Covid-19 Guided Walk for One. Number 4: West Park, Wolverhampton
Bertie: “‘ere, Bobby. Tim, our Technical Director, says we can have this weekend off. He says he wants to show you that you are not the only one who can go out for a walk and take lots of photographs! Apparently there are green spaces even in somewhere they call the Black Country.”
Number 4: West Park, Wolverhampton.
For those who are not aware, my wife (Tracey) and I live a nomadic life on a narrow boat. Well, almost. The nomadic life has been temporarily suspended due to Coronavirus, so the last 9 weeks have been spent in Wolverhampton. We do like it here. We are especially grateful to Aldi as, since we were last here, they have built a new store 5 minutes down the road from where we are moored (sorry, Bobby, no Waitrose round here!). However, we are beginning to get itchy feet now – normally we only stay in one place for up to a fortnight and then move on to explore somewhere else. (more…)
We Saved the Moondaisies!
We Saved the Moondaisies.
“We” being all those people who contacted Surrey County Council Highways to express their dismay at the destruction of the wildflower verges on main roads last year. Individuals, local council officers and not forgetting Plantlife UK, whose roadside verge campaign has created a national impetus to stop needless mowing in May. A few weeks ago, we were further encouraged by national headlines that the sound of council mowers would be replaced by birdsong. Local authorities would be so distracted by Covid-19 that mowing was off the agenda. (more…)
The Story of Eamonn’s New Scarf
Eamonn’s New Scarf
Oh how we miss the Priory Road café, North Cheam, before Sutton United home games.
Bertie: “Bobby. We have been stuck at home for weeks now, but you seem quite happy. If someone asked you ‘where would you rather be today, anywhere in the world’, what would you say?” (more…)
A Letter to Myself
A Letter to Myself
These words are from Bobby. To himself. I was a helpless observer.
Transcript at the foot of the story for those struggling with Bobby’s writing. Remembering that Bobby was still a nervous wreck when he wrote this in 2013.
Covid-19 Guided Walk for One. Number 3: The Bluebell Walk
Number 3: The Bluebell Walk
Bertie: “Cor, I dunno! First of all he tells us he hated Holmwood Common. Then out of the blue (literally), he discovers he loves it. Writes a whole blog on it, that lots of people liked. Then he comes home and declares “That’s bleedin it. I‘m not going over there again for a while!”
It seems that the fine weather, the closeness of the common to local villages and the outskirts of Dorking had made it very popular during the Covid-19 crisis. The peace and beauty of the circular trail featured in Part 2 by the story had been ruined by too many cyclists and runners oblivious to the rules on social distancing or indeed common decency. Dogs seemed to be everywhere. But you know him. Here was an opportunity to walk a bit further in the opposite direction. Back to his favourite countryside in the Surrey Hills. This time to the hill country leading to Leith Hill and its famous tower. And the bluebell walk. Walking to the Landslip Car Park featured in Frank’s Walk. (more…)
Two Hundred – Yes this the 200th story posted by Mindfully Bertie!
Two Hundred.
To celebrate, we have a short story for you. The Teddy Bears’ Picnic was due to be held on 8 May. As in previous years, we had been asked to write a story for the programme. By the time we did, the picnic was cancelled. Instead, they have a virtual Teddy Bears’ Picnic on Facebook and the story appears on that. You may also like to see the last time the Picnic appeared in Mindfully Bertie in 2018. A glorious day for the picnic…
And as you know, the VE Day street party was also cancelled and took place instead in the front garden of Laurel Cottage. It was in effect a Teddy Bears’ Picnic!
VE Day. 8 May 2020. The 75th Anniversary.
VE Day.
The famous ’V’ sign so often attributable to Winston Churchill did in fact originate in occupied Belgium as a sign of defiance against the invaders. It was banned by the Germans, but still appeared everywhere you could scribble a V. (more…)
The Rolls-Royce of Honey
The Rolls-Royce of Honey
Luxury cars may not be your priority at the moment, but where are they made? Rolls-Royce Motor Cars are made at Goodwood, in a futuristic assembly plant surrounded by a large countryside estate. Andrew would like to tell you a little known fact about Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Over to you Andrew. (more…)
Goodbye Montana.
Goodbye Montana
We came to live in Laurel Cottage in 1999. Diddley already lived here. The house looked very different then.
Laurel Cottage left. Vitae Cottage right. 1998.
Mattock Mike
The Charitable Paths of Holmwood
This week we are delighted to hand over our mid week blog to Mike next door. He may be the same age as Bobby, but has ten times his energy! A mattock is his chosen weapon. But first, a hefty sledgehammer. And all to raise money for his charity. St Catherine’s Hospice in Crawley. Over to you Mike… (more…)