It’s been a while since I last shared a post about a walk, but today Gill and I drove to Thundridge, Hertfordshire (just 40 minutes by car from East London and 2 miles from the railway station in Ware) and enjoyed a beautiful 5.5-mile circular wa…Read more…
View from my seat – High Cup Nick
I came back Saturday from a fortnight holiday in the Pennines walking and sightseeing with Gill. Picture is from a solo “there and back” 8 mile walk along the Pennine way from Dufton to High Cup Nick. A fantastic walk with superb views. Off …Read more…
Campaigning for Labour Candidate Keir Cozens in Great Yarmouth
This Saturday and Sunday, Gill and I were in Great Yarmouth to canvass and leaflet for Keir. The train cost only £45 for the two of us (with railcard) return. We stayed in a cheap & cheerful B&B near Britannia Pier. I have been working off and …Read more…
Capital Ring Walk 3. Grove Park to Crystal Palace
Today Gill and I continued with our journey around London via the Capital Ring walk. We had started off in Woolwich during November and will hopefully finish 78 miles later in Beckton (not in one go!).It took us about 1 hour to get to Grove Park (bus t…Read more…
Happy 61st birthday John!
Many thanks to my wonderful wife Gill for this photo collage birthday card. I cannot believe that I am now well and truly into my 60s!. I am sure that I am only 39 (again).I had to go to court this morning to find out what was happening to a tenant who…Read more…
Little Burstead Loop Walk – Essex Big Skies
Today Gill and I went on our 1st long walk of the New Year and the weather Gods smiled on us. It was about 40 minutes drive from Newham to the car park next to the Dukes Head Pub, Laindon Common, Little Burstead, Basildon. The 5.24 mile…Read more…
Nadolig Llawen
Went for a wonderful Crimbo walk this morning with Gill to work up an appetite for dinner. Nadolig Llawen! Read more…
John at 60
I am amazed at being 60. I still don’t feel at all “old” (whatever that means nowadays) but how on earth did this happen – 60??? I have my London + 60 free travel card and I am also now due to receive a small pension from a past employment, so I w…Read more…
Relaxing Weekend next to Dungeness
After election day (Thursday), the “count” (Friday) and my Councillor surgery (Saturday morning) Gill and I went off for a last minute weekend break. We had not been to this part of the Kent coast before and did not quite realise how close it wa…Read more…
The Heart of Hardy Country
Off message but a week or two ago, Gill and I spent a few days in Dorset and did a fantastic 8 mile walk starting near the cottage that the author, Thomas Hardy, was born and passing the Church grave yard that his heart is buried.
I struggled re…Read more…
Waltham Abbey and the Lee valley walk
Somewhat off message but today Gill and I drove to this 4.5 mile circular route from “Essex Walks” Pathfinder series. It is also very accessible by public transport.
It was a peaceful and relaxing walk mostly next to water but also across fields…Read more…
Wanstead flats babies (and a striking red)
Off message but main photo from Saturday run with Gill (or “very slow jog”) and cute picture of Canadian Geese family alongside Alexandria Lake, in Wanstead flats.
Below is a lovely moth or butterfly, we came across when stretching outside the Golden …Read more…
Queen Elizabeth Park Walk – Sunday 19 April
This picture college is from yesterday when Gill and I went for our daily exercise by walking around Queen Elizabeth Park in Stratford. This is the former Olympic 2012 Park which I think I have not walked around the park for walking sake since 2012!
Before and after: What could possibly go wrong?
Off message but many thanks to Gill for cutting my hair this afternoon with my redundant beard trimmer!
I have always disliked having long hair.
In the scheme of things this is all very unimportant but I thought it may offer folk some light relief.
Little Hallingbury Walk
Off message but Gill and I went on a perfect little walk today around Little Hallingbury, which is near Harlow, courtesy of Essexwalks.com. The bright winter sunshine and blue skies helped make it special.
The start of the walk is in the hamlet of Gas…Read more…
Warwick 5 mile Circular Walk 2019
(Off message) After Labour Local Government Conference in Coventry, Gill and I stayed over and went for a walk on the Sunday around nearby Warwick. A 5 mile flat circular walk courtesy of the AA, starting off at the racecourse. It rained in the mornin…Read more…
Moel Famau Christmas Eve circular walk 2018
I am back in London after spending Christmas with family in beautiful North Wales. On Christmas Eve, Gill and I went for a fantastic 8.3 mile circular walk to the Jubilee Tower at the top of Moel Famau, starting and finishing in Llanbedr village.
The …Read more…
Roding Valley Walk (Newham to Barking)
I can’t believe that it was 8 years ago that Gill and I went for a 3 hour walk along the River Roding way (North) from Wanstead to Roding Valley underground station.
For whatever last minute whim reason, we decided today to go from Newham along the Ro…Read more…
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard 2018
Off message but last month as a birthday treat I went with Gill for a weekend in Portsmouth to visit once again its Historic Navy Dockside. It is well worth a visit if anyone is interested or curious about our naval history.
Many years ago I read all …Read more…
West Ham All Saints Remembrance Service Sunday 11 November 2018
On Sunday I represented the Mayor and Newham Council at the 1918-2018 Remembrance Ceremony at West Ham Parish Church All Saints with Chair of Council Cllr Joy Laguda and our Director of Finance, Michael O’Donnell. With our local MP Lyn Brown, we each l…Read more…