Search This Blog

Showing posts with label Haltwhistle walking festival. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Haltwhistle walking festival. Show all posts

Sunday, 16 May 2010

Long gap but no inactivity

Since I posted last the walking festival has been and gone, as has the Haltwhistle Challenge.  I was very busy with both. Life became more complicted when my Mum was "rushed to hospital" while I was out of Ouston Moor on the Isaac's Tea Trail walk. That meant I could not lead the Botany walk the next day. The good news was that she "only" had pneumonia not a heart attack, and the industrial dose of antibiotics worked like a dream.  Hopefully this means that she will get the same stuff if and when the need arises again.
I loved the festival and the Challenge although it has taken me days to get back to normal again.  I also have withdrawal symptoms from walking every day.
My garden was neglected and I've been trying to put that right this week.  It's amazing how forgiving it is, although the weeds have enjoyed being ignored for a while. The compost area is so large that it is hard to get in there and to dig it out and barrow it to the borders. I've begun to do it.

On Friday I went on a water vole day at Langdon Beck. I now know how to look for signs of water voles and, in particular, their latrines!! Can't resist showing an example!

They leave their droppings in the open to mark their territory. They are as big as rats but look like large hamsters, and they are herbivores. Why have I never seen one??

Monday, 15 February 2010

Monday morning

Off to Haltwhistle today for a training session for leaders and back ups for our walking festival.  Should be fun.

Thursday, 14 January 2010

Haltwhistle Spring Walking Festival

Very busy this week with preparations for the Spring Walking Festival.  Suddenly there is loads to do, and I've lost time while Mum has been ill.  (Still no at all well, but managed to get dressed yesterday.)  Booking starts online on Wednesday 20th January, and there are lots of things to sort out to make this go smoothly.  I'm also trying to sort out the new leaflets we want to use for publicity.  The printers we had chosen are not able to batch the leaflets for us, so I have to find a new printer and a good price; so far impossible.  I also have to make sure that the entries for the Haltwhistle Challenge run smoothly. They are much more complicated than the walks bookings. I've had a few nights of wakefulness while I try to work out appropriate solutions. I do like having problems to solve, as long as I can find good solutions that is.
Reading Ruth Rendell on writing a good detective novel.  Very interesting book so far.  It's a break from reading detective novels.......

Monday, 21 December 2009

Walks, snow and the bugs

Sunday was a beautiful white day.  I was due on a Shepherd's Walk from Kirkharle and thought it would be cancelled due to the poor road conditions.  Most walkers cancelled but Jon still held the walk. The drive on the back roads across country for fairly hairy, but no one else was around so that made it easier than it might have been.  The walk was super - lovely views in the snow.  http://shepherdswalks.typepad.com/walking_with_shepherds_wa/ 
I'm actually in one of my photos this time - that's me with the red jacket and navy fleece hat.
Today I was due in Haltwhistle at 0930, but at 0830 there was a white-out here.  I decided not to go, but then the snow stopped and the sun came out, so I sallied forth.  The Military Road was treacherous and I nearly turned back a couple of times.  All went well until I caught up with a very nervous driver who was going too slowly and using his brakes all the time. I wasn't sure he would get up the hills because he had so little momentum, and I had to hang back and stop a couple of times to let him get ahead.  I think we need a Public Service broadcast to explain how to drive safely in the snow and ice.
Arrive Haltwhistle for committee.  More frustrating delays in the system to mean we can't get our programmes out on time.  Keep smiling.
Home again where Mum is still quite poorly with pleurisy. Now I'm snuffling and coughing again.  You can't win.  Keep smiling!

Monday, 14 December 2009

Preparations

Trying to write the cards, and get ready for Singing for Pleasure tomorrow, and write up my walks for the Walking Festival brochure for the Spring. I have too many walks to write up - make a note not to volunteer to prepare as many next time!!  Glad to be feeling a bit better, and resisting the temptation to go back to bed again.