In this second “episode” of A Single Map, I’m taking my dad out for a walk in the woods. We’ve done a lot of walking this year. Headlands, several hillforts, the local thanks-Dr-Beeching trailway, around town and even a couple of fort-less hills. But woods are new. We didn’t really realise there was much in … More A Single Map episode 2: a walk in the woods
Yes, it’s the first post of December and it’s a Christmas-themed one from the bear who hates Christmas! I did a fused glass workshop! I booked it right at the end of October. It was supposed to be on Friday November 6th – yes, the second day of the UK lockdown. On the Saturday night … More My day at a fused glass Christmas workshop
Night Trains by Andrew Martin is a book I’ve ploughed through, determined to see it out. It’s about six journeys on the last of Europe’s sleeper trains, a dying breed due to low profits and operational difficulties of international agreements. It’s got a pretty cover. Train journeys are interesting. So why do I use the … More Travel Library: Night Trains by Andrew Martin
A couple of weeks ago, I read Alastair Humphreys’ post on “a single map is enough for a lifetime of exploration” in which he ordered a custom OS Explorer map of his local area in order to explore his doorstep in greater detail, especially while bigger and further-flung adventures are on hold. I’d already been … More A Single Map episode 1: a walk up a very muddy hill
As a veteran now of three “winter survival camps” with various Rangers and Guides, I’m going to share what I’ve learned. With travel off the table at the moment, maybe you’d like to try a brand new small adventure like camping in your own garden in winter. 1) Minimise time spent camping in winter At … More How to survive camping in winter
Last year I went off to a beautiful spa day in the New Forest for my birthday (and by spa day, I mean that I went in the pools and the showers and the hot rooms; I didn’t have any treatments) and I enjoyed it so much I decided it should be an annual event. … More Staying Home: A spa day
Back in 2015, Girlguiding South West entered a team into the Fastnet Face, a yacht race from the Isle of Wight to the lighthouse at Fastnet Rock and then back to Plymouth and to mark the event, they came up with the Fastnet Challenge badge. The Guides my Rangers are kind of twinned with did … More Keeping busy: the Fastnet Challenge badge
Last year I went to Wareham, hired a rowing boat and rowed up and down the river for an hour. There’s something about rowing. Something of a long-gone world, carefree days with just yourself, a boat and the splash of the oars. Of course, I’m not an experienced or good rower and my carefree hour … More Canoeing is good for the soul
I used to be more active than I’ve been in recent years. I have (had?) a friend who occasionally introduces me as “a keen hillwalker”, which I don’t think was accurate even in my most regular walking days. But I’d realised how inactive I’d become and so in 2019 I signed up to twelve monthly … More My exercise routine: 500km in 2020 challenge
Today I’m taking a break from travel and I’m going to show you how to make a mask. I made a few earlier in the year. There were some experiments that fitted nobody and then I got a shape that fitted me with elastic around my head so I made myself a couple which prompted … More How to make a mask
I Am A Polar Bear 