Linda Potter

Day 31

Friday 31st Oct And so we come to the end of my month of activity for Greenpeace. I achieved my targets, both in activity completed and in money raised.  If you know of anyone else who would like to donate, please mention it as Greenpeace are always needing to raise cash, whether it's to fight off legal action from giants like Shell, who are determined to close Greenpeace activities down, or to keep their fantastic campaigns going.  I was very surprised in the end how difficult it was to keep up the correct level of activity on a daily basis as I had committed to.  Turns out a whole month is just a long time and I live a busy life!!! Do spend some time admiring some of the photos in the gallery. They do have titles explaining what they are but I think you have to click on to see them. Share

Day 30

Friday 31st Oct Had an amazing day walking round Kedleston and then seeing the Helios sculpture and the Divali decorations. See my gallery. Share

Day 29

Friday 31st Oct Had an easy day with minimal effort today. Needed it as hips definitely giving me gip!!  Made a very tasty broccoli and cheddar soup, so well worth being a bit hors de combat!! Share

Day 28

Friday 31st Oct Today we were out as usual on the dog walk. This time with the two dogs again.  Though the collie in the picture is not the second dog, rather a friend who came to play. Beautiful dog, was very tempted to steal it, but owner seemed rather reluctant to part with it! Unlike last week when the owner of the lost lurcher we were looking after for a few minutes before she arrived out of puff looking for him, offered that we could just take him!! Joking of course! Share

Day 27

Friday 31st Oct Another long journey home from Wales. Definitely as exhausting as walking 10 miles!! Lots of eating and drinking (tea/coffee) en route kept us semi sane!! Share

Day 26

Friday 31st Oct Today was a fun day walking around Laugharne and visiting the castle and doing Halloweeny things. Actually got in some distance today even with 5 year old who proved to be perfectly capable of walking a couple of miles or more! Share

Day 25

Friday 31st Oct Today was a long day driving to S Wales but we did manage a short walk and sometime bouncing around the hot tub plus 5 year old. I think looking after a 5 year old counts as other' on the activity app.  It's certainly exhausting that's fro sure! Share

Day 24

Friday 24th Oct Today walking has been exercising and shopping?  So 1mile average! Share

Day 23

Thursday 23rd Oct Went up to the High Peak visiting today. Before I went I did my first exercise regime since Saturday.  Had to keep it gentle but it needed to be my mile today.  Dogs galore up there! Share

Day 22

Thursday 23rd Oct Was doing better today but seemed very busy so minimal walking. Did take granddaughter out which must count for using up a lot of energy!!  Would have put a picture of her but don't want any internet trolls stealing it so cake instead! Share

Day 21

Thursday 23rd Oct I seem to be lagging behind on my entries. Amazing how hard it is to religiously do something just for one month!  Today I did the Bonnie dog walk. However towards the end, even though I kept a slow pace, my aches and pains from the over zealous exercise regime on Saturday reasserted themselves and I ended up in bed as I had to lie, sitting being a non starter!  I did keep doing things, didn't doss about!  I have uploaded a picture of my doggie as I don't want her to miss out on the blog although she is no longer with us. Share

Day 20

Monday 20th Oct So today I am still trying to shake off the aches of an overenthusiastic attempt at exercising on saturday!  I did manage something over 2 miles of walking in the Hope Valley - along the road to the café.  However it was the bird café with very old friends (actually they are no older than me, but boy do we go back a long way!!) So we saw a lovely nut hatch, coal tits, chaffinch, a young green finch, blue tits of course etc. It was a lovely watch through the windows where the bird feeders and the tree canopy is up at the height of the café windows.  Below the busy river. We also managed to walk there and back between heavy down pours so didn't even get wet!! Share

Day 17

Friday 17th Oct Anyone who does /duolingo will recognise the phrase Streak Freeze! Unfortunately that's what I had to do today. Travelled down South and then somehow failed to make sure we got out for half an hour! Pathetic!!  Sorry my good and trusty followers I have let you down today. Will try to ensure this is the only freeze I have!  Pic is of cat we are visiting. Apparently I am supposed to believe this is her being thrilled to see us!! Share

Day 16

Thursday 16th Oct Today we got the broken bike back from the menders! This meant we could do a bike ride and really up the mileage!  Did 11 miles on a pretty flat path, still found it quite a challenge. No doubt not as fit as I would like!  We had a bit of fun and as you will see in the gallery we had the company of chickens when we stopped to read a notice board. Btw forgot to say I was watching a red kite fly over the garden yesterday when typing up this blog!  Still lots great nature appearing. Share

Day 15

Wednesday 15th Oct I had a message today from Greenpeace to say I had reached my target 31 miles, however as you all know I have had to increase that target or be called a woos!  Today I was working so forced myself out to walk my 1m.  I did 1.61km which turned out to be a mile exactly according to my convertor!  I walked to the pharmacy and the Coop!!  But it did make me take notice of everything I was passing to get some photos. Very 'mindful' This apple tree sums up the endless harvest this year!  Btw can't remember if I have said but I think if you click on any photo in the gallery you get to see the title, which often explains what it is doing there!  Share

Day 14

Tuesday 14th Oct Easier to get my mileage in today as it is doggy walking day.  Just Bonnie this week. She so loves her walk with us. She gets so over excited when we call to get her jumping up to head level from a standing start. Today she got a great run with a golden retriever we knew who we came across on the walk. Our dog walk is always rounded off with coffee at the local Costa. Free coffee today. What more can you ask for. Lovely dog, lovely weather, autumn colours, good walk and free coffee!! Share

Day 13

Tuesday 14th Oct I seem to keep missing an upload day and having to do two together.  For some reason today was a very slow day and I barely got out at all.  So not much to report though I did do a complete exercise regime, so wasn't sedentary plus choir in the evening which is extremely demanding and tiring!! I have uploaded the picture of the Greenpeace shirt in close up today. My favourite place in nature. I defy you all to pick one! I can't!! Share

Day 12

Sunday 12th Oct Today was a very different day. A labour of love to get my mile in after a long journey back from Suffolk. I went out and walked round the local footpaths in the balmy autumn sunshine.  Long shadows of low sun. Share

Day 11

Sunday 12th Oct Today the walk was around Sutton Hoo. Magnificent. Loved seeing the reproductions of the treasures found there. See the film 'The Dig' to get a non factual though fun view of the discoveries.  Obviously the area is a mass of barrow style tombs including the ship burial and also one of a horse and his 25 year old rider.  Most were robbed in the 16th century but the main one and the horse one were not. It's interesting to think that although these burials were so long ago this is not a 'natural' area, but then it is difficult to find any really untouched by the hand of man nature! Share

Day 10

Friday 10th Oct Today we walked round RSPB Minsmere and saw a few amazing things including Avocets. We had the privilege of being here to see an unusual visitor who seems to have blown up on our shores but should be in Africa. A Turkistan, red tailed shrike!  Many twitchers driven half way round the country to see it! Not an environmentally friendly plan!!  As I don't have a huge zoom lens you can barely see the bird, but it is there.  See gallery for other pictures of the area Share

Day 9

Friday 10th Oct A lovely day walking round Southwold and looking at the wonderful traditional pier. Walked to the ferry. Row boat takes across to Walberswick, then walked up side of inlet to the pedestrian bridge and crossed back to Southwold to visit an award winning fish and chip shop frying fresh fish! Amazing.  Have uploaded an indication of the flood level of 1953. worrying thought that that was before we tipped into the current climate change level of problems! Share

Day 8

Wednesday 8th Oct Today my minimum of a mile had to be squeezed into a long journey to Suffolk. The walk was spent visiting Ickworth House and gardens. Quickly managed a mile and a half just wandering around. Brilliant. During the war a wood had to be literally exploded to make way for crops.  The shattered stumps have been located into a brilliant grove and are really stunning. More in the gallery! Share

Day 7

Wednesday 8th Oct Today was a double dog walk. We had two dogs we take out from time to time. Bonnie the lab and Kaia the Cocker Spaniel.  They have met before but are not from the same family.  Great fun having them together. Kaia is a nutter and Bonnie spends a lot of time  feeling responsible for her and watching where she is to make sure she's not got lost.  Saves us the anxiety anyway. Good way of getting in our walking!  Also uploaded some great funghi pics below. Share

Day 6

Monday 6th Oct Had a very good reason to walk today. Walking a dog. Kaia, typically mad cocker spaniel, and yes that is a picture of me holding onto her ears!!  I have a more sedate one as well in the gallery. I walked 3 miles so I would guess she ran 10!  Not that she is remotely tired and is just bringing toys for us to throw! Another beautiful day in paradise. Share

Day 5

Monday 6th Oct 2.4miles today. Walk was a bit pavement based today as I had to check out the windows of the local charity shops to see if anyone had any Harry Potter stuff left after the Wizarding weekend in Wirksworth.  Need it for next year!  Sadly not. However still got into Nature as well. Cooked my sloes from yesterday into jam this afternoon. I was sent the most amazing photos today by my friend from the High Peak of a Barn Owl and a Little Owl.   Have uploaded to my  gallery for you. Share

Day 4

Sunday 5th Oct Set out in the rain today. Wasn't expecting it to clear up but it did and having not long got back the sun is blazing in on me as I type!  Did a circuit that allowed me to go back properly equipped to things I spotted on previous walks. Picture is collecting sweet chestnuts.  These were a replacement for a few I collected the day before but brilliantly exploded in the oven, when I forgot to put a cut in the shells before roasting!  Pretty big mess!  I also collected sloes for, no not sloe gin, that's too bitter, I'm going to make sloe and apple jam!!  Using the sloes, the apples from next door and British sugar!  Did you know silver spoon is from Sugar Beet and British whilst Tate and Lyle is Sugar Cane and imported? So am having a great time foraging as part of my walking for nature!  Mind you the spikes on the Blackthorn and the prickles on the sweet chestnut shells certainly ensure that nature's bounty is not easily given up! Share

Day 3

Friday 3rd Oct So day 3 is done with just one mile completed! (Poor do I hear you all shout!) True but the forecast is dire so didn't want to commit to too much today. So the pic is today including my Greenpeace for nature tee shirt, which may recur!!!  I have decided to upload lovely pictures to my gallery which wont always be mine, (though always sent by friends) Just for the beauty! Share

Day 2

Friday 3rd Oct Today I completed 2.9miles so double yesterdays efforts.  However I have decided not to double the target daily as my calculator tells me that after 7 days I would have to walk 96 miles!! I will let you do the maths to work out what that would be at the end of 31 days, but grains of rice and chess boards come to mind!  I also burnt 340 calories today and yesterday combined!! So I think the millionaire's shortbread, which my remade shortbread turned into may have undone all the good there!  Share

Day 1

Wednesday 1st Oct Knowing that my sponsors are predominately walkers I realised I could not get away with a simple mile a day, so have set myself a target of 1mile a day minimum plus the same again in hikes/bike rides in October. Today I have a bad back and had work (yes paid work) to do, so went for the minimum hike round Duffield which turned out to be 1.58m. I know this as I also downloaded an app to measure what I did!  No cheating now then.  I stopped at the Ecclesbourne river to look for Kingfishers and salmon, neither available, though it appears there is a mink around that area at the moment! I am now bracing myself to remake the shortbread I baked to a cinder earlier, having forgotten it was in the oven whilst I went next door to enquire after my 104 year old neighbour!  I will update with more merriment tomorrow! Share

Here’s me looking at you!

Friday 12th Sep So here I am walking and biking for Greenpeace. You know me can’t resist getting out there and doing something so let’s go! Get that sponsor finger out and give me the support. 😇 Share