Liquid mud

It was another filthy day in this unusually (even by UK standards!) wet winter. I went for a two hour walk to the next village, Newchurch, and back, the drizzle barely stopped and there was liquid mud underfoot. I did manage to see a few birds, the best of these being Redwings, Fieldfares (two of my favourite winter visitors) and a large Goldfinch flock in trees behind the church.

I didn't take my camera with me, as I thought there was no point in the rain and horrible conditions, so the following pix are crappy iPhone photos.

Hazel catkins are an early sign of spring, although that's still a couple of months away. Great Tits were also singing.

Swollen river

Flooded ground by the river

Path up to the church from the main road which goes through the village. While not in a 'granny-stopper' category, this is a lot steeper than it looks in the photo.

The people who maintain the local footpaths have attempted to tame at least some of the mud by putting bracken and straw down on it. This has only been a partial success.

The two-hour walk highlighted how unfit I am. I was reasonably fit until the end of 2012 when I injured my hip in a surfing accident (I've had to give up completely) and then slipped a disc in my neck a couple of months later. The exercise went down, the alcohol consumption went up...no, I am not fat, fortunately, just very unfit, even though my job is not entirely sedentary. However, I didn't think I was too bad, until I was knackered after a two-hour walk...I don't think I'll be going to the Himalayas any time soon!

Tomorrow's forecast is better, with some sunshine predicted. I'll probably head to Ryde and Seaview.