upright.

This is a walk we will repeat again in a different season and will no doubt enjoy it as much then as we did last month. 

Wanstead flats on a bright frosty January morning

A beautiful and stunning start to the day. A 30 minutes jog. You would never think that this wonderful open space is surrounded by densely populated suburbia.  

Room with a view

Off message but this has been the view greeting me in the morning for the last few days. Sheep, foxes, rabbits, grouse and various other birds (real photo edited with "painting" software). An always changing landscape where you never get bored looking out of the window. The beautiful Vale of Clwyd, Ruthin, North Wales.

Ulting Walk along the River Chelmer then Boreham hills

Off message but before it gets too wet, cold, dark and miserable I thought I would post on a wonderful 8 mile walk last month.

The walk started near the 12th pilgrimage church, All Saints in Ulting.  Walk along farmland then alongside the River Chelmer and back through the village of Nousley. Stopping off at the "Sportsman Arms" for a little light refreshment.

Walk from the free site Essex Walks. I've posted more pictures on Facebook here. Click on picture to bring up detail.

John's Autumn Watch

Off message but last weekend I went for a marvellous Autumnal walk in the Chilterns.  It is apparently a particularly "bountiful" season this year with lots of fruit and berries.  Thanks to the cold winter last year which killed off fungi and pests with a warm but showery summer.  Double click photos to bring up detail.

In the weak sunshine and long shadows the trees are starting to change colours.  It had rained the day before and there was that lovely wet, musty muddy smell in the woods. 

There were some huge birds of prey floating up high looking for dinner and a very disdainful small deer (left - Munjac?) who hopped away like a rabbit.   

The walk was (number 15) "Great Hampden and Little Hampden".  There were simply superb views all along the route.  It was only 6.5 miles and while up and down there was nothing too strenuos. 

There was a little bit of history at Hampden House which is the site (right) of the home of John Hampden, the leading Parliamentarian whose refusal to pay Ship Tax in 1641 was one of the triggers of the English Civil War.  See - the British if pushed too far can be rebellious! (not that Revolution did poor John much good)

The rolling hills and beech woods of the Chilterns are deservedly an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and only a few miles from London.  It can get very crowded in the more popular spots but this walk was quiet and very peaceful.  Recommended.