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Re-stocking the shelves
With no books queued up it was time for some re-stocking. One of the bookshops I like to visit is Kirkdale Bookshop in Sydenham, South London. Door to door it’s less than an hour away on the train.
I always head for the second-hand fiction books at the back of the shop, but there are also new books at the front of the shop and a vast number of second-hand, non-fiction books in the basement.
I was fairly successful with my restocking!
Afterwards, I failed to get some sustenance at The Moustache café, half a mile from the bookshop – it was closed & shuttered despite a sign indicating it was open Thursday to Sunday.
So, returning to the bookshop, the nearby Cobb’s Corner Cafe is just a few doors down and was very pleasant and worth revisiting the next time I’m shopping for books. (A geezer ordered a milky coffee, which amused me).
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Overwhelmed by the response
I decided to dispose of my old Pentax DSLR camera and accessories, plus a couple of lenses. Nothing wrong with the equipment other than it required a replacement battery pack to replace the two I had which weren’t holding their charge very well.
Why get rid? Because it’s so heavy to cart around! I was no longer taking it on my hikes and trips, preferring to take my rather nice Sony RX100 compact camera and also my iPhone.
I guess I could have sold it on eBay or Gumtree – there are plenty of old cameras for sale there, but realistically I guessed I could only expect to get up to £100 for the lot. So I thought that for a simple life I would just give it away, which I did to my local freecycle site. I knew there would be a good response as it was a lot of equipment for no cost!
And I did get a lot of responses – 58 in fact! So how does one decide who wins the prize. All things being equal I guess a random choice would be appropriate. But not all responses were equal. Below are all the responses. Not in the order they came in, but split into two sections, the ‘I want it’ and the ‘here’s why I want it’. I’m cynical as to how many of the respondents actually wanted the camera as a camera rather than as something to be sold on.
So who would you have chosen and which one do you think I chose?
‘I want it’ (44)
- Hi,can I pick it up?
- Hi is this still available?
- hi, is this still available
- Is the camera available please
- Hi, is this still available?
- Hi is the camera still available
- Hi is this available?
- Hello, is this still available?
- Hi. Is this still available?
- Hello can I have this please?
- Hi I would love it please
- Hi is this still available please
- Hi I would like this please
- Hi, could I take this from you please
- Hi I would be happy to have this if it is still available
- Hi, if the camera is still available, please let me know
- Hi there, I would love to have your camera if it is still going spare
- Good afternoon, is this camera still available?
- Hi has someone snapped this up already?
- Hi ,would appreciate if it’s still available
- Hi can I collect.
- Please write your address
- I would be very happy if you can give it to me please
- Hi Sir, may I have it?
- Yes please
- Can i have please?
- Please can I have it
- Hi, I can collect today
- Hi, Is it still available? I would like to take it.
- Hi. Would it be ok if we pick it up today or tomorrow?
- Hi! Would love to collect if available!
- Thank you. I’ll be interested please.
- I am interested in the camera if it is still available
- Hi there – if this is still available, I’d really appreciate it.
- Hello, if your camera is still available, I could pick it up from you
- is it still available for collection now by any chance?
- Hi, I could collect today
- if this is available,.i’d like to come and take the lot
- Hello Very interested if still available
- Hi, Is this still available please?
- Hi, I could happily use the DSLR camera.
- Hello – is the Pentax still available?
- Is this still available
- Plz let me know if it’s still available
‘Here’s why I want it’ (14)
- Hello, is this still available? + Hi, sorry, to add to my message! I’m going to Leipzig next week to watch Crystal Palace in a European final, I’d love to document the adventure with this if it’s still going
- I love your camera, do you still have it? + I am free at any time + Please let me know + I have a box of tomato seeds which I could give you for you to grow this spring so you can have delicious tomatoes in your garden.
- Hi, is this still available? My daughter is heavily into photography and would love this.
- Hi I am interested in this as my daughter is interested in photography
- My daughter has taken Photography for GCSE. this will be great if still available
- Please please please can I get this for my step daughter, she’s 14 and been asking for a dlr camera since I’ve known her lol
- This SLR would be amazing for my daughter, she is studying photography at college and should really invest in her own equipment instead of hiring one. She has a keen eye for detail and candid shots. I am available to collect this week and look forward to hearing from you.
- Hi, I’m interested in your fantastic Pentax camera outfit for our daughter. She’s studying art and design at college and will be studying photography as part of the course.
- yes plz my school would love this
- I volunteer with a charity that supports people (mainly women) who have experienced and survived domestic abuse. These women are always looking for new hobbies, and also hobbies or activities that can generate an entrepreneurial income too. If your camera is still available it will be put to very good use within this community.
- I’m sure this went very quickly. If it is still available, I’d love to be considered for it please – I am a bit of a camera and photography buff so this camera and lenses would be fun to use.
- Thank you very much for offering the Pentax camera. I’m interested and would love to collect them. I just retired so I have time to learn how to use this camera. I’m available to pick them up this afternoon or tomorrow morning. Could you please let me know which time is convenient for you? Thank you again for your generosity.
- Hi. If this doesn’t get collected I’ve love to take this and try it out. Currently using an old Nikon D60 and getting back into taking pictures on a real camera again. Would be nice to try a better camera with some lens options.
- if available please drop me a line. For a dear friend who’s very much bit of a nostalgic person reminiscing family she’s lost grown pretty attached to taking photos of garden flowers and nature Think she’s developed a natural knack to capture the moment with spectacular results I feel your offer would give greater encouragement to take things higher degree. Its amazing what one picture can say the emotions and feelings it brings out from within. She’s a great observer and detective…I call her sherlock for noticing little details.
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Leatherhead to Dorking
Seeing the herd of cattle near the field exit gate, I was apprehensive. Having got safely through I marked the OS maps app with the hazard/animals/passable warning. Whether it will be passable for the next walker, who knows!
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Tate Britain
Some images of a visit to Tate Britain.
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Test Way (my new 40+ mile walk)
The Test Way is a 44-mile long distance walking route from high on the chalk downs at Inkpen to follow much of the course of the River Test to Eling where its tidal waters flow into Southampton Water.
The whole 40+ mile walk I’ve structured my walk as 5 stages:
- Combe Gibbet to Hurstbourne Tarrant (8-9 miles)
- Hurstbourne Tarrant to Fox Cottages near Middleton (7 miles)
- Fox Cottages near Middleton to Stockbridge (11 miles)
- Stockbridge to Romsey (10 miles)
- Romsey to Eling (9 miles)
Leg (1) Combe Gibbet to Hurstbourne Tarrant (9 miles)
- Buy an Advance single ticket from Paddington to Hungerford (£26.95 with rail card, or £27.70 for ANY off-peak train)
- Train from Paddington (10:36) to Hungerford (11:25)
- Walk to Town Hall and catch bus 3 (12:35) to Rolf’s Farm (12:54) near Upper Green , south of Inkpen, and walk 1.2 miles to Combe Gibbet, the start of the Test Way
- Alternatively, a taxi (takes 20 mins, 8 miles) from Hungerford station to Combe Gibbet (the start of the Test Way) which will get you to the start of the walk over an hour earlier than using the bus
- Walk the walk (8-9 miles) Combe Gibbet to Hurstbourne Tarrant (where there is no bus service anywhere near!)
- EITHER Return home as follows:
- Hire taxi from Hurstbourne Tarrant to Andover (6 miles, 10 minutes) using Bourne Valley Taxis / Andover Taxis (07770 372 736)
- Buy Advance single (specific train) Andover to Clapham Junction (£16.05) or super off-peak single (any off-peak train) £21.50
- Train home from Andover to Clapham Junction but may need to change at Basingstoke or Woking
- OR Stay overnight at the soon-to-open (early June 2026) pub The Great Decoy
Leg (2) Hurstbourne Tarrant to Fox Cottages near Middleton (7 miles)
- EITHER travel from home as follows:
- Train to Andover from Clapham Junction
- Hire taxi from Andover Station to Hurstbourne Tarrant (6 miles, 10 minutes) using Bourne Valley Taxis / Andover Taxis (07770 372 736)
- OR Cooked breakfast at the overnight stay
- Do walk to Fox Cottages near Middleton (in the middle of nowhere but on a bus route!)
- There’s a 15-minute bus (at xx:05 & xx:35) to Andover. See Stagecoach bus 76 timetable
- Train home from Andover
Leg (3) Fox Cottages near Middleton to Stockbridge (11 miles)
- Train to Andover (from Clapham Junction at 27 and 57, takes an hour or so, Anytime Day Return £26.55)
- There’s a 15-minute bus (at xx:10 & xx:40) from the bus station to Fox Cottages near Middleton. See Stagecoach bus 76 timetable
- Do walk to Stockbridge
- Bus 73 Stockbridge 5:22pm – Andover 5:50 (school days only – check here)
- Train home from Andover
Leg (4) Stockbridge to Romsey (10 miles)
- Train to Winchester (from CJ at 10:12-11:04, 10:27-11:26 change Basingstoke, 11:12-12:04) Anytime Day Return £26.60
- Bus 16 Winchester City Road 12:26 – Stockbridge 13:02 see Stagecoach route 16
- Do walk to Romsey
- Train home via Winchester (change at Southampton) Evening Out Single to Winchester £3.55
Leg (5) Romsey to Eling (9 miles)
- Train to Southampton (from CJ at 10:12 – 11:22)Anytime Day Return £31.75
- Train to Romsey at 11:37-11:51) Anytime Day Single £3.90
- Do walk to Eling
- Walk to Totton Station (it’s not far)
- Train to Southampton (hourly at xx:44, otherwise a bus) Evening Out Single £2.50
- Train home from Southampton
Some links
- The Test Way (too detailed and going northwards rather than southwards)
- https://testvalley.gov.uk/assets/attach/16066/12pp-WALKING-THE-TEST-WAY-FINAL-VERSION.pdf (out of date info on buses and accommodation))
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Overnight in Eastbourne
The weather forecast was good so we drove down to Eastbourne on the south coast for a night away. On the way down we called in at Sheffield Park, a National Trust property.
At our hotel breakfast, the waitress taking our order asked how many sausages, rashers of bacon and eggs we wanted, but fortunately not how many mushrooms. We thought that amusing.
As we descended the long steep road from Beachy Head several cyclists were following us and travelling at 40-45 mph!
Next time we visit Eastbourne we’ll do it by train – there’s a lot of traffic around the south coast.
We had a superb evening meal at La Locanda Del Duca restaurant.
Our hotel entrance 
Sheffield Park 
Sheffield Park 
Sheffield Park -
Avon Valley Path (Ringwood to Christchurch)
On a warm and sunny day this fourth and final leg of the Avon Valley Path was a so-so walk. Contrary to my comment about Ringwood at the end of the previous walk, my impression this time was that it is a rather nice town, but again I only saw it briefly.
You don’t get to see much of the river on this walk and there are a couple of long stretches along busy roads. For example the last part of the walk takes you into Christchurch but due to the closure of a footpath along the river it’s necessary to follow the new, revised route along busy, main roads.
Overall it’s a level walk so not particularly strenuous, although the strong winds made it an effort at times. I stopped for a drink at The Lamb at Winkton, around the 8-mile mark, where I impressed staff and locals with my exploits (good for my age?).
It was a long walk at just over 11 miles. I left home just before 8 in the morning and got home at 9 in the evening. There was a lot of travelling involved!
That’s the full walk completed, from Salisbury to Christchurch. Looking back at what I’d written about each of the legs, the second leg from Downton to Fordingbridge was the best, with this fourth leg being the most disappointing. I now need to find another challenge.
Windy! 
About The Avon Valley Path
Salisbury to Christchurch
My proposed walks
- Salisbury – Downton (8 miles) (Walked August 5th 2025)
Train to Salisbury, walk to Downton, bus X3 to Salisbury (20 minutes), train to home - Downton – Fordingbridge (7 miles) (Walked August 21st 2025)
Train to Salisbury, bus X3 to Downton (20 minutes), walk to Fordingbridge, bus X3 to Salisbury (32 minutes), train to home - Fordingbridge to Ringwood (10 miles) (Walked September 8th 2025)
Train to Salisbury, bus X3 to Fordingbridge (25 minutes), walk to Ringwood, bus X3 to Salisbury (45 minutes), train to home - Ringwood – Christchurch (10 miles) (Walked April 30th 2026)
Train to Bournemouth, bus X3 to Ringwood (40 minutes), walk to Christchurch station, train to home
- Salisbury – Downton (8 miles) (Walked August 5th 2025)
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A trip to Llanrhaeadr
The weather forecast for North Wales was dry and sunny. Ideal conditions for a short, 2-night stay to see my Aunty May (nearly 97) in the tiny village of Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant and to include a walk to the famous Pistyll Rhaeadr waterfall. I’ve been to the village many times and I’ve done the walk two or three times before. If you don’t mind walking country lanes it’s a very pretty 4-mile stroll (uphill all the way!) with only occasional mid-week traffic breaking the silence. The waterfall really is stunning. There’s also a very pleasant café (with new owners) overlooking the waterfall.
My Aunty May was a delight!
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Guildford -> Godalming
I’ve done much of this walk a couple of times but today I extended it. It’s a really nice 5-mile stroll along the River Wey, ending up at the very pleasant town of Godalming. There’s a very good second-hand, charity bookshop (A Novel Idea) where I found three fiction and a non-fiction, all for £8!
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It was my birthday
Well it wasn’t quite like the picture at the top but we did have a very nice time at a Lebanese restaurant in Teddington, followed by a manic game of The Traitors in which I played a dirty trick on my daughter at the finale.
An East-of-Greece lunch with the family
things change 