Still loving Fylde

 I can’t believe how long it is since I posted!  Life is sill good. Lots of changes over the past year but we are still loving the Fylde Coast and rarely go anywhere else. We ventured up to the Lakes and climbed Langdale again but other than that we walk around Lytham, Fairhaven and South Shore. Marley is a little calmer these days but not much, we’ve just learnt to accept and manage situations better. It’s great he can be trusted playing with great nieces and nephews now they are all a little older but he’s still reactive to bikes, birds and sometimes runners.  It is what it is!  

Last time I blogged we were coming out of restrictions.  Seems like a strange dream. Back in the office most days now although my better half is always at home, so Marley enjoys company pretty much all the time. 

This year we are walking a virtual Lands End to John O’Groats by a long route. Already nearly out of Cornwall. Just under 1000 miles to go!

In to Spring

 Whilst the posts may be few and far between, life is good.  Eventually caught COVID along with most people after Christmas, which meant 10 days of isolation and no walks.  2 years ago, I could not have conceived the idea that we’d not go out for 10 days. It’s the longest time in my life (fortunately) that I’ve been housebound.

The rest probably didn’t do the dog much good as soon after he was back at the vets with a gland problem, but all fine now.  Walks have, as usual, been down the lanes and around Fairhaven area in the main.  I never tire of it!  We’ve had some glorious weather and sun rises, walks in the snowdrops, daffodils and now Tulips at Lytham Hall.  I love spring.  The garden is starting to come alive too, and the ground has dried out a bit so plenty of playtime with the ball.

So far as COVID goes, hope that’s the worst over.  Life is getting back to normal, but a new normal.

Autumn

The absence of posts doesn’t mean we’ve not been out and about.  Not that we’ve done much different…most weekends we’ve walked somewhere by the sea or estuary. Walking along the wall at Fairhaven is now a favourite rather than a place to do training walks. It’s a little manic at times but when I look back I’m reminded of how far we’ve come.  Lytham Hall has remained a favourite although less so now the rain and mud have arrived. We’ve not been to the beach much, but through choice, as we’ve been happy enough wandering elsewhere. 

Morning and evening walks have been a bit dull lately. Roadworks have meant we’ve been a bit of an island here, and when it has rained heavily it gets flooded each way we walk. Happily, roadworks have now gone so we should get a bit more variety. 

There have been plenty of trips to the office since summer. It’s been the norm for at least a few days a week with a few trips away too. Working from home where you can is now back so for the next few weeks at least the dog will be happy. 

Looking forward Christmas and a week off in the new year!

Summer

Wow. Time flies and it’s so long since I did a blog entry.  It’s nearly autumn but summer has been good. Working from home has continued in the main. The dog is still a great work companion. Work hours are much longer than they would have been if in the office regularly so it doesn’t mean he gets walked lots more, but he is happy with company.  We had a few trips beyond Fylde over the summer, Scorton, Beacon Fell and Longridge Fell, but in the main we’ve spent time round the lanes, Lytham Hall, the Prom and up to St Anne’s from Fairhaven.  

The dog got spooked by a boisterous young pup back in June and took flight (he was happily safe) so not so much off lead walking lately other than with the long line on the beach. Think he would have taken off again on beacon Fell had he not been on the lead as two cockers decided to gang up on him.  I’ve never really had to worry about a nervous dog running off before so it’s definitely changed our habits in the past few months. 

Still feeling so lucky to have such amazing places to walk close by. We’ve been to the pub again a couple of times which was hard work. Lunch in the garden is easier!  All in all it’s been a good summer and we are currently on another holiday at home with a dose of antibiotics for infected anal glands- lovely!  Hope we get back to Cornwall next year and everyone else goes abroad once more!

Springtime walks and garden galore

Spring has arrived, with lighter evenings, warm sunshine and since Monday visits to gardens. It’s been a great few weeks!  A week off meant lots of morning walks on the beach followed by digging borders in the garden. The dog had a ball!  This week has been amazing, with a few friends and family in the garden at various times, a couple of trips to see others close by, and best of all playing with his ‘new’ cousins and the twins. Life has been tiring being a springer spaniel this week!

As always, Easter is generally for staying local. A far cry from the worry of last year when I wasn’t sure whether off lead walks would be a thing of the past!

We seem to have pretty much cracked visitors and the boys now. No worries provided they play with him and don’t try to play football without him! Birds are a bit of a nightmare at times, but at times rather than all the time! 

Running ended with an injured knee in early March. Hopefully one day we’ll be back to it.  Until then, we will continue to love our walks. 

Lockdown 3 - More of the same

Here we are in February.  Lockdown 3 continues.  No chance of a huge amount of excitement these days but we have enjoyed walks down the Lane and a few trips to the Green or the beach for a run off lead.  We’ve had plenty of ice and a little snow over the past few weeks, but nothing like we’d have found on the moors.  Walking in heavy snow on the beach at Lytham made a change though. Couch25k continues and the dog is making a good running companion. Of course it means we are going a bit further than we would a few times a week, so despite lockdown plenty of exercise.  Can’t wait for warmer weather though and to be able to sit in the garden. 

Like plenty of other dogs he is enjoying work, lying quietly through daily Teams calls.  A year ago I’d not have imagined it.  I don’t suppose we will see normality this year, but maybe some walks with family by Easter.  In the meantime, we will continue to enjoy what we have around us.

Beaches, lanes and lockdown 3

 So, we’ve made it to January!  December was pretty good in terms of walks.  Lots of weekend trips to the beach at St Annes which was great, and a few evening walks along the Green at Lytham.  Christmas wasn’t quite the Christmas we’d planned, with just the three of us and Zoom calls on Christmas Day.  It was lovely to get on the beach on Christmas morning though, with the weather being particularly kind.  January was always going to be difficult, we knew that with so many mixing on Christmas Day, but lockdown 3 came quickly as we started a week off work.  It was back to the lanes nearby for walks this week, nice but not as nice as a run on the beach.  There’s been plenty of social media debate about driving for exercise, and I would if I or the dog needed it, but the general guidance is to stay local to your village, town or part of your city.  For us that’s meant the lanes for the past few days. The dog has enjoyed himself though, with a good long walk every day and week 1 of couch to 5k thrown in along the way, and a bit of snow and ice.  He’s a very athletic dog and will make a good running companion over the coming weeks, particularly as there’s nowhere great to let him off lead on the doorstep   

Autumn in Warton

 Can’t quite believe it’s December. Where did this year go?  Where did autumn go?  Marley has had a good time I think. Beach most weekends, or Lytham Green and Fairhaven. Lytham Green has proved a great place for an evening walk with enough light to see, and views across the Ribble. Sometimes we’ve been faced with a red glow in the sky towards Tarleton, which turned out to be lights reflecting on the misty sky from the greenhouses....to make the tomatoes grow apparently. Yesterday we had a relatively big trip out back to Worden Park, which was lovely but mucky. Of course we’ve not seen too many people during lockdown 2 (which was nothing like lockdown 1) other than numerous delivery people and passers by. Given that, he’s better out and about on the beach. I am wary of, rather than dread, runners. Today I gave him a bit of a test out with 2 young lads who looked like they’d cope if he jumped at them. Whilst he ran right to them he didn’t jump, before running back to me. Seconds later he was off after them again but turned back before he reached them. I call that success!

14 years of blogging

 When the clocks go back it’s a happy and sad time. I remember my walk in 2006 with Finney at Malham so well, and also our walk 10 years later.   He was the best dog anyone could wish for!  Marley, now nearly two and a half, slept in a little later, but we were still up early and out on the beach at 8.  We had a lovely walk from St Anne’s to Star Gate, which has become our usual Sunday morning walk.  We still don’t travel far. I feel so lucky to be able to walk down country lanes from home, or along Lytham Green before or after work if I choose. We are still working from home and although they are long days, Marley has settled well and most of the time my fellow Skype and Zoomers wouldn’t know he was there. 

The only real change to our routine has been a new path, not far away, down a farm track to fields.  A nice walk albeit quite short.  We’ve also had a week off in September, a stay at home vacation again, but nice all the same and we ventured to the beer garden of our local pub for the first time since lockdown.

Restrictions mean we don’t see that many people face to face  so it’s nice to say the odd socially distanced hello out on our walks.  Hope next year life is more normal, but couldn’t wish to have a more lovely dog to spend my days with.  

A stay local summer

 Nearly September. What a year so far. July and August have been good. We’ve had a couple of lovely trips to see mum and family in Derbyshire. Mostly though we’ve been for walks locally, down the lane, on Lytham Green, Fairhaven and St Annes Beach.  It’s been great, especially the beach. 

I’ve ditched the harness some of the time lately. He walks better without and has been trying to shake it off a bit. We’ve done plenty of training in the past few weeks. At a distance of 15 feet or so he is coping better with bikes and runners. Didn’t help today though when some idiot decided distance was no object as he ran past about 2 feet away. Should have given Marley 6 ft of lead!  Bikes are a bit better too. If we keep up the rewards on the Granny’s Bay path I think next year might be the year we crack it :).  Birds are generally much less of an issue - did I really say that?

M