Walk 9 & A Hospital Visit

Walk 9 was combined with a trip to hospital - only a review so nothing bad.

I will say at the outset that I am feeling a bit like a complete idiot taking pictures of my surroundings while there are people around so the pictures aren't too good as they were very quick point and shoot without focusing.

We saw a pigeon on the way down to the hospital.

A nice little seating area at the top of a very steep hill for those in need of a rest

The view from halfway down the very steep hill

The new entrance.  It was very nice on the way out to see a security guard telling somebody off for smoking by the door.  The lady said she was unable to walk off the premises so the guard told her to put out her cigarette.  As you can see the path isn't exactly huge to the road which is more or less where I was stood when I took this. Maybe if she didn't smoke then she would be in better health to be able to walk such a short distance.  I can't understand smokers at all - they stink, they are slowly killing themselves and their family and friends through passive smoking.  Sorry rant over now.

After standing at the automatic checkin for ages we found that childrens check in isn't computerised and we had to go down this glass corridor to the childrens centre.

They have some nice little gardens.

The hospital is brand spanking new and only opened in January.  Not all services are open yet but what I could see I was impressed with even if they had brought all the toys with them from the old hospital.

At this point I put the camera away because I was getting some very strange looks off the nurses.

Walks 7 and 8

Double walk update.

I took the camera on the walk to football training on saturday morning.

On the way I took these shots of the civic centre (town hall) as we walked by.

I went on walk 8 this morning with the pooches and found they were finally digging up a local road that has been plagued by pot holes for months.

I also found this little cutie hiding in a bush.  We usually only see birds flying away when the dogs are around so this one must have some guts to hang around.

Walks 5 and 6

I'm cheating a little bit with the aim of catching up with 52 walks in a year with my camera.  This morning the dogs went on separate walks and I took the camera both times so these are walks 5 and 6.

Daisy's turn was first. There were no other dogs around so she came off the lead for a run and a play with her ball.  The ball was OK for a while but she soon preferred rolling in the mud.

Check out the ears - I'm sure she thinks she's Dumbo

We dropped her off at home and picked up Charlie.  Unfortunately between us leaving the park and getting back there a few minutes later 4 dogs had arrived including one quite scary looking one which meant Charlie was staying on his lead and the very muddy ball had to stay in it's poop bag.

We had a walk around though and he messed in the puddles.

Walk 4

Still playing catch up but remembering to take the camera is something I keep forgetting.

Anyway walk 4 today was just an ordinary dog walk that I do every so often when I want exercise rather than letting them off their leads.  As you can see we went past a football/soccer field.  It is actually owned by a school and there are notices all over saying  KEEP YOUR DOG ON A LEASH.  Some of the local football teams use it so I think it is only respectful to not let the dogs on it.  I wouldn't like to think I was washing anything unsavoury off my son from an irresponsible dog owner.

This picture shows just how much of a problem litter is near the field.  That big thing is a for sale sign from a house just dumped in the undergrowth.

Departing from that particular area is via these steps up to the busy main road.  I wish I had thought to video the dogs going up them.  One very elegant male dog and one very ungainly female dog. 

This was them pushing one another to see who could get there first.

Just after I took that photo it started snowing so we were rather wet by the time we got home.

Tomorrow I'll be doing my A to Z round up of the C words plus my scrapbook layouts of A and B.

In honor of Charlie in the picture just above here is Charlie by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.  This song plus Charlie from Lost are where his name came from.

Walk 3

Still playing catch up with this so I might have to squeeze in another walk before the end of the week.

Phone camera rather than proper camera so quality is rubbish.

Abandoned shopping trolley

Then we went to the park and I thought I would do the same shot of the park as walk 1 but without the snow.

That figure with the dog past the railings is a lady who I would love to refer to as the 'person' who thinks she owns the park but shhhhh I didn't say that.  The look on her face when anybody else is there with a dog is enough to make you instantly dislike her. Her dog is a similar age to mine but not being a daft 1 year old labrador hers has grown up a bit and she won't allow it to play other than to run for a ball. Running around with other dogs is certainly out of the question. I once dared to let Daisy off the lead near her dog and she gave me the filthiest look because Daisy wanted to introduce herself and give her dog a sniff hello.  I can understand it to a certain degree and I personally would hate a dog jumping up at me but Daisy doesn't do that. Charlie on the other hand I would NEVER let off his lead when anybody else is around.  He has let me down so many times that it just doesn't happen anymore.  Another park in future when she is around me thinks!!

and last but not least my two mutts in same park this morning.

Celebrating The End Of The B Fortnight

We have a new bridge that was the subject of a Channel 4 programme in 2008 fronted by Kevin McCloud.  Being right at the other end of town it isn't something I have ever really been to before.  The rest of the family has but not me for some reason.  I thought it would be nice this morning to have a walk down there with the dogs and finally walk across it. 

I also discovered a new challenge yesterday called 52 Walks In 2010.  It just means to take your camera on 52 walks over the year and photograph where you have been.  I've decided that my first walk can be the first week of this month when it was snowing.  The pictures from that are in the posts at the beginning of the month.

Today is Walk 2 with my camera.  The sun was in a strange place which made some pictures turn out with shadows but never mind.

The dogs were really unsure of the rushing water under their feet.

This boat wreck apparently caused huge problems during construction of the bridge.

This is one of the benches that adorn the middle of the bridge.

Now we move on to the B Factor at Leeds United.  There are a few players qualifying for the B fortnight and it just so happens that they are the more 'photogenic' ones.

First up is Luciano Becchio who is frequently referred to in this house as beautiful.  The kids were over the moon to have their picture taken with him earlier in the season.

Next up is Bradley Johnson. 

The one and only Jermaine Beckford

Local lad Ben Parker. Yikes this pic makes me realise how much my son's hair has grown.

It's down to his shoulders now. Pic was taken in May.

and last but by no means least is Leigh Bromby.

To end the B's I have some music that is not the Red Hot Chili Peppers.  Black Eyed Peas and Boom Boom Pow.

Snow Day

We had a snowfall overnight.  Not a huge amount but most things grind to a halt in the UK when we have snow. 

Schools are shut because the councils don't seem to be able to clear the roads properly so the teachers can't get through the snow.  Even better - they can't provide enough coal for the boilers in some schools or grit for the walkways around school so it isn't safe either.  Not sure what reasons ours closed for but HEY.... A DAY OFF

and look at this - the bin men actually emptied the bins.