Chillin' With The Royal Wildfowl

Oh my, but it's nippy outside! Hovering around freezing when I went out, it's been slowly dropping; I got to the lake at the centre of the Haagse Bos and the ducks, coots and seagulls were all bobbing on the surface, expecting a crust or two from the toddler in the pram and her mother next to me no doubt, but by the time I'd made it round and back again, the seagulls had obviously taken offence at something and were sitting on ice in the centre, and complaining to one another of their lot in life. I'd say in consternation at their nice soft water being slowly turned into a treacherous landing- and taking-off platform, but who knows? I might have been witnessing their tribal song of ice-welcoming.

Fear Of Heights

"Nic is finding it increasingly difficult to tell whether the aches and pains felt the day after a decent workout are caused by good old-fashioned muscle soreness, or the more insidious approach of decrepitude!!"

I can't tell. I'm at that age where I think I could still be invincible, but aren't entirely, one hundred per cent sure any more. For as much as I know I'm not in my girlhood any longer, I'm certainly a long way away from being in my dotage. Or am I?

Is that sore knee a continuing symptom of teenage joint woes, or the first indication that cartilage is wearing away? Are those muscles and tendons that complain and collapse when attempting a lunge just chronically underused and merely needing time and effort to bring them back to strength and stability, or have the supports (for want of a more technical word) just become too weak and will only get more fragile as time progresses? Has losing weight enabled me to feel those bones for the first time, or have I done something strange and suffered a bizarre painless dislocation? Surely I'm too young to contemplate joint-replacement surgery for an increasingly belligerent hip? And has my shoulder always clicked like that? 

Is this Top Of The Hill syndrome. (A syndrome I've just made up, no less.)  That heady mixture of knowledge of what's gone before and awareness of the potential wonders which the fates may still throw at us, mixed in with the unshakeable feeling that our tiny little spark of life will soon be on the decline metaphorically and physically. I'm thinking the symptoms of this fictitious syndrome should somehow be more euphoric, but instead of I HAVE REACHED THE TOP OF THE HILL AND SEE ALL! HEAR MY ROAR OF CONQUEST AND LOVE OF LIFE, it feels more like I HAVE REACHED MIDDLE-AGE WITHOUT DYING FROM MY STUPIDITY! HEAR ME complain about how kids have it easy these days, and surely there should be more fibre options in the cereal aisle.

But right now I still think I could be invincible. Maybe. Although I might just buy another box of All-Bran seeing as they're on special offer.

Home On The Range

It's minus three C outside. I was waiting to see whether the sun was going to make an appearance, and use that as inspiration to spur me on to an attempt at walking off some of yesterday's indulgences, but instead the haar turned into freezing fog. Rather than accepting defeat and settling down in front of the telly with a pile of edible presents, I pulled on my big girl pants (especially useful, even in metaphorical sense) and made another stomp around my old stomping grounds.

And I'm glad I did. The fog wasn't bad enough to render all visibility down to zero, and the temperature was just on the turn when I came across a patch of gorse that had been covered in spider webs. The webs had obviously caught moisture from the fog, had frozen, and I walked past them just as they were beginning to thaw. I've never seen anything like it, and I'm glad I had my trusty Galaxy SII with me to record the melting beauty!

Magus Muir

These woods, the scene of Archbishop Sharp's murder in 1679, always felt a little eerie when I was wee... 

Being older I can appreciate how wild and beautiful they are, but I think they'll always feel a little creepy!

An old iron "To Monument" sign is slowly failing the test of time

Someone in April 1962 showing just how well they could wield a penknife...

Arch-Bishop Sharp's monument

Autumn's Final Fling

There's a nice walk I sometimes take up through the Scheveningse Bosjes, and round by Westbroek Park. Well, it's more like a theme and variations, because there are a myriad of routes to take around this part of the city that will give you a goodly supply of woodland eye-candy.  

Today's foray took me through the middle of the bosjes, around the park, and back past the lake (of which I can't find the name.) This whole area was part of the coastal defences called the Atlantikwall, created by the Germans when they occupied the Netherlands (and much of the European coast) during the Second World War; the woods were raised to the ground (as well as much housing), and the lake became part of an anti-tank ditch. It shows the massive fortitude of the Dutch that the many woods and parks of the city have been re-planted, and allowed to heal some of the scars left by the Nazis.

A Little Of What You Fancy Does You Good

"This beauteous marvel of confectionery is a Salted Caramel Brownie Slice from M&S. But, dear reader, it's more than *just* a Salted Caramel Brownie Slice from M&S... It's a promise made to the author many months ago, an enticement to divest herself of unnecessary poundage, a reward for perseverance (and, perhaps, for reading too many novels by Jane Austen).

Today there is 90 pounds (or 40.82kgs) less of our heroine. Huzzah!

And soon, very soon, there will be considerably less Salted Caramel Brownie Slice from M&S... om nom nom!"

It's Cold And Grey But Autumn Is Painting The Town Red

The Japanese Garden in the Clingendael estate to the east of the city, is only open to the public a few weeks of the year, but what vibrant few weeks in Spring and Autumn they are! Absolutely worth a visit come rain or shine.

More people than trees. Or so it seems in every photo I take!

I've learned over the course of this visit that the trick isn't waiting for people to clear the area so you can take a photo, because you'll be waiting for ever, the trick is waiting for people with clothing that match the background to get into place so you can take a photo... Pink kagool? Yep, just to the right, a wee bit more... :: click ::

I still need to learn, however, to be totally aware of my surroundings: here I thought I had a clear people-free shot and didn't notice the guy right in the centre with his hands on his hips until I cropped and checked the photos on a larger screen back home! I mean, he's RIGHT IN THE CENTRE OF THE SHOT!!

:: plays music to 'The Twilight Zone' ::

And of course, you can't visit any park that has water features of any kind, because you'll always see a heron or two, keeping an eye out for errant fish, and possibly equally errant humans.

I caught handsome Mr Heron doing a spot of catalogue posing. Just after this was taken, he pointed to the bank with one wing, while checking his watch on the other. Obviously a pro.