Lockdown Walks

These are very weird times. Staying in as become the new going out. We are in lockdown but we still need exercise and we still need to see other people even if we can't speak to them or we have to keep a distance apart. To add to the fact we can't go out except for few reasons the weather has decided to be great.

To enjoy the weather and get my exercise I have taken to walking around my local area. This way I can keep to Government Lockdown rules and help my mental and physical health. I have found that these walks have not only helped my health but have also meant I have noticed local buildings and landmarks and seen them in a new light.

The walks are great if you live nearby, can cycle or can get to the area safely during this time or you can wait until things become more normal. I will give local bus and tube information but remember that these options should only be used as a last resort during lockdown.

Enjoy the walk take in the views and the fresh air. Stay safe and follow the guidelines on social distancing.

Travel and Coronavirus.

It has been a very strange few months. Lockdowns and staying at home have ment travel has stopped apart from those keyworks who have kept us feed and treated us when we have become ill and of course transported the shop and medical staff to work.

Before we continue we would like to say Thank You for your hard work often at great risk to yourselves.

Now things are starting to slowly open up and we can move about a bit more and start to go back to work. To allow us to start to re-open the Governments of the UK have put certain giudelines in place. This includes the need to self -isolate when entering the UK and the wearing of a face covering on all public transport. To help we have placed some public transport help and advice page. We have also added some FAQ's about the wearing of face coverings to answer those questions, Just find travelling on public transport and Coronavirus to find out more.

A bus leaving Canada Water Station During Lockdown

The weather seems to be palying it's part too and we can get out of the cities and into the countryside and the beach. So with the requirments to cover our faces and and an improving transport service we can enjoy a good family day out again. As long as we keep our distance.(at time of writing 2 metres but soon to come down to 1 metre plus a face covering if  2 metres is not possible). Add to this pubs and bars and of course Ice-cream shops re-open on the 4th of July so lets get out and really enjoy the sun, as long as we keep safe.

We know it has been a long time and quite a hard time so lets start to get out again and help the small businesses at the seaside now. Not just to help the economy but for the mental health of not only for the communites at the seaside but for our own. Seeing a new place and people is really important to our mental health and well being.

Back to work. Thames Clippers at Canery Wharf, as lockdown lifts

Stay safe and start to enjoy our new freedoms but stay within the rules and have a summer.

A London Wilderness, Greenwich Park Deer Enclosure

London is such a big city. Building everywhere, that is why it's parks are so important. I say this because a couple of Saturdays ago. I took the bus to Greenwich with my wife. It was hot and a couple of days later London would experience it's hottest ever days. We enjoyed a walk up the hill in Greenwich Park to the Royal Observatory and like the hundreds of tourists took in the great views of London you get from that viewing area around the statue of General Woolfe.

View from Royal Observatory Greenwich

Having taken all our photos of the London skyline we walked up through the park to the Flower Garden. An enclosed area with nice laid out lawns and mature trees with its duck pond with a couple of rare Black Swans. It was by now early evening and the days heat starting to fade just a little. Although near a busy road the main A2 London to Dover road a major road out of London, Greenwich Park and the flower Garden are always peaceful.

Fox hides In Greenwich Park London

We sat in one of the viewing areas for the wilderness. A deer park after all Greenwich Park is one of the Royal Park. The deer however were nowhere to be seen so after a while we went to look for them. A sly but brazen fox ran right out of some bushes across the main path and back into the trees.

Monarch of the Glen In Greenwich Park

There is a woodland path that runs a long side the wilderness enclosure and we followed the path through the woods to another much better viewing area with views of the whole deer enclosure.

Deer Feeding In Greenwich Park

Then we saw them a herd of deer lead my the Big Male looking like Monarch of the Glen. They seemed to be playing to the the large group of people that had now arrived and posed for our cameras. The hum of the busy A2 and the speeding Police Cars did not disturb. They walked slowly through stopping to drink and eat from the troughs. They seemed to be making sure everybody got a good look at them and got that perfect photo before they moved on and back into the undergrowth.

A really nice end to the afternoon and a counterpoint to our busy lives. It sort of made us feel relaxed and that can't be a bad thing.

The Sun is Out. Have a Picnic

So on Easter Sunday a special day as Tesco's dose not open. We take the bus of to Greenwich with our bag of curly sandwiches, some salad (well you have to have some green. Don't you?), oh not forgetting the quiche. Now here's the thing, there are sandwiches and picnic treats for three people in the bag for life but one set is wrapped like it is some kind of bio hazard and it's escape could end life as we know it. The set is of course the food for me and my daughter. Our food is in cling film,foil and of course the airtight container. Wait a minute though ours is the bigger one, Ours is a feast and has almost a complete set of the off the self picnic. The Gluten Free one how ever is a bit more basic some home made sandwiches and that bleeding quiche again. Well a moan about the lack of interesting Gluten Free food is not what this is about.

Photograph Copyright Mr Chops Photography

No; It's about where we went not really what we had to eat. We got the bus to Greenwich as I have said but instead of making our way into Greenwich Park and enjoying the views from the top of the hill by the Royal Observatory or a look at the Deer park and the duck ponds or even the rose garden. We stayed in the area around the Cutty Sark and the Old Royal Navel College. We skillfully avoided the mini fun fair and street food stall and set up camp on the grass in the Old college grounds. Like many others who had the same idea. We set up on the grass and enjoyed the sun and the view of the river busy with sightseeing boats from Westminster and Tower Bridge and the regular fast river bus or Thames clipper.

Photograph Copyright Mr Chops Photography

you might think this could all be a bit boring after a while and we visited the Painted Hall or went on board the Cutty Sark but no. It was far to warm for going inside and the grass made for a nice place to just relax. The daughter wanted to try out a new camera so of she went to join the people around the fun fair or waiting for the boats while we just let the world go by. We found a great cheap way to relax and enjoy the rare event of a sunny British public holiday.