A random walk over the Malvern Hills

I went out in the week to post a parcel.

I ended up The Beacon.

When most people visit Malvern to walk the Hills they pull up in the car park, in most cases near the top or at least half way up.

I start my walks from my front door at the base of the North Hill (far end of the picture) 79ms and walk to the top of The Beacon at 425ms.

I went on a whim, although I did have suitable footwear and clothing on for walking off the tarmac track. The weather was perfect, not so much today as I head off to British Camp after last nights snow and I'll be starting my walk, halfway up from the car park.

The problem with before and after photos during construction

Trying to find a spot at the beginning of a construction project from where to take regular photos from is getting harder and harder due to the number of projects on the go in Dubai. The first project I started to document was the building of the Dubai Water Canal however within a few months, my view point was now the middle of the 120m wide and 12 m deep canal. So I've started to look for 'above' photo vantage points.

Recently I've been documenting a build in the UK on the old Qinetiq site in Malvern. Without realising the order of the build, I returned the other week to discover the view of the build is blocked already.

Well I can provide an updated photo of the view from above, easy. However I'd made an error of judgement....the weather. If I'd just looked out the kitchen window before I set off, I would have realised I couldn't see the Hills from the ground, therefore it was unlikely I'd see anything from being up there.

One Daily Positive - Week 24 Dubai to Dublin

When I started my dental treatment back in February I had to avoid eating any foods that required me to bite and/or chew. As a result I lost 5kg and felt much better for it. However after the surgery healed I started eating chocolate, bread and chips again. my headaches have returned and I've put 2kg back on. We've also been eating out quite a lot and I've decided to make an effort from now on with what I eat.

Over the weekend we were talking about how we must've have adapted now to the summer in the Dubai as the temps hit 40c and it actually wasn't that bad, but on Monday night the humidity hit full force adding 10-12c to the 'feels like' actual temp.

My chronic pain isn't abatting, it doesn't prevent me from doing things, I'm just in pain the whole time. I flew business class to Ireland, I managed 5 hours before the pain got too much, but at least I didn't cry on this flight.

I'm finishing the week with a friend on the West Coast of Ireland for a week.

160 Sunday Spent the day tidying and cleaning the house and scrubbed all the rugs to rid them from pet hair. Popped out for coffee and a swim late afternoon. The chair pod has been moved indoors to protect it from sun damage.

161 Monday Day Lots of bits and bobs to do around the home today, headed out to the Marina Mall for coffee, the bench was so hot, it burnt me through my jeans.

162 Tuesday A day at the dog park with friends, did some more washing and cleaning. The afternoon was spent cleaning and I popped over to the pool.

163 Wednesday Started the morning dropping the cat and dog off in boarding as Peter is also away on Friday with work to Turkey. Had blood tests and a trip to the hairdressers for a cut and mani and pedi.

164 Thursday Early morning flight to Dublin. Collected car hire and made our way to the West Coast to the air b&b for the week. Found a lovely pub for dinner and ale.

165 Friday My friend and her husband have bought a property here, we're here to sort out the heating, setting up utilities, purchasing furniture and household items, see solicitors, bank accounts etc. Had a pub lunch, did a food shop and relaxed in the evening. The view from their property.

166 Saturday Headed out to Westport for the day, we then spent the evening with her husbands family. This was the drive back to the accommodation.

I've been losing interest in blogging, don't feel I really have much to say about anything these days and it's not enjoyable when it becomes forced. Blogging is my hobby.

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One Daily Positive - Week 22

Final dental surgery, gum cut and post exposed, temp tooth installed and a couple of stitches, back next week for stitches to be removed and final fitting of permanent teeth in July.

My chronic pain has flared up again, it seems to disappear when my iron stores drop, but after an infusion a couple of weeks ago, the pain and the headaches are returning. I'm also suffering with my cognitive ability and finding it hard to find the right words for everyday objects. With it comes the depression. The chronic pain never leaves but I've had it for 24 years now, so it's just part of my life, when I get respite for a period of time, any flare ups are unmanageable.

Sunday 146 Dentists and rest of the day spent in front of the TV. Did some ironing early evening while Peter went out for an Iftar meal and washed down the patio. It's getting really hot out there.

Car temps parked in the shade and 30 mins later after a drive home. Outside temps 36c

Monday 147 Spent the day cleaning the house and washing rugs, dog bedding, shower curtains etc popped out for coffee and had a swim late afternoon.

You don't need to go to a fuel station to fill up in Dubai, they come to you.

Tuesday 148 Dog park with Bob, coffee and yoga. We mowed the lawn as it was cloudy and overcast. Out to a colleagues of Peter's for dinner, I just had drinks, still can't eat with my teeth.

View from the balcony

Wednesday 149 Took Peter's car for a service. I met a friend for coffee then took myself to Mall of the Emirates. Peter collected me on his way home. I went for a swim and we had pub quiz in the evening. 2nd place for us tonight.

Thursday 150 Dog park, no yoga. Peter dropped me at the local mall to get my nails done then I walked home via the pool to cool down. Peter worked from home then collected his visa from the Saudi embassy.

Friday 151 Had a lazy morning then headed out for coffee and a food shop, home by 3pm. Peter made a risotto and then we just sat in front of the TV till bedtime.

There's a gentle breeze today making the garden just about manageable to sit in to drink a beer.

Saturday 152 Collected Peter's car from the garage, then got a taxi from home to meet friends for lunch and a few drinks, the evening was spent in front of the TV with a few snacks.

I'm always amazed at how green Dubai is, never knew there was a lake here.

On the blog this week:

Around the home and garden in Dubai and South Africa

Guess where I am in the world?

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My Sunday Photo -Week 140 V is for View

Life is starting to return to normal after my father's sudden death in July. A new normal, bearing in my mind my home is in Dubai and I'm going to be in the UK for a while longer yet.

The original purpose of my visit was to help the teen with his apprenticeship applications and to find him somewhere to live, we've been delayed by 8 weeks, but I'm on it now. I was also here to sort out our new flat in South Wales and house we rent out in Malvern as well as paperwork for investments, UK tax and a few other bits and pieces.

Slowly I've started to get round to doing some of the above now and I'm on top of things with mum. Peter arrives next Sunday for 2 weeks and we'll be travelling around the UK having a bit of a holiday and hopefully seeing a bit more than the inside of the shed, garage, attic and the view of a field from the car boot.

The view from the Wyche Cutting, Malvern.

Week 10 - One Daily Positive and Project 366

It's been a very busy week, I've had a week off work and my friend from the UK has been out to visit. We've done almost all of Dubai this week, I'm bloody knackered and could do with a holiday to relax. The teen is out in 16 days for the spring holidays and I'll be off work for 2 of the 3 weeks he is here.

Sunday
Day 66 #onedailypositive #project366 sundowners (sans alcohol) on the beach with @debs72_
My Sunday Photo this week was a photo of me on the beach.

Monday 
Day 67 #onedailypositive #project366 I love this woman @debs72_ she's as daft as I am. She is visiting Dubai for the week, our kids were best mates in primary school, we lived 3 doors and a mini roundabout apart. We remained friends after the boys went to different secondary schools. Here's Debbie making friends in the Creek today.

Tuesday
Day 68 #onedailypositive #project366 quite a cloudy day, but we had tickets so we was going up @atthetopburjkhalifa followed by a trip to @thedubaimiraclegarden and watching the sunset on the beach.
Animal Tales this week was seagulls, dead fish and an elephant on the beach.

Wednesday
Day 69 #onedailypositive #project366 this visit from @debs72_ has involved cake, a lot of cake, but I'm not complaining.

Thursday
Day 70 #onedailypositive #project366 we've been enjoying the cooler weather in Dubai this week with the storms, after dismantling the broken gazebo and mopping the flooded kitchen floor, the sun came back out and re scheduled our desert safari for the afternoon and started our morning with breakfast on @atlantisthepalm @debs72_ 

Friday
Day 71 #onedailypositive #project366 after an early start and dropping my friend at the airport after a wonderful week, we took Bob out into the desert, did the food shop, then spent the rest of the day in bed watching tv and chilling out.
This weeks HDYGG was the garden surviving the storm in Dubai.

Saturday
Day 72 #onedailypositive #project366 Saturday has been spent planning, writing reports and learning journals, followed by a cycle ride for coffee and cake and pick up some shopping. It will be an early night tonight and start the week fresh as I have a school trip and parent's evening on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Kirstenbosch and World of Birds on the Hop on Hop Off City Sightseeing Bus – blue route.

An overpowering of the senses hits you on arrival at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. The smell of the misty air, the plants and the trees. The sounds of running water and birds and the sights of the misty mountains, the forest and a view over Cape Town and the ocean.

Despite the rain, it was definitely worth getting off the hop on hop off bus at this stop. I only stayed for 40 minutes but that was enough time for a gentle stroll and a walk through the treetops on the Boomslaang, Tree Canopy Walk. 

There are information signs along the route telling you about healing and medicinal properties of the plants, labels naming trees and a section of rare and endangered plants and what is happening to cause this effect and how their decline can be prevented further. 

Plenty of benches and lapas along the route for you to sit, relax and enjoy the views, when weather permits you’re welcome to picnic on the lawn. There is also a café and a well stocked gift shop.

Next stop was the World of Birds and for me I wasn’t too impressed. Too many different varieties of birds were all mixed up.

The map didn’t match the actual layout and for me there were too many chickens, ducks, ha de dahs and common garden birds we have back home in Pretoria. 

It wasn’t particularly very clean and a sign said the penguins were fed at 11.30am but I sat there and waited for 20 minutes and no one came.

However this is a sanctuary for ill and rescued birds and relies 100% on public donations costing R500, 000 per month to run. Having read this my opinion changed, it is not an aviary with birds bred in captivity, it is the intention for these birds to be rehomed in their natural environment where possible.

Harties CableWay

We try to find somewhere new to visit every month while we are in South Africa, this weekend we visited Hartbeespoort, a 45 minute drive from Pretoria, to collect a mask that a colleague of hubbies had purchased. We decided that on the way home we'd pay a visit to Harties Cableway.

I was a little shocked at the price R160 per person, with a R20 discount if booked online. For South Africa that is on the high side in regards to an entrance fee. The ride was smooth and pretty quick to the top. The cars carry 6 people and they make sure they are full, without separating families and groups.

Once at the top there were sign posts to the pizza shack, toilet, self serve restaurant, bar and kids playing area. I really wouldn't want to visit in the summer as I can imagine it is packed, but on a cold winters day, we were able to walk round, read the information plaques, take photos and find a seat at the bar to have a drink and enjoy the live music.

We opted to eat at the restaurant downstairs, which had a good selection and was reasonably priced. i don't think it is somewhere we will be adding to our 'must take out visitors' list, but we've been and it's another thing ticked off our 'must visit before we leave South Africa' list.