What's new in the town

I went to town yesterday afternoon, to have a mooch around and maybe take a few photo's. I don't need to go to the town, but I needed to walk on tarmac, rather than muddy fields. My intention was to photograph the less than glamourous streets and buildings. Maybe look at them with an artistic eye. Maybe there is something I haven't noticed before. A good starting place is Church Square. 

This new building still under construction is where the old market hall used to stand. It is not far from the bus station at the bottom end of the High Street. I do believe it is going to house a brand new Police Station. There will be shops below, with student accommodation above. 

The building on the right is the older North Lincolnshire Council Offices. This was closed through lockdown as most of the staff worked from home. I think some of the staff have come back to the office as I can see some movement in there. 

The white building is the new North Lincolnshire council offices. It is also a drop in point where people can go if they have any queries about the services they provide. 

The 20 21 Arts centre which I often mention is inside this church, which as you can see is undergoing a massive restoration project. The Arts Centre is still open, but limited to the newer parts of the building. 

To the right of the church is a fairly new college. 

After a chat with Nikki inside the Arts Centre I had a walk up the High Street to the top end of the town, in search of more photo's. Imagine the opposite of brand spanking new buildings in a nice open plan setting, to then find the further I walked the more run down it became. I didn't take any more photos. It was quite depressing to see rubbish strewn around empty shops. Shutters down, with whole blocks of shops abandoned. My artistic head could see nothing to photograph. Perhaps I didn't look hard enough. 

I think this scenario could well be similar in a lot of English towns. People have given up. It is my conclusion that no matter how much tarting up you do, at an enormous cost to the tax payer, all they are doing is papering over the cracks. 

They have to tackle the problem first of finding out why people are so disinterested in their surroundings. Where has the community spirit gone, which allows the deterioration to continue. Our governments have failed us over the years. They are now riding roughshod over all of our lives. I didn't want to go down the political route, but when our leaders are not ruling the country, but are being led themselves to feather their own nests, the book stops with them.  

I see Heckmondwike is going to get the same treatment in their town centre. There are plans there to demolish their own old market hall. I wonder where they are getting all the money from. 

My stomach is telling me to eat, then I will go outside and get my vitamin D from the sunshine. 

Have a good weekend. Toodle pip.   ilona

Tasty

Friday fantasy. How many people pay a visit to Asher House, just to eyeball Lee Asher in the buff. Well almost in the buff but not quite. Occasionally you get to see him wearing shorts on a hot day. 

The dogs are nice, but Lee is the bonus eye candy. 😍😋😎

Happy Friday. Toodle pip.   ilona

A look at Winterton

Good afternoon, it's Saturday, and it's a bit mizzzzly outside. Mizzly is damp and showery by the way. The cats are grateful for the shelter they have in the garden. Once they have eaten breakfast they retire to their chosen bolthole and will come out later when their tummies start rumbling. 

On Thursday I dropped the car at the garage for its annual service and went off for a walk. They couldn't give me a specific time when it would be ready, they ring me when it is finished. There are parts of Winterton which I haven't seen before. I don't need to go there apart from the occasional garage visit. So I went on an explore. Hmmm, I will have a look down this path. It turned out to be a lovely walk to the village of Roxby. A place where I have driven through but not stopped to look around. 

These little cottages have been tastefully renovated. All have a new roof. 

The village is on the edge of a main road, so I sat on a bench at a junction for a while and watched the traffic go by. A woman said hello to me, she said she hadn't seen me for ages, the last time being on the Asda Bus. I was puzzled, I said I haven't been on the Asda Bus. A case of mistaken identity I think.  

Next to the bench is this planter, looking a bit sad with dead plants. I see they won an award for the Best Kept Village in 1974. I think it would be a good idea if they repaired the rotten wood, made a new plaque, and filled it with fresh plants. 

The church at Roxby wasn't open so I couldn't look inside. 

I walked back to Winterton and could not resist the smell of freshly cooked chips. This chip shop is a favourite plaice, ha ha. No fish for me. I sat on a bench while I ate them and watched the world go by. I asked for a small portion, but there was too much to eat in one go. I microwaved the rest for my dinner when I got home. £3 to help a local business and to satisfy my craving for chips. 

Car still not ready so I continued my explore. I came across a tea room, The Old Barn. Didn't know that was there. I resisted the temptation to go in. After the chips I was full up. 

A cemetery is always an interesting place to look around. 

Next to it was Simons Wood. Let's go and have a look down here. Lovely little walk. 

Heading back towards the centre this floral arrangement caught my attention. 

Winterton used to be a village, now it is a town, and it is growing by the day. There are three new build housing estates taking place. There isn't sufficient infrastructure to support a lot of new residents. There is a good bus service through to Scunthorpe and Hull though, so people will have the option of using that to get their shopping in. 

Hundreds and thousands of bricks stacked up to fill this area with houses. 

Still no phone call from the garage, so I did a walk through video of the centre. 

Then it was time to go and collect the car. Thanks for popping in. Have a nice weekend. Toodle pip.   ilona 

Walking Group check in.

 Hello. That's another month gone by. Eight months gone, four to go to the end of the year. The target for the end of August for those doing the 1000 miles, is 666. So how have you done. C'mon, spill the beans, have you made it? If you have a lower target have you made that? 

I am on 689, so I'm chuffed with that. I could have done more, but I relaxed a bit and missed a few days. No point in romping too far ahead, might as well string the total out to fit exactly into the target time. I have got some extra walking planned for September so I will be able to ease off a bit when the colder weather comes later in the year.

Pictures from the archive. I have not been to Malham in the Yorkshire Dales for a long time. I love it there. It's a busy touristy area in the summer months. Best going out of season.  

Now it's over to you. Please check in with your reports. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Walking Group check in. Five month totals

Here we go then, post number two for today. It's check in time for the International Walking Group. Five months into the year, the target was 416 if you are doing the 1000 miles challenge. So how have you done?

I have gone past that, now on 445 miles, so well on the way to the half way point of 500 at the end of June. I did five x 5 mile walks, two x 6 miles, and one x 7 miles. All the rest was 2 and 3 mile walks around the village. It all mounts up.

It's been a bit too hot to walk any distance over the last two weeks, five miles and I'm jiggered, glad to get back to the cool indoors. I've not ventured further afield to walk yet, that will come soon now that the rules are changing.

So how has everyone else been doing? Let us know, are you keeping up with it? This is your place to check in.

A picture from the archives. Looks a tad chilly there on the North Yorkshire coast.

Your turn, let's hear it from you. Toodle pip.  ilona

Battered by the wind

I had a sort out today in the garage. I have too much stuff, some of it absolute junk. I picked up four large door size glass panels a few years ago, thought they might come in useful in the garden. They didn't, so I put them on our facebuck page, free to collect. Two of them have gone, the other two will be collected in the morning. 

I filled the car up with a pallet, cut in half because it was too heavy to lift, old wood, old plastic gate, bags and buckets of garden waste, and random odd things that I picked up from skips because I might be able to use them. There was a queue to get in the tip, about a dozen in front of me. It was all pretty organised. The attendant asked what you were chucking, and directed you to the right bin when someone had finished and moved away.  You have to take it yourself from the car, carry it up the steps and dump it over the side into the bin, Only one person at a time. It worked out fine, the garden waste was the most popular bin so you take it in turns if there is someone using the same one. 

This afternoon I thought I would brave the wind and do my usual five mile walk. It went a bit chilly when the clouds came over blotting out the sun, but most of the time it was warm. I had to put my woolly hat on top of my sun visor, just to hold it down. The wind was whipping across the fields taking the dust with it. 

This can of cider is making me tired. Have a nice weekend. Toodle pip.  ilona

Walking Group check in for the first two months.

Let's start the new month with optimism shall we. February is gone, finished, we can't change what happened. Bad weather held a lot of us back, no fun walking in the rain. But whatever we didn't achieve last month we now have a brand new month to catch up, and still ten months of the year to go. All is not lost, we can do this.

Here's a throwback picture to whet your appetite for walking. Holiday on St Mary's Isles of Scilly. One day it will be sunny again and we can all get outside.

I finished February on 160 miles, eight miles short of target. Now I need to get on with it, no slacking. So what mileage are you on now? Did you reach your target? Let us know so we can congratulate you, or commiserate.

The weather continues to be crazy here. Severe flooding not many miles away, places where I have walked before are under water and no sign of it receeding. They have been pumping water off the fields and into the river. A horrible sight, now we can see the extent of flood damage with the invention of drones.

I'll leave it with you, check in here, after breakfast I'm going to do my three miles while the sun is still out. Who knows what will happen later, another deluge maybe. Toodle pip.  ilona

Walking Group check in. January to July.

My goodness time flies, best get out walking while we still have a bit of summer left. Before you know it we will be into Autumn, and all the leaves will be falling off the trees.

How are you all doing with the walking challenge? How many members of the International Walking Group are still walking? Me for one, I stick my hand up, me me me. My target for the end of July was 584, I have done 596, yipppeeeeee. Off to a good start for August.

Those doing the 1000 miles, are you anywhere near that? Going by your last reports I think some of you are forging ahead, you won't be beaten, good for you. Some walkers will have their own targets, how are you doing, anywhere near them?

I have been doing some morning walks, a friend wanted to join me and that is the best time for them. Usually 9 till 10, then I can get on with whatever else I am doing for the rest of the day. He will be moving away from the area in a few weeks so I will revert to walking at the best time to fit in with my schedule.

Let's have your numbers, this is the place to check in with your progress reports. Thank you for popping in. You can come back to this post at any time if you don't get round to making a comment today. Toodle pip.  ilona

Check in day for our International Walking Group

Hello, it's the first of June. Five months have passed since we started this challenge to walk more, to set targets, and to get ourselves fit and healthy. My target is 1000 miles for the year, yours may be different, whatever it is are you keeping up with it?

I am on 431 miles, which is on target. My next number is 500 miles at the end of June. There will be no letting up, I get out almost every day. In fact if I miss a day I feel like I have cheated.

This is where you check in with your miles, howzit going for you. Let's all support each other, words of encouragement please.
Toodle pip.  ilona

I'll post again later today for those not in the walking group.

On yer bike!

I little video I did yesterday. Sunny day bike ride. Wobbling, sore bum, changing gears, puffing and panting up hills, is this really for me? Does it get any easier with practice?



If you want to read about real cycling, go to Brenda's blog here.

Ilona

Adding a few more miles to my walking total.

It was a nice day for a walk yesterday, not so nice today though, grey and overcast. I went to the car boot sale this morning, picked up a few useful bits and bobs for my arts and crafts. 

Here are a few pics from yesterday, I did nine miles and stayed south side of the river. Painted stones are getting everywhere, these are not to be removed however, thay are laid beside a memorial bench. Somewhere to sit for a fantastic view. 

I am thinking of Rocky, we used to come up here for a little bimble.

I did a circular walk from South Ferriby, to Barton, and back along the waters edge. This is the start of the long distance path, The Viking Way. The boatyard at Barton.

No access to the waters edge here, it's deep mud.

A little bit of a beach a bit further along, I decided not to go down to it, time was getting on and I wanted to get back, so I carried on along the cliff top.

I picked up a few yellow stickers at Barton Tesco, most weren't cheap enough, and I had limited room in my rucksack. Back in time for dinner at 6pm. A quick stir fry meal of mushrooms, peas, eggs, and rice noodles.

Don't forget check in day tomorrow for the Walking Group. The target is 750 miles for nine months, and I am a long way off that. Never mind.  ilona

Last call for Walking Group photographs.

Hello. Isn't it amazing. I write a short post about a red blotch on my leg, because I can't think of anything else to write about, and I get 26 comments. I spend ages taking photographs and sorting them out, editing them, and writing up my walking trips and days out, and get half a dozen comments. As the saying goes, I think, 'less is more'.

I am happy to report that my red blotch is fading. I am able to resist scratching. Dabbing Germoline and TCP on it is my answer to anything a bit sore, so in a day or two it will be no more. Thank you for all your advice, it's nice to know you care.

Last call for the International Walking Group members photographs of where you walk in your area. The deadline is 12noon tomorrow, the 31st of May. This is not a competition on judging photographs, it's a prize draw .They will be published the following day on June the 1st, Friday, along with the check in miles from all group members.

The target for the end of May is 416 miles, for those doing the full Monty, 1000 miles. I have just scraped in with 426 miles, have been slacking a bit. The next target is of course 500 miles at the end of June. Some of you will have your own targets, let us know how you are doing on Friday.

Right now I am going round the corner to Angela's pad to see what she has been doing in her garden, so I'll say, catch you soon, and Toodle pip

Hints and tips for the Walking Group

Hello. I'm going to pop this quickie post in before I get on with other things I want to do. Thanks to all the Walking Group who have checked in with their January miles, don't forget, you can do this at any time of the month by just going back to the post on the 1st of the month. There is a menu on the side bar if you don't know how to find it.

There are some amazing mileages being reported, and I want to repeat what I always say, it isn't a race, it isn't a competition, you are walking exclusively for yourselves to maintain a fit and healthy lifestyle. The aim of the challenge is to keep moving, pull yourself out of the doldrums, a burst of activity is good for the body and the mind.

There are no rules about how you calculate your miles. I see that some of you are using fitbits and gizmos to keep track of your steps, which are then converted into miles. If you are wearing one from when you get up to when you go to bed, counting every step you take as you go about your daily business, that's up to you. It's a good benchmark to start from and keep you motivated.

If you are relying on a fitbit in this way, it's not going to give you a true reflection on how much time you are spending exercising. We all have to move about in the normal course of a day, pottering around the garden, pushing the hoover around the carpets, making the beds, cleaning the windows, and going around the shops, but unless you are doing these chores at breakneck speed you aren't going to be using up many calories, or exercising your muscles, or pumping up your heartbeat a couple of notches. 

As an example, a person of average height doing a brisk walk can do three miles in an hour, on flat ground. Less if it is up hill and down dale. Someone with longer legs and a longer stride could do more than that. Working on that basis, 150 miles a month would take 50 hours, divide that by 4 weeks, is 12.5 hours a week. Try an experiment, time your brisk walk to exactly one hour, and see if your gizmo reading matches up to that.

Carry on with your fitbits and gizmo's if it is the alternative to sitting around doing nothing. But try and work up a bit of a sweat as well. When I first go out I am cold, so I wrap up. By the time I am half way round I am taking off my gloves, and scarf, and possibly a jacket as well. By the end of my three miles I am toasty warm with glowing cheeks. In the winter I wear walking boots, in the summer, trainers. I want to walk fast and I can't do that wearing any other footwear.

We have just passed the first month, eleven more to go. Those of you who set out specifically to do a walk, keep on keeping on. Those who are monitoring every step you take, do not rest on your laurels, see if you can up your game a bit. A brisk walk to the shops, a jog to the bus stop, a faster than usual dog walk. Get a sweat on, and you will feel better for it.

A link to a site where you can check your miles. Click on Toggle Map Size to make the map on the right bigger. Zoom in to your start point, click on it, and trace your route with your mouse. It will add it up automatically. Bikehike.co.uk  Alternatively a GPS gives an accurate figure.

Away you go, I'll be back later.
Ilona

Check in time for Walking Group members

Hello and Good Morning. It is January the 1st 2018. I like the sound of that number, it has a nice ring to it. Now is the time to check in with your final walking miles for 2017. How did you do? Are you chuffed with yourself? Did you give it your best shot? Are you going to do better in 2018?

New members are invited to check in here, we like new starters. The format will be the same, please check in on the first of every month throughout the year to record your progress. If you miss the actual day, you can go back to the post at any time and add your comment.

I am having the day off today, good start eh! Ha ha. I am also reverting back to the 1000 miles target, so that gives me some days off throughout the year. So, 1000 divided by 12 is 83.3 miles per month. It helps to break it down, gives you a monthly target to aim for. Breaking it down further it's 2.74 miles per day.

You will have good months and bad months, depending on the weather, how you feel, your family circumstances, and the amount of free time you can give to the challenge. Don't forget, the more effort you put into it the better you will feel about yourself. There is nothing negative about walking, it's all positive, so no moaning about don't feel like it today. You know it makes sense to look after your body, and walking is a good way of doing that. I can't do it for you, so now it's up to you. Get up off your bum and do it.

I'm busy today, I shall be looking in later. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip. 

Walking Group Check in. 1st December

Hello. It didn't snow overnight but there is still lots of the white stuff on the ground. Although virgin snow is pretty to look at it stops me from what I want to do, and it will turn to ugly slush in a few hours when everyone sets off to go to work.

It's that time again, when we all declare how far we have walked so far. I've just been going through the names of those who checked in last month and I'm chuffed that so many are still doing the challenge. 25 names, that's more than half of the total at the start in January. Well done everyone.

Let's take a look at who is still walking. In no particular order.

Vicki.  Hilogene. Kath K.  AT.  Amanda in Atlanta.  Beachcomber.  Jules61.  Jeanneke.  Kate on the Coast.  Sheryl S.  Flis.  Hilde.  Nick.  Helen D.  Helen Graham.  Margaret in Maryland.  Yorkshire Lass.  Alicesav.  Louise.  Christine Neumann.  Hazel D.  Odette. Natalie.  Ray Nicholson.  Shelly Williams.

Today's post is aimed at the walkers among us, but it does not exclude others who want to comment. Hop on board and let's give these hardy people our full support as we face the final month of the year. It all ends on December the 31st, but of course, in reality it should never end, because keeping fit and healthy should be a life long aim for everyone, whether walking or any other exercise you may be doing. So come on, this is the last push for 2017, and without a break, we start this all over again on the first day of 2018.

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Walking Group check in here.

Hello and Good Morning on this murky start to the day in North Lincolnshire. Seems Autumn is well and truly with us now so my daily walk will be dependent on how the weather is panning out. I walk Bailey poodle four mornings a week, soon to be three when Jane starts on Monday next week, but I don't count this in my challenge, because he spends a long time stopping and sniffing. Can't really call it walking.

So how have you been doing? We are nine months into the one year challenge, time flies when you are having fun, and I hope it is still fun for you. I like to watch my numbers go up, writing it on my calendar each day. At the moment my total stands at 938, I was hoping for a bit more, but I have missed some days when I have been doing other things. I am still ahead, after making my new challenge to walk 100 miles every month.

So let's see how everyone else is doing, time to bare all, the highs the lows. Have you had a good month, or a lousy one? Are you jumping up and down with glee, or hiding under the duvet? Whatever your total is I hope you have been doing some walking.

This challenge is all about looking after yourself and feeling great. Whatever effort you put in you will reap the benefits. Put no effort in at all, and you will become grumpy and slide into decline. So, if you have two legs that work, even if you can only do short distances, just do it. Look at the amputees at the Invictus Games at the moment. Having no legs and arms doesn't hold them back. You've just got to admire their stamina and determination to succeed in their chosen sport.

Let's hear it from you then. This post is where you check in with your progress, shout it from the rooftops, be proud of your achievements. The Anonymous option is back for this, so no excuse not to comment. It's open to everyone.

Raining here, and time for breakfast, I've got some of that lovely fruit to enjoy. Have a good Sunday. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Workout with Joe

Hello. Did you know it's National Fitness Day today? No, I didn't either. So, here we go, some ideas to get you started. There are four hours left, it finishes at midnight, but you can carry on indefinitely if you like. 

Still time to go out for a walk. Good reasons why you should walk. 

Joe Wicks is the latest fitness guru, here he shows you how to warm up before a workout.


And when you are nice and warm, here is Joe again with his 20 minute beginners workout.


And here he is again with some ideas for healthy snacks.


So there you are. No excuses, Joe is your man. I'm off for my walk. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Walking Group meet, 1st of March.

Hello. It's that time again, the first of the month when I hand over this page to the Walking Group, who check in with their miles for the previous months. I'm leaving it up to you to do a running total, so if you could post your miles for January and February here, I will be well chuffed. You can come back to this post at any time if you miss it today, this is where we all chat about how we are doing with our own personal challenges. 

Here is my chart, I finished off tonight with two miles to make it a round two hundred. You can see I missed three days, but made it up by doing extra on other days. I have a two and a three mile walk around my village, that can give me 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 miles. On the day I did 8 miles, I added an extra bit onto it and walked a bit further.  

We are two months into it now, those who did it last year will be a picture of health and feeling pretty darn good. If you started this year, you should be feeling a bit better, the longer you do it the fitter you become. Don't expect miracles, don't give up because you think it isn't making any difference to your fitness levels. It will come if you give it time. If you have fallen behind a bit, give yourself a kick up the backside, and make up your mind to get stuck in. Make March the month you will succeed. No matter how much I nag you, ultimately it's down to you.

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

A reminder.

Hello. Just popping in tonight to remind our Walking Group members that you have one day left to the end of the month. How's it going, have you achieved your targets, or have you been slacking. Ok, it's a short month, I'll let you off if you are a few miles short, but I hope you make an effort next month to catch up.

I am on target to hit the 100 miles again, after doing one longer walk, and adding extra miles onto my daily walks.

69 members signed up for the Walk 1000 miles in one year challenge, at the beginning of January. I am pleased to say that 53 people checked in with their January miles, on the 1st of February post. A jolly good effort. Are we going to get all 69 people checking in on the 1st of March with their total miles? It would be brilliant to see every single person making an effort.

This format will go on for the whole year, checking in on the 1st post of every month. If you miss it don't worry, you can go back to that post at any time during the month to add your miles.

We had such a lot of members staying with it for the whole of the 2016 challenge, lets see if we can increase it for this year.

To feel the benefits of any exercise it should be a continual process. Not just for the New Year, not just for getting in shape for holidays, and not for a few weeks in the summer when the weather is warmer. It is proven that regular exercise is beneficial for the mind as well as the body. Feeling fed up? Get out for a walk, or a run. or a cycle, or a swim.

I often meet other people walking and running around my village. I stopped to chat this morning with a young mum who was pushing her baby in a buggy. I have seen her running. She tells me that she runs 5k five times a week, and feels absolutely great afterwards. She has run several marathons, and she looks as fit as a fiddle, no sign of a mummy tummy.

My walking buddy Paul does a lot of cycling, he goes out at every opportunity, and is very fit for a 53 year old. There is also Christopher who was overweight, he has lost a couple of stone through watching what he eats, and cycling almost every day. Any exercise has to be good for you.

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Walking Group meet 1st of February

Hello. Here is a full list of Walking Group members. I will copy and paste the list on the first of every month, to remind everyone who has signed up for it. Members should check in on the first of every month with their own mileage in a comment. Please do your own running total adding the months together so I don't have to do your sums for you. Don't worry if you are late, you can check in at any time but to keep it all in the same place please go to the post on the first of the month. To find it refer to the archive list on the sidebar. There are 69 names on the list.

Amanda in Atlanta - Dinky Jenny - Blue eyes Sue - Shoestring Jane - Amanda - Sally C - Michelle - Margaret in Maryland - Hazel Dxb - Joan in Michigan - Nanny Anna in Canada - Donna from Illinois - Betsy in Baltimore - Boxgrove Girl - Cherie K - Judlike - Juless61 - DixieChick - Frugal in Bucks - Frugal in the Valley - Beachcomber Sue - Kateonthecoast - Jan - alicesav - Trish - Shelly Williams - Sarah Cornwall - Jane J Robinson - PinkFish Sue - Natalie - Scarlett - Ray Nicholson - Jools - Helen Graham - Catriona - Wendy Wdc - Jayne - Patricia Montreal - Odette - Michelle Colorado - Christine Phipps - Kaye Schmitz - Jane C - Vampire Heart - Vicki E Yorks - Christine Neumann - Wanda - Kath K - Dunhamlass - Emma - Lori in Alaska - Linda Martin - Lorraine Washington - Hilde - Hilogene - Nick - Hazel C - Amy in Florida - Sue - Yorkshire Lass - Helen D - Becky - Michele in Australia - Sonja Nth Carolina - Lo - Louise Houghton - Tricia - Wences

I have reached 100 miles, a target I set myself in the middle of January. Here's how I did it.

I see someone has commented already in yesterdays post. I can copy and paste it in here, but your name will not show as a link.

Good luck everyone, lets have some numbers. Tell us how you are getting on, the highs and lows, how you feel, fitter or knackered, ha ha. If you are thinking about doing this get off your bum and take the plunge. Do it for yourself, make an effort to fit it in with your daily routine. You know it makes sense. I can add your name to the list on March the 1st.

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip