Walking around Oxwich Point in January

‘An exhilarating ramble through woodland and along delightful coastline’ is how the walking guide described the 4.5 mile circular walk around Oxwich Point, and after a three hour trek through the less explored part of Gower I couldn’t argue.

A windy day at Oxwich Bay

A stiff south easterly blew across the Bristol Channel to greet us as we stepped out of the car mid-morning on a Sunday – a great way to clear the head after a glass or two on a Saturday night.

We walked past St Illtyd’s Church, a medieval church built on a site used for Christian worship since the 6th Century, and began our ascent through the ancient woodland. The church is open to visitors during August, and a quick peep inside will reveal a selection of 13th Century monuments including effigies of a knight and his lady.

The ancient woodland clings to the the north-east facing cliff, sheltering it from the prevailing south-westerly wind, but making it quite shady. Part of the Oxwich National Nature Reserve the woods offer a spectacular display of wildflowers in the spring, such as bluebells and ramsons. Budding botanists will also get excited by the several rare species of plants such as the Purple Gromwell, Herb Paris and Butcher’s Broom (or Knee Holly).

Straight to the point... Oxwich Point!

Alas, whilst this winter has been rather mild bluebells were out of the question. However, we were treated to a sighting of a rather unusual fungi growing among some moss clinging to old plastic Coke bottle – I know Coca-Cola are big on branding, having turned St Nic red, but red mushrooms?

The fungi in red...?

We continued walking a little while through the woods, up then down, before finally emerging into the bright sunlight and a stunning view out to sea. It literally was breathtaking, or was it the climbing up and down? I pulled out my flask and we stopped for a quick coffee and to enjoy the scene.

Pennard ahoy!

After our caffeine fix we were ready to hit the trail again. Thankfully (for the sake of my marriage at least!) the path is easier from this point forward – it’s open, wider and pretty much flat. As you’d expect the views out to sea are brilliant. The sounds, especially the waves crashing on the rocks, soothing (ta-ta syrah!). We walked some way before turning Oxwich Point and gaining our first sight of Port Eynon in the distance.

Oxwich Point looking toward Port Eynon

Beyond this point the coastal path really widens, we’re virtually walking through fields, and being bombarded by constant reminders of why Gower was the UK’s first designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

However, not even the remotest parts of our coastline can escape the effects of life in a throwaway society. The strandline on the pebble beach below was littered with debris, plastic bottles, and this crate!

A beached crate!

Not far from where I took this photo, at Slade sands, we stopped again for coffee before heading inland away from the coast and up the hill. A short walk along a track and we picked up the lane leading from Slade back down to Oxwich, stopping only to admire the fine-looking cows grazing hay in the paddock of a farm.

What a mooverlous day!

With journey’s end in sight, we picked up the pace, walking briskly down the hill past the entrance to Oxwich Castle and Greenways Leisure Park.

Our ramble was exhilarating, the coastline delightful, and we shall definitely be returning to this part of the Wales coastal path again, maybe in May to check out those bluebells!

A walk around Rhossili Down in January

Rhossili Down (January 2012), a set on Flickr.

I’ve been quite active this year – going to the gym, and heading outdoors to make the most of the stunning countryside on my doorstep.

A few weeks ago, on a stunning Sunday, my wife and I headed for Rhossili Down, here’s a few pics from our walk.

I’ll be posting more in the next day or so

A reasonable start!

Anyone who knows me would have been shocked to have seen me walking out of a central Swansea gym earlier this evening. But yes, I have made a good start on one of my resolutions – I’ve joined a gym and actually been for a workout.

The gym I’ve joined is The Gym, a national chain of budget gyms newly opened in Swansea. At only £10.99 a month for the first 12 months it’s a bargain. And, the no joining fee or contract suits me fine – should I suddenly lapse .

 

The gym itself is fairly spacious, spreading across the upper floors of a retail complex, and is equipped with a good range of basic cardio and resistance machines supplied by Matrix Fitness – don’t expect state-of-the-art with entertainment screens or internet access, it is a budget gym after all.

There are number of personal trainers walking the floor, who seem to be happy to put you right if you’re using the equipment wrong. But, if you’re looking for anything more such as a training programme or motivational support you’ll have to pay extra.

I went around 6.00pm today and it was rather busy. There are around 25 treadmills and all seemed to be occupied, although I didn’t have to wait long. I started with 10 minutes on one of the cycling machines before another 10 minutes on a cross-trainer. I then tried a couple of reps on two different types of shoulder press machines before finishing with 10 minutes on the treadmill. If the machines are to be believed I burned off around 300 calories – a reasonable start (if I may say so!).

Having worked up a sweat I wanted to shower before heading home. I was pleased to see that there were separate cubicles and several of them. The changing room is basic but clean and well appointed.

As I’m just starting out and not looking to join a fitness class yet (I think I’m not fit enough yet) I’d have to say that I’d give The Gym the thumbs up. It offers good facilities, basic but perfectly fine equipment, and at an introductory price of £10.99 a bargain to boot.

Resolutions for 2012

I’m not usually one for resolutions, but this year I’d like to:
1. Read more
2. Blog more
3. Listen to more music
4. Exercise more, lose weight and feel fitter
5. Get a digital SLR and take-up photography
6. Work harder on my degree course, and not leave my essays until the last minute
7. Be a better husband, be more understanding and supportive, and do more around the house

Well they’re written down for all to see and judge how well I get on.

Good luck me

Autumn in Paris: How did I do?

Reblogged from On the Luce:

Back at the start of September before I headed out to Paris to spend autumn house-sitting in St Germain, I came up with a list of things I wanted to see and do with my six weeks in the city. They varied from the big-name museums to the lesser-known off-beat attractions, as well as some of the events taking place while I was out there. …

I’ve only whizzed through Paris – in a manic rush to get from Gare de Lyon to Gare du Nord to catch the Eurostar to London during the disruptive few days in 2010 caused by the Icelandic volcano.

Lucy’s post really makes me yearn to revisit and take plenty of time to soak up the city’s atmosphere – I especially like her photograph of the pavement cafe in St Germain.

Click-through and see for yourself

Where, Oh Where Has My Coffee Shop Gone?

Reblogged from A Mind Divided:

I’m a girl who needs a dive, a hang-out, a haunt, a place.  As long as I’ve been writing, I’ve done my best work tucked away in a funky cafe, scribbling longhand on tables that wobble, with Alternative music floating out of the corners.   Menus change, the number of piercings and tattoos on the wait-staff change, the music definitely changes, but there’s always a hidey-hole I can call my own somewhere nearby. So to be without a home away from home is unthinkable, yet, here I am—dive-less.  I admit I’m …

I know the feeling. Sitting, tucked a way in a corner, in a coffee shop or bar full of people, I often have great ideas. I’m not sure whether it’s the stolen snippets of conversations or the general vibe of such places, but I thrive on the buzz.

Vince Cable talks tough, but will he get tough?

The Guardian reports Vince Cable as calling time on excessive boardroom pay and bonuses.

Vince Cable talking tough at Liberal Democrat party conference

The paper states that the “business secretary champions ‘responsible capitalism’ model, forcing companies to justify pay policies in their annual reports.”

However, the devil is in the detail.

The Guardian further reports that pay increases and bonuses will have to be justified to shareholders. Now I’m no expert in company law, but surely the requirement for the CEO and other executive officers to justify their actions to the board and key shareholders already exists?

If not, then Vince Cable’s announcement is welcome. Although, I fear it will lack the teeth to really bite.

Wouldn’t it be better to legislate that remuneration at the top can be no more than say 25 times that of the lower paid, as per John Lewis?

Thus, to pay extortionate salaries to executives a company must significantly improve the lot of all its workers. Now that really would narrow the pay gap and create a more equal society.

Sadly, there are too many vested interests in maintaining the status quo. So whilst Vince may talk tough, his Tory bedfellows will prevent him from getting tough!

My view this lunchtime

This is my lunchtime view this lovely day. I’m sitting here looking down at the stream and valley listening to the birds sing whilst reading up on migration and identity for my OU DD101 course – bliss!

March for the Alternative

March for the Alternative, a set on Flickr.

I joined the TUC’s March For The Alternative last Saturday. It was a great demo and everybody was warm and friendly. These are a few of the photos I took with my phone.

Alternatively, take a look at this video. It’s really well presented with interviews of some of the people marching. The demo really did attract a cross section of UK society.

HM Government replies to petition to protect our canals

Earlier this week I received an email from Her Majesty’s Government informing me that an official response to a petition I started some time ago was now available on their website.

It was one Sunday in November 2009 that I posted my petition on the Number 10 website. I was driven to action by a report on BBC’s Politics Show programme highlighting plans being considered by the government to sell off the property portfolio of British Waterways, the agency tasked with the restoration and maintenance of the nation’s canals and waterways.

As British Waterways rely on the income generated from rents to undertake a considerable amount of its work I was concerned that  stretches of our canals and waterways, enjoyed by many, would no longer be maintained should it be forced to dispose of its property portfolio.

After a staggering 22,309 signatures (it was in the top five most popular petitions on the website at one stage) and a change of government the future of our waterways looks more certain. In its official response the government has confirmed plans to create a new charity, similar to the National Trust, and transfer the property portfolio to it.

Whilst I disagree with many policies being developed by the current government I must applaud them on this decison and look forward to hearing more about their plans in the next few weeks.