I am in another yellow meadow in North Wootton near Wells. I associate these golden pockets with Somerset at this time of year. Here more than anywhere they seem to be in abundance. The Monarch’s Way skirts two sides of it. Someone has mown these edges to make it easier for people to walk aroundContinue reading “Tramping Diaries The Monarch’s Way June 2021”
Author Archives: James Rogerson
Slow walking The Monarch’s Way 2021
tramp verb[ I usually + adv/prep, T ] to walk, especially long distances or with heavy steps: Cambridge Dictionary I began walking The Monarch’s Way as a lockdown project in January 2021 when we were all told to stay at home. For someone who loves to explore this at first seemed like a challenge but it just meant a readjustment where I would have to explore myContinue reading “Slow walking The Monarch’s Way 2021”
Knowle St Giles and Cricket Malharbie April 25th 2021
Dressed in wellies with a hoe nestled in the crook of his arm, Audrey’s Moss Man had started to fade. Sitting in a deckchair he was made out of moss and grass divots taken from Cricket Malharbie churchyard. He was huddled forward amongst the gravestones. His beard was made of weeds and had turned toContinue reading “Knowle St Giles and Cricket Malharbie April 25th 2021”
Failand to Portbury Feb 3rd 2021
Woke up at 7 this morning and there was a weak, grey light coming through my curtains. The days are gradually getting longer. I feel better today. I flew into the most violent of rages yesterday. I had to spend my car insurance excess on my car yesterday. I dumped the hire car at theContinue reading “Failand to Portbury Feb 3rd 2021”
The Monarch’s Way, Long Ashton to Winford Jan 30th 2021
Felt a bit strange today. Woke up early in a lovely dream state and lay in bed listening to nothing but the low hum of the wind and the infrequent clicking of rain drops blown against the window panes. So excited to escape the city even if it’s just to the perimeter. There’s something dystopianContinue reading “The Monarch’s Way, Long Ashton to Winford Jan 30th 2021”
Suffolk Coast Path – Covehithe to Lowestoft August 20th 2020
I always intended to finish the coast path and reach Lowestoft before the end of the Summer holidays. It would mean I would end it pretty much exactly a year after Pa was first diagnosed with Glioblastoma. I hoped there would be a neatness to it. I didn’t expect anything else – just the satisfactionContinue reading “Suffolk Coast Path – Covehithe to Lowestoft August 20th 2020”
Suffolk Coast Path – Southwold to Covehithe July 30th 2020
How many beautiful days this Summer? And what an elongated Summer because of lockdown. Even at the start in early April the weather was warm and barmy. It’s added to the surreal nature of the whole situation. Today is no exception. It’s warm and cloudless but there is a constant breeze that refuses to allowContinue reading “Suffolk Coast Path – Southwold to Covehithe July 30th 2020”
Suffolk Coast Path – Walberswick to Southwold July 28th 2020
Today is my birthday. 46 sounds very different to 45. How did it happen? I still sometimes get confused about my age. Am I 45? Or am I still 38? When we’re young we never heed the warnings which I hear myself saying to young people now: ‘make the most of your youth because oneContinue reading “Suffolk Coast Path – Walberswick to Southwold July 28th 2020”
Suffolk Coast Path – Walberswick June 26th 2020
I stayed with a friend last night in Snape and had one of those strange nights that I’ve been having off and on for years. To be awake at night is to inhabit a different world. One where normally you’re alone. Yet magic happens at night. At this time of year I want to beContinue reading “Suffolk Coast Path – Walberswick June 26th 2020”
Suffolk Coast Path – Dunwich to Walberswick Reserve June 8th 2020
After a crazy few days in Somerset, Bristol and London, once again trying to sort out my flat (in London) I return to Suffolk. All of this movement is highly irregular and irresponsible in the present climate. Everything about today is grey. The sky. The sea. My mood. The start point is St James Church.Continue reading “Suffolk Coast Path – Dunwich to Walberswick Reserve June 8th 2020”
Suffolk Coast Path – Dunwich May 28th 2020
3 weeks since Dad left us and strangely I don’t feel much. It was so intense at the start, as it progressed and at the end that the actual aftermath has been relatively calm. The rollercoaster has slowly ground to a halt. Lockdown continues to offer a new strangeness but one that is definitely easing.Continue reading “Suffolk Coast Path – Dunwich May 28th 2020”
Suffolk Coast Path Minsmere to Dunwich Heath May 15th
I remembered to take my Dad’s ‘bins’ with me this time as I was going to be crossing Minsmere again. Another beautiful day. How long will this go on? We’ll remember it as the lockdown heatwave. But what a blessing it’s been. Remember how I decided to walk from home in the early days ofContinue reading “Suffolk Coast Path Minsmere to Dunwich Heath May 15th”
Suffolk Coast Path Sizewell to Minsmere May 8th
Today is VE Day. 75 years since the end of war in Europe. It’s 3 days since we lost Dad. Tuesday was queasily unpleasant. The carer had left the day before. Her time was well over due and there was nothing more for her to do. He wasn’t eating. Drugs were being administered by aContinue reading “Suffolk Coast Path Sizewell to Minsmere May 8th”
Suffolk Coast Path. Thorpeness to Sizewell April 22nd
How much can the world change in so short a time? A new vocabulary has suddenly emerged: pandemic, lockdown, restrictions, Coronavirus, Covid-19. This is something which is affecting all of us and will do for many years to come. It is historic. A once in a hundred year event. Having become used to the ideaContinue reading “Suffolk Coast Path. Thorpeness to Sizewell April 22nd”
Suffolk April 17th 2020
The days seem to melt into each other. I can’t remember the date. And 2020 isn’t done yet with having more surprises up its sleeve. We are in the 4th week of lockdown against a previously unkown disease: Coronavirus or Covid-19 a new and deadlier form of SARS. Yesterday Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab (Boris JohnsonContinue reading “Suffolk April 17th 2020”
Suffolk Coast Path Aldeburgh to Thorpeness March 6th
It’s only been 2 weeks since I was last in Suffolk but it feels like ages. The change in Dad is clear. He sleeps a lot and half coughs, half chokes now with the secretions in his mouth. Last time I was home when I said hello there was a delay of a few secondsContinue reading “Suffolk Coast Path Aldeburgh to Thorpeness March 6th”
Suffolk Coast Path – Snape to Hazelwood Common February 8th
It’s now been 3 weeks since Dad got a UTI, 3 weeks since I was called home expecting the end. Now we don’t know what to think. My sister and brother and I had braced ourselves, made some sort of mental preparation (as much as you can) but we’re still waiting. Obviously nobody wishes itContinue reading “Suffolk Coast Path – Snape to Hazelwood Common February 8th”
Suffolk Coast Path -Chillesford to Iken January 17th
Back in Suffolk for the whole week. It still feels touch and go with him. The doctor came to visit and told us it could be another week or could be more. He can’t be sure. I try to sit with him and tell him things and he looks at me but there doesn’t seemContinue reading “Suffolk Coast Path -Chillesford to Iken January 17th”
Suffolk Coast Path – Iken to Snape January 19th
After the closeness of the trees in Tunstall Forest, I feel a sense of relief – a sigh inside – as I see the openness of sky and space and in the distance, water. I’ve been here before. An old friend of mine lives across the water from here in the house that he grewContinue reading “Suffolk Coast Path – Iken to Snape January 19th”
Suffolk Coast Path – Butley to Chillesford January 13th
A cold and colourless day in East Suffolk, the wind rushing across the fields whipping the grass and the bare branches of the trees. The lane lined with cottages that I walked down a couple of weeks ago is silent. There is no sign of life apart from a digger carving up a garden. NowContinue reading “Suffolk Coast Path – Butley to Chillesford January 13th”
The Slow Walker 