Impey Walk

On Saturday Mark and I took full advantage of the glorious autumn weather and headed out to Knightshayes for a sit down and rest for him / walk for me and Daisy in the sunshine.

Daisy and I headed to the top car park and walked past the kiddos making dens in the woods to follow the path out through the trees to start our walk.  I love the Impey walk and think it’s a great opportunity for her to be off the lead and sniff around in the ‘proper countryside’ like she used to in Scotland.  I love to see her run free without a care in the world and just go wherever her nose takes her.

This is a super easy walk and we passed a few other people out with dogs and kids, as we started at the top of the hill it was a very easy downhill walk.  Everyone was going the opposite way from us which meant we were only in each other’s company for a little while which fitted in with us perfectly.  Although Daisy is good off the lead, I wouldn’t have let her run quite so free if there was a convoy of people as she’d be very inclined to say hello (read: putting her paws on their knee to signal she wants attention)

Instead of looping back up the hill we walked out the lower entrance and to the tea room where Mark had bagged a lovely spot in the sun to have his black coffee in.  I got some tea and although I did look at the sweet treats, I decided it as it would be just too mean to make Mark watch me nibble cake.

We stayed out for a little while before it started to get a little bit dark (not hard at this time of year!) and whilst Mark headed for the car, I started to walk Daisy down the hill so I could tire her out a bit more before home time.

It was a really lovely way to spend the day, especially as things have been a bit all over the place with Mark being hospitalised so I was full of joy to be out and about having a nice relaxing time.  It’s such a pretty part of the countryside and I always feel more at home being out on a hill and it felt like ages since I’d really been outside and a bit peaceful.  Let’s hope there are plenty more walks and eventually hikes with Mark at my side! 

Celebrating the Seasons

When I was younger my Mum went back to college, university to do an undergraduate course with honours and then onto post grad studying.  When I did these things I was a fun and fearless twenty year old with zero responsibilities or f**** to give.  My Mum was busy; she was a busy single parent/employee/student who had to prioritise what she spent time on.  This meant we didn’t do much of the twee ‘celebrating the seasons’ stuff.

In spite of this (or because of it) I now love doing all of it.  I love autumn, the cosiness, the crisp leaves, and every cliché there is.  I am excited for Halloween and getting to dress up or eat loads of sweets or see kids in cute costumes walk up and down the street telling jokes in exchange for sugar.  And don’t even get me started on the fun that is Bonfire Night.  Although I’ve never had a Guy before, we’ve had our own bonfire parties with baked tatties, fire pits, fireworks and sparklers.  (If your pinterest board is called Falling for Fall or similar, I’m there.)  I'm a sucker for all things Christmas and used to adore the first snow in Scotland.  Quite frankly you can hashtag ‘basic white girl’ after most things I like.  Well, except for Starbucks, I’m a canny Scot after all. 

When we got married I kept thinking, “great I’ll have kids and then instil in them a love of celebrating the seasons.”  But this would take. Way.  Too. Long.  I want to do it now (can you tell I was a pandered to youngest child?).  I was also a respite/foster carer whilst living in Singapore and quickly realised that babies, although utterly adorable (shock, horror, big revelation) mess up your plans. 

I mean, I adored those kiddo’s, loved them like my own and shredded my heart every time I had to give them back.  However, I didn’t do half of the things I planned to do with them.  We made forts in the living room, flew kites at marina barrage, hung out at west coast park, ate ice cream in HDB play parks and splashed around in gardens by the bay – yet we never did any of the pre-planned educational and enriching activities I’d pinned on pinterest.  (go figure?)

So I decided I would just give myself all of those lovely seasonal things / take a greater interest in the Slow Movement / become more mindful myself and do these lovely things just because I felt like it.

With the change in seasons now veritable I have a list of everything I want to do before autumn stops being clear, clean and crisp and turns to soggy, boggy and foggy.  So far I want to: 

• Go to Knightshayes for Cinema Stock
• Make caramel apples
• Try a new pumpkin recipe
• Pick a pumpkin and carve it
• Go in a corn maze at Darts Farm