Julie's Jabber - This week with London LDWA


Julie's Jabber - This week with London LDWA
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London LDWA

Hats off to Godfrey & Co, who managed to fit in a last social walk before the portcullis came down (see the photo below).  Those of us who were looking forward to Ron's walk on the Thursday weren't so lucky as that was the day we all had to lock down again. Ron has sent us a list of the places we were going to visit between Fenchurch Street and Waterloo, and it looks like he's put together another fabulous route. I suspect some of us will be trying to find our way round it ourselves, though it won't come close to doing it in company. I'm particularly looking forward to seeing Bonnington Square, with its unconventional history that included its own Druid priest. Here's a taster - thank you, Ron, for the link Bonnington Square

 

 

richmond stroll made small

Richmond Stroll

Douglas Robinson, Peter Russell, Colin Saunders, Paul Lawrence, Dave Williams and Godfrey O'Callaghan (behind the camera), enjoyed a coffee and chat after a gentle riverside stroll at Richmond hours before Lockdown 2. PHOTO Godfrey O'Callaghan

 

 

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Fungus update:

A postscript to the deadly poisonous but boringly identifiable fly agaric featured in Jabber a couple of weeks back. Lonica writes: 'Many years ago in the Land of Oz a hippy friend of mine was convinced if you dried them in the oven they would take you to another happy land.  He tried it and fortunately lived....but to my amazement he promptly dropped to his hands and knees and starting barking like a dog.'

 

Moos News

Last week's request for cow anecdotes brought a reminder from Susanne that cows are sometimes no laughing matter:

 

'This comes as a bit of a warning to be wary especially if dogs have been in the field (as proved to be the case below).  This is an extract from the report of a walk I led a few years back. 

'A peaceful start to a day which would end in drama.

As we approached Ashford, we had to cross a field with a large herd of cows.  Many of the cows seemed agitated by our presence, though we were trying to give them a wide berth. Suddenly one cow turned on Neal and charged.   The rest of us looked on in helpless horror.  Then something extraordinary happened.  The cow was only inches from him when Neal sank to his knees in front of her.  She stopped in her tracks.  For a few seconds man and cow stared each other in the eyes.  Then she backed away.

We all joked about the incident afterwards about ‘nealing’ and cowtowing.  The cow had not charged as much as the hotel, where the orange juice topped up with soda had cost me and Claire £6.27 EACH.  However we all knew that Neal’s presence of mind and courage had spared not only injury to himself but almost certainly to us as well.  I will never ever forget that walk.

'I have become even more wary about cows since attending the funeral of a friend of a friend who was trampled.  Admittedly he was taking his three dogs for a walk.  However it could be someone else’s dog that winds the cows up. I get very angry when I see irresponsible dog walkers letting their dogs run around in a cow field especially as it could be somebody else who has to deal with the aftermath as proved to be the case on my walk.'

 

Jabber likes to end on a light-hearted note, however, so while we're on the topic of hazards encountered in fields, I give you the following image I happened on while (as ever) browsing on Twitter. I hope they were careful where they swung those scythes.

 

 

nude farmers v cows

 

 

London LDWA - http://www.ldwa.org.uk/London