Monday 1 February 2021

First Walk In A Month

I mentioned briefly in a previous post that I'd been having a few medical issues and hadn't been out of the house since before Christmas. It actually turned out that the last decent walk I had was on the 8th of December when we went Back To The Canal. I didn't go out walking again until Friday the 29th of January. Don't worry though, Mick made sure that Archie had some nice walks whilst I was somewhat incapacitated.

Mick's got quite a lot of holidays to take before the end of March. He didn't take many last year with things as they were, we didn't go away anywhere, so he decided to take Friday off. We decided to go to Temple Newsam. It was mild after days of heavy rain, so although it wasn't cold, it was very muddy.

As we're in our third lockdown at the moment, I thought it would be much busier than it was as we visited during the afternoon but it does seem as though many children are still in school. There's a primary school round the corner from us and it's still busy at drop off and pick up times.

It's unusual for me to get photos at Temple Newsam without people in them. This grassed area is usually very busy during the summer months, it's used for picnics, exercising dogs or family games. Even in winter there's usually many more dog walkers around than there was on this day.

Can you see the pathway through the trees? This is the path we use when we approach Temple Newsam from a different direction and walk through the woods. I wrote about this in my Holiday Week post back in 2019.

The formal gardens look quite desolate during the winter months. The arbours are covered in laburnum which look fabulous when they're flowering.

It's nice to see signs of spring around though, there were snowdrops flowering and daffodils poking their way through the earth which will be blooming before too long.

Archie enjoyed his walk. He's looking very woolly bearish again at the moment as his groomer isn't working during lockdown. I'm hoping he doesn't have to wait too much longer for a trim as it does seem to make him feel better when he's not carrying a fur coat around with him.

We found a painted stone. I know many people leave these in places to brighten people's day but it's the first one we've ever come across. We left it there so that it will bring a smile to someone else's face.

It was so good to get outdoors in the fresh air again. It's been quite hard over the last month or two, but I always find a walk or even a drive out can make me feel a little better.

23 comments:

  1. I hope you are feeling much better now and enjoyed your day out. Nice to see that Spring is just around the corner. I used to see quite a few painted stones when out and about, they are a lovely idea. Archie looks like he's enjoying his walk with you.

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  2. Sorry to read that you've not been able to get out for your walks, and hope that you get better soon.
    Lovely post and pictures, with some nice surprises like the snowdrops and painted stone.
    Take care. xx

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  3. I'm glad that you managed to get out for a walk Jo, it makes all the difference when you can get out into the fresh air and just breathe, even nicer when you come upon some treasures like that stone and those lovely snowdrops. I had planned a long walk tomorrow but it looks like we are going to have snow here in the North East. Have a lovely week. xx

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  4. It looks chilly on your walk, Jo. Archie looks like he's having fun! I hope you feel better soon!

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  5. Being outside always improves my mood, even in our garden, we are lucky we have a perfect little park, close by and the castle and shore are only 10 minutes walk away. I'm pleased to read you are able to get out and walk again.

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  6. Lovely to get out of the house and enjoy a ride and a walk. Blow the cobwebs away, as my Grandma would have said. It looks a lovely place to do just that. Wonderful to see Spring is beginning to arrive. Hope you are feeling better very soon xcx

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  7. You are so lucky to be able to get in the car and then have a walk.We have to walk from home which is so frustrating as we are surrounded by beautiful countryside and we have at least another three weeks of lockdown.Pleased to see you are feeling better and able to get out.

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  8. Looks like a beautiful place for a walk. Glad you are feeling well enough to get back to walking.

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  9. Fortunately we managed to get Ruby groomed, Lots of groomers around here are open. It's going to be a tense week as she goes in for spaying on Wednesday. It will bring back all the times Tivvy had to have an op and we had to wait by the phone. I feel awful putting her through it when she isn't ill but it will be better for her in the long run.

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  10. You are so lucky to be able to go somewhere like that so close to home. The places I like to walk around are not local and there have been reports of police in the car parks fining people. We are doing what we should and staying local but it is not as appealing or interesting and means my dog generally has to be on her lead more. Good to see that you are feeling better.

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  11. Just watched a National Public radio program from Chicago, and the psychiatrists were all in agreement. MOVE. Dance. Walk. Move.
    Also, we bought a clippers and shave the cats all the time. You could shave archie maybe?

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    1. I wouldn't dare shave Archie, I know he'd end up looking like something the cat dragged in. Plus, he's really sensitive when he's been shaved so there's places, like his stomach, where the groomer has to use scissors rather than clippers.

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  12. I was sorry to hear you have been unwell, Jo. It looks like a lovely place to visit. Archie is adorable! Take good care of yourself.❤️

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  13. I'm glad you got out to such a delightful place. It must have been lovely having it all to yourself. Good to hear you are feeling better. Bless Archie, I hope he gets his coat cut soon.xxx

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  14. Hello Jo, It sounds like you have had a rough time of it. So nice you were finally able to get outside and such a lovey place for your first walk of the year. I hope you will be able to enjoy many more as time goes on. Thank you for stopping by my blog.

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  15. Hope you are feeling better and glad you managed to get out, it looks marvelous.

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  16. Lovely to see your walk at Temple Newsam & certainly brings back memories. The snowdrops look lovely. Please take care,stay safe, warm & hugs from down under.

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  17. I am so sorry you have been ill Jo, and I hope things are getting better for you.
    Fabulous walk, as always.

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  18. I'm so late in commenting on this post as it has only just popped up on my blog, I wonder where it's been! Temple Newsam looks great in the winter doesn't it, all those trees and the structured garden. You must have been delighted to get out there again, I hope you are feeling ok.

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  19. I have to force myself to get out for a walk sometimes but feel so much better for the fresh air. Poor Archie not being able to be cut, I know how he feels, I'm missing having my hair cut too!
    Hope you start to feel better soon, It's miserable when you don't feel well. Take care x

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  20. I hope you're feeling better.
    A walk and some fresh air are always a good tonic, and I imagine even more so with a furry friend in tow. Hopefully you'll get lots of nice weather to enjoy more walks with Mick.
    xx

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  21. I'm so pleased you were able to get out for a walk, I think it really helps both mentally and physically.

    Lovely photographs, and I always enjoy seeing Archie in them.

    Take care, I hope you continue to feel a little better and able to enjoy more walks.

    All the best Jan

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  22. I always feel so much better after I've been in the great outdoors, I don't think I really realised just how much it helps until this last year when we've spent so much time confined to barracks. I'm glad you were feeling up to it. x

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