A Guinness World Record Holder!

Well, I'm only one of some 37966 people to whom this accolade applies!

My contemporaneous report is here.

Thursday 31 December 2020 - A Snow Day

It was a delight to discover that Alan and Sheila enjoyed making some of Granny Banfield's Fudge today. It was snowy outside, and both Sue and I took advantage by going for a walk, Sue to escape from 'Vaccine Issues', and me for a short break whilst both lasagne and chardonnay chicken were on the stove. We now have stocks of both those and of Sue's moussaka.

With the aid of a broom, the snow was soon cleared sufficiently for the birds to access their food - much appreciated by our robins and blackbirds.

A walk in the ongoing effort to break in my Scarpa Delta GTX boots saw me on my 5 km (not)parkrun route through De Quincey Park, during my cooking break. (The ankle rub has almost vanished - the boots are getting there - they are identical to their predecessors - bought from Alpenstock Josie before she retired - that have covered nearly 3000 km over the past four years and still don't leak at all.)

Dog walkers, and small children with sledges, were enjoying the snow in the recreation grounds near Navigation Road.

The canal towpath was fairly busy with family groups and couples, larger groups having been prohibited from today onwards. So Lockdown continues into 2021. I'll start a new photo folder tomorrow, the 'Lockdown 2020' folder is overflowing despite only having been used for Lockdown specific images. 536 of them.

Our road is a bit of a mess, but after yesterday's burst water main the water is back on, the flood has subsided, and the big hole has been filled in  - just a bit of tarmac is needed.

So that was 2020.

Our very best wishes go to everyone for 2021, though it starts much the same as Lockdown 2020 back in March. Friday walks for six people aren't now allowed so I'll be hoping for a gentle stroll with Graeme every now and then for the time being.

Lockdown Continues

This posting is basically just a few pictures for the archives, so feel free to skip it. 

Sue and I know increasing numbers of people who are having to self-isolate, whether or not they have tested positive for Covid. It seems like 'ten days in your bedroom coming to you soon'. So, nine months after this all kicked off, the emergency services are more stretched than ever and people are still dying by the thousand. So we are mainly staying in and not mixing, except on 'social media'. It's rather trying, but we are currently 'The Lucky Ones'.

I put out meal worms and peanuts several times a day, and capture the recipients on camera through the kitchen window. Here's one of them.

We had a dusting of snow last night, as you can see from the header picture. The towpath was slushy, but it remained cold all day and the risk of black ice tonight means I won't be going anywhere soon.

Another recent view from the kitchen window had me wondering what these guys were up to?

Meanwhile, Boxing Day was an opportunity for Jessica to spend some of her Christmas money, mainly on various forms of stationery. It took her some time to count up all her pens during one of our 'zoom' calls. About 65, I think. But she went shopping again today and may now have over 100 pens, crayons, etc. I remember her mum being like that with shoes.

Mike and Sarah's daughter Isabella is now three months old, and paying a bit more attention to things when she's not either asleep (she sleeps through the night with minimal disturbance) or feeding. She doesn't need 100 pens. Yet!

Here's St Pauls, in Sale, that I pass by without really noticing every time I visit Daz's wonderful fish emporium.

Today I walked my daily (not)parkrun, taking the 'wet' route that doesn't go through De Quincey Park. It follows Bagueley Brook alongside the park, then Sinderland Brook after the junction with Timperley Brook. I was glad to be wearing boots through this 'wet' section of path next to Sinderland Brook. I think I'll be running the dry (but not today) route through the park for a few weeks to come, unless there's a hard frost to firm up the ground.

By now (3 pm), further along my route, the towpath had cleared, the veneer of ice on the canal had disappeared, and Kynnita and another boat were slowly making their way towards Sale.

That's enough for today. Stay safe, everyone.

Some Christmas Photos

Fletcher Moss Park

The Bridgewater Canal at dawn in Timperley

Christmas morning present opening

Christmas dinner in Timperley

Where am I Now?

I haven't time to log all the Christmas quiz pictures today, so here's another random effort, from 25 September 2005. It's obviously the Peak District, but can anyone remind me as to which dale we were looking into?

Another Stroll to Dunham Massey and back

This is another 'repeat report' cataloging yet another stroll beside the canal to Dunham Massey and back, a 13 km walk taking about two and a half hours.

Beyond Seamons Moss Bridge the towpath gets very muddy at this time of year. It's a shame that the proper re-surfacing of the Bridgewater Way route seems to be on hold. I can't find evidence of a 'Plan'; perhaps it's a secret.

We passed a large barge moored not far from Dunham Massey. The picture shows raindrops in the water, but it didn't really rain until we got back to Timperley, from where Richard and Jenny had a wet ride home, and I had a wet visit to the empty Spar shop.

As usual, we left the towpath by the Swan with Two Nicks. Closed at the time, so we used one of their picnic tables for a coffee and cake break.

The red deer we saw recently still adorn the entrance to Dunham Massey Hall.

And the towpath in Dunham seemed to be even more muddy on the return journey.

Near Altrincham, the extensive grounds of the Linotype Works are now filling up with new housing. I wonder what will happen to the main building and the tower?

We were home with bragging rights to show off to about twenty other 'Sunday Christmas Walkers' when we signed in to our traditional Christmas quiz, which sadly this year couldn't take place in the cosy confines of the Crispin Inn in Great Longstone. A variety of kitchen/living room/study, etc venues had to suffice for this. However, the pictures were appreciated, and will form the basis of my next posting.

Another Saturday Morning at the Park

Another day, another (not)parkrun, my 181st daily 5 km saunter. That was before breakfast. Then Annie joined us on Zoom to take part in the 40th and final parkrun quiz hosted on Saturday mornings by Vassos Alexander. We are sad to see that Covid has sapped the energy of parkrun to this extent, but it does mean that in future we will get a bit more of a lie in before tootling around our 5 km course from home, then cycling down to the park to chat - socially distanced of course - with a few like minded souls.

The cafe staff who have appreciated our takeaway business during 2020 were very kind and handed out goodie bags with a scone and a mince pie to all the regulars. Brilliant.

Today was the traditional 'dress for Christmas' day, so I cycled down in my tree garb, which pleased everyone, including Isabella, who turned up with Mike and Sarah. Apparently Isabella likes green things, so I was popular for a while, and took my turn in pushing the pram.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

Tuesday 15 and Friday 18 December 2020 - Two Trips to Shutlingsloe

It's our tradition to enjoy an evening walk up Shutlingsloe, 'The Matterhorn of Cheshire', shortly before Christmas. As we aren't supposed to move around in large groups these days, six of us went up on Tuesday, and five on Friday. It was a warm evening for both trips, if breezy on top. Tuesday's walk was enjoyed by Sue, Al, Andrew, Diana, Joe and me.

The cloud level hovered over the summit, making it all a bit 'atmospheric', especially when the singing started!

Someone kindly provided mulled wine and goodies, then we went back down to Trentabank, using torches that weren't necessary on the ascent, to avoid stumbling.

The lights over Greater Manchester were impressive, even if my crappy photo suggests otherwise.

On Friday's excursion I was joined by Richard, who took this selfie on the summit.

Graham, Gwynedd and Claire also came along, hampered slightly by Gwynedd's forgetting to bring a torch, which on this evening we used for the ascent as well as the descent. We half expected my nephew Toby to turn up, but he must have been distracted by new fatherhood duties. ('Hello Toby'.)

My summit pictures were all blurred. Apologies for that.

Unlike on Tuesday, there was no evidence of anyone else on the hill on this evening, but there was a bit of drizzle on the ascent, albeit the view over Manchester was clearer this time.

Due to Covid, we missed our usual beers at the nearby Leather's Smithy and went straight home on both evenings, on Tuesday abandoning the car park to some disco ravers, and on Friday - in my case - after a few laps of the car park. Oops!

I haven't gone into more detail, as I've written about various trips to Shutlingsloe, many times before.

Hopefully, those who survive until next December will be able to enjoy a Covid free walk, preceded by a pub meal and followed by some welcome beers.