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Easter Egg – you’re never too old

Sunday, Apr 1, 2018

You’re never too old for an Easter egg, even when it’s a cheap Sainsbury’s freebie handed out in the village by the local church.

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We’d never been able to complete the last half-dozen clues in the Saturday Times’ big crossword without resorting to Google. Yesterday we managed it apart from having to confirm there was a Tolkien novel called ‘The Silmarillion’ (20 across). Well done us!

Also in The Times there was a mouth watering review of Rebel Prince: The Power, Passion and Defiance of Prince Charles by Tom Bower, describing the heir to the throne as “utterly out of touch and addicted to luxury” as well as being “an Olympian whinger”. Can’t wait for the paperback edition!

I sympathised with Janice Turner’s article Labour has been lost to fools and crackpots.

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In Extremis – Tim Parks

Sunday, Apr 1, 2018

In Extremis by Tim Parks is a wonderful novel. Centred around a dying mother and a son’s angst, it’s very, very funny.

My mum died just 3 months ago and the son’s indecision, his relationships with his mother and family, and dealing with death and funerals clearly resonated with me.

Religion and anal massage are also covered! A book to be read again.

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Walking the Itchen Way

Tuesday, Mar 27, 2018

The Itchen Way is a 30 mile walk along the length of the River Itchen. The walk commences where the Itchen feeds into Southampton Water, and ends at the Itchen’s approximate source near Cheriton, near New Alresford. I’m planning to do the walk in 4 parts:

1. Western Shore, Southampton to Bishopstoke near Eastleigh (9 miles)
2. Bishopstoke to Winchester (7½ miles)
3. Winchester to Itchen Stoke (7½ miles)
4. Itchen Stoke to approximate source at Cheriton (6½ miles)

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Preparing for a longer walk

Monday, Mar 26, 2018

With plans to walk the Itchen Way, it seemed sensible to get some walks in now that Spring has arrived. Today’s walk began on a warm, sunny morning, probably the first of the year. Starting from Westhumble Station the walk went on to Polesden Lacey and then Bookham before the bus and train back home. Sadly my reactions weren’t quick enough to capture images of the yellow butterfly, the pheasant and the rabbit, though the sheep were more obliging.