Past the winter solstice. The days slowly get longer. More light. Less heat though. Neighbour Liz said “spring is coming” Yes, but winter comes first. Tradition means doing the same each year. Tradition is doing things without knowing why. at Christmas, each family probably makes its own traditions. With young children what’s done twice hasContinue reading “Christmas in Canterbury”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Golf and walking
“Golf is a good walk ruined” A golf course is a wide open space, largely grassland, with clumps of trees and often streams and ponds. So why don’t i like walking on them? East Kent has several golf courses, including Royal St Georges, Canterbury and Broome Park. All are crossed by public footpaths. On allContinue reading “Golf and walking”
November
Thomas Hood wrote a poem which starts “No sun no moon no morn no noon” and ends “no shade no shine no butterflies no bees no fruits no flowers no leaves no birds. November!” Thought he was overdoing it for dramatic effect. Was planning to say November’s not as bad as that. Wikipedia tells meContinue reading “November”
Autumn in the woods
What is autumn? Days get shorter and cooler. Fruits ripen. Leaves fall from deciduous trees. Walkers can enjoy cool dry sunny days, or endure cold wet days which don’t get properly light. Climate change ripens fruit earlier. If it delays winter does that mean longer autumn? As a countryside access warden i visited Ellenden Wood,Continue reading “Autumn in the woods”
Chestnutting
Season of mists and fruitfulness. Damp in the air as i drove to Rough Common, about 3km northwest of Canterbury, for chestnuts. Usually go there in time for halloween and bonfire night. Somehow forgot this year. A circuit of Stockwood, part of Blean Woods which stretch 4km west to Dunkirk. “Blean” means rough ground. AlwaysContinue reading “Chestnutting”
Hernhill revisited
A second visit to Hernhill, about five km east of Faversham. Name means “at the grey hill” Looking at loose ends: footpaths which don’t easily connect with my previous visit as a countryside access warden. Thursday Nov 4th, my sister’s birthday, was cloudy with cold wind from the north. Almost cancelled plan when radio mentionedContinue reading “Hernhill revisited”
Sponsored walk
For at least thirty years the local Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys has held an annual sponsored walk. Note: nowadays they have females in upper years. My sons were at the school; two work there. The walk is about ten miles through Kent countryside. In fitter years i would walk the route, the pathsContinue reading “Sponsored walk”
Two sloe walks
Autumn: time to pick sloes, bitter fruit of the blackthorn. Some make sloe gin. Don’t like gin. For years i’ve made sloe vodka, adding sloes and sugar to the spirit. Usually i do countryside access warden work on Thursdays. Planned a local walk on October 7th to check on a hole i’d filled and seekContinue reading “Two sloe walks”
Walk don’t run
The London Marathon was last Sunday, delayed by covid from its place in the spring. I watched the start on tv then took one of my regular walks, a circuit of Canterbury. Reminisced about my past running. Worked for 24 years at Canterbury College as a science technician. The college is less than a mileContinue reading “Walk don’t run”
A short walk in Ospringe
Ospringe is a small place in East Kent. Can’t decide if it’s a village. Or a part of Faversham, separated by the A2 here called Ospringe Street. Certainly Water Lane has the feel of a village, with primary school, 12th century church of St Paul and St Peter, and historic Queenhouse farm and Maison Dieu.Continue reading “A short walk in Ospringe”
Rambling Brummie 