This morning Madame Pudding had the bright idea of heading out to the far south east of the city to visit the Crystal Peaks shopping centre. She was keen to use her senior travel card on the city's "Supertram" system. We would travel by bus into the city centre then near Fitzalan Square we would catch a blue line tram all the way to Crystal Peaks. Neither of us had been there in years.
Hastily, I hatched a supplementary plan which would see me spurning the retail delights of the shopping centre in order to walk in a big circle - out to Rother Valley Country Park, round the lakes and then back again to Beighton and onward to Crystal Peaks - some six miles in total.
Soon after setting off on the walk I found myself in the Church of St Mary the Virgin. Inside, a small number of senior parishoners happened to be decorating the church ready for Christmas. They were most welcoming and a silver-haired lady called Christine asked if I would like a hot drink. It seemed to me to be a very Christian thing to do so I asked for a coffee and she even brought it to me as I was photographing the statuette of Mary that stands in a stone apse and happened to be caught delightfully in sunshine.
Then off I plodded, climbing two railway footbridges and a stone bridge over The River Rother. The path led me on to Rother Valley Country Park which sits on the site of what was once a large opencast coal mine. Its dirty, industrial past is almost impossible to detect these days. The years have softened it and thoughtful authorities have planted and developed the 750 acre leisure area wisely.
Onward I plodded feeling slightly giddy - probably because I do not eat much in the morning these days - just a banana and a handful of grapes today. The sun continued to shine. Three men were feeding wildfowl at the water's edge and a few other people were out walking like me. A couple of joggers dashed by and a daft lad on a motorbike who knew for sure that motorcycles are banned in the park.
On the way home there was an unexpected and unheralded hold-up with the trams so after waiting for forty minutes, I caught the number 120 bus back into the city centre. All in all it had been another grand day out with good exercise and not what I was anticipating when I was woken up this morning by a scam telephone call that instantly made my blood boil: "YOU JUST WOKE ME UP!"Then I placed a hex on the call centre responsible.
Auntie Debra chimes in with her unsolicited advice -- "That giddy feeling may be an indicator of falling blood sugar, which can be caused by exercise. When hiking, you may want to carry an orange juice box, banana, and Dex-4 glucose tablets with you in case you need to raise your blood sugar fast out of the danger zone of fainting/passing out. Being on a medication like Mounjaro or Ozempic can exacerbate the situation as well."
ReplyDeleteThank you Online Doctor Debra. Thelma (below) mentioned glucose tablets too and I am going to get some.
DeleteI admire how you got away form shopping.
ReplyDeleteI am allergic to looking round shops that are not supermarkets.
DeleteI guess Shirley knew not to expect you back at Crystal Peaks to join her for the journey home. Given the choice, I'd rather have gone walking with you than spending such a beautiful sunny day inside a shopping centre, but of course needs must, and I hope she found what she was looking for, and at reasonable prices.
ReplyDeleteThe old mill stone is beautiful! Also, you captured the statuette of Mary at the perfect moment. How nice of Christine to offer and then bring you a hot drink.
And how NOT nice of call centers having their employees call people at ungodly hours.
At Crystal Peaks, all of your dreams can come true if you are into shopping. Shirley also met up with an old nursing friend who has lost five stones with the help of Mounjaro.
DeleteA banana and a handful of grapes is not a good breakfast for walking, you need some protein as well, probably even if you aren't planning on walking six miles. A hard boiled egg should be included. Did you at least take a bottle of water?
ReplyDeleteI never realised that you are a trained nutritionist Elsie. Thank you for your professional advice.
DeleteThe statuettte picture is amazing.
ReplyDeleteI dedicate that picture to you Dave.
DeleteI was going to say why don't you put your phone on silent at night, but then I remembered!! We got rid of our landline years ago as the only calls were scammers!
ReplyDeleteAs I do not own a smartphone I need the landline Frances.
DeleteMy point exactly!
DeleteWHAT!! You didn't offer to accompany Mrs Pudding and carry all her bags for her?
ReplyDeleteI have a medical condition that makes me allergic to any type of shopping that is not food shopping.
DeleteAs mother of a diabetic son, always remember to take some food with you, glucose tablets are fine but they need topping up soon with something more substantial than grapes. I like the first photo you captured Mary perfectly in the sun.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip Thelma. I will buy myself some glucose tablets.
DeleteYou chose a much better alternative to sitting on one of the bored husband's seats in the shopping centre.
ReplyDeletePorridge is good for cholesterol. That topped with some cut up fruit and a dessert spoon sprinkling of psyllium husks, also helpful for cholesterol, should be much better for your health and sustain you better until your bacon butty at lunch time.
Currently, i only eat normal meals in the evening.
DeleteThe walk sounds like a much better alternative to shopping. Like one or two others I would question your choice of breakfast - especially if you plan a walk of any length. Remember the old saying "Breakfast like a King, lunch like a Lord and dinner/supper like a Pauper"? You really need something more substantial to begin the day.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I don't think your hex will bother the call centre and may even make them call more often and at really annoying times! We used to get calls at 4 a.m.!
With the weight loss medication, I am actively reducing my calorie intake through the day. My attitude to food is altering.
DeleteI can't even imagine walking six miles in one day. (Not sure I ever did?)
ReplyDeleteThere have been times quite recently - when I have walked twelve or fourteen miles in one session.
DeleteWe had had the same woman phone about solar pamels about 6 times.
ReplyDeleteI gave her your number - just for fun.
DeleteI'd take the walk and avoid the shops, especially this time of year!
ReplyDeleteUnless there is something in particular that you need to buy, shopping sucks.
DeleteI agree with River- you need some protein before setting off on a trip like that. Anyone might feel a bit faint on a six mile walk having eaten nothing but a bit of fruit. Next time try a bit of peanut butter on your banana at least.
ReplyDeleteThanks for caring about my welfare.
DeleteSometimes the best days are the ones that are impromptu. Sounds like you had a good day.
ReplyDeleteI got home in darkness so it really was a full day.
DeleteSounds like a good day out.
ReplyDeleteAnd it was.
DeleteEgad! Such a devoted walk! My congratulations; looked lovely. Our landline company has a blocking feature, perhaps yours does as well???
ReplyDeleteYou can block particular numbers but the scammers change their numbers regularly to bypass any blocks.
DeleteLooks like a beautiful day for a nice hike!
ReplyDeleteYou have to make use of good days when they arrive.
DeleteIt sounds and looks like a lovely walk. It's good that an open cast mine was transformed into a beautiful park.
ReplyDeleteHumans can do good things - occasionally!
DeleteUgh! Phone scams! I always have someone texting me saying they're from the HR department and want to offer me a job. Yeah, right.
ReplyDeleteIt's always fun to walk a new route!
Yes. New routes make your antennae bristle with alertness.
Delete