Click on the links below to view the original photographs:

1. Bridleway – January 2021, 2. Bridleway – February 2021, 3. Bridleway – March 2021, 4. Bridleway – April 2021, 5. Bridleway – May 2021, 6. Bridleway – June 2021, 7. Bridleway – July 2021, 8. Bridleway – August 2021, 9. Bridleway – September 2021, 10. Bridleway – October 2021, 11. Bridleway – November 2021, 12. Bridlway – December 2021

With just half a mile to go I made sure I went for a quick walk before an emergency food shopping trip to pick up a missing ingredient for our evening meal with a friend. Before dining we enjoyed playing Wingspan, a board game that I purchased at the beginning of our first lockdown to keep us entertained.

I walked a local route that gave me the opportunity to take a December photograph for my bridleway project, completing two challenges in one walk.

The booking arrangements had changed since my previous visit (four years ago) and the letter with directions was confusing.

I walked through the hospital grounds to find the testing unit in the same place it has always been so I continued my walk, exiting onto the Silkin Way and Apley Woods beyond. I chose the woodland walks rather than walking around the pool.

The woods are so pretty at this time of year.

The alternate dark clouds and sunshine led me to contemplate the feasibility of putting washing out to dry before I went out for a walk. I read a book as I contemplated my decision and was disturbed by an occasional tapping on the window (behind where I was sitting). I eventually turned around to see a sparrow sitting on the window ledge capturing insects with several other sparrows fluttering around the garden. My eye was drawn along our garden path where I noticed two unexpected garden visitors.

The sun came out, perfect weather for the washing line to come out, but I didn’t want to disturb my visitors who seemed to be having a lovely afternoon out. Eventually I set off for an afternoon walk (washing still in the basket). Later whilst sitting on my garden bench as dinner cooked the little one hopped on to my fence from the bridle path beyond. After a few moments he decided he didn’t want to share the garden with me and returned to the bridle path beyond.

PS: sorry for the poor quality of the Partridge photos, they were taken through a window with my iPhone

Today was a scorcher with the temperature reaching 84F as I arrived home after an afternoon four miler.

I walked to Leegomery Pool where I sat and lingered for a while watching the fish just under the surface of the pool. Occasionally as the fish swam a fin emerged above the water level reminding me of Nessie (in Lock Ness). I continued my walk via a long loop to Apley woods where I chose to walk in the woodland rather than the metaled pathways. I sat a while watching the ducks on the duck pool before making my way home along the local bridle pathway.

Much later after I had cooled down I enjoyed ‘Fine Dining’ on the patio with Mr C.