The walk that didn't happen ......

Instead of photos and a write up of a fantastic walk, it didn't happen. Between the losing of a filling and horrible weather, I made a decision about 8.30 a.m to cancel the walk.

Christine was the person I was most concerned about as she had to travel from Watford and of course she was the one whose phone was playing up so no message was received till she got over here, sorry Chris. She tells me she enjoyed the trip anyhow.

So what did we do instead - Teresa went shopping for a kitchen and ordered one, go girl! Cajsa went to Waitrose and got soaked, Lindsey who couldn't make the walk anyhow due to the tube lines closed went into Reading and browsed the guitar shop ...but didn't buy. Well done for your restraint Linds.

I worked. The moving of files was still ongoing and I was dying to get it completed so I settled myself in my cosy office, congratulated myself on a good decision and watched the rain continue to fall.

So, we're nothing if not resourceful.

Until the next walk.......

It may be mud glorious mud!!

As my walks accessible by the Central Line have gone to pot this weekend, we're walking from South Woodford through the forest up to High Beech then back along a tarred track which will be much less muddy and down to Loughton where those who've had enough mud or those who need to get home, perhaps to watch the rugby may leave us. For the rest of us though it's into the park and up through the nature reserve at the back of David Lloyd and home via pavements and then the path that brings us out at Tescos and is usually mud free!

This photo taken about this time last year shows how parts of it might look, so beware Sue as I know how much you like mud!!

We'll have fun though, no East End Girl walk ever happens without laughter and coffee stops.

Looks like it'll be the Loop or perhaps not.

Seem to have misplaced the Thames book so that dictates a section of the Loop on Saturday. No problem there as there are a couple we haven't even explored once. But oh no, just realised that Central Line is causing problems from Liverpool St to Newbury Park and Woodford on both days so that means it will have to be a local walk and that means some key people like Lindsey will struggle to get here. I hate engineering works!!

Will February attract raves like January?

After every walk, I get great texts and messages from the girls telling me how much they've enjoyed the walks and from time to time I also ask them where they want to go so we have a few established favourites. However, this year I've decided to ask for a bit more feedback ...... so this is how it went -

"I've had some lovely emails re the walk in general but would really love to hear your thoughts and comments more and when it's still in your mind. What did you like about the route? What did you not like? What did you think about our stops, food etc? 

It's always good to know for the future and while we can't please all of the people all of the time, I do try. This is also important now that we are not looking to hugely grow the group. I want a group of great women, as we have at present, who love to walk, chat eat and drink; who are open to new routes, perhaps getting into cars and going somewhere; some of whom would consider weekends away etc and are happy to give me feedback as that helps me strive for the best.

Please comment on all, I'm a big girl who can cope with the good and the bad and I won't take it personally. One thing about our wonderful EEG is that it feels a very strong and supportive group where we can feel safe in being open and honest and trust other people in the group with what we share. All a bit deep for a monday morning......."

and this is a flavour of what I received.....

"I so enjoyed the walk - it is one of my favorites [that and the canal one that starts at Mile End]. I love the parks, people watching and  looking at the beautiful houses. The food stops  are always good on this one too. " Sue

"Really enjoyed the walk yesterday - getting to know some of you better, and meeting Theresa for the first time. No aches or pains to report.

I really liked the route apart from when we had to walk amongst crowds of tourists - but not sure how that can be avoided when walking in Central London. It was good to do a mainly street walking route, given the muddy conditions - but I will do mud if necessary! I am open to any suggestion re location of walk - the only issue which determines whether I come or not is whether I have got child care" Joanna

"I always enjoy walks with the EEG. I really like this one and I'm a bit with Joanne about the tourist but that cant really be avoided in London and it was only for a short time.  I love all the Parks even though I keep asking 'What Park are we in?' I even like primrose hill and that's saying something as I don't do hills, but I think that I'm  improving on them.  The view when you get to the top is lovely, and it makes you appreciate what you have on your door step as we have such negative reports on London all the time, its lovely to go out and see the sights.  As always we have lovely food & chats i love meeting up with all of you and its lovely meeting a few new people as well." Kathyxxxx  

"I find the walks are always enjoyable, no matter what the weather and even if we overshoot through enthusiasm or too much engrossing talk. The women I have come to know on these walks are just extraordinary. The joy and the pity is that they don't necessarily realise this.

 

Each walk is different, even if it is one we have already done. The food is almost always good. I like the fact that we prioritise the basics: toilets, food, coffee. I know I will always laugh as there is such an infectious good humour in the group, whatever its composition. However, there is also a lot of very serious talk that takes place when we can trust our fellow walkers with some painful aspects of our lives.

 

I am not Pollyanna by any means but I see great fun in all our walks and this is because we often go to lovely places but it is also to do with being with great women.

 

Why are women like tea bags?

 

Because you don't know how strong they are till you put them in hot water

 

Eleanor Roosevelt"

 

T XXX

 

Will include more after the next walk and can you see why I always look forward to getting out there with these great women. 

Where shall we walk?

Thursday, 2 days before the February walk and at least I've had the travel alerts from London Transport. With so many engineering works every weekend it's a really important piece of information to have as it really dictates where we can walk. If I'm not careful I can get us to the start of a walk but not always back!! And when you've done 10 miles you really don't want told that you have another 5 to the nearest open tube line.

Not having the info until a few days before does leave planning a little to the last minute but as I tell the wonderful East End Girls, "if you have the date and haven't heard anything to the contrary we're walking"

So today I'm tossing up between a section of the Thames Path, probably from Putney Bridge or another section of the Loop - which will it be?

Well, here are the EEg's on the Thames and also on the Loop!!

Happy days .....and I don't think they'll mind where we go.

Next walk?

Just had one of my members email me, keen to tell me they'd be on the next walk. Actually it would be their first one and I'm so pleased they're going to come along as I think that they'll also be a great asset to the group. I am so blessed that all these fabulous women have opted to be a member of East End Girls.

So where are we walking? Well, not sure yet. Due to the tube engineering works, I do tend to leave things to the last moment but I am thinking that I should organise more in advance and perhaps have a couple of options.

On Sat I took a good friend on one of the EEG's favourite walks from Mile End down the canal and onto the Thames Path. When there we were able to see the new 'Shard' in it's development. We had been discussing it on our Jan walk with many people not sure if they liked it or not.

Below is a photo of it in it's development and it's growth in conjunction with Tower Bridge which it makes look very small.

I like it and I like the way London marries together the old and the new taking on when it now in vogue but in no way demeaning the wonderful buildings like St Pauls Cathedral, Tower Bridge etc.

In fact this walk made me realise how the views of the London skyline are forever changing as new buildings appear and others like the Gerkin, beloved by Teresa are fairly recent additions but now seem to have been there for ages.

On the left is another view of the new 'Shard' taken from the South Bank very close to Southwark Bridge.

Interested in your comments, what do you think? A few weeks ago there was a photo of the Shard published in the paper showing it more of less growing out of, or right beside St Paul's and it was taken from the top of Primrose Hill. I was up Primrose Hill a couple of weeks ago and it wasn't the view I saw, clearly it depends where the photo is taken from.