2011 Streak Day 283 (Thursday Oct 13th): Another indulgence

2011 Streak Day 283 (Thursday Oct 13^th): Walk 3 miles time 1hr Weather pleasant

I am sorry about this. We walked around Winchester and  I took a load of pictures of what is a very attractive town but this is the picture that pleased me the most.

It has nothing to do with exercise or being out and about in Hemel but there again I have never been very good at keeping on topic.

2011 Streak Day 192/365: Public art

2011 Streak Day 192/365 (Monday 11 July): Walk - 3 miles, Time - 1hr, Weather - hot and sunny

Today was a Winchester day and the walk was around the city centre. In the grounds of the cathedral I saw this sculpture. 

At a distance I thought it was a De Stijl sculpture and as I did not know any De Stijl sculptures (except of course Rietveld's chair, which is much more a sculpture than a chair) I was intrigued.

It is in fact a representation of the Crucifixion by Barbara Hepworth in the style of Mondrian, made in 1966 and is rather fine. If it has a front and a back the other side is the front but I took the photo from here because it shows the way some public sculptures can enhance their space. I like the way the two families with their push chairs are moving into frame.

What a pleasure to come across a piece of public sculpture that can be enjoyed. Most of it is dull enough to pass unnoticed, which is surely the reverse of its purpose.

Looking at this piece reminded me that the Barbara Hepworth studio in St Ives is one of my favourite galleries because it is suffused with the personality and taste of the artist. It has that in common with Kettles Yard in Cambridge, which was once the private house of a collector

It is not at all odd that I think of favourite places walking round Winchester. It is a city of which I am becoming increasingly fond.

2011 Streak Day 182/365: Faint signs of moral fibre

2011 Streak Day 182/365: Run - 2.01 miles, Time - 17min 49sec, Weather - lovely mild summer's evening

Today saw a small victory.

It had been a Winchester day, without anything that could in all honesty be classified as exercise (a half mile amble?) and the journey back had been tedious (it's the M25, it's friday evening, what can you expect). I arrived home sleepy and lethargic, and tempted to trick-out the amble into something resembling strenuous activity. In a word: cheat.

But no! my conscience would not be quiet. After a fortifying glass of sherry (one does after all have to maintain one's standards of an evening), I changed and headed out for a couple of miles.

When I got back I felt rather pleased to have shown a little bit of determination, a hint of rectitude. But as I rather deprecate smugness, I soon put those thoughts aside and concentrated on the restorative powers of sherry, which I think you will all agree has now been proved, beyond doubt.

Today's photo comes from my short amble in Winchester and should be classified in a new series: "Things you don't see in Hemel". I can honestly say I have never seen anyone paint a piano on a Hemel pavement.

2011 Streak Day 133/365: Winchester Cathedral

2011 Streak Day 133/365: Walk - 4.5 miles, Time - 1hr 40min, Weather - chill wind, variable sky

Most of the walking today was around Winchester at a leisurely pace.

The photo is of a light sculpture by Peter Freeman in the grounds of Winchester Cathedral. Obviously in the light of day it is mostly a shiny metallic object but I am sure in low light and at night it will come to life. It has a rather neat feature in that you can text a number to change the display - somehow having an interactive piece seems suitable for the surroundings.

As it was the middle of the day my interest was in the way it reflected its surroundings. I was fascinated by the fact that I could position myself to take this photo and yet remain invisible. Somehow at certain, narrow angels, there was no reflection. I could walk around it: se myself, see myself, and then suddenly disappear.

What fun you can have with cunningly shaped mirrors!

From the exercise point of view there s nothing much to report. If I was not in the middle of a project to take some exercise every day. This would not have been classed as exercise; it would have been classed as exploring an attractive city. Nevertheless I did walk four and a half miles and so deserves to count.

2011 Streak 99/365: Winchester

2011 Streak 99/365: Walk -4 miles, Time - 1hr 45min, Weather - sunny, and warm

I spent the Saturday at Winchester but all I can offer is a picture of  a metal duck!

It makes no sense because Winchester is extremely picturesque, with a huge scope for photography. In the light of a beautiful spring day it was delightful: people were out relaxing, sitting on the grass by the cathedral, wandering in the water meadows, taking their ease, and drinking in beer gardens. The city could not be seen at any better advantage. But I have no photo to give an impression.

That is a pretty bad show with no acceptable excuse, even if the reason is straightforward - I didn't take my camera.

Nevertheless the day was very pleasant, involving lunch and then a very gentle stroll. I would be hard put to make a case for it as exercise but in terms of the 2011 streak, it will have to do. 

Sometimes we just have to relax a bit; afterall I am now officially another year older.

The picture of the duck is therefore not random - it has an honourable role in the day as it was a birthday present from my daughter. It will make a very fine addition to our garden and a companion to the blue pig that is already there.