Having just spent a long weekend in the Welsh Marshes, I’ve been thinking a lot about rain.  Actually to be fair, it didn’t rain that much while we were there - but it had obviously come down by the bucket load before we arrived.

Anyway, for what they’re worth, my observations about rain are:

1. When out walking with the dogs in the rain, as soon as you turn for home, the woofer who’s lagging behind always becomes the leader.
2. Psychologically, its not as bad to be caught in a shower as it is to leave the house while its raining - you just don’t want to do it, especially on a dark winter’s morning.
3. For some reason 7am seems to be one of the driest times of the day - is this statistically true?
4. If the weekends are dry then people think that the weather hasn’t been too bad.

The Cairn at Walderton, June 2008

Originally uploaded by dog walker2008

This is public art in action - the cairn has taken on a new shape, to become more like a pile of flints, instead of the Husband’s carefully crafted sculpture. Interestingly enough, more people seem to be adding stones.

I haven’t been writing for a while …. nothing to say?  Of course not! 

My morning dogwalking companion won’t be able to walk with me for the next 6 - 8 weeks as she’s got to have a major op, so here’s to wishing you a speedy recovery LL.  Its funny, even though I really enjoy walking with her, being on my own is such a luxury.  I don’t mean to sound selfish but its so rare to have time to myself, and of course the dogs.  It also means that I can be more creative on the walks as I don’t have to start in the same place, but alas time is, as ever, restricted.

Actually we don’t seem to have the woodlands to ourselves these days, as the summer walkers have come out of  the woodwork… hummmm, I’m going to sound selfish yet again…. they haven’t earnt the pleasure!  And in true form, the dogs seem to have the same opinion - they always bark at strangers as well as really check out the canine interlopers!

One thing I don’t understand is the number of people who have complained that we’ve had a bad summer so far this year.  I judge the weather by how dry the walks, and how many towels we get through drying and cleaning the dogs…. and personally I don’t think its been too bad.  We are spoilt living where we do as its got a reputation of having better than average weather.

The other evening I went on one of my favourite walks at Stoughton after a particularly ucky day in the office.    And thanks to the heat I was deliberately walkingslowly - you noticeable relax when you’re not charging around the countryside trying to get around within a time frame.

There was still a hint of garlic in the air even though the plants are well and truly dead, the bluebells were just seed heads - spring is over….  There must have been plenty of other scents as well as the dogs were tearing around.  But there was very little bird song - obviously the heat was getting to them as well. 

Why is it you never have your camera with you when you need it?  A magnificent stag was standing in the middle of the path, looking at us staring at him.  Who was going to make the first move?  I give Massey credit, he just stood there and like a good GSP, pointed (did he realise that he would be taking on someone who was much bigger than him, with a fantastic set of antlers to boot).  Well, the stag decided enough was enough, he wasn’t going to hang around and disappeared off into the undergrowth. And time always seems to slow down in moments like these. Even if you do manage to take a photo, the image is never as powerful as  the one you remember.

Since I’ve started this blog my walks are no longer as peaceful, however hard I try.  My mind is buzzing, thinking of comments to make, noting observations, and realising that I think I have these fantastic musings, but when I put fingers to keyboard, they just don’t seem worthy enough!  Its just a load of hot air!  And then walks get taken up by pseudo intellectual debates about when is lost lost and when is lost found …. so should I be referring to my photographs of all things lost, lost, or should they be all things found?  I leave it to you to decide.

30-04-2008 009

Originally uploaded by dog walker2008

Went to check up on the husband’s cairn this afternoon and it had been partly knocked down…. he’s mad…. I pointed out it was bound to happen …. its part of the experience of building the cairn in public…. its development is a community, social experience, with all its ups and downs

Anyone know what this wildflower is?

Originally uploaded by dog walker2008

While out walking last weekend a friend spotted this flower - there were quite a few of them, each surrounded by a cluster of chalk. They’re obviously not common otherwise they wouldn’t have been marked out. Anyway, the friend thinks its an orchid, the white helleborine - I should double check but suggestions are welcome.

A few minutes later …. yup, she’s right, but its not as tall as its described, however, the ones we spotted were out in the open, so they weren’t seeking the light in the same way they would if they were in the woodland.

 

In the past week I’ve read two articles about exercising in the great outdoors - its funny as a dog walker you naturally exercise in the fresh air.  Who needs to go to the gym when you’ve got 2 canines to exercise?

Anyway, the way the Green Gym article is written, you’d think that the writer has only just discovered the wonders of nature - how uplifting it can be, how much more enjoyable it is to be outside than pounding away on a treadmill.  I come back from walks feeling so much better, invigorated from the fresh air and if I’ve been on a run, on a high.  My challenge is that exercising outside allows me to get my legs into shape, but what do I do to keep my arms and stomach in shape?  Suggestions are much appreciated.

And on Saturday I read Harry Eyres Slow Lane column in the FT about the pleasures of walking and the outdoors - in fact I read it just before going on a great stomp up on the Downs.  It was one of the articles which made me think about nature and dog walking in a different way.  He reminded me to listen out to the birds, look for the wild life and spot the unusual.  I tried to do this but we had company so conversation replaced silent companionable walking.  Next time….

As you know I have an obsession with all things lost in the countryside.  During the winter “lost” usually means gloves, hats and scarves.  As the weather gets warmer, people are wearing these things so what becomes lost?  I’m finding it harder to find all things lost so is there a season of lost?  Do I put my obsession aside for a few months, or do people lose other things instead? 

This has made me think about what people could lose in  the summer?  Sunglasses….sunhats… the jumper slung over their shoulders?  No doubt the next few months will reveal all. 

On another note, the other day, we saw a rather sordid latex glove cast astray on the South Downs.  A debate ensued between the Husband and I - was  this lost?  What was it doing on the top of the Downs in the first place?  Was it too sordid to photograph?  Did it fit into the lost category?  Bizarrely enough it was my imagination which stopped it being included in the “lost.”

So what is “lost?”  Answers on a postcard please!

 

 

Its funny I thought that this blog would be about my thoughts for what they’re worth.  In fact my commentary seems to be more about observations on nature ….. I feel like such an amateur as I don’t know the names of the wildflowers, the latin names of birds, let alone my ability to recognise bird song.  However, I do know what does it for me.

The bluebells are over for another year, the memories will have to keep me going until next spring.  Now hints of pink are taunting me as the foxgloves are about to open.  And the elderflowers are just begining to reveal themselves to the sun and I can’t wait to start picking them for the annual elderflower cordial fest.  We never make enough!  The flowers apparently should be picked in the early morning to ensure that you get the most of the delicate fragance. 

Just in case you’re after the recipe, here it is, thanks to a fellow dogwalker:

24 elderflower heads

2 lemons - zest and juice

1kg granulated sugar

2oz citric acid

2 1/2 pints boiled and cooled water

Put the washed edlerflowers, lemon zest and juice, sugar, citric acid and water into a large bowl.  Stir well and cover.  Leave the mixture for two days, stirring from time to time.  Strain and bottle.

Its really as simple as that.  I do recommend the straining otherwise you can have extra protein in the drink thanks to dead insects!

 

The last of the bluebells - this photo and its memories have to keep me going until next spring!

By the way, I saw a piece in the weekend newspapers about a survey that the Natural History Museum are doing for the third year asking us to monitor and record the bluesbells we find.  We’re really lucky down here that the vast majority of the bluebells we come across on our walks are the English version, not the invasive Spanish type - however, I was shocked to find a small outcrop in our favourite woodlands at Stansted Forest.