Delivering the news.

Aye up me ducks, have you had a good Saturday. Tis a Bank Holiday weekend don't ya know. Three full days off the daily grind. That's what I remember of it anyway. It's a long time ago since I went to work. 

I stand corrected, I've just done two days work. Delivering 465 Newsletters to every house in a nearby village. I started yesterday and finished today. I knocked up this little video while on my coffee break. 

A lot of brisk walking, pleased that the legs held out. Up and down steps, long driveways to posh houses, and drive out to the farms nearby. All delivered. 

This one didn't get a delivery. Block paving all overgrown with weeds, gate with lock and chain.

It was interesting to see all the changes, since the last time I did it. Must be a fair few years now. People adding new extensions, and updating their gardens. It's a small village surrounded by farmland and countryside, not far from the river. I used to chat with an elderly lady who lived in a very basic bungalow on a farm. She had cats which were always hanging around her door. Sadly she is no longer there, and her bungalow is being updated with a new roof. Similar with an old gentleman I used to chat with. He was always sat in his conservatory. The house is completely different now. A new modern front. Sadly he has passed away. 

I think the good weather is going to hold out for the weekend. Best to go out while we can.

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Too hot to walk today

It was too hot to go for a walk today, so I pottered around the house and garden. I went to the park at  5.30pm when it had cooled down a bit. The deer were quite close to the fence. They are usually hiding in the trees. This is the most I have seen them together in one place. 

The wild flower garden around this broken tree is going to seed. 

Having fun with the wibblywobbly mirror. 

I wish I had taken some bird seed with me. The pond looks grim, it needs some more water. 

The front main gates. These are only ever used when there is an event, and traders need access to the park. View from the inside looking out. 

A view from the other side. 

It's a cottagey sort of village. 

That's it for tonight. Mayze is waiting for her cuddles. 

Toodle pip.   ilona

Encounter with the running club

It was a nice evening for a walk to the park last night. There is a small pedestrian gate in the village which is open at 4.30pm to 9pm at the moment to save walking around the road to the main entrance.  The hours vary. Longer in the summer, shorter in the winter months. The deer herd were visible from outside the fenced field. 

There is a new wild flower meadow with a fence around it so the deer don't go onto it and destroy it. The rangers have cut a pathway through it. What is that I see over there. Whip out the camera. A group of runners. I think this is a regular thing though I have never seen them before.

They all ran together first, then split up into groups and went in different directions. I was strolling through the woods enjoying the last of the sunlight coming through the trees, when a group of ladies came through. I had boots on so I could step to one side to let them pass. You can't interrupt a runner when they are trying to keep up the same pace. 

I will stick to my walking. That's about the right pace for me. 

Thanks for popping in. I have some photo's ready of the Heckington Show. 

See you soon. Toodle pip.   ilona

Walk and talk.

Good evening. Here are three photo's and a video from the walk I did yesterday. A carpet of bluebells in the wood. 

Dandelions are usually a gardeners enemy. They spread like crazy and their roots go deep. But a whole field of them look lovely. I believe bees like them too. 

I heard a roar in the sky and tried to work out which direction it was coming from. In a few seconds the helicopter was almost skimming the tops of the trees nearby. Quick, get the camera out of the pocket. Did I get it. Yes, just one shot and it was gone. It's a coastguard chopper on it's way to the river. 

There was no wind so a good opportunity to make a video chat. 

Today it's gone back to being windy and cold. I went out to do a litter pick, then I did a Billy dog walk. I was flippin freezing. Maybe it's too soon to put the winter clothes away. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

There's a lot of it about

 Good evening. I didn't think it was that cold when I walked out of the door this afternoon. I set off anyway for a walk to the park via the track by the playing field and past the allotments. By the time I got to the end of the track I wished I had put my thick woolly gloves on, rather than the fingerless ones. It was very cold. 

Entering the village there was a peacock strolling along the road. They often come out of the park and go exploring in peoples gardens. It's a bit of a gamble for them as the road can get quite busy and drivers don't always slow down. This one made it into a garden and was pecking about looking for grubs.  

There were a few people who had braved the cold and came out for a walk. I see the horses are still there. I think they are due to be removed soon. 

As I was leaving the park a friends husband came running towards me, in shorts and a t shirt. He had a gadget strapped to his arm to monitor his fitness levels. He looked a bit out of puff. I said it looks like you had a good Christmas, your middle has expanded. He said no, we had a terrible Christmas. We have all been ill. He said the coughing started before Christmas and hasn't yet fully gone away. I asked him where he might have caught it. His reply, the kids. They have three teenagers. He is trying to build his strength up with a bit of running. He went to the park, then overtook me on his way back. 

I noticed a friend across the road in a field, she was seeing to her daughters two ponies in their paddock. I often speak to her if I see her about. I haven't seen her since before Christmas. She is 65 ish possibly 70 ish. She said, guess what I had for Christmas dinner. I tried a guess but was way off. Apparently she took a snack with her to the paddock and sat in the shed with the ponies. The story was, her daughter and husband both caught a bad dose of the lurgy. They were both coughing so hard that Sarah thought she had cracked a rib and they went to hospital. She thought she might need an x-ray. The doctor said she didn't need one. 

So, Sarah's mother has had to see to the ponies. She has been going twice a day for three weeks. It's a good job she is fit and well to be able to do that. There's a lot of it about, so they say. 

Enjoy your Sunday. Toodle pip.   ilona

Ugly fly tipping again.

The sun has been shining but it is still freezing cold. After checking around the internet this morning I made a run for it. Boots on, extra layers, skirt over the top of my trousers, and the walking pole might be needed, it could be a bit slippy. It's the first time this year for this local walk. The usually boggy footpaths were rock hard with ice. Blue skies and fresh crisp air were perfect. 

This entrance to a field has been plagued with fly tipping in the past. The farmer dumped this big bale of hay to block it. It worked for a while, but the fly tippers are back. Some people are disgusting. I don't know what is or was in those containers, but the bags contain the wrappings from Christmas presents. There is a tv screen and what looks like bits of a computer. It's a quiet road with some traffic in the daytime. They must come at night, pull up, and chuck it all out of a van or a pickup. 

I made a slight detour towards the end of the walk and went to the park to feed the ducks. Amazingly someone recognised me and said hello. The ladies face seemed familiar but I couldn't remember where I met her before. I still can't remember after she told me, but she remembered a lot about me. She mentioned the summer house so it must have been quite a while ago. I built that almost ten years ago. 

I might have visitors tomorrow. That will be nice. I must do some housework in the morning. 

Thanks for popping in. Enjoy your Sunday. Toodle pip.   ilona

A nice walk, but no sun.

Hardly any wind today. Quite a pleasant walk, it's a pity it was so overcast though. No sun at all. I shall keep on taking my vitamin D supplements. 

I scoured the woods as I walked along the track close by, looking for the odd deer or two. Oh, there's one. The white bum is the giveaway. It spotted me as I got the camera out of my pocket, very slowly. Please stay there, don't move. I set the zoom in motion. Gotcha. A second one came into view and I hoped I could get the two together on the same photo. Sadly they moved on and I lost them as they disappeared further up the bank. 

It's been a couple of weeks since I have been along here. This field is almost bare of it's crop now. Nineteen pallets of good quality turf, ready for loading on a 40 tonne truck. I would like to see how they scrape it all up with the machine, leaving the land so smooth and flat. And stacking it so neatly on the pallets. The soil is very sandy around here. Ideal conditions for turf growing. I wonder if a lorry will come and pick this up tomorrow, or if the job will have to wait until the end of the week. Years ago they used to have to rope and sheet this load. Nowadays they use a curtain sider. Drivers have got it dead easy now. 

Time to get a bite to eat. Now what shall I have. Check the fridge first to see what jumps out at me. Make it up as I go along. 

I hope all your Christmas plans are coming together and you will be ready for the big day. Please don't feel sorry for this pensioner spending Christmas Day alone, because that's how I like it. 

Catch ya later. Toodle pip.   ilona

A very windy walk.

It was a windy start to the day, but nevertheless I decided to go for a walk. There was a bus due at 12.30pm going in the opposite direction to the one I sometimes get to town. I quickly packed a few things in my backpack and off I went. The bus stop is at the end of my road. 

I waited and waited, 20 minutes passed and I thought I must have missed it. Better have a plan 'B'. I'll get the 1.09pm bus to town and walk back from there. I didn't really want to do that because I did it last week. Never mind. I dropped something off at home which I didn't need, to lighten the load. Walking back to the end of the road, the bus came along which I originally went out for. Bugger me, I legged it hoping that it was going to stop. It did, to let two people off. They were a bit slow so I was was able to yell, stop the bus. Ha ha, that was lucky. The driver apologised for being late. 

The bus turns around at the end of the route, and I set off through the gate on this footpath. There are no cows out in the fields now, all tucked into the sheds.  

It was chuffing windy, but surprisingly quite warm. 

I see the farmer has been installing new gates, and posts with wire fencing along the edge of the field. 

I'm not sure if the top of this tree has broken off in the wind. 

Somebody has been removing all the lower branches from these trees. It looks like they might have been fouling the electricity cables but they are not that close. 

I called in to see my friend June, as her car was parked outside her house. We had a good natter, but then I realised that I couldn't stay too long because it would soon be getting dark.

A track takes me through a farm. I have done this route many times before. Ooooh look, a decorated tractor. It has tinsel on the sides and a Christmas Tree on the back. I see a mention on our village page that there will be a decorated tractor run on Saturday and it will be coming through our village. I will go out and look for that. 

It was dark the last 20 minutes of the walk. Yes, I remembered to take a torch with me. I was glad to see the lights of the village. Eight miles is enough for me. 

Mayze is waiting for a cuddle so I must clock off now. It is pouring down with rain, I can hear it. Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona
 

What I did today.

No real rain today, except that mizzly drizzly stuff, so I went to town on the 11.30am bus. The Bus Station is next to the Arts Centre so I called in there for a quick chat with Nicky. Treated myself to a Magnum Ice Cream. 

I walked the same route back home as when I found the glass blocks. Didn't find any more. I have been trying to scrape the paint off them but it's stuck fast. I need to get some Nitramors paint stripper. Is that how you spell it. 

Another fly tip I came across. A quick peek in the bags tells me they are full of mainly clothing, some household linen, and kids toys. Shocking to throw them all away when they could have gone to a charity shop. 

Tonight, at 5pm, I went to the park. They have installed some coloured Christmassy lights. I drove there because I had already walked five miles. I took photo's and made a video. I will post them tomorrow. 

Now I am going to relax with Mayze cat and a glass of sherry. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Trolley dolly

Hello. My legs are like jelly tonight. I got the 1.09pm bus to town, and walked back. I came a different route from last time, just for a change of scenery. I got off the bus at Sainsbury's and walked down Doncaster Road towards Berkeley Circle. Oh my, what a scruffy road, dropped litter everywhere. I walked through this park, and found an abandoned shopping trolley. I walked past it then changed my mind. I can make a detour to B & M Stores, and take it back. Some lazy person shouldn't have taken it that far away from the store. Come with me trolley, I will see you safely home. 

Out of the park and onto the road. I bet people wondered what I was doing.  

I came across another B & M trolley, a much bigger one. Someone had pushed it down a bank and into a ditch. I tried to pull it out but wasn't successful, it was too heavy. I will tell someone at the shop about it, maybe they can send a man to haul it out. 

Now getting closer to the Retail Park, which is next to the Football Ground, I found another trolley on the edge of a housing estate. Oh dear, this one looks like it is dead. 

Oh no, now there is another one. Tesco is across the road. Well I am not taking this one back, they can come and get their own. 

This is getting ridiculous. More trolleys on the housing estate next to the Retail Park. Two from Aldi, which is next to Tesco. Another one from B & M. 

I don't believe it. A Tesco and an M & S trolley next to the playground. There's no way I can move all these.  

At last, I delivered my lost trolley to the front door of the store. I went inside, through the exit door and was told off by a cashier on the till.  You can't come in that door. I said, I don't want to come in. I just want to tell you that some of your trolleys have been abandoned on the housing estate up the road. Perhaps you could send a staff member to collect them. She wasn't interested. 

I don't know why I bothered. I was just trying to help. They must waste loads of money replacing trolleys that have been lost or stolen. I'm thinking of starting a business. Collect all the lost trolleys, take them back to where they belong, and ask the store manager for £5 for every one I return. 

The Christmas decorations are coming down from the loft. This garden looks a bit full. 

With making that extra detour to take the trolley back, I was running out of time. The last half a mile was along a track next to a wood, up a steep hill, and it was getting dark. Spooky. Just made it, good job that I know that route. I've just checked the distance on Bikehike.co.uk. Eight miles, no wonder my legs are wobbly tonight. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

One month left.

 Here we are at the start of the last month of the year. It's time to check in with our walking miles. How have you all done? My calendar tells me that I will not reach the magical 1000 miles by the 31st. But I've done ok. I am on 802 miles. That's fine by me. I am dividing my time between other activities I enjoy  doing. It's all about balance really. 

Picture from way back. Me with red hair enjoying a Magnum ice cream. I joined a sponsored walk. 

Today looks a bit dismal. I see rain, and it's blowing sideways in the wind, but I don't care. An afternoon of fun is arranged. 

Enjoy your Sunday. Toodle pip.   ilona

Feeling great outdoors

Well howdy pardners. How y'all doing. Here in this little old corner of northern England the sun has been making an effort to put in an appearance. It was sunny first thing, but a few clouds drifted over and turned it hazy. 

The temperature dropped a little so I put a big jacket on to do the two dog walks. Little  Billy first, always raring to go. He charges around the garden even before we go out of the gate. He cannot contain his joy at going for a walkies. He poo'd three times, I always have the bags with me. Followed on by Rocky dog afterwards. He takes it steady, and is laid back. Likes a good sniff around. A bigger dog that produced two massive poo's. 

I recorded this video on the walk yesterday. 

I have an appointment to view The Old Rectory, and take some photo's. I mentioned it a couple of days ago. Something exciting to look forward to. 

The heating is going on a bit more often now, and the cats are coming inside. I have put an extra layer on. Winter is here. 

Nothing much else to add. I am still posting on the Rabbit Hole when I see something of interest. Always something new happening. I see UK Column News has been pulled off yoootooob. Don't know if that is temporary or permanent. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Your health matters. Check in.

Good morning. A shout out to all our members of the International Walking Group. It's time to check in with your progress reports, or non progress whichever the case may be. 

I may not be an inspiration this month because I have to report that I have not been able to keep up. My mileage stands at 741. Still ok, but not as much as it ought to be. 

One thing I did notice. Last night I went out at 7pm to do a three mile village walk. It was Trick or Treat so quite a lot of people about. They were meandering, I was marching on to do the distance quickly. I went to bed about 10.15pm, and had a really good nights sleep. Didn't wake up until 7am. So I definitely think that late walk helped. 

Mayze cat loves her sleep. Oh for a life of being waited on hand and foot, dozing off when you feel like it, having a little wander around the garden, and snoozing in the sun whenever we get some at this time of the year. 

Mayze has just woken up, she is having her first wash of the day, and now wants breakfast. 

Please check in with your mileage if you are taking part in the challenge. Those who are serious about getting their exercise will probably put me to shame. I can take it. It's your health that matters. 

Catch ya later. Toodle pip.   ilona

Checking in with the Walkers Group.

 Good morning. It's the first of the month, check in time for the International Walking Group. I hope you are all doing better than I am. I am way behind the target of 840 miles. Shhh, dare I mention, 664 miles. Oh I could make lots of excuses why I am lagging behind, but I'll be honest, I have been going out and enjoying myself. I still walk a lot, but have not been counting. 

So let's have it from you. Are you doing better? 

Random pic from the archives. The Youth Hostel at Boggle Hole North Yorkshire.

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Adding to the miles.

A couple of pics from the walk today. As we head towards the end of the month I'm still trying to catch up on the miles. It will be another fail I think. 

I went to the pub last night, a friend asked me if I would like a drink. He was stood at the door as I was passing. I wasn't actually going to the pub but then I thought, what the heck. Half a cider is all I can manage. The landlord has a new dog, a young black lab. My friend was telling him I am the best dog walker in the village. I agreed that I like walking dogs. The landlord asked if I could walk his dog. I said, I might if I have time, I am very busy. He wanted to pay me. I said I don't want any money, I don't want a job. I might do it just to help out. 

I saw him again tonight as I was coming back from my walk. I said I have just done five miles, it would be too much for the dog. It's a young dog so shouldn't be walked too far and for too long. I will call in one day if I have an hour to spare, to see if the dog takes to me. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Failed.

Good morning. Six months have gone by since we started the walking challenge. Walk 1000 miles in one year. How are you all doing? Time to check in here. 

I have a confession to make, I have failed to reach the 500 mile target. Oh chuffin heck. How did that happen. 

There are only so many hours in a day, only seven days in a week, and only 12 months in a year. Working out how I'm going to allocate time to all that I want to do is becoming more difficult. I know, excuses excuses. 

I am 50 miles short at the moment. How am I going to make that up? Well there is only one way, I have to up my game. I have to rejig my priorities. There is pressure on me now to increase my miles to absorb the shortfall. Will I do it, I don't know, but I will try. 

Here is a sunset pic from the archive. 

Walkers check in here. Are you ahead of the game, or are you lagging behind? 

Thanks for popping in. Catch ya later. Toodle pip.   ilona

Walking group check in.

Good morning. It's the first of the month. How is your walking going? Are you keeping up or lagging behind. The target for the first five months of the year was 416 miles. I failed to reach that. 378 miles is not good at all. Weather too wet, too windy, and even too hot would you believe. During May I had trips out to other places, and the garden now needs regular attention. Trimming bushes, mowing lawns, and pulling up weeds. Never mind. Still time to catch up, 7 months left.

 

Here is a little chatty video. 

Let us know how you are doing with your exercise routine. Are you getting plenty, or none at all? Onward and upward, eh! Never give up. 

Thanks for popping in. Have a good weekend. Toodle pip. ilona

Walking Group check in.

 It's here, the first of the month, again. Time marches on. This is where the members of our International Walking Group check in with their  miles. How are you all doing? I just managed to scrape in with the 250 miles target for three months. Close again. I generally break the 1000 miles into monthly chunks of 84, and try and aim for that. When it gets close to the end of the month I usually have to fit in some extra walks to make sure I get there. 

At this time of the year there is much to do in the garden. If I keep on top of the mowing and trimming hedges it does not get out of hand and start growing wild. It doesn't have to be perfect, every blade of grass in it's place, it just needs to be a bit tidy with rough edges. I share it with wildlife. I see a lot of front gardens being block paved or tarmacked. They look so boring. No doubt convenient if the occupants have several cars. Oh to have lots of money to get a landscaper in to do all the work. We have a man in the village who keeps gardens tidy for the old folk, I am not old by the way, ha ha. I could call on him any time, but I will continue doing it myself while I can still move about. 

Anyway, I digress. Are you managing to juggle all that you have to do with all that you should do, and all that you want to do. Or are some jobs pushed aside? Are you making time for some exercise? Lets us know. 

Crafty Club is on this morning, so I'm going to sit with the ladies in the Village Hall for a couple of hours. I put a video out yesterday so if you want to see it have a stroll over to my channel. Or a jog if you feel so inclined. It's here. 

Catch ya later. Toodle pip.   ilona

Walking Group check in.

With two months gone already, how is your walking progressing? Are you keeping up? Or are you lagging behind? 

I got a bit behind, the weather has not been conducive to enjoyable walking. I hope it starts picking up from now on. I finished on 172 miles, so made the 168 target. 

I have finished an art project, now starting another one. Creating art keeps my hands busy.

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Check in time for the Walking Group.

Hello my little bloggeretts. Here is a video from Tuesday, views from the Humber Bridge. 

How is your walking going? This is your chance to clock in with your miles. Are you doing the 1000 mile challenge? I am on 88 miles for January. Basically it's 84 miles per month if you are going for the full Monty. So 168 for two months. 

Let us know how you are doing. Anybody joining in this time? 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona