Winter Walk

(WADAS 15.01.12, absentees 1*) * You know who you are. The Expedition started in Uphill with delicious warming home-made bread and soup before heading for the great Weston beach. WADAS was joined by a new member with four legs and a wet nose. This isn't one of those conundrums where the answer is 18.18% of a football team or half a pantomime horse. Charlie the eponymous King Spaniel, accompanied us along the beach until his owners branched off at the Tropicana to visit a carp lake. Unfortunately they departed before the group king photographer arrived from the syndicate at the Marine Lake.

An in-door outing.

(15.01.11, absentees: 0) WADAS split (amoeba- like) along stereotypical lines with the male contingent braving the cold to watch a rugby match at Weston RFC, while the fairer sex sensibly stayed inside on sofas to watch Dr Zivago. It was a love story set amongst the frozen wastes. There was conflict and historic struggle. Some characters had moustaches and others didn't. The final score was 16:12 in Weston's favour against the visitors from Clevedon. The film featured Julie Christie & Omar Sherif and one day I definitely plan to find time to watch it. With the two recreational pursuits completed, WADAS descended the hill to merge again in a delicious curry at a Thai restaurant.

Sloe Pickers

(WADAS 10.10.10, absentees 1 - nearly 3) WADAS members met up at the top secret Somerset location to replenish gaping gaps in gin bottles and welcomed 2 new members, Cat and Catherine. Jo and Steve arrived under cover to break the run of alliteration, checking that nobody had tailed the group This year there is another bumper crop. There are plans for a competition for the best temperance beverage later in the year.

Vegetable Understanding

(WADAS: 28.08.10, Absentees none)

WADAS members met in Uphill for an entertaining lunch, bringing home grown produce in an effort to reduce food miles. These might have been minimised still further if the direct roads had been used, but it was too tempting to take the scenic route along the beach.

The stunning recipes included:

Prawns & Chille Starter
Beams & duck egg thing
Sloe gin
Lasagne
Strawberries

Inevitably, there was a prize for the 'most sustainable' offering - which wasn't at all fixed. The lucky winners were awarded a record breaking courgette, which was their pleasure to carry home along a long length of Weston sands.

The next gathering to consume Weston-super-Vegetables (and eggs) was postoned for a year to allow the lucky winners time to eat this year's prize.

The Open Gardens around Brent Knoll

(WADAS 18.7.10, absentees 3)

A swift pint at the Red Cow was the prelude to this pastoral cycle, visiting gardens thrown open to the public in The National Gardens Scheme. The NGS was founded in 1927 to raise money for the nurses of the Queen's Nursing Institute (QNI).

The gardens varied in size and style, but all had some special interest. Copse Hall, our last destination, boasted elaborate Victorian greenhouses and excellent cream teas enjoyed on the south facing terrace. This overlooks the newly re-modelled curving slopes and paths of the Knoll, which appear slightly raw in their newly planted state. The ha-ha, wild area and kitchen garden remain in their original form, reinforcing the sense of continuity provided by this comfortable Edwardian house.

A pleasant walk in the sunshine in search of a windmill

(WADAS 13.6.10, absentees 3)

Worlebury Hill to Worle

WADAS started out from the Severn end of the ridge, striding towards the East, Don Quixotesquely. There was a lot of tilting going on. However, unlike the Spanish romance, the windmill we found was not armed or hanging around with mates, waiting to cause trouble for knights errant.

Instead it was tucked away behind a high wall looking very prim and proper in its white washed livery. Rather disappointing really.

So we left it alone and carried on to a pub with a spacious garden in Worle and then walked back by road to where we started.

Bluebell Walk

09.05.10 (absentees: 3)

WADAS travelled dangerously close to Bridgwater to view the bluebells lining the views from the footpath through Kings Cliff Wood. They were very impressive, especially at a distance, as most of them were.

At the end of the walk the weary travellers collapsed in Claire & Sydney's farmhouse kitchen for lashings of tea and delicious cake (two varieties). While some of the party explored the immaculate garden to see the paper hanky tree and plant slugs in greenhouses containing (potentially) award winning chillies.....

I remained in the kitchen to study the cake in more detail. Did I tell you there were two types? I'm not sure whether the lemond drizzle won the accolade or if it was the date and walnut. Anyway, it was almost impossible to choose. So most hikers had to try them over again.

The WADAS party left heavier, and undoubtedly wiser after this eventful afternoon.

Many thanks to Claire & Sydney for their splendid hospitality.