Wet, wet, wet but still out there

I'm just back from Sunday morning run of 4.5 miles after a 3.5 mile run in pouring rain yesterday which left me soaked through again and freezing cold. hat's a total of 160 miles for the month. Most of that was running with just 35 miles on the bike. I'm a bit nervous on the bike when it is frosty or we are having rain due to the possibility of coming off again and therefore not too many opportunities to get out on either bike. More to come as the weather improves.

We've done the garden birdwatch again this year which saw 14 different species arrive over the hour:

collared dove - 3

great tit - 2

blue tit - 3

house sparrow - 28

goldfinch - 4

starling - 4

wood pigeon - 3

blackbird - 3

chaffinch - 1

robin - 2

dunnock - 4

coal tit - 1

siskin - 2

nuthatch - 1

The number of sparrows has risen in recent years with the nest boxes proving a big hit. They are in and out of the hedges all day long, chattering away. Very pleased with the nuthatch coming during the watch. We have had two at times but they aren't always around. Goldfinch numbers are fewer than they used to be.

Lovely wet walk with the family yesterday. We managed to dodge the worst of the rain but the puddles were massive, completely covering pathways in places, the ground is saturated.

Very pleased with two vegan pizzas made for tea to go with the successful vegan lasagne from the night before. 

On Friday I had walked to Joy's house and back across the golf course. There was some sunshine for that excursion but again, the ground was squelchy and slippery.

Spring is coming

We had Amelia over for the day again and with Maria speeding through her work, there was the opportunity to get out and about for a bit in the much milder temperatures. Alison and Amelia made cakes while Maria worked through aerobic and anaerobic respiration and other topics before we took the motorhome down to Verwood and had a play in the park before a short trip to Joy's house where the girls played as Alison made sure her mother was ok and had something good for lunch.

After our lunch I ran a few miles but it was interrupted with news of my mum going back into hospital in Stornaway which means a few days of anxiety waiting to see her back on the mend. Having taken Amelia home I took Maisy out and she did well, all the way to the bottom of the track and back where I saw the flowers in the photo above, the snowdrops and daffodils. With the bird song and the sight of a goldcrest hawking small flies, it really did look like the season is on the change.

The final picture is of the back garden. I have added some new challenges to my list in view of the likely impossibility of others. One is to take a photo of the same spot each day to create a stop motion film capturing the changes to that spot over the coming months. 4.15 each evening which will show the changing light and the coming flowers. 

Other new tasks include improving my chess - I am a complete novice - using chess.com which looks very helpful. There is a poem a day too and listening to a classic album chosen at random by Alexa. It's currently The Beach Boys. Made further progress with the book too and have reached about 2/3 of the way through. Maybe available to readers by the end of February!

Woodlands walk

Another grey day but markedly warmer than yesterday. I ran over 5.5 miles yesterday and timed it to coincide with the worst of the rain which ended up soaking me to the skin with a breeze blowing it into my face at times. It was almost impossible to warm up again the rest of the day, even after a shower.

Today I cooked at lunchtime as Alison and I were home alone with Maria for the day, no need for a tea for additional visitors. Alison was getting the weekly groceries and Maria was storming through her home learning. That meant a free afternoon during which I ran 3.5 miles and went for a walk with Alison, another 3 miles which took us to Remedy Oak golf course, out towards the view to Horton where you may see the tower on the horizon and back round to the equestrain centre and the village green. We heard a lot of bird song and came across a lovely kestrel, such elegant birds. 

After the walk back along the main road I got down to editing my novel which I have now got over halfway through and am enjoying it. Once again, that isn't intended to be boastful, just that I don't feel embarrassed by it as I feared I might. It is at least readable. There are also emerging ideas for a follow up.

One thing to remark upon, the milestone of 100,000 deaths attributable to Covid based on the measure most commonly referenced in the media. There are thousands more which have been recorded the ONS which will feed into the final tally when a public inquiry is held. These are staggering figures and way above the hoped for maximum of 20,000 spoken about a year ago.

It is, in my view, a figure which can be in many ways laid at the door of this Govt and the PM we have been cursed with at this unprecedented time. The prevarications and U-Turns, humiliations and squandering of billions, are as much to blame as the fact that any people with responsibility would have struggled. No one is saying it was easy, that all or even most of these deaths could have been avoided. However, there have been errors in timing, in judgement, in playing to the extremists in the Con Party who have downplayed the realities of the virus and called for more freedoms when lockdowns have demonstrably helped control the spread. 

It is sadly all too easy to believe what I have seen several times over the past day or so. 

Now is not the time to look for answers in an inquiry. That must wait until we have the pandemic under control.

I cannot possibly comment whilst the inquiry is going on.

Now is not the time for recrimination but a time for looking forward and building back better.

No one, absolutely no one will resign or be removed from office because of their incompetence. No one will have the honour to do the right thing and take responsibility. Johnson will bow his head and, like Tigger, bounce onto new ventures where he can be Mr Populist, can gainsay the doomsters and naysayers, be the bundle of fun he always wants to be. So many tragic losses because of big calls which were wrong and called out as wrong at the time, and no one will pay the political price. 

Moonlit golf course

The walk in the dark I'd enjoyed the evening before tempted me out again last night when the moon was so bright with reflections off the lying snow adding lustre to the scene. There were full shadows on the ground such was the intensity of the light which made walking easy despite the dark.

It was a real treat treading through the crunching snow along the paths of the golf course.  

Walking in the moonlight

It was a very full moon in a clear sky last night and that prompted me to get out for a walk in the darkness without using a torch. We did this last summer with the children and I was reminded of it during Winterwatch when Chris Packham mentioned it.

It turned out the visibility was very good and I was in no dnager of losing my footing or stumbling into one of the many puddles that had been topped up by the melting snow. It was lovely and I was able to really listen to the calling of the tawny owls as the evening wore on. Having intended to walk just over a mile, I did double the distance and felt the benefit of walking in such a relaxed and solitary manner.

There were far more people about by the time I got my run done this morning, at least early on when I was running down to Verwood across Crane Valley golf course. I turned toward Horton Lane and up to the gravel pits where I didn't see anyone at all, just a few sheep in amongst the final vestiges of the snow from Sunday. It was certainly a beautiful sunny day but cold again, -2C on the school run.

I am now 38 activities completed in the 57 things to do over the course of the year from my birthday in May. I did get to do a little snowball fight with the children yesterday, quite unexpectedly to be honest. There are some fairly straightforward ones to go but others are looking unlikely due to the Covid restrictions.

Paddleboarding - possible I guess, in May though when it is warmer
Beach clean up - easy enough, although I could argue I have done loads of local litter picks
Play boule on the beach in the rain - another fairly straightforward one
Go on Go Ape - unlikely. Covid restrictions mean it is closed
Watch a ballet - I am watching one on record - The Red Shoes
Visit an RSPB reserve - easy enough if the travel restrictions are lifted
Swimming at Tinside - no chance now
Run/walk/crawl a marathon - should be ok
Swim a mile - no chance now I have given up gym membership which included pool access
Visit the Russell Cotes Museum - easy if it re-opens
Do Junior Parkrun in different locations - not running due to Covid (pun not intended)
Watch Plymouth Argyle home and away - not going to happen
Share a Sunday afternoon cream tea - I can get this one done
Have a yes day- say yes to everything - I can get this one done
Make my way home - I can get this one done although I am not sure how to organise it
A day with no phone - I can get this one done
Sing a song of someone else’s choice - easy enough
Spend a day in fancy dress for no reason - should be a fun thing to do

Snow

Snow is an infrequent visitor to these parts which makes any snowfall a time of wonder and excitement. We always love looking at the pristine covering the snow lends to our homes and streets, the trees and fields and, for the first time, we were able to share that with the girls this morning. I am not sure they will have experienced being out in the snow previously and they had a lovely time despite it being a relatively light sprinkling.

There was enough for a small snowman and a little snowball fight and for cold hands and wet trousers. 

We will try to get out for a longer walk later and see whether the snow has lasted in any spots, protected from the sunshine which is now melting it fast.

Another cold day but plenty of time outside enjoying it.

This morning started slowly for us after a late night and I spent a little while watching some cricket, something I've not done for years. It was fairly sedate but nevertheless enjoyable, a good way to begin the day when the attractions of going out in frosty sunshine wasn't too appealing.

When I did get going I went out on the bike and cycled 8 miles before getting back, a shorter ride than intended simply because my hands were freezing. It was painful and I struggled to take the photo at the top as I couldn't feel my fingers pressing any buttons. That meant I was feeling ready for something more when I got back and set out on a 5km run into the golf course and back, the same route as yesterday. Running was a lot  more comfortable than riding.

I was out again shortly afterwards, this time another litter pick a mile up the road and back, to the crossroads and a bit further. Once home, I cleaned the mountain bike and washed the car before taking Maisy for a walk in the afternoon sunshine. 

So although it was cold, it has been lovely getting outside and feeling like spring is almost here - there are snowdrops on the verges and I saw a daffodil open too.  

Frosty run

Quite a drop in temperature today with a frost under the clear blue skies. It was -2 C according to the car, at least in places, and I had to take a bit of care when out running along the roads as the recent rain hasn't cleared meaning there was plenty of scope for one or two patches of ice.

It was just a short run of 3.1 miles as I wanted to ride the road bike down to Verwood later, not a long journey by any means but I know I can't go overdoing things. The ride was just over 5 miles and was nice and easy as the air warmed and the sun got to work. You can see the effects in the photo I took at the midway point of  my run, frost disappearing as the sun moved round and rose higher in the sky.

I also managed a mile walk clearing litter from the road up to the Verwood junction and back before starting on the vegan lasagne for tea tonight.

Unexpected discovery in the woods

Having been watching Winterwatch together over the past couple of evenings, we went out for a walk in the local woods looking out for signs of spring, listening for bird song and searching out something we'd been told about by a neighbour a few days ago, a trench like something out of World War One.

There were plenty of signs of spring with green shoots emerging in amongst the mud and puddles, buds appearing on branches and the calls of collared doves and woodpigeons, the song of the robin and the harsh caws of the plentiful rooks squabbling over the prime nesting sites.

It was also easy enough to find the trench which was apparently used for some filing recently. It was filled with water and looked pretty authentic to me. It does seem a bit strange seeing it there in the woods but I can imagine the children loving playing there when better weather comes.

It was a better day weather wise and I managed 12 miles out on the bike. Certainly made a nice change cycling instead of running, especially with the benefit of the thermal leggings I got for Christmas.

Storm Christoph

I ran 5.25 miles in the teeth of the storm this morning, although to be fair, it was far less fierce than I'd expected. Plenty of surface water on the roads and paths and I slipped a few times on the muddy sections round larger puddles. I quite enjoyed it, looking out for further signs of spring. The snowdrops are up in places now and the birds are defintiely interested in the coming breeding season, most visibly the local rookeries.

As a result of the storm we are having a quiet indoors day in the main, Maria has finished school for the day and is painting the figures she made using the clay collected from Devil's Hill on our walk on Saturday.

One thing worth mentioning from yesterday, when I completed a 5 mile plus run and 2 mile walk, for the record, is that I used a Nick Knowles recipe for tea. We had cannellini beans, tomatoes, onion, garlic, herbs and cider to braise vegan sausages in. They were delicious. I'll be doing that one again.

Blue Monday

 I understand the naming of the third Monday in January as the most miserable day of the year is entirely spurious, the result of a travel agency creating publicity to boost its profits, and so it proved for us wih a day which was far from miserable.

Maria cracked on with her school work and enoyed learning about Canada and how it compares to China e.g. population density, GDP per capita and so on, as well and English and Maths. She was also researching careers involving DT as part of her work for that subject. Once Alison was back from Verwood, I went out for a run, just over 5.1 miles, listening to 'The History of England' podcast all about the life of Francis Drake.

After a lunch of homemade lentil soup, we went for a walk round the goat farm and then I spent some time editing my novel. I've got to page 81 of around 280 pages, so some little way before I look at how to publish it.

I enjoyed getting tea together, pasta, cannellini beans in a tomato sauce and roasted red cabbage.Whilst Maria did her dance on Zoom, I was able to read some more of 'Hotel du Lac' which I am enjoying in leisurely fashion. It is a book I might not always have enjoyed but it is something I have taken to, although I am not sure why.

Devil's Hill walk and Sunday morning mountain bike ride

 

 

Sometimes it is only the photos that remind you how much you did on a particular day. I'd already forgotten how much we packed in to Saturday which began for me with a 5.3 mile run round Woodlands in the pouring rain. I got soaked but going early meant Alison and I had time to get to the allotment before lunchtime where we were pleased to harvest greens, beetroot and parsnips, as well as check on the garlic, broad beans and the state of the soil.

It was lovely to find things in good shape ahead of the spring and we have taken on board a lot of lessons from last year. That meant we didn't worry too much about certain seeds when we popped into the graden centre e.g. peppers, aubergine but we did get lots of seed potatoes and beans of differing varieties. It really is time to start looking forward and the sunshine of the afternoon certainly helped.

We all got out for a walk to Devil's Hill which turned out to be just over 3.6 miles taking a shade under two hours. The children loved it, exploring the gravel pit lake which had a deposit of clay they collected, as well as stones for throwing into the water. It was a very muddy walk but one which we thoroughly enjoyed, feeling spring to be closer.

We had a takeaway for tea as a treat, the first time in months, and perhaps a little too much to drink!

This morning I've been out for a 12 mile ride on the mountain bike, Slough Lane, Holt, Gaunt's Common, Chalbury, Horton and back through a farm track which comes out on the Woodlands road. Again, the sun was a welcome companion and there were plenty of other cyclists and walkers on the trails and paths.

River Crane

 

It was a much improved day in terms of weather. The sun was out and was a welcome companion on a chilly afternoon walk alongside the River Crane which is a seasonal river running through Cranborne. There were plenty of mallard ducks along the walk presumably taking advantage of the grass which was being swallowed up by the river. Just over 3 miles ahead of the school run whilst listening to 'In Our Time', the BBC podcast, which was focused on 'The Great Gatsby' this week. A very interesting listen and one which made me think carefully about my novel which I'm currently revisiting ahead of putting it on Amazon. Don't get me wrong, I am in no way whatsoever considering anything I write as deserving of being in the same company as this classic of Ameircan Literature. It was more to do with the process of writing, the desire to communicate something through the characters and their actions. I wish I could do it more effectively and realise I am just not driven enough to pursue it as seriously as it deserves. I like the idea of writing and think there are times when I can turn out something of a little value but there are so many other things in life to do, I just can't wrap myself in it as others do.

I'd had a run earlier too. 5km listening to 'Summer' again and noticing increasing numbers of people out and about, exercising during lockdown. Good to see. 

Once I'd collected Joseph we got down to making tea, pizza, pasta, roast veg and roast red cabbage.

I have been enjoying the latest KLF release. I'd forgotten how much I had enjoyed their work.

Puddles

 It was an Amelia day so we have been out in the puddles and  have enjoyed seeing her new boots which flash crazily as she walks. Lots of fun and games throughout the day but still time for a 5.5m run in the drizzle. Listening to 'Summer', the final part of the four stories written by Ali Smith.

Does Hatches

 

Another grey and damp but I managed to avoid the worst of it when running down to Verwood to sort out Joy's shower. It was 5.3 miles across Crane Valley golf course and the photo shows how much water is pouring into Does Hatches. It was certainly a muddy run and I am glad I got the cheap running shoes for going off road as they were soon soaked and caked in mud.

There was time to clean the car again and to do the interior too this time, as well as cleaning inside the motorhome. The heating looks to be faulty and beyond my very limited skills to resolve so I may need to book it in at some point soon. 

In running to Remedy Oak I have been aware of the amount of litter lining the road and so got on my bike armed with sack and litter picker. It took no time at all to get it full and was very satisfying in meaning I have been up and down just under two miles of Woodlands's roads in the last couple of weeks. It's a great way of getting out and about given that I am retired and have the time. 

Cranborne Chase

 I had a lovely walk around Cranborne today after a 4.5 mile run this morning following Maria's home schooling session. The two photos show a murky day, a lot milder but a lot of rain this morning which soaked me on the run. Highlights were seeing a kestrel, a bird which  must be resident along the route as I have seen it almost every time I have done the walk, and then a red kite slowly making its way along the bare fields in search of prey. Red kites are still relatively uncommon here, they haven't got the same presence as over the motorways near Newbury and norhtwards, but they are spreading and I hope will become a more common sight in Dorset.

It is almost a year since I last looked at my novel and I have decided now is the time to return to it. Covid seemed to bring a halt to any hopes I might have had of getting an agent to pick it up, especially one recommended by a former teaching colleague. That being the case, I'd be more than happy to just put it out on the Kindle platform, getting any kind of readership at all and then taking it from there.