Dark Woods and Dressage

Posted on 19/09/201319/09/2013 by Alastair

Last weekend I found myself with time to spare as I waited for the Clydach Riding Club Dressage Show to start. Having turned up earlier than I needed to, I took the opportunity to have a short walk through the woodland next to the show field.

The weather had been pretty wet for several days but on Saturday the clouds at least had dried up, if not the ground, the plants and the undergrowth. The dry “crump” of my footsteps in snow (see yesterday’s post) was nowhere to be heard in the woodland landscape at Ynystawe near Swansea.

In amongst the trees the scene was dark as well as wet, making photography problematic. The dressage show photos can be found at StillWalks Photography.

One Happy Rider

Fungi Challenge

Posted on 29/08/201329/08/2013 by Alastair

Walking in the woods the other day revealed a range of fungi, but I am no expert in the identification of the various species. Can anyone name all these fungi?

All photos taken on my iPhone 4S.

Ticking the List – A Walk up Kilvey Hill, Swansea

Posted on 21/06/201321/06/2013 by Alastair

Finally, at last, after nearly 30 years, I have climbed Kilvey Hill in Swansea! It is one of those things I have meant to do since moving to the area but just never managed to get round to, even though it is almost on my doorstep.

The Transition Swansea group, which I signed up to last November, arranged a walk up the hill on Wednesday evening and it was all I needed to make the move. I had spent most of the day driving and so it was a welcome change of activity and well worth it for the views.

Over the next few days I am going to post some of the photos I took on the walk but they can all be seen (and bought) anytime through the StillWalks Photography website.

Swansea Harbour

Swansea Bay

Mumbles Lighthouse

Walking up the Kilvey Hill

A Walk Through Marsh Grass and Across a Yellow Field

Posted on 20/06/201320/06/2013 by Alastair

This post is pretty much just what it says on the tin!

Using the excellent RODE recording app for iPhone (though not their iPhone mic) I got, precisely, the sound of the wind in the marsh grass when out walking in the evening recently. I held the iPhone right in amongst the grasses which had the added advantage of muffling the sound of traffic on the motorway as well as stopping the rumble effect of the wind directly on the mic.

These field recordings on their own are not going to be for everyone but I enjoyed listening to the changing sounds of the grasses as the wind strength changed and find, as with the recording I do for StillWalks videos, that the sound does so much to help visualize the memory.

Wandering Around the Garden, France.

Posted on 24/03/201324/03/2013 by Alastair

French Garden – Two more photos from my parents’ garden in Faye la Vineuse and you can see it below in the StillWalks “Garden Walk, France”.

. . .

The house is for sale and you see the StillWalks house tour here and get further details on the house website.

Looking Out

Looking Down

A Different Angle

Posted on 22/03/201322/03/2013 by Alastair

Looking at things from another angle is important – you always gain a new perspective.

The first shot could have been taken on a different day to the others, but no, just a different angle.

Balancing Act

Different Angles

The shot above looks as though it could have been “Photoshopped”, but I swear it hasn’t – it’s just the angle!

All images are from the StillWalk “Coastal Walk”.

Soggy Walk on Xmas Eve

Posted on 24/12/201224/12/2012 by Alastair

I took these photos with my iPhone on a wet walk on the marshes this afternoon and now I’m trying out publishing this post from it as well.

It stopped raining for 5 minutes so I thought I’d get out quick – but I still got rained on. Mind you, 90 minutes without rain was asking a lot.
Happy Christmas !

Stress Signal Status

Posted on 31/08/201231/08/2012 by Alastair

Aching, painful muscles?

Tinnitus?

Headaches?

My stress signals include these three symptoms and probably in that order. StillWalks or walking are my most immediate remedies.

Tinnitus – The tinnitus comes second in the list even though it is a constant in my left ear. It is when it becomes a textured and vibrating whine that it gets more difficult to accept and it does this at times of greater stress . . . and then, of course, I get more stressed as a result.

Muscles – It’s the same situation with the muscles – the pain in the muscles (often my neck, currently my shoulders) may be the cause of stress or something else but the result is the tensing of those and other muscles which only makes things worse.

Headaches – These come last on the list for me because I do not generally get headaches. When I do, it is usually the result of stress. I have only ever had a couple of migraines but that is two too many. A good description for them was put up here at the A Word in Your Ear blog last week.

It’s Amazing – I’ve just watched a StillWalk and it’s amazing how well can work! The Garden Park Walk is a full length example – you’ll find it on the Spring Walks page of StillWalks and it is recommended that you watch it full screen.

Here are a few images from this short 6 minute video.