A Lockdown Walk

To keep "book" fit and to aid mental health I have been walking my dog Pearl.
In order to avoid as many people as possible I have been exploring new routes.
This is one of my favourites.

The Start

• Crossing the main drag
• Onto the unofficial grass path
• Heading to the trees
• New houses on left were contested

The Back Lane

(Yes that is its name)

A lovely path beside a field.

The Line Of Trees

         on

The Cotswold Escapement 

Leading off the Back Lane

a tree lined path 

out to 

a local Landmark

Passing Horses

Along the edge of the fields  

And flowers in the hedgerow

Onto the road

now quiet 

because of lockdown

 

Through the Churchyard

              and

       Over the stile

The Valley

stretching off into the distance.

It is not as far as it looks

The Church

behind us

The Bridle Path

the final stretch home

Photo of the Month (May 2020)

Because I have been talking about quad biking I thought it appropriate to post a photo I DID take of quad biking.

The photo in the previous post is of me on a quad bike

This one (though not the best of photos) is of other people in my group enjoying quad biking over the sand dunes.

I have included it because it is atmospheric.
I hope you agree

A Strange Birthday

Shortly after I retired I decided I would do "something special" on my actual birthday.
Irrespective of whatever day it happened to be I would then be free to do anything I wanted.

Last October whilst in Africa  I had my first quad bike ride. 
We motored over all the sand dunes. 
The experience was exciting and exhilarating.

So this year I decided my "something special" would be quad bike riding.


Unfortunately this was not possible because of the lockdown regulations.

Nevertheless I had a lovely day with my daughter.



I do have 2 birthday wishes which I hope you will be able to help me  realize.

Number 1
For all my "friends" to like my FB Page
Motorhome  Musings
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Motorhome.Musings/posts/?ref=page_internal
to enable me to reach a target of 100 likes.


                                                      Number 2
To find 100 people prepared to act to fight for the British countryside
by joining the CPRE. 
(The Countryside Charity)

Why should you join?

1. The countryside is a valuable asset and needs protecting from becoming a concrete jungle.
2. Nurturing the countryside assists in combating climate change.
3. Looking after the countryside by default supports wildlife.
4. Access to the countryside has health benefits.
5. Once the countryside is gone then it is gone.  We cannot afford to lose any more of this precious commodity.

Please will you support me;  

Please join the CPRE.
Membership is only £3.00 a month.

Click on the link to sign up.
https://www.cpre.org.uk/get-involved/donations-and-membership/become-a-member/

Read of the Month (May 2020)

wikipedia

The 75th Anniversary of VE (Victory in Europe) Day is this Friday 8th May.

This has hugely influenced my Read of the Month.
If the events recounted in this book had been any different there would not have been a VE Day;
at least not celebrated by the Allies.


The book is like a modern day thriller except it is true and so the outcome is already known.
Surprisingly this does not make it any less of a thriller
I found it a page turner and finished it is just a few days.

With hindsight it is frightening to realize just how precarious the situation was in May 1940.
The book gives a comprehensive insight into the politics of the time.
In addition the people involved are more than the 2-dimensional reputations history has given them.

Read of the Month (May 2020)

Five Days in London; May 1940 

by 

John Lukacs




The days from May 24th to May 28th 1940 changed the course of 20th century history.
During these 5 days under discussion was

• who should head the War Cabinet
• whether the War Cabinet should declare war or negotiate with Hitler

I also liked this book because it demonstrates Neville Chamberlain's political understanding and skill despite being seriously ill with cancer.  Chamberlain was persuaded to remain a member of the War Cabinet after his resignation in May 1940 until his death because Churchill realized his expertise was vital.

Postcript

Neville Chamberlain's reputation was tarnished because of the peace treaty (Munich Agreement) he signed with Hitler in September 1938.

On the journey to Munich  a member of the British delegation was a young political assistant, who was later known as Sir Alex Douglass Hume and became Prime Minster in the 1960s.

In his memoire he recounts the real reason Chamberlain followed the policy of appeasement for so long and signed a Peace Treaty with Hitler.

Chamberlain was certain war with Hitler was inevitable.
However he also knew the British public was extremely reluctant to engage in another conflict.
He had to demonstrate to the people that there was no other option.
Hence his very public celebration of the Munich Agreement; "Peace in Our Time".
Chamberlain was certain Hitler had no intention of honouring the Agreement.
When the British public saw this they would be more inclined to back the government in declaring war.