Thursday is the day I volunteer in a local school, helping children with their reading. I walk to and from the school and today I chose to walk home the long way round.

Back home I tried on a new dress I had ordered for my upcoming holiday in Cornwall, then chilled and read a book until it was time for ‘fine dining’ on the patio. The smoked salmon and horseradish fishcakes were delicious.

I was volunteering at Attingham Park, no chance of walking whilst scanning in visitors to the park. Later we visited family, so only a short walk today.

But beauty can be found on the doorstep.

The weather was looking favourable so Mr C decided today was the day to visit Harlech Castle which had been on his ‘To Do’ list for some time. Before set off he prepared some brisket and vegetables and put them in the slow cooker to bubble away whilst we were on our travels.

Along the way we stopped for lunch at the Bluebell Park Café where our choice of food was freshly prepared for us. We arrived in Harlech to glorious sunshine, perfect weather for exploring a castle.

Before heading home we had cake looking over the spectacular view of the Snowdonia peaks. We were accompanied by sparrows hopping on the table to pick up stray crumbs. One cheeky little Chappy thought he might do a duck and dive for my cake, even when I picked the plate off the table and held it closer to me. When I finally put the plate back on the table he returned, grabbed the largest crumb and flew off with it.

Photo taken by Mr C

Photo taken by Mr C

Photo taken by Mr C

Not many miles today but whilst we were out and about we had lunch in Ironbridge.

I ordered a croissant with scrambled egg and smoked salmon. When it arrived it turned out to be a mini meal.

One of the challenges in the Mega Miles group is to walk the rainbow. I decided to use my Thursday walk back from my school volunteering to see if I could find all the rainbow colours.

The rain had stopped but I wasn’t sure for how long. I decided to walk the direct route home having seen some suitable opportunities on my walk to the school.

As I stopped to take the first photo someone came up behind me and tapped me on the back, startling me a little.

Although I was quite a distance from the school I turned  my head to see one of the children who I help with their reading. She was shortly followed by two adults who asked me if everything was alright. I explained I was taking a photograph of the sign as part of a rainbow colour photo challenge, which must have sounded a little odd.

We parted ways but not before the pupil helpfully pointed out several rainbow opportunity photos.

Over the past two days I have been busy with my walk leader volunteering role at Attingham Park.

On the first day, along with other volunteers and the manager of the walk program, we recce’d a new walking route that focuses on the river. Then in the afternoon it was my usual Tuesday afternoon shift greeting and scanning visitors cards as they arrived at Attingham Park.

On the second day I was one of the walk leaders on a social walk through the deer park. It was a lovely walk and we were privileged to see the deer in two different places along our walk.

I didn’t have the opportunity to take photos so I share some photos taken when I was walking these paths last year.

I started the day breakfasting with friends in my local Weatherspoon’s, a perfect start to the day.

After breakfast we did our weekly food shop and upon returning home I found a squishy envelope had been delivered. I opened it to find the Mega Miles T Shirt.

This was perfect timing for my planned photo shoot showing me with a local landmark in the background. A mini challenge within the walking challenge was to take a Selfie with a local landmark for others to guess where the landmark is. This photo is taken in the grounds of another local monument.

Todays walk took me to a local school for my volunteering session, helping children with their reading. After the pause in my walk I walked home the long way round. I explored some paths that I haven’t walked for a very long time.

I am also on a mission (as part of the challenge) to get a selfie photo in front of a local landmark. In my walks I have been circling round the landmark but haven’t quite got close enough for the selfie moment.

It is that time of year again, when I take part in the Civil Service Mega Miles challenge. This year I aim to walk 100 miles in June, hoping that ‘life’ doesn’t get in the way!

On day two of the challenge I had the opportunity for a post shift walk at Attingham Park. Just after I arrived in the visitor reception area for my afternoon shift the heavens opened. The rain shower was and replaced by blue sky and white fluffy clouds.

Towards the end of my shift dark clouds started circling around but they kept the rain to themselves. The sky got even darker as I left on my extended mile walk route. As I started my walk I ended up being an involuntary guide to the walled garden. A couple shouted me from a parallel pathway to ask how to get there. I told them and they set of the direction of the walled garden. A few minutes later they spotted me again to ask for confirmation on the route. I told them I was also going there so they walked with me, chatting as we walked. The reason for their confusion is that the walled garden was farther than they expected, they thought it would be near to the house.

On arrival at the walled garden they thanked me and we parted ways. I picked up speed to outrun the potential rain shower but thankfully the rain held off. As I drove home the roads were wet in places revealing where the dark clouds had shed their water.