Understandably December has been the month when I've had the least 'park time' since I started this series. I don't think I walked home through Greenwich Park once in the whole month, so there's an immediate fifty percent reduction right there.
Actually, I'm wrong - I walked back through the park in daylight on 23 December as the office shut at 12:30 for Christmas, how could I forget? That was also my last visit to the park of 2016 too, and now almost two weeks later it seems funny *not* to have been there for so long!
Throughout December I'd been experimenting with a more reliable morning route too, one that removed the need to walk across the grass, as with dew and frosts I'd prefer to stick to the paths. I probably didn't choose too well when trying this path for the first time. Not only was there a bit of frost, but I also had mid-height heels on instead of the flats and trainers I usually walk in.
Not my best decision making skills on show, but I made it to the bottom safely and it must be said rather gingerly. I've since decided that this isn't my morning route, or my regular one at least. That's entering the park on Maze Hill and rather than taking the path that seems most logical (and leads to the slope above) I've discovered taking the path straight ahead leads me to my favourite avenue of trees, and has meant I can pick up my grass-crossing route a bit further along. There are though, as you can see, a cross-cross of paths on the way.
And this route which I've settled on means I can still keep an eye on that tree, the one that now the leaves are down has exposed a rather large nest.
So with a shortened path route in the mornings, my rough calculations mean I'm seventy five percent down on a summer month, that's quite a lot isn't it? But the shortest day has been and gone, so things can only be getting better, even if it is just by minutes each day.
And my mornings now start with some brick wall love, perhaps January will be the month I capture that well enough to do it justice. I view it from outside the park, but marvel at its size, materials and even lack of straightness (really) and it looked even more mysterious in the December fog.
There's been quite a bit of fog this December, but as all dog owners know dogs still need walking fog or not. And so there's a more business like feel to that, it's been about getting the job done, heads down, hands in pockets, and getting home again. And who can blame them?
The fog has made for some rather atmospheric photos though, so while I may not have many photos of this month, they are still pretty special.
Today I'm back at work and am keen to walk through the park again, to see if my regular nod dears are also back at work or still have the same routines, I expect they will. And I wonder if there'll be a spurt of New Year fitness activity to spot, I suspect so. Who knows, maybe even I will finally get my bike out for my daily commute, I know I've been threatening that for a while now.
But in the meantime, now seems the right time to wish you all a very Happy New Year and thank you for reading. I hope 2017 is a corker for us all, as well this year I've got some celebrating to do (think significant birthdays!)
