Diary > Tuesday 29th December

[Roobarb]

Today started fine and bright after heavy rain during the night. Off out for a walk late morning, it was very cold but the sunshine was very welcome. It's difficult to think of new ways to walk where I can avoid the increasingly soggy field. Did a convoluted route, was really enjoying my walk and when I came out of the woods I wanted to go further. Headed along the edge of the field, it was like a swamp with water pooling in much of the grass. Squelched across to a road that would take me around another walkway. When I got home there were splashes of mud up the legs of my jeans, not just on the hem as usual, I'm creating so much washing for myself. Timed it right, it started raining shortly after I got home and continued all afternoon.

In the afternoon I did some more work to my watercolour painting then got the acrylics and other equipment out to paint a vase with acrylic pour. Half an hour to mix the paints, half an hour to clean up and five minutes to do the painting. It's so messy!

A friend phoned, had a good chat, that cheered me up. Made some paprika chicken, had spicy rice with chopped peppers and peas in it for a change, and some cherry tomatoes. While the oven was on I roasted red peppers and tomatoes to make soup with tomorrow. Not much on TV again.

Hope everyone is feeling more upbeat today.

[DianaCanada]

Had a bit of a panic today when I accidentally flushed the toilet paper spindle down the loo! I tried to grab it but to no avail.  I immediately texted my daughters and told them I was going to hide from OH - he had gone to the drugstore.  He soon returned and I ‘fessed up right away. I thought the thing might have just gone into the sewer system, but he soon set me straight.  We both had horrible thoughts about having to have a plumber in during lockdown.  He soon found the “snake” and pulled the thing out within a few seconds.  Called him a hero .
Put my Xmas prezzie together - trekking poles.  Hoping this will help my sciatica. Too icy to try out, though I walked up and down the paved area behind the house.The dog has beaten a path around the periphery. Of the yard,  but a bit too slippery as well.
Pretty uneventful otherwise, we’ve started watching “Deadwater Fell” on Acorn streaming. Kind of creepy so far.

[Mowsehowse]

With all that squelching around Roobarb, I am full of admiration that you had the desire and energy to extend your walk yesterday, but I hope it set you up for the rainy afternoon you had. Nice for you to chat with a friend.
And an adventure for Diana too!! Or at least for your husband. What a good job he was able to rectify the situation without needing to call a plumber. I used to put salt on my slippy driveway, but I imagine the scale of the problem is too large in Canada.

Although everything is perpetually damp and muddy here in South Devon, we did have some intermittent sunshine so H and I went over to Cockington Court for a change, but varied our usual route as that was likely to be saturated. The stream was gushing rather than the normal trickle. All the dog walkers out of course, and lots of families with the children practising their balance skills to master bikes, skates, scooters etc, which still look very smart and shiny.
I was glad I had wrapped up well, as it was cold enough for Patrick the tiny pony to be hiding in his stable with only his nose on view.
H and I walked out again after lunch but the town and beach area was manic with people everywhere, so we stormed around in a loop and back indoors out of the way.  Many people will be off work until 4th January I suppose, but I do wonder if we have lots of holiday makers here again as well; it really does seem overly busy everywhere.
Watched the Reith lecture on TV, which was well done.

[Caw1]

Roobarb - good to hear you had such a productive day.... all that walking in squelchy mud! I’m sure although the setting up and clearing away for your acrylic pour is worth it, if your Christmas card picture is anything to go by.

Diana- what a relief that you’re firstly feeling better and secondly your husband rescued the object down the toilet system! I’m sure it must be freezing in your neck of the woods so do be careful when you’re out.

MH - it’s a pity that because the area you live in is such a pretty place and like a magnet for others it does somewhat hamper your walks from time to time... but you are very good at getting out daily what ever the weather.

 Caroline

[DianaCanada]

Mowsehouse: yes, we have salt for the driveway and paths.  The driveway slopes down which makes it a bit worse. Some people use sand or kitty litter.  Main roads and highways get salted, there are large salt trucks for this.  It is an environmental issue, though, but no other alternative quite as good.

I have visited Devon (Winkleigh), beautiful. Just about everywhere I went to in England is lovely.

[Mowsehowse]

Yes Diana, salt is a massive environmental issue, though I suppose whatever we use comes from the sea originally, and eventually finds its way back there.  But I am not a scientist, and that is probably a very simplistic view.
I looked up Winkleigh on the map; it seems to be in the heart of the county, about half way between Exmouth and Bideford, and surrounded by countryside. I will add it to our "must visit" list.
Next time you are in the Uk perhaps you can visit the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark which is Torbay. The coastal red cliffs of the area are really spectacular, as are the granite tors on Dartmoor, and we have some marvellous historic sites too.

[DianaCanada]

Yes Diana, salt is a massive environmental issue, though I suppose whatever we use comes from the sea originally, and eventually finds its way back there.  But I am not a scientist, and that is probably a very simplistic view.
I looked up Winkleigh on the map; it seems to be in the heart of the county, about half way between Exmouth and Bideford, and surrounded by countryside. I will add it to our "must visit" list.
Next time you are in the Uk perhaps you can visit the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark which is Torbay. The coastal red cliffs of the area are really spectacular, as are the granite tors on Dartmoor, and we have some marvellous historic sites too.

I have visited Dartmoor, didn’t see any granite tors, unfortunately. We did have a wonderful cream tea somewhere in the area  .  I remember we drove into Exeter, couldn’t have been too far away.
There is a salt mine, supposedly largest, at Goderich, on Lake Huron.  The salt is mainly used for roads. The town is supposed to be very pretty, maybe I’ll get up there once this pandemic is done.

[Mowsehowse]

Don't think you could have driven over Dartmoor and missed the Tors. The sticking up lumps of rock are fairly noticeable, but maybe no one pointed them out?
You remind me that we visited the salt mine at Krakow.
A most astonishing place of vast underground caves and marvellous sculptures carved from the salt.
There was even quite a large brass band playing while we were down there.

[BumbleB]

The largest salt mine in England is at Winsford in Cheshire - as a school pupil in Winsford back in the 1950's we had the guided tour.  Tours still available.  AND the local swimming pool was brine rather than chlorine.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35322992