There are people who think I do nothing but sit at home playing on my computer. Don't let them upset you Computer, they don't understand.. Ahem... Well, anyway from to time I drag myself away The great outdoors has an appeal for many of us and I'm no different, so occaisionally the urge to see over the next hill takes hold. I decided to get up early and hopefully catch some evocative sunrises or whatever. To my disappointment the weather was dull and cloudy as I left home at six in the morning. Pretty cold despite the lack of frost, but lets persevere.

As I turned a corner onto the deserted High Street in Old Town, I suprised a pair of urban foxes. One hid behind a car and scarpered. The other ran away and darted down the same alleyway to the car park I intended to pass through. As I got closer, it glanced around the corner, then pulled back. A moment later it did the same thing. Sorry, Mr Fox, but I really am going that way. It ran off.

There was plenty of snow around but not too slippery. I followed a country path across the valley and on toward Chiseldon. It gets pretty spooky walking through the countryside in pitch dark with only the snow on the ground to stop you wandering into a frozen lake. Once past Chiseldon and out into the Marlborough Downs, the first dim light was making itself apparent. So was the weather as it began to snow. Funny - I thought the weather forecast was cloudy sunshine? Don't you just love British weather? Another funny thing is how wildlife seems to know when human beings are locked up safe in their warm brick caves. Out there amongst the hedgerows and fields, foxes, hares, rabbits, all manner of birds gaped in suprise at this idiot out walking on a very cold morning. I did see some deer tracks but the animal was too wiley to get seen by me.

The climb to Castle Farm Hill was pretty tough though. A cold wind, a deeply rutted track, frozen ground and fresh snow made going hard. I was puffing like an old man when I got up on the ridge. No comments please.

Pics of Yesterdays Expedition

The pictures make the Downs look like an isolated and rugged landscape. It is. Not as much as it once was. Over the forty years I've visited the area, I've seen it farmed more intensively and yet it still seems empty, almost wild in places. Thriving communities lived there in ancient and prehistoric times, and only wooded bumps and eroded earth banks are all thats left. They were certainly fitter than me.

Helpful Comment of the Week

This dubious accolade goes to the security guard at the library yesterday after I got back, cold and tired from my travels. Ok, I was still in my hiking gear and didn't exactly look like I'd escaped from a fashion magazine, but the young idiot made a reference to my appearance as a reason for my single status.

I wonder who I'm supposed to impress? An eighteen year old security guard who's life experience amounts to dealing with acne? Who exactly am I supposed to meet out on the downs in the grip of winter? Probably that young lady learning to be a truck driver who walked past me at a petrol station. Tight jeans and leather boots. I kid you not. I guess my olive green military surplus doesn't cut it with the fairer sex now World War Two is over. Perhaps you need the american accent as well?