December is a long decline to the solstice, Dec 21, when days get longer and we can look forward to spring. If winter comes can spring be far behind? Here in Canterbury it’s 4pm and almost dark. Sixteen hours to dawn. We’ve had bright frosty blue sky days, good for walking. And damp dull days when it never seems light.
Sunday Dec11, frost and mist. Minus 5 C in night, minus 2 when i started walk at 9am. Unusual for December: we expect cold spells in January or February. Used to be a short walk to do a daily mile. Now an effort. Old age is awful but the alternative is worse. Three thin sweaters, hat, raincoat to keep out wind, Thinsulate gloves.
Powdery frost on pavement, not hazardous. Right onto Wincheap. Traffic noise. Under railway bridge. Misty. Picked up two beer bottles for disposal. Footbridge over ring road more frosty. Caution. Right onto city wall, Roman, then medieval. Restored in 1960s. At Dane John mound, path down to gardens. Across halffrozen grass to sundial. The Weekes sundial, carved by Canterbury sculptor Henry Weekes. Erected by public subscription 1840. Now in city museum. This one is a copy by Tim Lees, 1999. Foolishly it’s on a plinth so high that only a giant could tell the time. Carvings include a bearded male and three females revealing breasts.
Across to St Marys Street. Past rear of White Hart pub garden. Small park, former churchyard. Left into Castle Street. Regal estate agent. Steve James hairdressing for men. Saved a lot of money by not having haircut for thirty years. Coral bookies. Save money by not going there. Leyton Lettings. Rosemary Lane to right is closed for gas works. TaxAccess Accountants in former post office. Pillar box in front of old postbox in wall. Multistorey carpark, with flats. Never understood why high kerb at entrance. Groundlevel carpark opposite. Norman castle behind railings and holly hedge..
Subway under Rheims Way. Murals Canterbury scenes. Some made from locals’ photos of nearby Hambrook Marshes. So far not disfigured by graffiti. Under railway. Another bottle. Past King Barbers. Kiki Grocery store. Recently opened. No parking here. Good luck. BeeTee hair salon. Maidens Head pub, medieval. Cross Simmonds Road. New road scheme will make this difficult for walkers. Clothesline shop: glass panel in pavement has Spiderman beneath. Stevens newsagent, drink and fags. Wood stove and range centre. Cross Wincheap. Heat Design, same kind of thing. Papas Fish and Chips. Hinges and Brackets. Left into York Road. Audi part on pavement, part on double yellows. A short walk, familiar but always something new. A mile in 45 minutes. Connects with bits of Canterbury’s history. Ten days to solstice.
For a while, forget Ukraine war, galloping inflation, bungling government, forget FIFA world cup [ignoring cos of Qatar] Forget this is a taste of winter. Home to coffee and Multan Test v Pakistan. Eng may win this one.
Rambling Brummie 