22nd June 2024
Journal Journal
An early start to get to Dunstable Downs parkrun where I was made very welcome by run director Trish. The route was lovely, not as up and down as it threatened to be though Trish looked aghast when I called it nearly flat.
The Tree Cathedral at Whipsnade was a great free visit. I really enjoyed its structure and serenity. It was quite hard to know which bits were Cathedral and whoch bits were trees leading up to the Cathedral but dog walker Andrew assured me that all the trees were the Cathedral. He loved the place and told me not to publicise it too widely.
I would then have gone to Woburn Abbey but it is closed for refurbishment. It and Englsh Heritage’s Wrest Park look like very absorbing visits.
The ‘Safari’ park at Woburn and at the ZSL conservation zoo at Whipsnade are also popular visits. I didn’t go in, but the car park at Whipsnade was packed.
The nearest that I got to wildlife was probably Leighton Buzzard, a town with a name that promises more than it delivers. The town name is something to do with historic old lords rather than any famous falconry. The bunting in town seemed to be used everywhere, as if the whole fabric of the town is held together by it. Super smart deli, battered but unfased Conservative club or the bashed up and closed old Indian restaurant… that bunting connected it all so that the cost of living crisis crew were all interwoven with the casual cappucino capiltalists.
Where I Live
I loved Eileen, who told me about the Leighton Buzzard project called Community Fridge. Eileen actually did a lean for my photo so that I wouldn’t forget her name. Community Fridge is a great shop that saves products ‘heading fo Amazon’s incinerator’ and other nearly wasted stuff and then sells it at a really cheap price.
Fuel
I had a ‘fruitless’ search for a Bedforshire Clanger, though I did get aleast one ‘my grandmother made it” from shopkeeper Matt Owen. The sweet and savoury pastry, akin to an old Cornish pasty has been supeceded in Leighton Buzzard at least, by our collective love of multicultural cuisine. The town was awash with tempting products from Italy to Sri Lanka. I gave up on Clangers with a hudge smile when I saw these lovely samosas and bahjis on a market stall.
I also slammed down the £5 meal deal from the North Sea chip shop, which is, of course, in landlocked Beds, absolutely miles from the sea. So I avoided the fish and had instead the rather tiny battered sausage which looked a bit like something the local water company Anglian had let float off on a stormy day. It wasn’t too bad.
Shopkeeping
Nicci Owen – maker of rhubarb gin and soused rhubarb jam. Nicci has seen her flasks of gin fly out of the door. She had ‘made them with the shoot in mind’. Knowing that, her Funky Pheasant brand was certainly very countryside, and won’t be for eveyone. But I’ve no doubt it has been successful for Nicci at Nobby’s.
The Natural World
Of all the trees that made up the Whipsnade Tree Cathedral I liked the silver birch best.
Club Scene
I’m going to say Dunstable Downs Parkrun. Its not officially a club, but it really felt like one, especially when he visitor centre cafe opened, allowing the ‘members’ to enter their ‘clubhouse’. Run director Trish was also suitably revered as the kind of club chair who everyone can rely upon.
Dog of the Day
Kramer, or maybe Ronnie. Kramer I know was named after a slighly off Seinfeld comedian, which struck me a quite an imaginative dog’s name pic by owner Andrew.
Photo of the Day
Ronnie and Kramer at the Tree Cathedral (above)
