Paper Round

I was thinking of making my foraging trip to Aldi count as my walk today, but photographing the inside of a supermarket is too odd, even for me. Then I was thinking of not walking at all and just sitting outside and getting a little air and enjoying some meditation time. I actually did do that. I took a cup of tea out into my front garden and sat at the end of my drive, leaning against my car. It was quite lovely, and the handful of people who were out for their constitutionals all said ‘hello’ and ‘evenin’’. People seem to be in good spirits, from what I’ve seen on my little travels.

Here is the view from my drive. An escaped piece of Lego. We do own a lot of Lego, but I can’t imagine why a piece would have escaped. Also, it just occurred to me that I forgot about that Lego piece and it’s still there; I need to go and rescue it.

Here is my gate post, the one that Thomas spent some time leaping from the other evening. It is being consumed by some kind of fast-growing shrubbery. I think it’s a buddleia. Apparently, buddleia are very common on waste land, which explains why it’s turned up at my house. 

And up and to the left, we have the telegraph pole where goldfinches like to perch and put on little concerts on fine summer days. I once saw ten goldfinches perched here.

I gave you this the other day, but here it is again so you can remind yourself how lovely they sound: https://www.british-birdsongs.uk/goldfinch/

Well, those few photos put me back in the mood for a little walk. But with my car battery on charge, I’d have to stick to the area round my house. I decided to walk my old paper round. I used to deliver the Citizen, which was a free local newspaper that had to be delivered to every house. This was quite a strenuous job for a 14 year old because that meant hundreds of papers, all to be delivered on the same evening. I think I earned £14 a week for it. I got a bonus when I had to deliver the Argos catalogue as well.

Anyway! Sorry, I’ve been talking to myself all evening, going off on little jaunts in my memory, and I forgot you were still here. 

This was my first memory of the evening — standing at the bus stop in the morning with my friend Catherine Draper, waiting to catch the bus for school. It was 22p for a return. Yes, that is how old I now am.

I did walk my whole paper round this evening, smiling to myself at the doors and letter boxes that haven’t changed in 30 years, cringing at the fact that I have lived on this street for longer than that —35 years, in fact. Hell fire, d’you think it might be time for a change?! 

I didn’t take any photos as I strolled up and down the streets in my neighbourhood, because a) that would be a little creepy and I didn’t want to invade my neighbours’ privacy, and b) it was rather gorgeous just to wander around, noticing things, but not recording. It was a bit meditative, I think. 

I did take this one at the top of the hill, though. This is just a view across the river from a slightly different angle, from the spot where we sometimes stand to watch the fireworks at the castle on Bonfire Night. You can see a glimpse of the ugly blue train bridge through the trees. But in the background is Clougha Pike. My dad tried to take a walk up there the other day, but it’s closed off because of the lockdown right now. Gorgeous place to walk though, and I’ll be trekking up here as soon as I’m allowed again. (Most of you have already seen it, but this is where my brother and I filmed our Christmas video.)

Also, is today’s moon a super one? It’s enormous!

That’s all I have to show you from today. I want to say that I was a street walker this evening, but that has an entirely different meaning. 

I did walk the streets, though, for about an hour, meaning to head for home at the end of each street, but noticing little memories here and there that kept me wandering for a little longer.

I saw this guy close to my house — I’m not the only one who likes being in the middle of the road.

My car battery is almost charged, so I’m going just a little further afield tomorrow.

Until then, chickadees.

WQ