Tag: The Ramblers

Mystery Walker

I’ve volunteered as a ‘mystery walker’ for The Ramblers.

A few weeks ago The Ramblers were asking for ‘mystery walkers’ to undertake a 2 mile walk in an allocated area close to where they live in order to help them build a countrywide picture of the state of the nation’s footpaths. I put my name down and have just received an email giving me a grid square and a list of questions to be answered. I don’t tend to walk in my own area, as I usually head out to the Peak District, so it will be quite interesting to discover some of the footpaths that I live beside. I need to plan my own route within the grid square and so I’ll have to dig out the relevant map first. I don’t know when I’ll get time to actually do the walk, especially as the nights are drawing in now and so I won’t be able to do it after work. But hopefully within a month I’ll have it done and dusted.

Getting things booked

A week off work leaves me feeling organised, clear-headed and on top of things.

I’ve been off work this week as I lost my voice. Careless I know. As a teacher a voice is pretty much essential for my job. Still at least I’ve been able to get loads (and I mean LOADS) of stuff done at home that I normally never get time to do. Like cleaning. I’m feeling very organised and virtuous as I look around my sparkling and tidy home. Having a clear and clean space around me makes my head feel cleaner and clearer too and I feel better able to get on with things. So this afternoon I’ve sat at my clean and clear desk and done all kinds of organising and booking tasks.

I tried to book tickets for myself and a friend to go to Wembley in June to see England play Belgium but they are sold out! I only got an email on Sunday saying that tickets were available and I really didn’t think Belgium were that exciting a team, so I didn’t quite believe the ‘sold out’ sign when I first saw it. Oh well, what’s meant to be is meant to be. I’ll try to go next season instead and maybe I’ll get to see a more interesting team. Not going in June also means I get to go straight down to the South West Coast Path for half term rather than having to detour into London on the way. So that’s a bonus. It would be better to see England when it’s a stand-alone weekend rather than a half term as then it doesn’t impact on anything else and I can actually have a nice weekend in London. So although it would have been nice to get a challenge ticked off, I’m not too disappointed about it.

I did get to book tickets to hear the Dalai Lama speak in Manchester later on in June though. I’m not overly interested in Buddhism but he is pretty important and as I am interested in religions generally it’s a good opportunity to go and hear what he’s got to say. I’m going with a friend’s daughter who is currently studying Theology. Like me, she’s got more of a general interest than a specific interest in Buddhism.

I’ve also booked myself onto a walk led by Stephen Booth in September. It’s a 5 mile walk starting in Castleton and is visiting some of the locations mentioned in his books. No dead bodies guaranteed but it should still be an interesting walk. At the same time as booking it I’ve also joined the Friends of the Peak District. This is an organisation that runs various campaigns to support the Peak District and has different events on offer, the Booth walk being just one of them.

As well as this, I’ve sorted out lots of other things today, like the breakdown cover for my van (actually got a refund!), a magazine subscription, my pension, and changed my Ramblers membership to a group closer to where I live.

So, all in all, I feel like I’ve had a productive day. This would never have been possible if I’d had to go to work. It’s made me realise that for my life to run smoothly and for me to be able to do all the things I want I either have to give up work or get myself a maid and a PA. As I can’t afford either option I guess I’ll just have to accept that for most of the time things just don’t get done.

The Ramblers

Joining the Ramblers and finding out their office staff aren’t very good at map-reading.

I’ve recently rejoined the Ramblers. I was a member a few years ago and although I only ever went on one walk with them, I did like the magazines and I like the idea of supporting them as a pressure group. They do a lot of good work keeping public footpaths open and fighting for rights of way. When my membership expired I couldn’t afford to renew it. I’ve always intended renewing but never got round to it. Now that I’m getting serious about walking and a future life involving the outdoors I thought it a good idea to rejoin.

My welcome pack has just arrived. I’ve got the latest magazine and a note saying I should receive the new handbook in the next few weeks. Unfortunately they seem to have signed me up to the Upper Wharfedale group. From what I can make out the walks all seem to be aimed at people living in Leeds and Bradford and their surrounding areas. There must be a group closer than a couple of hours drive away! I can’t remember which group I was assigned to last time; maybe Stockport or Derbyshire? So I’ll have to contact them and ask them to find me a closer group. It’s a tad concerning though that a national association involved with maps, distances, areas and so on doesn’t seem to know that Manchester isn’t a suburb of Leeds!