Over the Hill Challenge

 Chris goes above and beyond to complete his Over the Hill challenge to swim a 10k.

That’s my “Over the Hill challenge” done – I wanted to do a 10k open water swim this year as a bit of a challenge and to see what it was like to do a longer swim and it ended up being 7.1 miles.

So this morning – I was in the marine lake west Kirby, at just after 5 am (tide fully in - Terns flouncilly flying and diving everywhere - feeding on shoals of little something or others and making a right old grating-racket – contrasting with the complete lack of song from any land/garden birds now that spring courtship activity has waned away for another year).

The Lake was flat calm, bit of rain in the air – water felt really warm after diving in and after 13 lengths of front crawls in about 3 hours 43 mins (last 5 lengths slow going). Shaun Hodgekiss appeared with a mug of tea and with a salmon toasty he had made just as I was finishing – massively appreciated!

I had at first thought about a coastal or river swim – (but another one of those vested interests demythologised)- but they use the current to carry you so its more the current/tide than your efforts – with a tide/current assist you could easily double the distance with little extra effort at all – another hushed myth exposed!! Unlike running, with the views etc, the time ticked by very slowly being cocooned behind steamed goggles and opaquely staring into water that’s same colour as Lincoln Pea Soup – but the last few lengths were almost therapeutic and meditation like – with body just mechanically going through by now well-rehearsed motions

So in the end the distance was 7.1 miles or 11.5k.. Un like marathons which tire joints – this has just tired and stiffened shoulder and neck muscles and the approaching 4 hours in salt water has given me a tongue that feels like a swollen and salted Razor-Clam..

Anyway another positive experience to tuck away and with confidences that can be applied elsewhere??

Chris Shaw

CEO, Adovcacy in Wirral

New on: APEx Football Group

What exercise group would be complete without a good game of football.

With the SoccerDome booked for the hour 5 of us headed down for a kick around. Would have been nice to have a couple more, but we still got our moneys worth. Adding to the group where a couple people from the dome, so 3-a-side turned out to be a great game. Special mentions go to Gary Devoy and John MacIntosh who did very well going for the full hour. I hope the lads enjoyed the game. Going to move the group to a Thursday next week from 1-2p.m. If anyone else is interested each session will be £2.50. Please get in touch or come along.

Matt.
APEx Coordinator. 

Monthly Walk to Maghull, 18th June

Another superb walk. 13 of us. And a brush with a racehorse.....

No Chris on this walk. The noise level dropped a lot. Paul Griffith lead this excellent walk into Liverpool for a 9 mile walk through some beautiful country. Of particular note. We stopped of at a small cafe for lunch and ended up staying for over an hour. In addition to the cafe there was also a bird farm made up of peacocks, roosters, ducks and many other different birds. Spent an hour following peacocks round in the sunshine. 

Such a relaxing time being out and about. Had 2 new members to the group this time round, which is always nice to see and Paul had a near miss with a racehorse as we crossed over a racecourse. Always good fun. 

Another excellent one. Big thanks to Paul for leading this walk. Brilliant day and I hope everyone enjoyed themselves. 

Matt Williams
APEx Coordinator 

Another excellent Over the Hill achievement.

These are going to start coming in thick and fast. Another one for the books. Sylvia Gratton started taking part in the APEx swimming session a couple months ago with the intention of learning a new swim stroke. She was a bit uneasy in the water, but was still willing to have a go. Over the weeks she really came on as her ability improved week in week out.


Even though she had not been at it long she jumped a long way ahead of the rest of us as signed upto a scuba diving course. She had a go and loved it. Now she is booked onto a series of lessons. That is an astonishing development considering a couple months back she was worrying about coming swimming in the pool.

Big well done to Sylvia. Hope you let us know how it goes.

Matt Williams
APEx Coordinator

New Walk Leaders & Excellent Races

Been a busy couple week for some APEx members. On the 1st of June John McHugh, Darren Jones and Angela Martin took part in the Seasside Run, a 5km race along the New Brighton front. Excellent running from all of them. Staying together for most of the race only for John and Darren to take of towards the end. All under 30 minute mark though. Excellent performance from all 3 of them.

In other news. 6th June. Stan Williams, Gary Devoy and Derry Hunter went down to Birkenhead Park Visitor Centre for a full day to gain a Volunteer Walk Leader Qualification. Felt like being back in school all sitting round with flip chart paper. Got out for a walk and came away with loads of fun information and good advice on how to lead a walk. Hope everyone enjoyed the day. Just need to think about how many walks we want to set up for ourselves now.

Lots going on. Keep everyone up-to-date

Matt Williams
APEx Coordinator

Monthly Walk to Anglesey, 21st May

10 miles, sandstorm and rain. We love it.

APEx Walking Series finishes for the Summer..

Well that’s the Autumn, winter and spring APEx walking series over – This now ended series did indeed end as planned, and advertised, with our toughest walk saved till last!

We will now start planning the next APEx-walks series to start in September with the theme of “Inspiration” – scouting-out wild and inspiring places to fill the backend of this year and the first quarter of next with some inspiring memories and positive new experiences to counter the “batten down the hatches - call of the couch, comfort eating and TV” approach to seeing the winter through…

We now have a number of qualified mountain walking and other walk leaders and are training several more leaders up over the summer – And offering our own “Navigation Training” speak to Matt if you are interested?

We are unfortunately losing Angela’s support as she is off, in the next month, to Scarborough to live – she has been great at helping keep the walks on track!

During the summer months the intent is to have a couple of saunters maybe with a coastal theme – to make the most of summer weather spent by the sea – maybe the APEx  Steering Group can choose where to go (and Michelle/Matt may be able to finally find a minibus?).

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Such A Natural Therapy….

In my opinion little compares – (even marathons, longer distance fell runs, mountaineering, triathlons, long sea swims - long bike rides. Etc)  compares to a relaxed walk in  big scenery - but  (a big but) - if this natural and non-vested interest "therapy" - is to work its magic-a-proper- it needs to be on a (bracketed-off) day when there’s as little as possible mind pre-occupying...:

·         work or stressing week-day appointments the next day 

·         stuff to rush back for on the day 

·         folk you can’t get on with stimulating company

·         mediocre weather

The secret is to have sufficient time and available head-space – no rush, lots of natural and sensational stimuli and loads of clean air!

And this is why I feel that Saturday’s are the day of choice for a good APEx walk (now the shops are open on Sundays...).

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Anglesey!

It’s been on my mind since these walks began, a couple of years ago, to take an APEx walk over New Borough Warren and then nip through the thin curtain of sand dunes and then promenade along the Beach to LLandwyn Island..

The only dilemma (if you read the emails) was as to whether:

To do the Walk in late spring early summer and get those incredible “South Pacific” evoking views of strong sunlight dancing in a myriads of shimmering horizontal squiggles atop turquoise seas with the backdrop of blue- hazy mountains marching off along down the LLYN coast like a line of South-Seas volcanic peaks…

Or conversely –

go during the late autumn early winter and catch the opposite effect of the cold Atlantic’s dark grey and dark big seas - top-blown with angry white foamed waves and wind driven spray – natures savagery - wind-howling and malevolent waves –  grandly viewed and awe-inspiring from within the hood of your anorak when you’re anchored securely atop some rocky promontory on Llandwyn Island (such a fabulous and inspiring place!!!) watching the colossal spectacle of huge waves and accelerating squalls - winds picking up pace over the  seas and then recklessly hurtling in to and over the narrow ribbon of coastal plains and picking up more momentum to batter against Snowdonia’s mountains (a mere ten miles or so to the east of your viewpoint).

Hyperbole aside - In the end we got the paradoxical Twist of - gale blown Autumn/winter Conditions unseasonably at a (nearly) summery time of year and after months of dry and benign calm weather!

Inventor
  
Grey skies of scudding clouds, squalls of driven rai
 
A maximum of 13 degrees Celsius (compared to 22 in London!!). Mountains obscured by shrouds of low cloud  (And considering how fine a spring we have had till this last week or so ) an uncharacteristic gloaming forlornness.. gave this walk real atmosphere... 21 folk 3 rollicking dogs 

We set off from Newborough village back down the road to a path that straight lined us on to the comparatively sheltered bowl of Newborough Warren and coastal marsh flats tucked inside the Southern end of the Menai Straits.  Here we had wide and gloomy forlorn  granite grey views of Caernarfon castle across the flat marshes to where the castle was camouflaged amongst the town which itself  was hardly distinguishable from the grey granite hillside it climbs away from the coast.

Next, Wind-driven-sand blasted us via channels concentrating the shot’s of sand through notches in the thin ridge of sand dunes that we had to clamber over  - like a windy desert scene  - sheltering in the lee of the wind and then staggering up and over emerging from the dunes into the widest of views of seas and coast.. and the big expanse of grey green waters of Caernarfon Bay and cloud-lost mountains marching up the Lleyn from Bardsey and Aberdaron  funnelling into a acutely shaped meeting place where the Anglesey coast virtually joins the mainland at the in the couple of hundred metre wide treacherous waters between the spurs of Abermenai and Belan.

This semi-circling panorama of a mountain jagged brimmed sloping down - half a broken saucer shaped landmass - has since early childhood fishing and holiday beach excursions been possibly my favourite in the whole of Wales - I love the wide and bright free-feeling South West facing aspect of Caernarfon bay - so much less chilly feeling than the cold-austerity of  feel that the North Anglesey coast has  at Amwlch, Point Lynas and Bull Bay.. 

Caernarfon bay – on those rare hot summer days, rivals any Mediterranean coastal view and well rewards the effort of getting there!

Kite Surfers – Acrobatic antics with  outstanding – brilliant bright strident nylon colours jumping out of the gloom  in 21st century flares of humanity against the muted tones of big washed expanses of sea and grey sky – tide-line sand and cliffs and forest...

Llandwynd island is simply stunning!  Even on rough days – such as last Saturday’s – Octoberish- grey lighted and  windy, rainy desolation. – In (rare hereabouts) hot weather, the many little perfect sandy swimming coves and rocks and the White windmill looking lighthouses (and crosses) and crystal clear waters  look Aegean in aspect..

I think, again personally, that this little tree-less peninsula of a grass topped finger of cliffs and perfect sandy swimming coves is the  epicentre of local loveliness – Remains of Celtic monastic stuff, medieval settlements and later periods of  hunched architecture of lighthouses – even in the cold, windy and rain-sweptness of our visit and soaked attempts to shelter for lunch - still felt uplifting and stunningly beautiful –

We were going to walk along the fabulous swimming beach of Maltraeth and up its wide mouthed estuary – but wind, rain and heavy legs from slogging over miles of soft sand and ankle twisting strands of wave polished pebbles, made us change tack and find shelter amongst the calmer environs submerged within the big pine forest that holds this coast together buffering against gale and tide and stops wind-blown sand from dust-bowling itself onto local low-lying pasture lands.

The walk back to the minibus and cars was directly through Newborough forest on old Forestry Commission Tracks.

When we got back to Wirral it was readily noticeable how much more calm and benign the conditions were back here on sheltered Wirral

A tough walk but well worth the effort and a great way to finish the 9 month series of APEx walks – I hope?

Chris Shaw, CEO, Advocacy in Wirral

Over the Hill Challenge - Nick Broadhead

27th April 2011 - Leeds to Liverpool (131 miles)

This is a challenge that’s been staring at me for a while and doesn’t look to be going away, so it’s time to face it. I had to be up at 5am to cycle down to Lime Street, catch the 6.15 train then within two hours the easy bit’s done and I was mingling with the commuters at Leeds station. The start of the ride, Bridge no 225g, is relatively easy to find, as I’d Googled it the night before, and decided that no other maps were
required as the towpath leads back to Liverpool.


There’s good, tarmac towpath for at least five miles from Leeds, but caution is required throughout the route when aproaching all the narrow bridges on sharply curved bends to avoid a speedy head-on collision with another cyclist. For some reason, the path is often cobbled and pot-holed under bridges, too, so extra care is needed to avoid either being jolted into the canal or bashing your head on lowhanging stonework.
 
The sunshine was welcome, but as it was on my back it meant that I was cycling north, rather than west to Liverpool - the canal doesn’t take the direct, M62 route back, but twists and turns slowly north, through lush fields of grazing sheep, lambs, cows and horses.

There weren’t many people around walking, but plenty of cyclists and canal traffic, too, with some queues forming at locks, particularly the spectacular Bingley staircase locks built in 1771 that takes the canal up 60 feet in as many yards.

Skipton’s a pretty looking town, with a canal tributary that leads right up to the castle. It even
boasts an ice-cream boat,, but it was closed. 

From Skipton there’s a long stretch of open country as the canal loops round Gargrave before starting to head south west. The scenery around here is the most picturesque on the route and nearly compensates for the lack of speedy towpath - one false move and you could be bounced out of the rutted grass and into the cut .
 
There’s a mile long tunnel at Foulridge - with no towpath, which was unexpected - perhaps I
should have brought a map. Fortunately a couple in their garden gave me good directions for
the not very well signed roads over the top. They said that they were frequently called on to
perform this duty.


After some quite tiring miles on the towpath I was ushered off the canal at Burnley by a policewoman in a facemask - she said that there was a fire and worries about asbestos fumes. Another detour and by good luck managed to find the next bridge straightaway and back on the canal for some good hard cycling on a reasonable towpath as far as Clayton, where The Albion beckoned. Pretty dehydrated by this point, but a couple of pints of shandy revived me and the barman refilled my water bottles for the next stage - I reckoned I was about halfway, and sure enough, at 4pm a mile or so further along there was the proof - 63.5 miles completed - which meant 63.5 to go.


I wasn’t intending to have any more stops, and felt pretty strong so as I cycled along I was trying
to calculate the time I’d be back, and crucially, whether it would be daylight or not - I reckoned at
13mph, much slower than usual road cycling, I’d be back by 9pm, so just about in daylight. I had
lights with me, but didn’t fancy towpath cycling with just a cycle light. The towns come fairly fast at this point - Blackburn, Chorley, Adlington and then Wigan, with its flight of locks, all descending to Liverpool so made some good progress, despite the ridiculous metal gates they’ve stuck all over this part of the canal.


The towpath around Parbold is shocking - it’s probably not much fun when you’re fresh, but after a hundred miles, your body is not very appreciative of the battering it gets from a rutted path - everything starts to ache as you rattle along and it was probably that stretch that rattled the lens and bulb out of my front light - now it was most important to get back before dark, but looking less likely and I was feeling very tired.
 
Had to stop at Haskayne for a brief rest and an orange and the last of my water, which
refreshed me for the last push. The sun had gone down, but the midges remained. It was
too gloomy to cycle in my sunglasses, so as well as swallowing hundreds of the irritating
things they were clogging my eyes as well.
 
Kept going as darkness descended so for safety sake got off the canal at Melling and
used the road back home. Back home at 9.40pm - a long day - about 11 hours in the
saddle, but exhilarated, with no punctures and the challenge completed
 
A good ride, but if you’re going to tackle it in a day I’d recommend June, when the extra
hours of daylight give you that bit of a bit extra time.
Oh - and don’t forget to take plenty of water !


By Nick Broadhead - Chairman - APEx

Monthly Walk. Minera to Llandegla, 30th April

10 mile walk. Glorious sunshine and good company.

Although I can't speak for the rest of the group I am made up we where upable to get a mini bus. I was of two minds as to whether I should get out of bed for the walk and I am truly glad I did. It was an excellent walk in the sun with 10 of us out. We had been across some of the group before, but this time it wasn't chucking it down with rain. The first couple of miles where a hard uphill slog. Must have been a sight seeing a couple of our walkers being pulled up the hill holding onto a stick, but we all made it to the top for some truly sublime views.

Once we hit the top we had a well deserved sit down hidden from the wind in a rock circle. Barely saw another soul on the top of the hill. Came back down to civilisation back towards a small visitors centre that we fled to out of the rain last time we where there. Was excellent to see the place in a blaze of sunshine. Another stint through the woods past great views of a waterfall. Was truly a hilly walk. Was nice to finally have a nice sitdown in Wrexham while waiting for the train.

Next one the mini bus is booked and ready to go. See you all on the 21st.

Matt Williams
Activities Coordinator.

Advocacy Physical Exercise

Why we are here......

Right. First things first. Joined Over the Hill program yesterday, which is a 16 week exercise program looking at a range of activities to help me achieve a physical exercise goal. In my case to complete the 5k Seaside Run. Yesterday we went to Royden Park and did a 4 mile walk. Not been out in the open like that in 2 years. Was excellent, had a brilliant time. Going to do a walk next week. 

Been going to the cinema, but there hasn't been any films on at the right time so not seen one for about a month. Still looking to go though. 

Got down to Bridges, but it didn't work out. Didn't make it to one of the lessons and just didn't feel like going back. Wasn't really that interesting. Possibilty I might go back to it though, so see what happens. Went to the computer course, but wasn't really for me. See what happens from there. They were very nice though. 

Not bothered with my alcohol diary. Just didn't see the point. Had a few cans a day after the stuff with Bridges, but was ok for the other days. Not all bad. Should be able to work on that. Still going to the gym. Seeing Vicky every month. Saw her 2 weeks ago. Bloody pressure is down and lost another 1lb. Excellent news.

Walk through Caergwerle, Wales, 27th March

"Our highest point on the walk would was 210m up" Paul Griffith.

Janine Pinion (and Paul G), planned a superb walk from the train station at Hope/Caergwerle yesterday.  The Wrexham to Bidston line has its own “from the station” guidebook of walks and Janine chose a walk from the guide book and then led it.   The walking route and guide were flawless and the route took in a really big hill climb and then took a drop down to a sheltered river path back to the station (about5.5-6 miles).  There were 13 of us on the walk.  It was a shame that the weather that had tempted us back early into the sea for a swim did not hang around until the weekend – the air temperature was very cool and the weather was grey and murky with low cloud.

Wildlife wise – we heard many Chiff-Chaffs (warbler summer migrants) and saw a Sand Martin (close relative of Swallows and House Martins) and my first summer migrant of the year.  

Chris Shaw

CEO, Advocacy in Wirral

Advocacy Physical Exercise

Why we are here......

Ok. Where did we leave off. 

I met up with Vicky since we last spoke. Blood pressure came back a little higher, but nothing to worry about there. Lost 4lbs from the weight though, which is brilliant news. Hopefully get the blood pressure down a bit for the next one in a couple weeks and watch the weight pour off me. 


Wasn't able to get the cinema last week because it was packed, but went the week before to see The Mechanic. Gym wasn't on last week with the Fire Brigade lot in there, but still getting in there and down the running/swimming at APEx. A new scheme in APEx means everyone has to set their own physical exercise goal and I have decided that I want to run a 5k race. Doesn't matter about the time just about getting round without stopping. Going to be touch going, but I think  I can make it. 

Got a new diary from Wirral Alcohol Service saying which days I can drink and how much. Seem to be sticking to it well so good news on that front. Allowed one can today. Just come back from a walk so that can be my treat for getting round in the hot sun. 

Although nothing has come from the college course yet we have just fired off an email to get a chat with Building Bridges. Hopefully look at doing some volunteer work and tie that in with a course. Never know might be looking at getting back to work if something good comes from all this.

Lots of food for thought there. Will see what comes from it all and get back to you soon.

Walk to Hightown, Liverpool, 26th Feb 2011

Another successful walk done. 

13 of us went to Hightown for a walk along the coast. After meeting at AiW for a quick coffee we jumped on the train and arrived in hightown to the sound of gunfire from the local army base (I hope). We set off for the coast and a walk along the sand in the cold and wind with the expectation of brighter spells later on in the day. Getting further into the walk I was suprised to see rather large bronze statues in the sand. No idea why they where placed their, but I am sure Chris would be able to tell us and it was rather amusing to see many of them with clothes on donated by eager sunbathers. A couple of us braved the quicksand conditions and wrecked our boots to get a couple close up pics.

After a stop off at the local swimming pool for a coffee the sun came out and we carried on the walk towards the train station along the public footpaths. At least that was the case for most of us with 3 (myself included) deciding to take the scenic route hurling ourselves from one sand dune to another while the others looked on. All in good fun. A quick treck through the town placed us nicely at the trainstation for a journy back to Hamilton Square. Another great walk and I can't wait for the next one which should be going out into North Wales. See you all on the next one.

Matt Williams

APEx Coordinator

Advocacy Physical Exercise

Why we are here......

Another month has gone by. Time for an update.

So where do we start. As you may remember we had a little setback when we last spoke. I am really pushing forward with this now. I am back to the running club every week, but still have my cinema in fortnightly. We had an interesting turnup last week. We got ourselves a new register sheet where we can keep track of our lap times. Not only did I do my first lap in 20 mins I did my second one in 19 mins after saying I was going to walk most of the lap.

Still going to Wirral Alcohol Service fortnightly. Got another 8 weeks of gym work, but I am enjoying this so far. Had a little endulge on Friday when I went to the pub, but hopefully this won't set me back to far. It's back to Vicky this week for a BMI, weight and general health check. Hopefully that will come back well and she won't notice the Friday alcohol.

It's been a while, but I have started the Thursday swimming session again. In addition to another walk on Tuesday from AiW it seems like I am keeping myself busy with exercise. I am even hoping to hear back soon about getting onto a college course, but I will see what is on offer first and let you all know what happens with this.

And on top of all this my mother still hasn't smoked in nearly 3 1/2 months.

All going quite well this month. Hopefully continue into next month when I can deliver an even better blog.

APEx new walk leaders.

With our members ever keen to boost their abilities three of our walkers have gained a walk leader qualification.

It has been on the table for a while. With APEx membership growing we have been in need of more volunteers with good qualifications that can help us keep our activities going strong. Tuesday gone Paul Carney, Keith Parnell and Matt Williams all went out to the Liverpool PCT to take part in an excellent walk leaders qualification. After a nice walk through the streets of Liverpool and some excellent classroom tuition all of use came away with a certificate making us walk leaders.

So whats next. There have been some ideas bounced around about walking and I have got a couple myself. Hopefully we are going to look at linking in with exisitng Advocacy in Wirral projects to get a lot of walking groups going and really help to get people on the right path to meeting their 30 minutes of exercise a day five days a week.

Matt Williams
Activities Coordinator

Running Group

 

Mondays 12:00 – 13:30 – AiW office Unit 66.

Wednesdays 16:45 – 18:00 – AiW office Unit 66

 

Walking Group

 

Thursdays 11:15 – 16:00 – Meet Terry Plant at the bus stops (stand 3) on Hamilton Square (opposite side of the square to the Town Hall next to the John Leird Statue). A day ticket for the bus/train is about £3.50

Monthly walking group will be in and around the first weekend of each month. I would suggest people wanting to go get in touch with me at the office for more details each month.

 

Swimming

 

Thursdays – 12:30 – 13:30 – People meet at Europa for about 12:30 then go swimming as a group. This group is about people taking part in swimming, but don’t want to go on their own.

 

We have also been piloting a swimming program where people pay £10 per session to take part in a 5 week swim program where they can learn to do the front crawl. This program is mid way through its third series and based on the success of it we will run another one soon after.

Yoga

 

Fridays – AiW office unit 66. We currently have two sessions on for this. The one running from 12:00 – 13:00 was the first one we set up, but due to popularity we set up another one from 13:00 – 14:00, which I dedicated to the womans group. Due to space restrictions anyone who wants to go on this will have to let me know in advance to ensure we don’t have over-crowding. We can add more sessions as and when we need to and I will keep you up to date as and when we do this.

 

Matt Williams

Activities Coordinator

Food for thought

Following on from the APEx committee meeting the barrel of ideas has been filled and its time to start pushing forward into 2011.

There is no doubt in my mind that APEx has graduated into a new position over the last 6 months. With a solid base of activities and an excellent group of members its time to push up the bar. What better way to push up that bar than to get a group of people together with professionals and service users alike and ask what they want/suggest. 

From here we have some excellent ideas for expanding the current projects we have in terms of the activity and the membership in addition to pushing through some new projects that we are now in a position to deliver to the standard we would expect. 

With all this its going to be a fun time to be involved in APEx so keep checking in here or on the AiW and Recovery Wirral websites and see for yourself all the new things that are going to kick off.

Matt
Activities Coordinator

New Year Walk, Hilbre, 29th Jan 2011

A stoll along the sand

Get the new year off to a good start with a walk along the sand. Sadly I couldn't make it to this walk, but as always chris has stepped up to provide an excellent write up for the walk.

The walk to Hilbre yesterday was great-with 17 of us making the walk across the sand in cold, but unbroken sunshine and literally without a breath of wind (even the longer rushes and grasses were completely-bereft of any waft whatsoever-not often you can say that about that huge expanse of unsheltered wilderness of sand!!

The temperatures were very cold with tide lined pools of water still frosty and iced as were the thousands of mini inkell sized lug-worm blow-holes each cuppomg little deposits of ice. The temperature at lunchtime, in the insipid January sunshine barely lifted (and then only fleetingly) to 3C..

We saw lots of bird species including Pale Bellied Brent Geese (in their droves-dozens of them!!), Sanderlings, Oyster Catchers the first Fulmar that i've seen this year and 4 or 5 Atlantic Grey seal seals floating around and poking their nostrils and heads up every now and again in the channel between Hilbre and the Constable bank.. The sea in the hazy sunshine and lack of any breeze looked a milky blue color and was completely ripple-less, and if you forgot about the temperature-looked really summery.

The views from the main island-as ever-were sublime and as fine a wide sky as can be seen anywhere in the North West!!

Good company and stimulating conversation both on the walk and in the cafe afterwards and the kind of post-walk rosey glow that you always experience after the day spent in the cold, but sunny weather-and as folk all agreed, as fine a way to brush away the kind of stale, down at the mouth dissolute feelings that the period between Christmas and spring a-proper can bring... Proving again that no matter waht the time of year and whatever the weather-you can get out and enjoy the real freedom and life affirming benefits of getting up off the arm chair and getting out and striding-out doing summat in the company of like minded folk, getting to know some new friends and getting ready for the coming weeks endevours--Great Stuff!!!

Don't forget the next walk is going to be Anglesey coastal walk next month - Llandwyn Island and Maltraeth beach! Date and time TBC...

Will be a maximum of 17 places so "first come first serves!!"

And, really, reall don't forget - these walks ain't some kind of old style - gentle and part of your (risk-averse) wellbeing, tick-a-box, therapy program-kind of affairs! They are open to one and all - Service users, wokers and folks with no links at all or in anyway to services - no boundaries (Apart from some basic rules around clothing/kit), no labels and no disinctions whatsoever and they still go ahead irrespective of what the weather brings on the day-they are not intended to cosset-but to inspire and to "have-a-go!"

Chris Shaw

CEO, Advocacy in Wirral 

Advocacy Physical Exercise

Why we are here.....

  

Its been a while since my last entry, but here is the one to start the new year.

It’s been a while since my last entry. Sadly there have been a few setbacks since last we spoke. Seems Christmas has taken its toll as I have returned to drinking alcohol. I took it upon myself to seek help with this and went down to Wirral Alcohol Service towards the end of December. They have given me a drink diary so I can keep track of what is going on and this week I will be stopping altogether. I am determined to keep it that way this time and as always I will keep everyone up to date with how I am doing.

In addition I have been in touch with the APEx health trainers over Christmas. They have taken my weight and we are going to check it again in a month’s time to see what is going on there. I have also started going to the Fire Station Gym to get that little extra bit of exercise in. Seems the Monday walks stopped over Christmas for a variety of reasons. Hopefully we can get those going again and today was the first one back in over a month. Surprise, surprise the rain couldn’t leave us alone, but we where still out.

Despite a few setbacks I am still down at APEx on alternate Wednesdays with my cinema night still going strong. Should be keeping this going well into the future, but I will let you all know of any changes. Speak soon.