Part 1. Perfect timing
The diet isn’t happening at the moment, I’m not even managing to eschew sugar, however my walking regime is going very well. I am stepping fabulously, and although this isn’t translating into weight loss, yet, I’m definitely firmer.
Mostly I walk on my own at the minute as Cornflake has Plantar Fasciitis, or panty fattylitis as I generally call it, I had to use google just then to get the proper name.
The timing of a lone city walk is the key to its success.
My definition of a successful walk is plenty to look at, yet quiet enough to submerse myself in my own thoughts if I feel that way inclined. The ideal percentages of stuff to look at as opposed to quiet time is fluid and not necessarily obvious at the start of the walk. However, just before sunset is nearly always, nearly perfect. Sunset in the park, bit of nature, peaceful thoughtful time, then a wander through streets of premium properties to get home. It’s a great time for the curious among us, nosey parkers that is. People switch their lights on as daylight fades but they don’t draw their curtains until it’s dark. This leaves a window, quite literally, for checking out their interior decor before the residents realise that some fat tart is peering in. There’s one street on my rounds where the windows are low and I can see the residents slippers and dog bowls. I look as subtly as possible obviously, a series of glances while on the move, not stopping and studying.
I don’t want to frighten people, get a reputation or worse, get arrested.
Part 2. The park with Marmalade
Walks with friends have slightly different requirements to lone walks, no need for quiet time and absolutely must involve somewhere to stop for tea, coffee, cider or similar.
Marmalade and I recently had a very successful post breakfast, perimeter zoo visit. You have to be more intrepid this time of year to see some of the animals that are in clear sight during winter. The trees are almost in full leaf and blocking the views. As a consequence a simple perimeter visit takes on the air of a safari as you necessarily wade through the undergrowth and beat back nettles. We were very excited to see monkeys, although we weren’t sure what variety.
I might start a campaign to get zoo information notices positioned facing outwards into the park so I know exactly what I’m looking at.
Part 3. Famouses
Goodly’s ideal city walk involves spotting famouses, that is celebrities. Generally I’m not interested but it must be said that the proportion of famouses in this area is quite high, it’s great for entertaining visitors. Interestingly, although not surprisingly different age ranges spot entirely different sets of celebs.
Britain has been in danger of losing a couple of beloved tv personalities because I’ve almost run them over in the M and S car park and a couple more because Cornflake has almost knocked them off their bikes. One national treasure has narrowly escaped both of those fates more than once. There can’t be many households that have regularly had cause to comment on Allan Bennett’s lack of road sense.
A couple of weeks back I googled a 1970s pop star as I was convinced she was sitting on the next table to me in the pub. I needed to check as forty odd years hadn’t been as hard on her as I’d imagined they’d be. It was indeed her, but having the information made me feel ridiculous. Then there’s a tv personality that we keep crossing paths with, the park cafe, the hospital department for blood tests and the queue in the M and S food hall. He eats very healthily unless his cleaner buys all the naughty stuff. I worry he might think I’m stalking him but he probably doesn’t notice me and I find comfort in that.
Cornflake has an old friend who is a successful tv and movie actor, it’s very odd being out in public with someone who has a really recognisable face.
I have been guilty in the past of smiling and nodding at a familiar face, Hi, how are you? before realising it’s the man from the gold blend advertisement and I don’t know him at all. It’s a bit of a mine field knowing the correct protocol. I find it difficult and embarrassing.
Anyway it’s a small price to pay for living so centrally in a capital city, that is, its a small price for me to pay, goodness knows what those poor famouses think.
fat tart 