Lots of people have seen him but I have just missed out. Couldn't help wondering during a 10 mile walk what the wife of a Kingfisher would be - perhaps a Queenfisher. Would their offspring therefore be Princefishers and Princessfishers? But enough of this whimsy.
It was a lovely day for a lengthy walk, although the path was still very muddy. I hope you enjoy some of the photos. Didn't realise how long Tuttles Lane is until I walked it. Cousin Belinda is a descendant of the Tuttles but we have never been able to find out how the road got its name. We only know that it goes back many centuries. I have asked in Wymondham Museum and the Library but nobody seems to know. I presume it was named after a local farmer or landowner. Any help would be appreciated.
Hope you enjoy some of the photos taken from the walk and also some of Belinda's taken over the weekend.
Following our short piece of Wymondham history about the Howes Family on Facebook, we had literally hundreds of comments and "likes". Many asked us if we would be doing any more and the answer is a definite yes. When we have enough pieces we might put them together into a book under the possible title of "Wymondham Vignettes - a Wymondham Miscellany". That way we can just feature random stories from lockdown.
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On a walk my mind often races and thoughts tumble like a man with inappropriate footwear who slides down a muddy bank (actually that was me about this time last year on a visit to Broadway Tower in the Cotswolds. Broadway Tower was featured in a recent episode of the Father Brown Mysteries on BBC. We were told as we bought our tickets to go up the tower that we could either walk down a path straight there or walk round a field which "might be a bit muddy." A bit muddy my foot. It was almost a quagmire. I got so far up a slope and then sunk to the ground and slid back down, unable to stop myself. The result was a very muddy Peter who felt very uncomfortable for the remainder of the visit and didn't really recover until a shower a couple of hours later).
Anyway back to the thoughts. I couldn't help but consider the dynamics of relationships during lockdown.
Strikes me that whatever your situation you will be suffering. I have friends who live on their own. Gregarious friends who love company but can't enjoy it at the moment. Friends who love going on holiday or out to restaurants/pubs with friends. People who lead a hugely active life. They are suffering from loneliness and depression.
Then there are couples living together under the pressure that being together possibly 24/7 brings. Relationships are stretched to the limit, arguments may ensue and the whole thing can become very fractious with no relief.
Then of course there are families with the demands of children alongside trying to work and make ends meet, trying to juggle so many different balls that they are almost certain to drop some of them.
The bottom line here is that whatever your social situation, you will be suffering. We are social animals and the longer this goes on the more difficult it will be.
Last year we thanked the NHS, we put Rainbow art in our windows and we tried to brighten up people's lives. At the moment everything seems to be grey. It doesn't mean that we don't appreciate everything just as much but it does mean that many are suffering burnout at trying to keep upbeat.
Hopefully there is some genuine light at the end of the tunnel with the vaccine and that's what we have to hold onto.
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Adult warning - the following piece contains smutty references.
I was reading the Enid Blyton story Five On A Treasure Island as a bedtime story for the grandchildren on Sunday evening (via Zoom).
One of the Famous Five is Dick who was visiting his Aunt Fanny at her Gay home. It's probably my rather dingy mind but I had to stifle a laugh. Of course in those days the word gay meant colourful. The text also mentioned Gollywogs as well. Perhaps I should have chosen something a little more modern.
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As I approached home at the end of the walk I was struck by the dystopian view of the final three tracks I listened to from my 10,000 track playlist. I had it on shuffle so had no idea what would come up.
Firstly there was the Crosby, Stills and Nash Song "Chicago" written by Graham Nash.
In a land that's known as freedom
How can such a thing be fair
Won't you please come to Chicago
For the help that we can bring
This was a protest song against the Vietnam War. Now this was followed by "The Last Waltz" by Englebert Humperdinck. I told you I had an eclectic taste. This is a much more subtle song than many people think. It also has the distinction of being the second song played on Radio One. That's a quiz question in itself. As for the lyrics. I find them rather sad:
I had the last waltz with you
Two lonely people together
I fell in love with you
The last waltz should last forever
But the love we had was goin' strong
Through the good and bad we'd get along
And then the flame of love died in your eye
My heart was broke in two when you said goodbye
It's a song about falling in love, but then that love turning sour.
Then finally there was "After the Day" by my favourite all time group Barclay James Harvest - a rather savage apocalyptic song. First time I saw them live they ended with this with a huge bang at the end followed by a wave of dry ice to which the band left the stage.
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In yesterday's blog I mentioned my favourite dessert (or puddin' as we say in Norfolk) as being bread and butter pudding. But do you have it with or without custard? Over to you. I like it either way.
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My latest edition of Hethersett Herald was published yesterday. Just before going to press I received a plea from landowners of fields around Hethersett.
The problem is many of the paths across fields have been turned to mud and that means walkers have been encroaching on the fields and crops. So there was a plea to keep to the paths however muddy they might be. Today on the way to Wymondham I saw a jogger and his dog going across the fields. The dog was off the lead and ran randomly across the field, probably damaging crops and being completely out of control.
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Finally I must put in a word for the comedy "Not Going Out". Lee Mack is the funniest man on television and this sit com is an absolute delight and has me laughing out loud. Last night we watched the episode that featured a penis pump. It really was so funny in the best possible taste as Kenny Everett would say!!!!