Feedback, so important

It's so lovely when you get feedback from the wonderful women you've walked with and although our last EEG walk was last Sunday I just picked this one up.

"A belated thank you for the lovely walk last Sunday. I actually was feeling very down when I arrived but felt uplifted a short while into it. A lovely bunch of women."

...and I can verify that Sue wasn't he bright and breezy self when she joined us - she was still suffering the after effects of a Christmas bug. She was also looking tired at the end but happy so it's even more rewarding to get this.

Here she is though managing quite a steep incline about half way round.

Hope you are back to 100% for Feb 28th Sue.

It's a great way to start the weekend.

Four of us went out yesterday morning just after 9.00 to do the first of Elaine and Gill's longer training walks for the Moonwalk. Three and a half hours later we were back after a coffee stop at one of the tea huts and had done just over 9 miles. Way to go.

This is my ideal way to spend my time and in great company the time just flies and you see so much. Even though I was revisiting old walks, the changes in season and the people around always brings something new.

Elaine and Gill started their training in plenty of time for this walk in May and they've been doing really well. I'd worked on their development plan during the week now that we're into the New Year as it's time to walk more often and also for longer. They need to take on more for themselves but there are also East End Girl walks for them to take part in and the weekend training walks too.

By April they'll have walked 20-22 miles on two occasions and I know that the 26.3 mile Moonwalk will not pose any problems for them.

Myself and three of the other EEG's have also signed up for the Pink Ribbon Walk in June so these training walks will also provide us with training opportunities.

I was so motivated when I got back, I washed the car.

Start as you mean to go on.

I went to bed last night when the rain was lashing against the windows and things, like dustbin lids, were being blown around by the wind. I was so glad I was cosy in my warm bed but it did make me think about how many cancellations I would get for the first East End Girls (EEG)walk of 2009. We'd had to cancel a few at the end of '08 so I was determined to get things off to a good start.


Well only one person didn't make it and having put my order for perfect walking weather in, I we were rewarded, as usual. A cold but sunny day and not a drop of rain.


It was so great to be out there walking and with a bunch of the best women you could ever meet. I truly love these women.






And thanks to Lindsey who sent a text when she was on her way home to Reading saying "It was gr8 getting out with the EEG again".



And we had Nic with us who hadn't been able to walk with us since Sept '06 - see you're always welcome to come back. Here she is leading the way about 45 mins in.



We'd chosen to revisit some of the Capital Ring so started from Hendon Central. It was fairly flat as far as East Finchley and then the hills started taking us into Highgate Woods where in September 2005, the Capital Ring initiative was launched.

If you live in London , enjoy walking and have never done it, get out there and give it a go. It's a great way to find out about your own city and it's well signposted in most areas. There's also a great book on it by Colin Saunders and is part of the recreational path guides. It gives loads of history too and other interesting info.

As you can see from this photo it was indeed a brisk walk but coffee and lunch stops were of course included and the girls like their comfort. We revisited a coffee shop we'd tried last year and ended up with exactly the same table and at lunch in Jackson's lane Community Centre which used to be a church but now houses a theatre, cafe with superb vegetarian food and the must have - toilets.

Here we all our having lunch - what a colourful bunch ...and noisy too from all the chatter.



From Highgate, where we had lunch, we headed along the Parkland walk which is along a disused railway line and takes you all the way to Finsbury Park, site of the sleepover in Pink Tent City on the Aviva walk which brought us together all those years ago.



The path was rather muddier from when we 'd walked this way in June '08

...and just a little reminder girls...

Great first walk and then next one's on Feb 28th. Not sure where we're off to then but better put the order for great walking weather in again.

I feel so good.

British Countryside and the Black and Multi Ethnic Community

Just before Christmas, I make contact with a journalist who was writing a piece on the above. The article's aim is to look into the issue of barriers to the black and multi ethnic community accessing and enjoying the British countryside and also to explore what's being done to change the situation and make the countryside more accessible for all British people.



I had a chat with Emma in the new year and was able to put her in touch with Zara, the youngest member of the East End Girls (EEG). Yes, that's Zara on the right. She's walked with us since 2006 when we all came together as individuals to do the Breakthrough to Breast Cancer 60k walk. She clearly enjoyed it and her comments on the EEG are below.


"From the East End girls, I get a strong sense of belonging to a wonderful group of people. I feel welcome and appreciated by all members and they're all like family that you can have a laugh with and/or about!!!


The walking and talking, gives a relaxed atmosphere and I don't feel pressured to walk at a certain pace. I am able to talk to people that I generally wouldn't get a chance to, because of my age, and I get on very well with every single person.


The Girls and group, give me a sense of pride and accomplishment when I think of what we have all done together, and continue to do. We all support on another through various things such as more fundraising or just general life issues and offer advice!!!"

As well as Zara, we had another black member, two Asian members, Marina who is Turkish, Cajsa who's Swedish and I'm not 100% sure of the other wonderful background mixes that are involved in other members. What is important to us is the fun we have and the chat and support we can give each other.

The walking group is still multicultural and I like to think we are very welcoming of anyone who wants to come and walk. My WOW groups also reflect a mixed background.

However, I do think that walking in the UK is perceived as a mainly white pastime and that of course will not encourage those from black and multi ethnic communities to get involved. I very much welcome greater accessibility to all and would be very interested to hear your comments or personal experiences whatever they show. It would be great to compile these and recommend good practice.

After the Breast Cancer walk, Zara's comments were:-

"I have never met such a great bunch of women in my entire life and don't think I ever will. I really, really want to do something like that again. "

First Walk of 2009

I was wrapped up really well for my first walk of 2009 yesterday as the forecast said it was minus 5 and unlikley to get above minus 2 all day. I was very warm and cosy as I waled especially as the predications did not quite materialise. We are however still enjoying a cold winter and I love it.


As far as I'm concerned it's what winter is all about and the fact that the cold should kill off the bugs and is in keeping in nature is fine with me. I love coming into the warmth, glowing and the opportunity to snuggle up on the sofa, to make a hot chocolate and light the fire and candles.



Yesterday after our walk we came back to a fire and glasses of red wine and my wonderful mushroom risotto.



However, what about the walk? Well Cajsa, my walking partner had requested a walk in the Forest and with the sun shining and the sky blue that was easy to agree to. We met near her house with a plan to walk back towards mine but of course we took the long way round covering somewhere between 10 and 12 miles over all. Here's Cajsa on the go.







The scenery was stunning and so clear. This first photo was taken in Buckhurst Hill looking out towards Ilford. We are at quite a height here. This part of the walk is one I often do with my local groups starting at Buckhurst Hill station and just along here is a little gap that takes you through into a wonderful little street full of small cottages - it's a little like going back in time.


From here we headed up to the forest and below shows some of the trees and the very clear sky.



I consider myself so lucky to have the forest on the doorstep and there are so many paths and variations of walks to do. I train a lot of my charity walkers in this forest and enjoy picnics and like yesterday a welcome hot drink at the tea huts that have been in the forest for years.

As you can see, this photo of the tea hut was taken on at a much warmer time of year but the number of people around was virtually the same which was great.

Here are some further shots of the forest in it's haunting winter glory:

We were returning about 2.00 and parts of the forest were still wrapped in heavy frost, this bramble had seen no sun all day at all.

The lake below still had plenty of ice floating on the surface and acting as rafts for the many birds - don't think I'd fancy standing on that surface.

All my walks start up this week including the Wednesday evening Moonwalk training walks so I guess I'll be seeing these scenes a lot again and how I look forward to the changing scenes as winter makes way for spring.