Yet More Simple Pleasures

We’re told “not to sweat the small stuff” and that’s very true, but yet it really is the little things that can make a difference in terms of happiness; a tiny, wild, daffodil shoot peeping through a matted carpet of undergrowth in the wood, a simple kindness in a shop, a crumpet toasted on the log fire on a wintery afternoon, or perhaps an unexpected message from an old friend.  During 2014, I intend to fully appreciate as many small gestures as possible and when I can, make a difference to others with my own small random acts of kindness

Roman remains

Foolish or not, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I went to view the Crosby Garrett Roman Helmet,  currently on loan to Tullie House in Carlisle.  Some of the 15,000 other visitors had spoken of a wealth of reactions: a spiritual connection with the mask, an overwhelming resonance of history, a profound awareness of its beauty. So, you may be surprised to discover that my own reaction was...... absolutely nothing!  .  It was a beautifully crafted piece of armour that had survived millennia in excellent condition but I felt no connection in any way.  Clearly I’m a soulless character

Cockersand Abbey

If wishes were horses, we’d win the lottery and spend  our lives travelling to places that we’ve always dreamt of visiting or returning to those that hold a special place in our hearts.  But even though our chances of winning the lottery are nil, we’ve decided it’s possible to fulfil some of those dreams, especially if places are close to home. So yesterday, returning home from a meeting, I made a second pilgrimage to the historic, Cockersand Abbey. A small, windswept, chapterhouse  on the exposed Lancashire coast near Thurnham, it remains a lasting legacy of the faith of our forebears

Canal side rambles

I'm not a great lover of the Crewe area as it has too many associations with tedious meetings. And it's flat! Which isn't a bad thing in itself, but the area isn't complemented by the big skies so commonly associated with other flatlands such as East Anglia. So it was a very pleasing discovery to find that the Mersey and Trent canal which runs close to the town is actually a delightful oasis of historical, industrial charm. Walking along the towpath, it isn't hard to drift back 100 years and imagine the horse drawn barges transporting their cargoes of coal

Mr Glis, my roadie

I’m always very thankful that Mr Glis keeps my bicycle on the road.  Being a daily cyclist in all weathers, my machine takes a fair bit of wear and tear and things regularly fail or need replacing. Without his good offices, I would be off the road for indefinite periods as apart from  basic maintenance and puncture repair, I really wouldn’t know where to start on the rest.  So with dodgy brakes causing me some concern just before Christmas, I was hugely grateful that the other day he put up the stand and gave me back my stopping power!

More perambulations in the Pennines

Into the mist

The North Pennines above Alston and Penrith are one of my favourite places; wild, open and bleak.  Even in terrible weather they have a desolate beauty that thrills.  Yesterday, the views were negligible, the ground was rough but despite the rain and fog, I was still overjoyed to be out there  with Andy, Molly, Robin and Cathryn.  

Minimal views

At Black Fell summit Trig, we saw nothing, but the day still delivered some beautiful moments;  a reflection in a pond, a shaft of sunlight peeping through the clouds on our descent and much laughter and entertaining conversation.  It was a beautiful day.

Reflections

Black Hill Summit

Another wet walk in the woods

Another wet morning meant a walk in the woods with Molly. We stopped off for a puzzle geocache en-route before parking up at High Stand to take the trail up the hill into the forest.  It was incredibly wet underfoot and inevitably, Molly was a  filth burger by the end of it.  Towards the end of our walk, we met Holly, a  2 year old Whippet/Bedlington cross with her owner, a  marvellous 79 year old lady called Sheila. As Molly and Holly raced among the trees, we chatted to Sheila who typified the well-being that an active life can bring.  

Pacific Crest Trail Association

Our friends Dick and Barb, recently gifted us a membership of the Pacific Crest Trail Association.  It was a delightful and unexpected way of setting us in the mood for our trekking expedition, planned for later in the year. We’re hoping to walk 100 miles in the Cascade Mountains between Steven’s Pass over the shoulder of Glacier Peak.  Just looking at the photographs in the magazine and calendar has left us feeling beyond excited.  We’re going to be undertaking a number of training walks between now and August to ensure we’re in as good shape as possible for the trail

The Long Drop

I’d an idea that the “Long Drop” in Northumberland, was associated with a netty but until my visit, hadn’t appreciated what a drop it was.  Parking up on a remote road, I crossed the fields to the disused steading close to Rose Bower Farm and saw for myself just how the wind would have whistled round our forefathers’ ankles when they answered a call of nature.  The netty was precariously attached to the bank about 20 feet above a fast rushing stream.  It’s to be hoped that the drinking water for the farm came from a well or further upstream 

Jerry's Linn

When the rest of the country was being lashed by hurricane force gales and torrential rain, I took myself off to one of the remoter regions of Keilder Forest for a gale free walk in the woods. And, it was beautiful.  I find there’s always a heightened sense of expectation when walking in woodland; It feels as if the trees are holding their breath, waiting for something to happen. So, comparatively sheltered and dry underfoot, Molly and I covered rough ground to reach Jerry’s Linn waterfall before taking the forest tracks to complete a delightful circuit back to the car.

IT'S ALMOST EASTER!!

 On Thursday, 2nd January, I went into Iceland to buy some milk for work and was unsurprised to see a display of “Creme Eggs” and “Hot Cross Buns” at the end of one of the aisles. I didn’t have my phone or I would have taken a photo.  But better was available in Morrisons [sic] this afternoon (when I did have said camera phone) as the display of Easter Chocolate was below the Christmas stars still decorating the store.  This unintentional but symbiotic juxtaposition of religious symbols commemorating what have now become secular festivals had a certain humorous

appeal to me!

A clean entry into 2014

Mr B is my hero!  No, he hasn’t rescued any cats out of trees or stopped a runaway train (although I’m sure he would if the need arose).  But he’s mended our ancient washing machine….again. Being of a frugal nature, I’m never inclined to replace anything until it’s beyond repair and although it wasn’t spinning, I knew there was life in the old wash tub still!  Mr B suspected the brushes were worn and by removing the motor, confirmed that was the case!  So today, he fitted a new set, replaced the motor and the machine lives to wash again