Winter Walks

I have been trying to go for a walk every day but have not managed very well over the holidays-too much sitting around eating and drinking. On New year's day my Mum came for lunch and a couple of games of scrabble with Andy. I don't usually play as I get cross. I would like to like scrabble but don't really-I think I am secretly a bad loser but don't like to admit it. Oh dear. Anyway, after Mum had gone home we decided to go out for a walk. It was twilight when we left and properly dark by the time we came home. It was good though-cold and refreshing These are some local Christmas lights which have come out very blurry-but I like the effect-that is a tree in the middle-the lights look like musical notes don't they?

This house makes me think of a children's book illustration-the whole walk reminded me of a hundred and one dalmations-the old cartoon film version-the twilight barking part.

Walk number two was much shorter-we went to Sheppey planning to walk along the beach. We parked the car, got out and found that the temperature, plus wind chill factor made it ridiculously cold. I had a hat and scarf but Andy didn't. (He only has one scarf-I will tell it's story another time-and he is always losing it) Even with my hat and scarf it was too cold-my eyes were watering so much that I mistook a sanitary towel for a large cuttle fish. That was disgusting thing number one that made us laugh. Number two later. Here is a picture of a more pleasant section of the beach with slipper shell, flint, an oyster shell and some bladderwrack. This does not convey how cold it was. A brave dog was going for a paddle and looked very enthusiastic like only dogs can.

After our walk was cut short we went for a lovely pub meal at a place called Harty Ferry. The highlight of the meal was an absolutely delicious suet treacle pudding. It surpassed all expectations. On the way back down the three mile long lane leading to the pub we encountered some twitchers. They are a strange breed with their extremely expensive looking telescope things and their large vehicles blocking up tiny country lanes. They tend to gather on small hillocks overlooking marshes in the winter. Not sure which species they were looking for -I think maybe birds of prey.

These are not the actual ones-they might have thought I was odd if I had taken a picture of them, while trying to squeeze my car past their rangerovers.

We got to the end of the lane. As I was looking right before I pulled out, I saw a large bird flying across the road-it was a kind of creamy colour. I saw it in my rearview mirror as I was pulling away, managed to turn round really soon, drove back and saw it sitting on a fence post-a beautiful barn owl. I have never seen one and was so excited!

A little further down the road Andy spotted a strange red headed bird rooting around in the grass with a load of other birds. We turned around again for another look-it was a green woodpecker. Another first! I thought it was funny how, just down the road from all the expensively kitted out twitchers, the birds were just throwing themselves in our path. We also saw two hawk type birds we didn't identify. I will just tell you the other disgusting thing-I apologise if you are of a sensitive disposition. As we drove away from the beach we saw some pigeons snacking on some discarded fried chicken (Sheppey is mainly lovely honestly!) I thought it was quite revolting that they are eating another type of bird. It is not as revolting as them eating sick on Oxford street outside-you guessed it-Kentucky Fried Chicken. Yuck. Yuck yuck.