Category Archives: Countryside
The Sprint
There is nothing, absolutely nothing like the sprint finish of a bike race. For a start, in a big stage race, you never know if there will be a sprint finish. On a flat stage, there usually is but sometimes … Continue reading
Canoeing? Wye, I’d love to…
It seemed a long time since Mothers’ Day but the offer of a day out canoeing didn’t come with a time limit, so I waited until August. A couple of years ago I enjoyed an idyllic day out with the … Continue reading
Goatsuckers and other crepuscular creatures
Some bits of the Forest of Dean are hardly forest at all. When Canute ruled England in the 11th century, he named the Forest of Dean and excepted the top of Plump Hill, then wild and treeless and scattered with … Continue reading
The start of the rut
From now on, the hedgehogs will be rutting. Yes, the concept is ludicrous. The word rutting is associated with hormonal stags locking antlers and battling across precipitous craggy outcrops overlooking outrageously scenic Scottish lochs and bonnie braes. Hedgehogs are cute … Continue reading
Soundtracks of a life
Last night, I went out into the dark garden and stood listening for hedgehogs. It’s only three days since Spiky Norman returned with his new lady-friend Tigs and I hadn’t seen them – only the evidence of their messy dining … Continue reading
Freedom!
So today, Spiky Norman came home. There was no bunting or fanfare, which was just as well because, quite frankly, he displayed not a jot of recognition or gratitude. He remained curled up in a big heavy spiky ball, like … Continue reading
Party on
Writing this at 11pm on the 30th of January. All is dark in the garden but I can hear a small chorus of frogs. These are the first frog songs of 2017. They are heralding the Spring. This is the … Continue reading
Happy New Year
Happy New Year to anyone taking the trouble to read this, my first blog of 2017. That in itself might put you right off as it’s apparently very annoying to be wished Happy New Year after the first week of … Continue reading
Perky sauntering
I once overheard someone saying ‘When I see a runner smiling, then I’ll run.” Well, when I’m out for a trot, I do smile but you’d have to say something vaguely amusing, obvs. To be fair though, compared to proper … Continue reading
No raining on my parade
Ok, stand by to be hit by the oddest thing… But first, picture the scene; the Dara O’Briain comedy gig in the Tata Tent, the biggest venue at Hay Festival. I was sitting about 10 rows back with a genial … Continue reading
Janh1: Mainly fair with occasional rain. 