This isn't the Christmas we were planning for, but let's hope we can all manage something at least slightly positive. How has everyone been doing so far? Many thanks to Barry for organising last week's Christmas party, Ali for providing the Zoom links and Gavin for the quiz. 22 people rolled up, so to speak, and it was great to chat online and see familiar faces and hear everyone's news. Paul Lawrence was the attendee who Zoomed in the furthest, from his temporary bunker in the Lake District, lucky chap. Oh - and good luck to Colin Saunders, who by the time you get this will be well into his Winter Solstice walk. Some of you might have taken part in his Summer Solstice epic a while back, when we set off at dawn from North Greenwich station to see how far we could get along the Thames Path before sunset - some 41 miles later, we made it to Weybridge. Happy days. Colin's plan is to set off at first light (around 8 a.m.) and see how far he gets before the curtains need closing. 

Meanwhile, some of us squeezed in a few long walks before London was bumped into Tier4. Gavin and Ian notched up some 18 miles from Westminster to Richmond, affording the photo opportunity below in Battersea Park.

  :

Gavin finds his spiritual home in Battersea Park
PHOTO Ian Fairweather

And as Minna comments, 'Just look at the smiles on those faces! Little did we know that we were to be practically the last decent walk out before Christmas. Lonica led a delightful walk of 16.5 miles from Mile End up into the Lockwood reservoir, Walthamstow. There were some intriguing and beautiful corners explored on the way and we didn't mind at all about the rain. Pictured here, Lonica Vanclay, Ken Main and Marie Heracleous. Minna Graeber behind the camera. Thank you all!'

'The last decent walk before Christmas: Sunday, 13th December'
PHOTO Minna Graeber

And for social distancing, Norfolk is hard to beat, by the look of Pete's photo: 'A splendid couple of days walking the Pedders Way from Thetford to Hunstanton, with an overnight stop in Castle Acre. The first day was ok - one can have too much of regimented pines and road walking; the second was magnificent - nowhere does skies like Norfolk!

'Nowhere does skiers like Norfolk'
PHOTO Pete Colley

*

And finally...

Have the best Christmas you can, everyone, and may you and your dear ones all stay safe and well. And remember, they can make us queue outside the supermarket, they can ban us from meeting our friends, but one thing they can't do is stop us (long distance) walking.