A Capital Idea (Saturday 13 March)

Metropolitan Walkers – a Hike group in London – can lay good claim to be the most successful Ramblers group of the last few years. Formed in 2002 from just a handful of eager walkers that organised 2 walks a month it now has over 1000 members and puts on at least 5 walks each and every week. So popular has it become that it is not unusual for their walks to have over 50 participants and for the leader they have now become more of a question of crowd control than navigation. Started as a group that targeted walkers in their 20’s and 30’s today they find a significant portion of their membership in their 40’s. These realities and more has led them consider the need to set up a new group that caters for those in their late 30’s through to early 50’s. (What we used to call middle aged – are we allowed to say that in these politically correct times?) They’re calling this group Capital Walkers.

It was a (relatively) early start Saturday morning ‘cos we had to get to Goring & Streatley station by 10 am. A morning of showering, listening to the Today programme, feeding the cat, getting the slow cooker packed and switched on, deciding 3 layers was plenty, lacing up the boots  and buying the Guardian on the way to Richmond station. Heading for Reading I had time to read the Sports section and peruse the property porn – we’re moving to Huddersfield this week. Went there once and quite liked it actually.
 

At the station there was 20 of us ready for our 12 mile (18 km) Goring circular walk. (I counted 21 which caused a bit of confusion later on. Note to everybody else, if the walk is nothing to do with me don’t let me head count!) Before you get to Goring you go through Pangbourne. This where Kenneth Grahame retired to and E H Shepherd’s famous illustrations from Wind in the Willows was supposedly inspired by the countryside round here. Goring is prime commuter country of about 4000 residents including at one time in its past, George Michael. The Goring Gap is an interesting geological feature caused by the River Thames breaking through the hills and so making its way to the sea east of London. The river runs from north to south here between the Berkshire Downs and the Chilterns. It was soon obvious that 3 layers was about 2 too many when the sun was out, it was warm enough to work up a sweat when walking uphill. Spotted some great clumps of snowdrops as we wound our way through the Oxfordshire/Berkshire countryside. There has been some comment lately that your south eastern variety are slow this year – way behind those up t’north in places like Skiddaw. These ones looked quite majestic in the warm spring sun to me though.

After lunch we briefly stopped at St Mary’s church, Aldworth to have a look at the effigies of the De La Beche family – known locally as the Aldworth Giants. They’re quite literal here ‘cos one of the knights would’ve been over 7 feet tall had this been an accurate representation of him. Anyway the family was famous back in the 1270’s when Edward I was on the throne. It was after this brief excursion that my miscounting caused a problem when we thought we’d lost somebody. Good job that ‘cos we’re a new group we take a register beforehand. (So we’ve got everybody’s email addresses to send them future walks programmes.) Checking this we found there were only 20 to start with – d’oh.

We continued to make good time through the gently undulating Chiltern Hills and when we reached the river decided to stop at the Beetle and Wedge. Here I had a nice pint of Henley Amber, most others had tea or hot chocolate – hmmm. We only had a couple miles to do after that – all alongside the Thames. Back in Goring a few of us stopped at the Catherine Wheel for a quick drink before catching our various trains home. This time it was Brakspeare’s Oxford Gold for me.

The walk was led by first-timers, James and Dawn, and a good job they made of it. The next walk is a Godalming circular starting from the station at 11 am on Saturday March 27. The new walks programme running from April to June is out next week. You can join the Capital Walkers group on their Facebook page and check out their web presence through the link below.
 
More information
Ramblers Business Plan 2009/10 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PWPm8-aLKw&feature=player_embedded 

Useful links:
o The Ramblers     http://www.ramblers.org.uk/
o Capital Walkers   http://capitalwalker.blogspot.com/2010_01_01_archive.html
o Capital Walkers Facebook  http://tinyurl.com/yzum8sw 
o Metropolitan Walkers: http://www.metropolitan-walkers.org.uk/
o Kenneth Grahame   http://www.kennethgrahamesociety.net/
o E H Shepherd    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._H._Shepard
o Goring     http://www.goring-gap.co.uk/
o George Michael    http://www.georgemichael.com/
o Aldworth Giants   http://tinyurl.com/yjde3ur
o Beetle and Wedge   http://www.beetleandwedge.co.uk/
o Henley Amber    http://www.lovibonds.co.uk/
o Brakspear’s Oxford Gold  http://www.brakspear.co.uk/

Listen to:

La Habitacion Roja – Capital
Simple Minds – Capital City
George Michael – Faith
Sieben – Spring Snowdrop
Sieben – Winter Snowdrop
Albion Dance Band – Snowdrop Polka

The Life of Riley (Wednesday 10 February)

While the Ramblers are celebrating their 75th birthday this year – Labour Exchanges are 100. Back in the depression laden days (sound familiar) of 1910 the forerunners of today’s JobCentre Plus network opened their doors. Winston Churchill, president of the board of trade in good old ‘Squiffy’ Asquith’s Liberal government visited 1 of these 62 new institutions – the one in Hackney on the 1st February – on its first day of business. I’m guessing he wasn’t looking for work, although there were a couple of vacancies for picture frame gilders listed, and he was very impressed with the green walls: “The colour of hope”, he hopefully reported.

Back then there were separate rooms for men, women, employers and children (good old child labour huh) all with their green walls. Today there 750 JobCentres that employ 78,000 staff offering (and I quote) “an integrated service incorporating benefits and employment search”. Not a green wall in sight these days. I still sign on every other Wednesday (although these days I only get my National Insurance contributions paid and really only do it so the official statistics are more accurate) and I still walk down along the bank of the Thames to get there. Today after signing on I head right across London for Chigwell. I’m leading a Capital Walkers walk to Hainault Forest on Saturday and I wanted to check how muddy some parts are. Well it was pretty muddy out there people. And not wanting to go on about the weather again it was one of those funny days when the sky was a deep blue but it was snowing. How does that work? Other than quite a few dog walkers didn’t really see many other people. (Don’t dog owners have jobs either?)

This no job thing is wearing a bit thin these days but there’s certainly some advantages to not working. There’s not only all the walking I can do but there’s also so much to listen to on BBC iplayer. I’m working my way through the 460+ programmes from ‘In Our Time’ at the moment. The history episodes are great but I don’t really understand the science ones. And I mustn’t forget Spotify. I’m just loving the new Massive Attack album (should I still describe it like that?) – Heligoland. Last week I played (virtually) One Life Stand by Hot Chip to death. Gives me something to do while completing online job application forms. Why are they all subtly different? Makes the whole cutting and pasting a right palaver. And, finally, although not directly connected to being out of work I went along to one of those free preview screenings of an upcoming blockbuster the other week. Went to see Russell Crowe in Robin Hood. Oh dear oh dear – Gladiator meets Carry on Crusading would be the kindest way to describe it. Anyway as one of my friends said to me recently: “Sounds like the life of Riley to me”.

Anyway back to Labour Exchanges. I bet if you haven’t visited a JobCentre lately if I asked for the first image that comes into your head about them you’d say The Full Monty and the out of work Sheffield steel workers dancing to Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff” while waiting in line. Well we don’t stand up anymore and they don’t have a radio playing where I go but in all honesty they’ve been about as helpful to me as they were to Robert Carlyle et al. Frankly Pulp’s advice: “Cut your hair and get a job” might be more use so I’ve done the first bit and now I’m just wait for those job offers to roll in.

More information
OS Map used – Explorer 174 Epping Forest & Lee Valley
Pay less when you order this map here: http://www.ramblers.org.uk/fundraising/shop/anquet-map.htm

Ramblers Business Plan 2009/10
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PWPm8-aLKw&feature=player_embedded

Useful links:
o The Ramblers     http://www.ramblers.org.uk/
o Ramblers 75th anniversary  http://www.ramblers75.org.uk/
o Capital Walkers   http://capitalwalker.blogspot.com/
o Labour Exchange Centenary  http://www.dwp.gov.uk/labour-exchange-centenary/
o Lord Asquith    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._H._Asquith
o Winston Churchill   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston_Churchill
o Hainault Forest    http://www.hainaultforest.co.uk/
o In Our Time    http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qykl
o The Life of Riley   http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/the-life-of-riley.html
o Robin Hood    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/8097083.stm

Listen to:

Lightning Seeds – The Life Of Riley
Paul Weller – Wild Wood
Massive Attack – Heligoland
Hot Chip – One Life Stand
Donna Summer – Hot Stuff
Pulp – Common People – Full Length Version / Album Version

Watch this:

The Full Monty – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZuCqT2qbFk&feature=fvw
Robin Hood – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rB1G88cGv0

True Grit (Saturday/Sunday January 9/10)

With the UK still covered in a blanket of snow the news has been full of items about gritting – well more correctly a lack of gritting and the dwindling supplies of grit. (Who’d have guessed we’d all become such experts on the ratio of grit to salt to make it effective? Apparently 50/50 is best.) There’s even been a spate of stories about organised thefts of the stuff – my word. Anyway despite continued snowfall, walking went on in London. In fact people seemed desperate for something to do – something that didn’t involve being indoors.

On the evening of Wednesday 6 January (the night Arsenal cancelled their Premier game with Bolton) 20 hardy souls had turned up amongst the snow flurries for a short walk from Temple to Holborn. This was the first in a programme of January Wednesday evening walks put on by the Met Walkers (all led by me) and all starting from Temple station at 7 pm to help people stick to their New Year resolutions. (I’m getting into the swing of it by sticking to a 2 pint maximum on Wednesdays!) This was nothing to the turnout on Saturday 9 January at Richmond.
 

For a joint Met Walkers and Hampstead groups walk over 70 punters pitched up at Richmond station at 10.30 in the morning. A heaving mass of 4+ layered, gore-tex wearing, gloved and hatted walkers with breath steaming from their mouths. (Judging by this assembled throng ear muffs were the gift of choice from friends and family. Socks are so last decade!) There were members from other local groups (all their walks had been cancelled) itching to get out. The 10 mile circular stroll was well appreciated by all who turned out and everybody thought a snowy Richmond Park was magical. I know we’re all getting mightily tired of these ‘unprecedented’ sights that now come with each day of snow but Teddington lock was frozen – I didn’t expect that and don’t s’pose that’s been seen since the big freeze of 1963 when all the canals froze over.

Of course this time of year ain’t just about walking it’s also about overindulging – I’m such a traditionalist me. Have you ever wondered why ‘a hair of the dog’ actually works? Well those who know me will be quick to tell you I’m no scientist but here’s what I’ve read. You know that unpleasant effect of vertigo you get when try to stand up and walk around when you’ve got a bad hangover. Well that’s caused by too much alcohol in your bloodstream. (So far so simple and so obvious). Your organs of balance are 3 semicircular canals roughly at right angles to each other filled with fluid located in your inner ear. That’s your inner ear not your inner child – easy mistake to make. One canal detects rotation of the head round a vertical axis, another nodding movements and the final rotation from your nose to the back of your head. Still with me? On a normal alcohol-free day the density of all this fluid is similar to that of your blood. And this is important because the correction data needed to balance changes when the density of this fluid changes. As alcohol levels rise this fluid becomes diluted. Your clever old brain then compensates and makes you dizzy. Taking another drink dilutes the blood and keeps you, quite literally, in balance. Cheers everyone. 

Our final walk of this blog went from Blackheath to Woolwich via Oxleas Woods and Shooters Hill. A much more normal 17 turned up for this one. Regular readers will know that despite living in the heart of suburbia in south west London and being a lifelong Chelsea supporter I’m a sarf east Londoner through and through. (You can take the boy out of Lewisham but… ) The heath was nice and snowy but we’re all pretty tired of these snow covered scenes now I guess. Oxleas Woods is one of the few remaining areas of ancient deciduous forest and it dates back over 8,000 years. Shooters Hill rather unromantically gets its name from the archery that used to go on there. In time honoured tradition we finished up in the Wetherspoons in Woolwich and I trekked back across London using the DLR as the overground was closed due to engineering work.

The next Wednesday January evening strolls both start at Temple at 7 pm and will last a couple miles or so. (About an hour.) Everybody is welcome. Please check out the Facebook page of a new group recently setup – Capital Walkers. If for some strange reason you fancy seeing the dull prosaic work of the Ramblers in a meeting the Inner London Area AGM takes place in the Methodist International Centre, 81-103 Euston Street at 6.30 pm on Thursday 11 February 2010. All members welcome though I’m thinking all you British Sea Power fans will be off to see them play in Kingston.

More information
o Ramblers Business Plan 2009/10 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PWPm8-aLKw&feature=player_embedded 

Useful links:
o The Ramblers    http://www.ramblers.org.uk/
o Capital Walkers     http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=183092363750&ref=ts
o Grit and salt supplies   http://www.lga.gov.uk/lga/core/page.do?pageId=7192206
o Capital Walkers on Facebook  http://www.facebook
o Metropolitan Walkers   http://www.metropolitan-walkers.org.uk/
o Hampstead Ramblers   http://hampsteadramblers.org.uk/
o Inner London area   http://www.innerlondonramblers.org.uk/
o MUJI earmuffs    http://preview.tinyurl.com/ykuzuzy
o Hangovers    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hangover
o Oxleas Woods    http://preview.tinyurl.com/4ns75
o DLR     http://preview.tinyurl.com/5jhezo 
o The Great Harry   http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/home/pubs/the-great-harry
o Methodist International Centre http://www.micentre.com/
o British Sea Power   http://www.britishseapower.co.uk/live

Listen to:

Snow Patrol – Up To Now
Belle and Sebastian – The Fox In The Snow
British Sea Power – Victorian Ice
Squeeze – Footprints In The Frost – Saturday Sequence 19/10/1989
Vanilla Ice – Ice Ice Baby