Sarah H

Huh and I've been so busy working on a website redesign that I didn't notice the temperature creep up. How lovely!

Walking, running, sitting by my tiny pond peering into it. Watch funny things, reach out to friends for a coffee even if I feel like hiding. Tell myself this will pass. Currently employing all these things.

Hope you arent feeling too rubbish.

Hegseth: "We are only four days into this and the results have been incredible."

- Middle East engulfed in regional war
- 11 countries attacked by Iran
- Oil & gas prices skyrocketing
- Strait of Hormuz now a conflict zone
- Terrorism threat raised across the world
- No sign of Iran regime collapse

While parts of the world blow each other up, getting outside for a chatty hilly 10k run in the Spring sunshine was a good MH break. But my garmin is being rude the past 3 days. Strained indeed. I'm just a bit tired.

#ukrunchat

Series of three tweets by Zoe Gardner taking down Nigel Farage's support of attacks on Iran.

Apologies to @zoejardiniere.bsky.social for crossposting her tweets from the nasty place, but I felt this deserves airtime on bluesky because of how emphatically they prove the nasty, immoral, opportunistic politics of Reform.

If only the clocks changed earlier so we could take more advantage of it all.

In the meantime my daughter is sending photos of her attempt at walking part of the River Soar today.

Reader - she gave up (being in jeans and trainers).

Last long run (18 miles) before my 50km race. It seems that my legs are a bit cooked. 🤣

The canal and River Blackwater were lovely, though the Blackwater makes me sad as its blighted by the A331 for a good way.

#OneSpecialThing - pretty primroses.
And my favourite rude graffiti.

dry reeds from beside water on a bright day.

If you need a distraction...

25 soothing minutes from an estuary landscape in remote Essex with skylarks and dry reeds swaying in the breeze.

Episode 116 - Sissing plantations in open country
> bit.ly/LenCrop

That does sound amazing. It does all feel separate and quite wild.

The kids zooming around roads and tracks on road illegal quads and bikes added to a slight wild west feel.

Hoping to attend this year.

Ive seen them 3 times on the canals. Each time February. Once on the Stratford on Avon canal, once on the Grand Union canal up near Watford Gap services of all places and then this time.

Anyway, after 16 miles today, some not fun, I've now walked between Westminster Abbey and Minister Abbey. Lets hope I get to walk many more (brain catastrophising right now lol)

This turned out to be a Big Mistake. I hadn't spotted the massive sewage plant 600m or so away. 🤮 Yes I'm an idiot. Yes, I'm worrying my head off. I'm on immunosupressants.

The end of the public footpath was barriered with both razor and barbed wire that I had to pull out of the way. Jolly good.

We had spent so long that we were threatened with crossing marshes in encroaching darkness. So we decided to follow a public footpath short cut. After following it we came to a ford. Only there was no bridge. The car was close by and with another potential hours diversion we decided to wade it.

After that it got worse. We wont talk about the mapping issue, or us having to cross the worlds busiest road twice and having to retrace many steps. But we crossed the bridge off the island and back again.

On the outskirts of Minster we stopped for lunch at a cafe then climbed the slidey mud up the cliff to Minster Abbey.

I then realised with horror that my bank card was missing.

I ran back down to the cafe (over the slidey mud). It hadnt been handed in. I cancelled it on the spot.

On the beach near Sheerness we spied the curious sight of a gentleman surrounded by cats feeding them oysters.

He waved so we went down and chatted. He and his cats travel around the UK in his campervan. Whereever he sets up, the cats roam close by to always return.

We made our way through Blue Town, and spied a museum/tea room/cinema. Before we knew it we were being escorted round buthe owner. He regaled us with history and anecdotes and tales of sunken ships. These small community run museums have been a real treasure along the coast.

A loop around the Isle of Sheppey. 16 miles.

Starting in Queenborough, on the island, we were followed the England Coast Path. Since we came through this part of Kent more parts of the path had been added, so we wanted to take a look.

Slightly more adventurous 10k this morning than planned. Mud has obtained the consistency of shoe sucking level. I had to retrieve one that was pulled off. A few trees to hurdle and then a root felled me footballer dive style. Only pride injured. 🤣

4 weeks to my 50k. Egads.

Almost there...

And suprisingly chilly for such a warm Feb day. (we were at Chatham Dockyard)

My first Slow Worm of the year. Found this one in the garden.

#Devon #UKReptiles

Goodness, this author had some foresight!

A children's early reader entitled 'who ate the Trumps for lunch'

A recent find in a second-hand book shop. I look forward to the ending.

I pretend its core strength work in the slidey mud. Dunno if it really is but I can pretend!

Lovely photos.

Its been a brilliant break. Bleak at times granted, but thats the true story of our #UKCanals threading together both beauty and industries, success stories and failures.

Im looking forward to returning to finish the Leeds and Liverpool canal journey.

I made excellent time to Chorley and got the next train to Preston. I was early and tried to change my ticket but Avanti wanted £50+ handling charge just to change the train. So I found myself a nice lunch instead. Avanti, you are having a laugh!

The canal morphed into a leisure way. Canoeists, cyclists, pleasure boats all enjoying the water. It really was very pleasant.