Monday 15 February 2021

A Longer Walk

 


Since having my Covid jab, my lower back has been yelling-out-loud painful.   Painkillers won't touch it.  Tendons and ligaments, upset by lifting in the first couple of weeks we were here, suddenly flared into inflammation.  Sitting for any length of time was not an option.  I pottered around, ironing, tidying, and a short walk to the post box half a mile away seemed to ease it over the weekend.

    On Sunday it had eased up enough for me to carefully sit (and get up and move around) for several hours at my computer (which now lives on the kitchen table - no room for an office here) and dive into Ancestry, researching the history of the Big House next door, and the cottages the other side of us, and trying to work out when this house was upgraded from a small 17th C carriage house to something twice the size and habitable.  The Big House next door (17th C) was rebuilt in 1891, so I imagine the improvements here were carried out at the same time, but other improvements done well into the 20th C.  We have a Georgian door into the kitchen (no longer used) and I imagine that a steep staircase once led from where I'm sitting up into what is now the bathroom.

    My daughter came in and remarked I was in my element, as indeed I was, I love to research and follow up leads and discover things.

    The Ancestry foray led into a link which took me to an on-line copy of a 2-volume History of Brecon book from Victorian times, all sorts of snippets of information which have become forgotten down the years.  House names altered, abandoned dwellings became working farmhouses again, other high-status buildings disappeared completely as the families who owned them died without issue, or married out of the area and the dwellings fell into disrepair and were then robbed for building other houses.  I got a good feel for this vicinity, and was amazed that John Wesley was a regular visit to our local church, where he leapt onto a fallen tomb to preach, and he married his brother to a gal from a respectable local family ("it was a solemn day, as became the dignity of a Christian marriage".  Gosh, no booze-up afterwards then!)


Anyway, I was heard to say yesterday morning that as I couldn't sit, I could at least walk and that had freed up my back the previous day, so Tam and I planned a longer circular walk.  These photos illustrate the route.


My back, however, was not co-operating, and although the middle lower back was a bit better, my hips decided they would really play up next and by the time we had gone a couple of miles I was regretting saying, at least I can still walk!


The gate above, with its Christian crosses, and this ancient and deep holloway both lead to a small church dedicated to St David - although there was an earlier dedication to a largely forgotten and unusual saint.  It was "rebuilt" (or at least, extensively renovated) in Victorian times.  A lot of churches seemed to be renovated or "improved" then, not always to their historical advantage.  Anyway, this wee church is approached across the fields or down the holloway and we will visit it when it is a little drier underfoot.  It is still in use, but only in the summer months . . .



We left the lane and began to climb through mixed woodland, along a bridleway, and that was when my hip to leg tendons/ligaments at the front really began to complain.  How I wished I could be on my darling horse at this point, as he would have relished this hill and going off piste!  Still, the views were worth the climb (about 250 feet, heightwise).




At the top it opened out into rollicking fields and the beginning of the Eppynt range behind.




We walked about 4 1/2 miles and I was fit for nothing when I got in, but today everything has eased up a bit and hopefully I have seen the worst of this bad back business.   I daren't lift anything though so Tam will have to take the next load up to the attic . . .

    As you can see, we have fabulous walking country on our doorsteps - just wish we had moved here many years ago so I could take better advantage of the walks.  Never mind,  I will do my best!


21 comments:

  1. Oh dear I am sorry you have had such a bad back. I wonder if there is something in the jab that has mimicked symptoms of the virus, they do say that is possible and when I had coronavirus last year I had terrible aching joints for days. At least it means your body is now busy making antibodies to protect you. I too would be in heaven with all that interesting research and what beautiful walks you are having.

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    1. I think there was a little Mini-me in that jab! A friend had the Oxford one, and had fluey symptoms and nothing tasted right for a little while. I am glad my body is priming itself now anyway, as I have such bad asthma I need help against Covid.

      More walks and research to come . . .

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  2. Hello Jennie,

    It is indeed fortunate for you to have so much wonderful countryside surrounding you where you are free to roam. The hilltop views are glorious although we can well imagine the climb being challenging.

    We too love the 'Ancestry' site which we couple with 'Find My Past' since, on occasions, one needs both to get a full picture. It is so absorbing tracking down long lost relatives or just following up lines of genealogy. Whatever, it is a labyrinth into which one can easily be tempted and immersed. Rather like Alice in Wonderland, dropping down rabbit holes is a definite possibility.

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    1. Hello an welcome, Jane and Lance (just popped across to your blog - love your apartment!)

      Where we lived before, it was so beautiful, but only one bridleway and a couple of unmaintained footpaths, so this is real freedom, in every direction. In the summer we'll explore the Eppynt Way, up onto the mynydd. We're looking forward to that.

      Ancestry gets me totally absorbed. I need to transfer all the research I have down on paper, or printed off, onto my family tree on there now, as it got abandoned due to life getting in the way. Should have a good bit more storage when it's not boxes of paperwork! It was a toss-up whether I went with Ancestry or Find My Past - as you said, both complement one another.

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  3. Lovely walking country isn't it? We had friends there many years ago and spent happy hours walking and I don't think we did the same walk twice.

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  4. You are spot on about the walking Pat - no need to ever do the same walk twice! At the moment we are stuck to walking from home, but still lots of choice. I just wish I'd got here 10 years sooner so as to have more time to enjoy the walking.

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  5. I am continually envious of the footpaths and 'walks' there to be explored. What is it with HIPS? I attribute my recent aches to being cloistered indoors and not getting out to plod about--the weather has been just nasty for the past two weeks.
    Searches on ancestry are fascinating--going way beyond one's own family lines. I'm still exploring the history of my birthplace and the surrounding towns, full of names and old homes that were familiar in childhood. Strong risk for nostalgia in that pursuit.
    Will it be possible to make an office/workspace nook in one of the 'spare' bedrooms or reception rooms? Not but what the kitchen/dining area is a snug place to be, with the kettle handy by for a cup of tea!
    We've been watching 'Escape to the Country' [circa 2013] at least I'm viewing snatches of places in England that I always hoped to explore. I am astonished by the decorating choices--what's with all the magenta and bright purple?

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    1. I can't quite believe the numerous walks round here, both from the house and a short drive away. We should have moved here years ago to take full advantage! According to my Chiropractor, my hips will more than see me out - in excellent shape - but I think all the lifting recently made my back sore and it was a target for any incoming inflammation from the jab.

      The ancestry research draws me in deeply - I feel hefted to this area already, now I know about some of the folk who lived here, and their relationships with properties and people. I daren't go and check out the area I grew up in - although I did get drawn in when researching the Goddard family - who were hop-picking in Hampshire in late Victorian times and then settled in the area of So'ton I came from.

      I am stuck with the end of the kitchen table for sewing and officing, although I suppose I could commandeer a bit of the Library for my office.

      So glad you can get Escape to the Country (one of my favourite programmes!) Strong colours in vogue - as were/are black kitchen units, kitchen islands, wood burners and rooms called "the snug". Now when I grew up, the snug was a small room in a PUB, not a far toocosy sitting room!

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  6. Well done for walking. Hope the back eases completely soon. x Its so beautiful there.

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    1. It's MUCH better today Jill, which is a huge relief. It is stunning round here - and we're still in winter! Wait until spring and summer arrive.

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  7. Ugh. Sorry about the sore back. Hope it continues to ease up in the coming days.

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    1. I could do without it Mary! Easing nicely now - let's hope it keeps on that way.

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  8. What a lovely walk. Do hope your back and legs feel better soon. We had vaccination first dose last week. I was ok and no side effects but for a day after OH felt awful - headache, dizziness, nausea. Thankfully lasted less than 24 hours.

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    1. It was just SO different from our old home, where the walks were nearly always along the lanes and we had a fair old drive to get to the wild country.

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    2. Oh and sorry your husband got horrid side effects, but the positive bit is that is shows the immune system is definitely working. (Not that absence of side effects means the reverse by any means).

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  9. Brecon is where my Gran lived, well ,just outside it

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    1. We have a soft spot for Brecon Simon. Quiet little town (though busier than Builth!) Have you ever been there?

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  10. So sorry that you are still having such pain. Hopefully everything will improve and your walks will bring us all joy as well as you.

    God bless.

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    1. It's downgraded to twinges now Jackie - which respond to Paracetamol. The walks and views are bringing us much joy.

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  11. Your views are breathtaking. Just gorgeous! I have bought a small tens unit for my back. I think it would help, but I cannot reach to property put the pads in proper place.

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    1. I think I probably need a Chiro appt, and may go back to my lovely Chiro in Carmarthen for that . .. Definitely needs doing before the next jab! Shame you can't put the pads in place - shame you can't roll on them!

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