A Walk in Brockenhurst

40 before 40 (28 - Walk the New Forest)

This one also ties in with getting to know the local area which seemed quite important as we have only moved to the area recently in July.

We got married in Balmer Lawn Brockenhurst so it seemed quite apt to start this one with a walk in Brockenhurst! The walk was arranged by Spice (our first walk with Spice) and started in the car park opposite Balmer Lawn.

I was a bit apprehensive this morning when I was woken up by a loud rumble of thunder followed by a lot of heavy rain! I'm usually a fair weather walker and tend to stay indoors in such weather, but I had just purchased a new pair of waterproof trousers so it would seem a waste not to be able to use them!

At the start of the walk we saw a pig wandering over the road, at this time of year they let the pigs roam free to eat the acorns which are poisonous to the cows. The New Forest ponies aren't too keen on this as they are scared of the pigs.

We walked along the edge of Brockenhurst and over the railway bridge onwards to the oldest church in the New Forest. Walking through the graveyard we saw the graves of men that had died in the 1st world war in local military hospitals, one of which was at the Balmer Lawn. Next stop was the grave of Harry Mills more commonly known as Brusher Mills the local snake catcher!

We then walked into Roydon woods which is a Site of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI) and stopped on a log for refreshments. We passed the residence of WH Hudson a local naturalist. After 4 miles we stopped at a local pub The Hobler for drinks, a chat and a well earned rest.

After a quick dash over the main road the rain began, steady at first but after the golf course and into the open air it became torrential and very boggy! The sky very dark so we knew the rain was set to stay. As the puddles became larger I remembered watching the scene on the Vicar of Dibley where she jumps in a puddle and disappears!

We continued on further and then back round into Brockenhurst, the rain still coming down and we all getting more and more soaked! One of the group made a comment that the rain would stop and the sun would come out as we were driving home! I think we were all starting to get a bit fed up of the rain now.

The sight of the car park at the end was a good one, I was getting quite tired and just as we thought the sun came out and the rain stopped. It was a nice walk and I was glad we did it despite the rain. I learnt a few things on the walk, you can't disappear in puddles no matter how many you jump in and my new waterproof trousers were very good at keeping me dry although my raincoat was not so good as I was soaked through! So now to think about which walk to do next....

40 before 40 - Reading, writing and Music

 

Three important things in my life have always been reading, writing and music. My Mum told me that I used to take a reading book into the playground at primary school! I don't remember this at all but I doubt it gave me much street cred! From the age of 7 I began to learn the piano, although this could have been in my life much earlier as there is a photo of me as a baby playing my Grandpa's piano! The flute must have been around 10 I think. I always remember enjoying writing stories and I remember a time at secondary school when I was congratulated on writing a good poem about the summer. So these three things I have now realised are probably always going to play a part in my life and therefore seem apt to be part of any list on things I'd like to do.

Up until 18 music was a very big part of my life, I passed grade 4 on the flute and grade 6 on the piano as well as a brief attempt at the drums and the pan pipes. After not doing as well as I wanted at A-level music I more or less gave it up. As most musicians know music is not well forgotten and tends to creep back into your life sometimes without you realising! I began playing the flute again about a year ago after missing being able to play the piano, strangely enough after my parents electric piano stopped working! I couldn't really justify buying a piano at the time so the flute was the next best thing. As part of my A-level I played in an orchestra and remember quite enjoying it. I never really liked performing on my own but with the orchestra I felt more at home. This is why 17, Join an orchestra was added to my list.

Last Thursday I started at Marchwood Prelude, which is like their pre-orchestra, I was nervous but also excited, I wasn't sure if I'd be good enough. I didn't have anything to worry about though the rest of the orchestra were really friendly the conductor introduced himself and gave me my music as a 2nd flute. As we got on with the practise it al
most felt like being back in the college orchestra! It was certainly a very quick hour and I left looking forward to the next practise. Obviously this does not tick the box for 17, this is just the start, to join is much more than one visit!

No 1 on the list, Keep my Blog up to date! This Blog I did start a few years back but wasn't very good at writing regularly. I think to become a good writer you need to write regularly and I have always wanted to see if I can write a book, maybe this will give me the answer and what better way to keep a Blog up to date by keeping you all posted about my 40 before 40!

No 29, learn about the history of my local area. We have just moved to Hythe right by the New Forest so I thought this would be an excellent idea to find out about our new surroundings and the history behind it. Being October and the month of Halloween I have started this one by reading about Haunted Inns of Hampshire. I think I may have to visit a few of these, the only ones I have visited so far are the four listed in Winchester. I am thinking a visit to The Old Mill at Holbury maybe a good start see if I can see the monk with a bushy red beard!

Before I go I think I need to say why I decided to do a 40 before 40? Well there are a few reasons; there are lots of things I want to do in my life time and now after my 35th birthday I do feel that its time to try and do these things. After losing a family friend recently, I have realised that life is too short and now is the time to do things before its too late. This also gives me something interesting to focus on, I think we all tend to get stuck in our daily work routines and sometimes need something else, something enjoyable.

Jo's 40 before 40 - The List!

Right here we go! Below is a list of 40 things I'd like to do or experience before I'm 40. It was a difficult list to come up with because I have travelled quite a bit before and also due to recently moving and having an extension planned it needs to be done on a budget!

1, Keep my blog up to date by writing regularly
2, Buy a Piano
3, Ride a Gondola in Venice
4, Visit an active volcano
5, Climb the Eiffel Tower
6, Visit Stonehenge
7, Speak a language fluently (or try my hardest to!)
8, Grow vegetables in the garden
9, Try Segway
10, Try Skiing (yes Duncan one for you!)
11, Shoot a crossbow
12, Attend the Hay Festival of Literature
13, Read the books in the Richard and Judy book club.
14, Try Yoga
15, Do a proper wine tasting
16, Visit Liverpool
17, Join an Orchestra
18, See the Lion King in London
19, Learn how to knit
20, Try Glass blowing
21, Visit the Eden Project
22, Visit Monkey World
23, Visit Treadwells bookshop in London
24, Try Hovercraft racing
25, Try Western Style riding
26, Explore Cheddar Caves and Gorge
27, Have a Spiritualist reading
28, Walk the New Forest
29, Learn about the history of my local area
30, Grow my nails and have a manicure
31, Fly in a helicopter
32, Take a trip on the watercress line
33, Visit the Spinnaker Tower
34, Make Elderberry wine
35, Try a Falconry experience
36, Become more confident
37, Climb Ben Nevis
38, Visit Winchester Intech Science centre and Planetarium
39, Catch up with all my friends & family
40, Its a secret!

This has taken me ages to compile! Each one has a reason behind it but I'll explain that later when I do them. Just so you all know this all has to be done by 12th May 2018, so I have about 4 1/2 years....

40 b4 40

Just a short update before I start to update this blog again on a regular basis! Some of my friends have decided to do a list of 40 things to do before they reach 40 which I think is a great idea. So much so I have decided to do one myself. I am 35 at present so have just under 5 years to produce a list and to complete it. I have some ideas of what to put on this list put I still need to think of some more! I want the list to be of fun things that I'd like to do, some maybe a bit of a challenge others just things I've always wanted to do. One on this list will be to update this blog on a regular basis!! So the next post should hopefully be the finalised list...

I'm Back!!

Managed to remember my log on details so now I can get into my blog. Now I have no excuse so will need to get something written. I can't believe a year has gone by, a very busy one at that! With getting married and changing jobs. No longer a Hook now a Farmer! And... the best thing I don't work weekends anymore. The weekends still go by way too fast though and I'm always busy catching up with family or friends. This weekend to the Isle of Wight and next weekend to Chepstow for a Halloween ball. A Halloween ball in a cave sounds very exciting and hoping this week will go quickly! Costume nearly ready but no hints on here you can wait till next weekend to find out!!

An Evening Walk

A walk along the cliff tops,
Waves pounding on the rocks below.
The sun sets in the distance,
Flooding orange light  across the sky.
A motor sounds over the water,
Heard long before it is seen.
The coast guard keeps a watch,
As the silent walkers roam the cliff top path.

The meeting in Cornwall!!

After a very long drive we end up in a country farm cottage down a half mile long gravel track in Cornwall, right by the sea. This is where I meet some of Duncan's family. Lucky we had one of the boys in the car as Duncan drove past the lane!! "You just past my house" calls Alex. I meet Duncan's sister, Kim and husband Duncan who is carrying Rory in his arms, Charlie is swinging from a tree branch!!

A drink of apple juice and a look round the garden, whilst the children play. Then we take a walk along the cliffs to the coast guard look out. The sun was shining for a change! It maybe summer but this year has not been great, more rain than sun so a walk was just the thing to make the most of a rare sunny evening. With great views out to sea and across the cliff tops, but so quiet with no one around. A rescue boat goes past, maybe a bit of training, as the coast guard looks out to sea. We do a loop out to a car park on the cliff top and back round towards home. Working up an appetite for some dinner and some Pimms!!