The Geordie Tourist.

I realise a lot of posts on here recently are walks that I've took with Poppy. They usually consist of me going to some forest type area and dragging someone else with me for company. Then I walk around for a bit taking photos of plants and flowers and the odd bee/butterfly that I find. I also rope the dog into it too. I’m not talking putting her in funny outfits and making her dance, but still you know what I mean.

Anyways, I guess all of that was just a really long way of saying that this post is no different. I hopped in my mam’s jeep and my brother and I took Poppy out. (Shock)

It was about 6/7 o’clock and the sun was still shining. It wasn't really chilly or anything and it just seemed nice and calm. Across the road from where we parked you could see all of the sheep still out grazing in the fields.  It still surprises me how just five minutes away I can be totally in the countryside away from everything (I love it.)

We went around where we normally go, but this time we picked a different entrance. At the time I didn't know that it was going to lead us to the same paths that we normally take, but lo and behold it did.

It’s good in a way, because now I’m starting to find out where each little walk takes me to. I come across loads of little dirt paths, or openings in the trees and I’m beyond curious as to where they go. Now I can start finding out.

So we were walking and then we came across a pond/lake. I would say it was too big to be a pond, and maybe too small to be considered a lake, so I don’t really know where that leaves us. It was lovely just looking at the water. It wasn't the cleanest, but you couldn't really tell when you looked far out. There was a big tree trunk at the water’s edge and I felt like walking over it Dirty Dancing style. (I don’t have the balance for it though.)

Poppy went off by herself and got covered in mud. I had to keep throwing sticks into the water so she could go in for them and clean her muddy paws in the process.

There were fish too. You could just see the ripples in the water where they kept coming towards the surface. They were probably only tiny ones, but I’d definitely like to go back and have a little go at fishing. Maybe just putting a bucket in the water and seeing what happens. 

I think I'll check out a few other curious paths next time. Who knows, it might lead me on a familiar trail or somewhere else entirely...

Have any of you been walking anywhere nice recently?

Casual Sundays are what it’s all about. Well some weeks anyways. I love lazy Sundays when you can just chill in your jarmies and watch trashy TV whilst munching on chocolate. (Hope I’ve set the scene a bit for you there.) When you have a dog though, you still have to take them out. I mean if they got on board with the whole Sunday lounging about ritual that would be grand too, but sadly they don’t.

Sometimes a nice little stroll in the sunshine is just as good; I mean the TV is still going to be there when you get back. Plus you never know how long the sun is going to be around for, so it’s best to just get out there while it’s here.

I took Poppy up to the lake next to where we live and we pottered about. I was taking photos whilst she sniffed every tree/shrub/bush/slither of grass in sight. I love walking around here, now its spring getting to summer time; grass has started to appear where there was just dirt roads. There’s a hill beside the lake and I love climbing half way up, plonking my bum down and just sitting for a bit watching the ducks in the water or listening to the birds. Hell, even watching Poppy run around like a crazy beast is better whilst sat there.

The tadpoles are out now too which I love. My friend Nic is obsessed with them; we scoop them out and watch them swim about in our hands before putting them back. It’s great when they turn into little frogs and you see them hopping about. Not so great when you're trying not to step on them or crush them with the wheels of your car. (Froggy massacre.)

I’d take bread for the ducks too if I could but one, I think they are supposed to have proper duck food (pellets) and two, it’s like a game, when you go to one side of the lake they swim to the other. It probably doesn’t help that Poppy chases them.

I like just walking about and watching Poppy playing with sticks and going in the water. I like it even more when I can get a couple of cheeky pics.

I don't get to take her out as much as I used to. I work a bit more and she also goes to doggy day care. A lovely lady called Ali from Barking Avenue comes and takes her out with a few other dogs. Ali works with her brother Chris and they are both lovely. She's told us Poppy is quite popular and has loads of mates. I know she loves going which is great. You can see her little tail going when we tell her that Ali is coming for her. 

I like just having a few hours for us two though, to muck about and go exploring. Jees sometimes I sound like a six-year-old instead of a twety-six-year-old. Haha never mind.

How do you like to spend your Sundays?