"Ooh shiny."

Random title that sounds like it ought to be a 1950s pulp science fiction novel.

Last night I set my alarm for 7am so I could have a leisurely morning before heading off for an appointment with my counsellor. Instead I was woken up by men mending the road outside my house at 8am. Glad that the appointment wasn't until 11am, but still. I know I switched the alarm on, but when I was woken the alarm was switched off and my bedding was all tangled. Obviously not a restful night. Took BP, which was 122/78 (HR 60). By the time I'd breakfasted, abluted and dressed it was time for a gentle walk to the Medical Centre to see my counsellor. It was very busy and noisy in the waiting room this morning and sat in the middle of it all I could feel myself becoming edgy. I did try to just focus on my breathing to keep it under control with limited success, but at least I didn't reach for the valium.

After a good chat about this that and t'other – anxiety (she'd noticed my body language when she came to get me from the waiting room), self-harm, stressors in my life, &c. My time was up, actually more than up as we overran as usual, I'm sure each session could easily last a couple of hours, but we are limited to 45 min. Still it helps. I then had to get myself over to my dentist's. As the weather was nice enough I decided to walk over through the park. Somehow I ended up playing on the swings, I've no doubt that certain friends will mention this to me at a later date as I was spotted.

Whilst waiting at the dentist ended up chatting to another woman about generalities, and bemoaning the scarcity of NHS dentistry, until I was called by my dentist. After the usual checks he decided I need fillings doing in lower right #7, upper right #5 and upper left #7. the two #7 have missing fillings they fell out in the last couple of weeks, the #5 just has a very worn filling in it. I'm one of the folks who in the 70s had a "drill and fill" dentist, which has left me with a mouth full of amalgam fillings, which are all gradually wearing out. He put in a couple of temporary ones which are supposed to last until next week when I have a long appointment to get the work done. Long term though, some of these fillings are going to have to be replaced with crowns.

From the dentist's as I was feeling okayish so decided that I'd take a little walk along the canal. Not that I was particularly suitably dressed, as can be seen from the photo. Black/grey tie dye, with the skirt pretty much ankle length, yep very appropriate for a walk along towpaths and through fields. I ended up at Acton Bridge and popped into the Leigh Arms for an half of decent cider. "'Scuse me barman my cider has lumps in it." Yes, decent stuff not that god awful chemical brew known as Strongbow (or worse still Woodpecker). Whilst up that way I had a quick hunt for a geocache with only a vague memory of what the hint was and no co-ordinates. To my surprise I did find it.

Walked back along the Navigation to Saltersford Locks where I took a few more piccies. I did notice this time that alongside the lock that is now a sluice the filled remains of a second lock. From there I then walked up the hill to rejoin the canal. The last half mile of the walk home was an utter slog. I'm still not back to where I was last spring where I could walk 20miles and barely notice it. I'm getting there slowly, and I'll get back there eventually. I also called in at the garden centre on the way past to find that they now have a craft shop, now that becomes very dangerous as they have a range of beading supplies, with nothing planned though I was able to prise myself away from the crafty stuffs without spending anything and actually go by the mint I'd actually gone in to get.

Once home the largest of the temporary fillings fell out whilst I was eating my dinner. I'm not going to make an emergency appointment just to have the temporary filling replaced it can last a week. After being home about 30 mins I checked my BP which again as expected was fairly normal (128/84 HR 66).


Watch out as full size of this one is 27MB and 9300px wide, four images off the compact digicam stitched together using Hugin.

Alice.

I'm walking along the canal towpath when along come a group heading in the opposite direction.

The two women said hello, but as for the men it seemed as if I never existed at all.

Ho hum...

( Do what? Read on… )

Alice.

This morning on looking out the window it was obvious the we were in for a nice morning at the very least. Now Sundays here in Northwich we aren't blessed with very good public transport, so I'm a little limited in my choice of what to do and where to go. So, after a quick bath I got dressed, probably in far too much purple (socks, trousers and top) and headed off out.

A brisk walk through the streets later, and I was standing on the towpath of the Trent and Mersey Canal near Barnton, with the aim of walking as far at least as Wincham Wharf.

It was to start with a little frosty underfoot but the morning soon warmed up. It was eventually warm enough to dispense with my jacket and be down to a short sleeved shirt. To be honest, that just felt wrong so early in the year.

The waters of the canal were in many places totally stall as can be seen from the photographs (on flickr). The first people I saw were dog walkers near Anderton Boat lift. Their Jack Russell insisted on being made a fuss of. And who am I to argue with a Jack Russell? Of course I ended up covered in muddy paw prints, but who cares? I was out for a walk not visiting posh shops!

It wasn't until I got beyond the boat lift that I saw the first activity on the canal itself, other than ducks that is.

A pleasant walk along the towpath, with the occasional stop to chat to people found me at Wincham Wharf where I sadly left the canal for a plod along the road and into town. I called in at Sainsbury to pick up the paper and retired to Costa for a well earned large skinny latte and a chocolate twist.

Alice.