A lost glove in the snow

Originally uploaded by dog walker2008

A couple of weeks ago we did the Lock’s Ash walk… Lo and behold the glove is still there – looking weathered and faded – but still on the post by the stile.

Some “lost” items seem to hang around forever while others disappear quite quickly. There’s a scarf which I should take a photo of that’s been slowing moving up the Lime Walk at Stansted – who moves it and why? Another “lost” glove moved around for six months and has now disappeared – where to?

This is what I love about all things “lost” – you speculate about the owners, how the item got there in the first place and then why does it vanish. Of course these questions never get answered and in reality, who cares?

Walking the dogs this morning at Stansted I was amazed to see how much I missed during the dark winter morning walks – not surprising as its before the sun has risen. 

I’ve always been impressed by the way the estate is run.  The chestnut and hazel are regularly coppiced but I’m not sure how long they’re left to grow as they haven’t cut the same patch twice in the 10 years that I’ve been walking up there. 

There are small notices explaining what they’re doing, the damage caused by the squirrels, warning you when they’re culling squirrels and deer as well as providing more information about indigenous trees. 

Quite rightly the estate manager gets cross with us when we create new unofficial paths – it never ceases to amaze me how determined people are to use these routes even when the estate try to block them off – people will always find a away around.

Oh… and we’re just  beginning to see the dawn at the end of the walk.  By the beginning of next month we’ll start to see that the grass is green!  Then the morning walk becomes much more interesting…. we start to see the larch budding up, the occasional primrose and the deer.

When was the last time we had such enduring cold weather?  Even at midday today the temperature was below freezing.  According to Metcheck its set to continue through the weekend…. but then the rain returns.

Certainly the clear skies has meant that the morning walks, before the sun has risen, have been “bitterly” cold.  What I love about this cold,dry, sunny weather is that you don’t have to clean the dogs when you get back home – what a pleasure!  And the ground is so hard but I wish it was light enough for me to enjoy the frost.

Going back to the original question, I’ve been reminiscing about the January 1982 and boy was it cold then – I remember going to sleep with hat and gloves on, and a glass of water freezing on the window sill… life is much more cushy and warmer now!

Happy New Year!

Yesterday was perfect winter walking weather with clear blue skies and a coldness which ensured that we started off at a brisk pace.  We set off from the Red Lion at Chalton, joined the Staunton Way to Finchdean,  before going under the railway line to the ridge above Idsworth House and heading back to Chalton.  Christmas cake and a coffee helped sustain us along the way.

On a day like yesterday, the views across the South Downs towards Uppark, Ditcham Park and south to the Isle of Wight reminded me why we live in this part of the world.

It’s interesting how walking with friends can change the perspective of a walk, even if its one that you’ve done regularly - their observations, curiosity and commentary make you think about sights in a different way.  Even having another dog in the pack changes the dynamics, sniffing different scents, running off to inspect different landmarks and finding smells to roll in. 

In some respects its like doing a walk back to front, going clockwise instead of anti… suddenly you notice trees from a different perspective, see paths that you haven’t noticed before and at a junction you have to think carefully which route to take. 

Talking about walking clockwise or anticlockwise – why do I prefer to go clockwise?  Is it because I’m left handed and naturally turn left as opposed to right?  Answers gratefully received!

This is what I love about walking – thanks to the seasons and Man’s involvement (felling trees and coppicing) the views from a walk are constantly changing, and each time you observe something different or see a vista from a new perspective.  But most of all are the little treats which Nature throws your way – today’s were a barn owl swooping down across our path as well as the fantastically abstract patterns created by Jack Frost.

Lost – woolly hat

Originally uploaded by dog walker2008

With the colder weather comes a greater number of lost items spotted on walks. Interestingly enough, well, it may not be of interest to you, I haven’t found as many pieces of flotsum and jetsum so far this winter. Is it because of the colder weather and therefore people aren’t taking off their gloves, hats or scarves? Or are people becoming more careful with their property? Only the next few months will tell.

I was explaining this obsession of photographing “lost” to someone the other day. The response was I expected – this is a strange habit, but every piece has a story to tell and your imagination can run riot as to why someone lost their woolly at Bignor Hill. Or why did a little dog lose his or her collar at Stoughton? Its all just paws for thought!

The South Downs on a late winter’s day

Originally uploaded by dog walker2008

This last month has given us some great walks with cold crispy days and the South Downs have been at their best. Since I last blogged, I’ve been very aware that autumn has given away to winter. The early morning frosts have been fantastic, even this close to the coast. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to capture the wonderfully abstract patterns made by frost on camera – but the camera can’t always do justice to nature.

I’ve curious as to why the dogs are so much more lively on days like these – do they need to move around more to get warm? And the big dog winds himself up into a real lather, doing “spinneys” around the little one, who finds the whole performance decidedly irritating.

We’ve just come back from 2 weeks away and I still haven’t walked the dogs….  its been quite a while since I’ve been so long away from nature and I feel so out of touch with the weather.  I feel as though the autumn has passed me by as the last time I was out the leaves were still on the trees and now they’re looking stark against the landscape.  I’ve lost track of how muddy the paths are, how dark it is in the mornings when I take the dogs out for their first walk and I have no idea what time it gets dark at night…. 

In other words I need my walking fix and it better be sooner rather than later!  Knowing my luck it’ll be raining when we go out tomorrow morning - it’ll be good to feel the rain against my face, but I would rather give drying off the dogs a miss!

The Cairn and the arrow

Originally uploaded by dog walker2008

Much to the Husband’s horror, the cairn has evolved. A few weeks ago he went up to the add to his piece of public art, only to discover that someone had used the flints to create another piece of art. As you can see from the photo, a perfectly shaped arrow had been formed next to it.

A great debate ensued…. did people have the right to take his cairn apart to create another object?

He’s now completely lost heart as the cairn has been knocked down a couple of times while the arrow remains in pristine condition.

I’ve just realised that its been 3 months since I last blogged.  The funny thing is that I’ve thought of lots of things to say while walking but for some reason I haven’t put fingers to keyboard. 

The autumn is well and truly here with the leaves turning to brilliant shades of brown, bronze, copper, yellow and reds.  Unfortunately the rain in recent days is ruining the spectacular colours we’ve been seeing on the Downs.

The morning walks are now in the dark… next week we’ll get a short reprieve when the clocks go back, but then the torch will be on.  I must get the big dog his flashing collar so I know where he is.  And for the next few months we’ll be lucky if the small one accompanies as he’s become a fair weather walker – as he’s in golden days, we can forgive him!

One of the pleasures of the great outdoors is wild food, grown in hedgerows, in the woods and open fields.  It provides a great snack while you’re exercising the dogs.  Earlier this year, wild garlic grew in abundance in some of thee woodlands nearby – I discovered that the leaves made a great topping to pizzas, mixed with hot new potatoes and added to salads to give it some punch.

Then came the elderflowers which I picked to make cordial.  I was tempted to try elderflower champagne which doesn’t even need yeast to get it going, however, watching Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall make it on telly, I realised that I didn’t have a decent sized cool place for the brew to get on with its business.  As ever the cordial hasn’t lasted… it got drunk all too quickly except for one small bottle hidden at the back of the fridge.  With relish I opened it last week only to have a minor volcanic explosion go off next to me - it was turning into alcohol and let off an  blast of gas!

I’ve nibbled a few wild strawberries but I’m always wary of them because of their proximity to the ground and there’s always a fair chance that a dog has left his mark on them.

I’ve discovered a walk with the most fantastic wild raspberries growing on the side of a path – they’re not small things either, great bushes of plants and it feels so decedent stopping on a path and eating them by the handful.  The only snag is that we have to share our booty with the dogs, they love them, especially the Little One.

Talking of decadence…. I’ve finally managed to beat the birds to the cherries.  They’re not big and juicy like the cultivated ones from the Med, but there’s something wonderful about eating wild ones.

Next on the wild menu are blackberries, which I’ve picked en masse for blackberry and apple jam as well as the usual crumbles.   

 And any ideas for making something with elderberries – if I can beat the birds to them.  If I’m brave enough I’ll also have a go at mushrooms but I’m always worrying that I’ve picked the wrong types.

Oh, I’ve just found a great little book which I shall add to my wish list – Richard Mabey’s Food for Free.