Recently we have been visiting my mum after I have ‘been to school’ but today that proved difficult. Just over a week ago I noticed that our hot water cylinder had developed a leak. British Gas assessed the situation and confirmed that we needed a new water cylinder but before it could be replaced it needed to be built. Today was the day for it to be fitted and because we knew the work would take several hours we expected the engineers to arrive fairly early in the morning.

Lunch time arrived, the engineers had not.

After lunch I left for my afternoon of volunteering at my local school, helping children with their reading. I wasn’t needed for the whole afternoon so I phoned home to check on the engineer situation, they had only just arrived! Not wanting to disturb the work in progress by shuffling cars and vans around I chose to walk ‘the long route’ home and visit mum tomorrow instead.

Several hours later normal service had resumed, we had water, hot water and heating again.

I had a morning meeting to discuss the Attingham Park social walks of which I am one of the walk leaders. We discussed previous walks and the walks scheduled going forward.

It was a perfect day for a walk so after the meeting had finished I set off along the mile walk in the direction of the walled garden where I sat for a while soaking up the sunshine. After my dose of vitamin D I resumed walking along the mile walk taking a detour to the suspension bridge and the walks beyond. I chose to walk along the river before taking in the woodland triangle and then the bluebell walk through the deer park back to the mansion.

I was pleased to find that the Lady Berwick tea room was open. I chose the scone of the month, rhubarb and ginger which I enjoyed sitting outside in the sunshine. So peaceful and perfect.

A couple of weeks ago my school reader volunteering didn’t go according to plan. It was careers day and the flow of children dried up so I called it a day. The weather was gorgeous and sunny so I chose to walk the long way home.

Surprisingly I met very view people along the way so I didn’t have many opportunities for a cheery hello. Whilst sitting on a bench enjoying the sunshine a dog carrying a large stick in its mouth bounded over to greet me much to the surprise of its owners. One of them passed a remark to the other ‘he never walks that way’. I suspect he was showing off his stick to me. The dog certainly brought a smile to my face.

Due to other commitments and unfavourable weather it took me a while to get around to a walk after my Tuesday afternoon volunteering shift at Attingham Park. My first walk of the year was a perfect opportunity for a ‘Listening’  walk. This time of year is filled with birdsong which is always a joy to hear. I was also treated to wind rustling through the leaves and the gentle sound of flowing water.

This chapter in the book mentions a study commissioned by the National Trust. Attingham Park, being a National Trust property was the perfect place for this walk. The study revealed that the following sounds bring us the greatest pleasure; birdsong, a running stream, rustling tree leaves, silence, twigs snapping underfoot, animal noises, wind whistling through the trees, rain falling on leaves, conkers hitting the ground and squelching mud.

I agree with all of them apart from squelching mud which has a sensory element to it that I find unpleasant.

The video below shows how beautiful the sounds were.

Click on picture to view video

Today I was one of the walk leaders for the WWII community walk in Attingham Park. It has always rained when I have walked this route for the Attingham Park community walks. Today was no exception.

As we set off on the WWII part of the walk we were treated a spectacular grouping of deer near to the pathway. Despite us intruding on their peace and quiet the deer were quite calm until they were spooked by three more deer running to join them. Some of the deer got to their feet and the stag walked to the centre of his ladies and calmed them down.

There is part of this route where I have always got confused as to which path to take. One of the other walk leaders helped me to know which path to take when the pathway diverges and explained where the other pathway leads to.

I was under no time pressure to get home after the walk so I had lunch in the café. I couldn’t resist the National Trust ’scone of the month’; lemon and white chocolate accompanied by lemon curd and clotted cream.

Despite all these ongoing problems I pledge to walk 1000 miles in 2026.