It's my life | Not Just a Granny

Archive for the ‘It's my life’ Category

Following Public Footpaths

Posted in around the UK, cities and towns of the UK, It's my life, Travel, walk 1000 miles 2020, tagged exploring the UK, Shepton Mallet, walk1000miles, walking on December 2, 2020| 2 Comments »

Since I’d already explored the greater part of Shepton Mallet in the previous 2 days, yesterday I decided to follow the public footpaths – it took me on quite an adventure.

I eventually ended up on the Fosseway before heading back into town to see the Christmas lights. Some of the windows look so pretty.

I sent the pic of the owl to my daughter to show my grandson – apparently he responded with “oooooooo” 🦉😃😃

There’s a delightful cafe in the High Street called Madhatter’s – I love the decor. Next time I go past, if the cafe is open I may just treat myself.

So, despite having pretty much covered the whole town on the first day, I’m still managing to create some news routes…it’ll be interesting when I finish here on 12th, to look at all my excursions on mapmywalk and see just exactly where I’ve been.

Sometimes I think the farmers just make it difficult for their enjoyment 🤪🤪 I did however manage to get over that

Read Full Post »

Exploring further afield

Posted in around the UK, cities and towns of the UK, conqueror challenges, It's my life, walk 1000 miles 2020, tagged conqueror virtual challenges, domesday book town, exploring the towns of England, Shepton Mallet, walk1000miles on December 2, 2020| Leave a Comment »

Had a good 6.8km walk yesterday afternoon – took a slightly different route and ended up at the viaduct again but still haven’t found the lake that shows up on Google maps. Although I did see a small lake near a business park complex and a duck pond in Collette Park.

From the viaduct I went off in a different direction across a couple of fields and finally back to the main road, through Collette Park and down the High Street, then up onto the hill in time for the sunset and finally followed last nights path in reverse and back to the house.

Last night’s path – on my left behind the fence are the manor house grounds

Did some slip sliding on the muddy paths on the hill, but managed to not fall on either my face or my derrier.

The path across the hill takes you beneath what must have been a railway bridge before the 1960s purge of railway lines, its really dark and foreboding, especially in the waning light of night time – I just love it, looks so spooky.

Before setting off across the fields I visited the Kilver Court Designer Village. They have some really lovely items, and I’m glad my debit card was at the house 😁😁😁

Kilver Court Designer Village on my way back

In all a really good walk and I’m getting closer to my target for 2020 and making good progress along the virtual Great Ocean Road in Australia. Unfortunately the organisers of the Conqueror virtual challenges haven’t done any virtual postcards yet for this particular route, but I hope to receive them when they are ready.

Read Full Post »

Vegan food

Posted in It's my life, tagged microwave meals, ready made vegan food on December 1, 2020| Leave a Comment »

The client I’m working with these 2 weeks has alzheimer disease. As a result of the dangers surrounding this the family have had to have the cooker and hob disconnected for her safety. They have prepared meals delivered for her. That means I’m unable to prepare fresh food for myself. So I’ve been limited to buying microwave meals.

I’m not a fan of microwave food and never use one if I can. But needs must so….

I had to get inventive 🤪🤪 and tried this on Saturday night not half bad actually. Enough for 1 person and if I had vegetables with it, it would make a satisfactory meal.

On Sunday night I tried the Mushroom Stroganoff which was actually really good with lots of mushrooms and sauce.

I just know that I’m not going to be feeling very healthy after all this stuff, vegan or not, but hey ho….

Read Full Post »

Puddles and splashes

Posted in Fun Stuff, Granny and Jamie's adventures, gratitude, It's my life, tagged being a granny, fun and games with my grandson on November 29, 2020| 2 Comments »

During one of my brief stays this month, I took the boobee to the beach. He had loads of fun and Granny got to do some nimble hops, skips and jumps across the rocks as he bounded along looking for puddles. All very well for him with his wellies, but I really didn’t want to get my shoes wet, so I had to do some fancy footwork to keep up with him and not wet my shoes. All went well, he kept his balance, running nimbly across the rocks like a wee goat, and then he decided to return to his earlier puddle that had lots of water and made lovely splashes….and then just as he was walking away….he reversed and sat down!!!! In the puddle 🤪🤪🤪🤪 OMG I laughed so much. He’s a minx.

🤣🤣🤣🤣 I don’t think he was expecting it to be cold…

He loves to collect things….a bit like his Granny 😍😍

He does this thing lately where he throws himself backwards and onto his bottom…lovely game…except in puddles. Fortunately we had a change of clothes (except spare socks and shoes) in his backpack and after he’d run around and splashed in more puddles, I carted him off the beach under my arm to the sidewalk where I managed to change his clothes while holding him up in the air….there was nowhere to sit, and coz he didn’t have spare shoes I couldn’t stand him on the ground. I phoned his parents after that to rescue us….he’s a right character. And although I’m quite fit, keeping up with a nearly 2 year old is a different ballgame…

I do love being a Granny and would love to have more time with him…

Read Full Post »

Last sunrise walk for 2 weeks

Posted in around the UK, cities and towns of the UK, conqueror challenges, Domesday Villages of England, gratitude, Health, It's my life, long distance walks - solo, photography, Travel, walk 1000 miles 2020, tagged #plasticpollution, conqueror virtual challenges, long distance walking, sunrise at the coast, walking the English coast, walks in england on November 28, 2020| Leave a Comment »

So thankfully I start a new assignment today. I was beginning to panic just a bit.

But the agency finally came through and I’m on my way to Somerset to a town called Shepton-Malett, which to my delight is a Domesday Book town.

I’m looking forward to exploring 😃😃

Unfortunately it means that I can’t get out for sunrise walks for the next 2 weeks, so I made sure I got out this morning….and it was stunning. A gorgeous day for walking with clear skies and mild temperatures.

Stunning colours reflecting on the waves

I walked as far as Dumpton Gap and back to the harbour chasing the incoming tide.

As with yesterday’s walk I collected 6 big pieces of trash that would otherwise have ended up in the ocean.

Besides these, I picked up a big plastic container and 2 other water bottles

I’m going to have to get back to carrying bags and gloves with me again…there was so much more I could have picked up but no means of carrying the stuff 😔😔😔

I was also attacked by a bloody dog again that despite the owner trying to grab the damn thing, jumped up and tried to get to my face. It took the owner a good few minutes to get the dog on a leash. My verbal commentary was not very polite. I truly wish people who own dogs would just train the damn animals. Thankfully it was a spaniel so not very big or my face would have been slashed. As it is I could smell its breath it came that close 😠😠😠😠 I did manage to wallop the animal with my stick which gave it pause, but as soon as I moved it went for me again.

Ultimately I managed to move off without much more than my trousers muddied. But seriously….

The tide really does encroach pretty quickly, which cut off part of my route along the beach.

On my way out I walked over this concrete slab.. a bit cut off on the way back…🤪🤪 thanks be for the promenade

A lucky morning; I found a real bounty of coloured and white glass pieces on the beach. Yesterday yielded only 2 pieces, today I found loads, especially of the dark green glass that is so beautiful.

I really do love that house…the views of the sunrise must be amazing

I cannot resist taking a photo every few minutes, it just is so beautiful. I love how the colours reflect off the waves on the beach

I saw another dead shark/dog fish on the beach, a tiny baby this time 😔😔 I do wonder what is killing them…probably the pollution

A magical walk and I’m so glad I made the effort. My kms are adding up, and the deficit going down 🚶🏻‍♀️🚶🏻‍♀️🚶🏻‍♀️👏👏👏

After such a beautiful morning at the coast, clear skies and mild weather, imagine my surprise as we approached Canterbury on the train….the countryside is heavy with mist…looks amazing and I was wishing I had the time to jump off the train and take photos

A complete contrast to Ramsgate…not that far away.

Totally spooky 👻👻

My next post will be from Somerset. I’m looking forward to exploring a new town.

Have a good day folks.

Read Full Post »

Walking familiar paths

Posted in around the UK, conqueror challenges, Fun Stuff, It's my life, photography, Travel, walk 1000 miles 2020, tagged #plasticpollution, baby boomers travel, being a granny, conqueror virtual challenges, long distance walking, Ramsgate Harbour, walk1000miles, walking the English coast on November 26, 2020| 2 Comments »

Lockdown and the government tiers certainly doesn’t allow for much by way of exploring, except in your local vicinity. If you’re lucky enough to live in a countryside area, close to the sea, or near a river, even if its familiar its usually different and can still be enjoyed every day.

Hands and Molecules – a familiar and favourite sculpture on the clifftop – makes a good frame for the moon

I adore this house. Located near the King George VI Memorial Park on the Dumpton Gap side, I used to have house envy till I realised how close to the cliff edge it is 🤪🤪

I live (sort of*) near the sea and even though it’s the same, every day along the coast is different. I’ve found myself with time on my hands due to losing a 6 week assignment so made the most of the opportunity to spend time with my grandson and to catch up on my walking targets for 2020.

My favourite sunset to date…23.11.20 across Pegwell Bay

Sunset from the cliffs above Pegwell Bay near Cliffsend

One of my favourite village signboards – Cliffsend has seen Viking raiders, St Augustine’s arrival and WW2 action

I’ve seen some amazing sunrises and sunsets and had much fun with the kid. He’s developing into a very determined little boy and like most kids his age, he has a strong will. He’s also growing rapidly and requires his Granny to carry him when he gets tired….but Granny is not a bodybuilder and has her limits 😁😁

He’s going to be a displacement officer when he grows up 😉😁 loves to move stuff

Just a hop, skip and jump on the beach at Margate

I’ve mostly walked locally and managed a walk to Broadstairs and to the Sandwich side of the Pegwell Bay nature reserve.

Looking across the saltmarsh mudflats to Ramsgate

The saltmarsh mudflats, a fascinating environment

The mudflats are home to an incredible number of birdlife that visit here during the changing seasons

The reserve has an amazing history and played an important role in WW2.

On my way back from the nature reserve I walked along the beach beneath the cliffs; devastated to see the volume of plastic trash lining the high tide level and he number of dogshit bags piled up. It’ll take a team of 20-30 people to clear that up…it stretched from where I’m standing right along the cliffs; heartbreaking.

We’ve had a couple of family outings and made a special trip for the boobee to see the Christmas lights in Margate

Snowman!! Penguin!! Santa!! His vocabulary is expanding daily 🥰🥰

Ramsgate Harbour offers so many photographic opportunities, you could spend all day there

I’ve managed to increase my kms by 74 this week and passed my original target of 1600kms. I do however still have 375km to walk to reach my 2020 target of 2020kms. Looking forward to seeing if I’ve exceeded my October total 🚶🏻‍♀️🚶🏻‍♀️🚶🏻‍♀️🚶🏻‍♀️🚶🏻‍♀️

So yeah, I may be walking familiar routes, but every day it looks different.

* I sort of live in Ramsgate but because work all over the country I don’t actually have a home and liveineither a guest house or b&b between assignments. One day…I hope to have a home of my own.

Read Full Post »

Early morning London

Posted in around the UK, It's my life, tagged sunrise in London, the river thames on November 18, 2020| Leave a Comment »

Truly, what lockdown? Finally after 4 days of being in London there’s a decent sunrise. I could see the light reflecting on the Thames from the lounge window early this morning, so popped down to take a couple of photos.

Thinking I’d quickly dash across the road….no chance. The traffic is as heavy as if there wasn’t a lockdown. Its crazy. And for this I lost what could eventually, if the agency don’t get their act together, amount to 5 weeks of income.

Anyway, here’s a few images of the sun on the river

Of course all the new buildings spoil the view, but there it is….New York on Thames. 🤪🤪

Read Full Post »

Historic Temple

Posted in around the UK, cities and towns of the UK, Historical, It's my life, tagged history of london, Temple Chirch Knights Templar, Temple City of London, the Da Vinci Code, walking through history on November 16, 2020| Leave a Comment »

The history always gets me. You can’t fail to be overwhelmed by a place that has seen so much history and events that have shaped this country

The archway of Middle Temple Lane, made famous in the Da Vinci Code

History always gets me

Read Full Post »

A good question…

Posted in It's my life, tagged art in London, street art, what are you on November 15, 2020| 3 Comments »

Read Full Post »

Working in history

Posted in around the UK, Historical, It's my life, Travel, tagged contemplating a sense of home, sleeping in the city of London, what is home, working in temple on November 14, 2020| 4 Comments »

I can’t tell you how many many times I’ve visited and walked through and around Temple, exploring all the nooks and crannies, visiting Temple Church again and again, awed by the history.

I never for one second thought I would find myself working and living in the complex. And yet here I am and its strange.

If I had stopped to think about it, if I’d even imagined people actually lived here, I certainly would have thought it would be amazing to live in such a historical area; an area of myths and legends, of Knights Templar and King John…..he of Magna Carta fame.

You know how sometimes you’ve visited a place and thought “oh how much I’d love to live there!” – usually a cute thatched cottage or a beautiful mansion. But we never really get to know what it is like, because we don’t explore the opportunity of it. Would it even be as magical as what we imagine?

Weirdly it doesn’t feel any different to living anywhere else. There’s nothing special about the flat, its dingy and old with no mystery at all….no feel of the history of the area.

We’re located very close to the archway made famous in The Da Vinci code and yet it holds no mysticism.

Have I been away too long, lost my awe for these places, or is it still there but buried over time? Have I been keeping my eye for too long on other horizons to explore? Been here, done that type of thing.

Or is it that its wet, and cold and grim out and the flat too lifeless and uninviting? I can find nothing to excite me, no feeling of lives past, no ghosts…..

I’ve lived in a 16th century cottage in Montgomery in Wales with more atmospheric feeling and loved it. I’ve worked and lived in a castle in Scotland and stayed a few weeks in a gypsy caravan on the banks of the River Thames on Eel Pie island. I felt the atmosphere, I felt the air of people gone before.

And yet here I am, about to spend my 1st night in one of the most historic areas of London, and its leaving me stone cold. I’d rather be back in the guest house…

I think I’ve lost my sense of home. It’s so long now that I had a place to call home, a place where I returned to after each job. My own bed, my clothes in a cupboard instead of a suitcase in a storage unit.

I seldom even use the word ‘home’ now and if I say it, it’s a slip of the tongue. A habit I’ve yet to lose. I don’t belong anywhere, although I go back to the same area after each job, just different guest houses, none of them are home.

They say that home is where the heart is. That’s not true. I know where my heart is, but it’s not my home.

And so I’ll be sleeping in another strange bed (not a very comfortable one either 😜😜) and I know by morning my hips will be aching and I’ll be stiff and sore from metal springs pressing….

And in the meantime, reading The Salt Path has evoked a longing in me. A longing to just shuck my arms through the straps of my backpack and go.

The reviews of the book make it sound amazing and wonderful and romantic. It’s anything but. It about hardship and pain and hunger, and love…and a strong enduring love that overcomes hardship and pain and hunger, to find freedom and joy in living free.

It’s making me melancholic and pulling me towards doing the same thing. Do you think that once the walking bug enters your soul, it leaves you wanting more, with an uneasy longing to just go? To walk and walk and walk…..to walk despite the pain, the blisters, the hardships and the rain.

Is there a sense of home in having no home?

Meanwhile, besides the loud TV tuned into Midsomer Murders, its quiet and still as if the air is holding its breath, the lights of the city twinkling in the dark, the silhouette of St Paul’s Cathedral dark and foreboding and if I crane my neck out one of the windows I can see the shimmering movement of the Thames as it rushes out to sea…

Have I moved on from London? Or has London left me behind?

I can find none of the enchantment I used to feel coming into the city, and that saddens me.

So tomorrow I’m going to go out during my break and see if I can find the thrill, the excitement and my love of the city….hope it’s not raining, I’ve got 477.7kms to catch up on before 31 December.

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »