In this weekly blog episode: recovering from a bulged disc and sciatica, summer solstice, a ship graveyard, and a fancy summer duvet.
It’s been a couple of weeks since I wrote a proper weekly blog, so you know what that means… You’re about to get a random selection of thoughts which may or may not flow into one story-led blog post. But hey, that’s what my weekly blogs are for sometimes – sharing the randomness of life. Starting with the weather. And food. Two staple small-talk topics.
I have to say, I am so pleased we have some proper summery weather this week. Are you? I feel like we all need it. The long days, blue skies and warm sunshine are doing my bones and brain no end of good, and my One Hour Outsides have been made better (and easier) since summer arrived. Although, I also know that lots of people struggle with the heat, and I am of course aware we have a yellow heat health alert in place, so do take care.
As for food, the deliciously warm and gooey Cinnabon I am currently snacking on whilst writing this weekly blog episode is definitely at the top. I continue to try new-to-me recipes as per my 2024 bucket list, including a homemade apple coleslaw, a very green soup (pea, leek, courgette and mint), and some lemon and pepper chicken skewers.
We also went out for dinner at Pyesta in Cheltenham. I mentioned this place back in weekly blog episode 132, when I commented on how much of a shame it was the restaurant was empty given how good the food was. I’m pleased to report it was nice and busy when we went this time, which may or may not have been due to it being Philippines Independence Day. Because it was said national holiday, we were given a scoop of ube ice cream to try. Ube, a purple yam, is a new-to-me ingredient which made an incredibly smooth and creamy dessert – delicious.
Summer Solstice
Did you mark summer solstice in any particular way last week? It was on Thursday, in case you missed it! I know people who made a real effort. They got up for a sunrise swim, did sunset yoga on a hilltop, went wild camping in remote countryside.
I didn’t. I mean, I thought about those things, but you know how it goes. By coincidence, I was at least outside as the sun set on the longest day – I had been out for dinner and so was able to enjoy the very pretty sky as I walked back to my car.
Did you know that while we celebrate the longest day (and shortest night) of the year, the summer solstice is actually an exact moment in time? For some reason this small fact had bypassed me until a couple of months ago. For some reason I thought it was the whole day, but that’s not the case.
There is an exact minute when we are most tilted towards the sun – and that is the solstice. This year (in the northern hemisphere), it was at 9.50pm (BST) on Thursday 20 June. And next year, it will be at 3.41am (BST) on Saturday 21 June.
And without wanting to make any comment about it all being downhill to winter from here – we are only just seeing the signs of summer after all – winter solstice works in the same way. It takes place at 9.19am (GMT) on Saturday 21 December 2024. I should probably plan something to celebrate. Anyone up for a breakfast picnic that morning?!
Purton Ship Graveyard
I went on a couple of really lovely walks in the sunshine this weekend, including one from my long list of local (ish) places to visit. Purton Ship Graveyard, or Purton Hulks, is an area of purposefully abandoned boats and ships that were beached on the banks of the River Severn to reinforce the riverbank.
Purton is a small village on the River Severn and Gloucester and Sharpness Canal, a little upriver from the port of Sharpness. There’s a small free car park on the canal side opposite the church, with a lovely low entry point to the water which would be perfect for my kayak another time. On this visit, though, I was here to explore on foot.
To get to the ship graveyard, I crossed the swing bridge by the car park and took the tow path towards Sharpness (downstream). After passing another swing bridge and a short line of cottages, there was a footpath through the hedge across to the riverbank.
Once on the riverside, it became apparent that I was not here to see a line of ships along the riverbank protecting it from erosion. Which I admit was my expectation. Rather, the vessels are the riverbank. I even said it out loud – “oh, I am on the ships”.
A Short History
The River Severn and Gloucester and Sharpness Canal are very close together here, just a few metres apart, which is one of the reasons the bank needed sorting out – erosion was threatening the integrity of the canal. There was a significant bank collapse in 1909, and using ships to strengthen the bank was the chosen solution.
In short, between 1909 and 1970, ships (well, barges, trows and schooners) were rammed up the bank, their strong structure used to build back up what had been lost to the tide. The hulls were drilled out to allow the river to deposit silt inside as well as around the boats. As the ships were beached over decades, the ground level has built up to the point where you can see ‘newer’ barges piled on top of older ones.
Fascinating, right?!
Purton Ship Graveyard goes on for quite some distance between the river and the canal, and I spent ages weaving my way through the various vessels. Oh, and if calling this a graveyard seems a bit strange to you – even more interesting was that each decaying ship has a little plaque telling visitors something about it, just like a headstone.
Wandering Around Sharpness
Once I’d had my fill of meandering over, around and through these purposefully abandoned ships, I continued along the tow path to Sharpness. It was a lovely walk, with the calm and quiet waters of the canal on my left, and the muddy silty water of the River Severn on my right. Tow paths often make for pretty walks, and this one had an interesting combination of countryside and industry. A little before Sharpness, there is the last remaining tower from the old Severn Railway Crossing, which once took coal from the Forest of Dean to Sharpness docks.
Once at Sharpness, I had views of the two Severn crossings further downstream, and had a pleasant wander around the very industrial-looking village. There were quite a few other people wandering around the marina and the docks – a little cafe or ice cream van would have made it even nicer. I did try to get over to the viewpoint marked on the map (looking for said ice cream…), but the docks – and therefore lochs – seemed a bit too well fenced off for that. Next time I visit I’ll head there first.
I could have turned the walk into a loop if I had wanted to, but I’d enjoyed the tow path (and fancied it more than a country lane), so headed back to Purton the same way I came. Another opportunity to see those amazing decaying ships! I walked a little under six miles all-in, which made for a lovely Saturday morning out.
A Bulging Disc
In my last normal weekly blog, episode 156, I mentioned that I had injured my back and was struggling with the pain. A few weeks on and thankfully I can report that I am on the mend. It was so incredibly painful for quite a while, but it is much better than it was. I am still being very careful – it continues to be quite sore and stiff at times, especially in the mornings.
After a few days of ridiculous pain levels, I had a call with my GP and was referred to a physiotherapist, who confirmed my suspicion that I had a bulged disc causing sciatica. Actually, by the time I saw the physiotherapist (about two weeks after the injury), the disc itself had already retreated back into place. The pain at that point was all thanks to an inflamed nerve.
I was given what felt like a thorough check over with all the prodding and pulling you’d expect (including hammer taps on my knees, which made me giggle like a schoolgirl for some inexplicable reason!). Thankfully I’ve not done any actual or irreversible damage, which was most reassuring.
Cobra Pose
Fortunately, I find myself in the group of people for whom certain stretches, especially the cobra pose, is of real benefit. My GP recommended it, and I’m so glad he did. Doctors aren’t really sure why this particular stretch works, and why it works for some people and not others, but I’ve found it provides real relief. We did a test when I was at the physio to see what my range of motion was like before and after 10 cobra poses, and there was a marked difference.
It really has been an unpleasant experience. An insight into what living with constant pain is like, and perhaps also what an aging body might feel like – neither of which fill me with excitement. One thing it has definitely done is made me want to do some serious strength and fitness training when it’s all better. I hope to make sure this never happens again.
But while the physiotherapist made it quite clear that I should keep moving, which I have been doing (because getting up after sitting/sleeping is when it is worst), he did warn me to be sensible. Nothing that risks jarring my back while things are still recovering. It’s simply a waiting game now while the inflammation reduces to the point where my nerve stops screaming. Eventually I will just realise it’s not hurt for a while. Which I hope will be very soon.
In the Mail: Simba Summer Hybrid Duvet
Coming at exactly the right time, arriving on precisely the day the current heatwave started, I took delivery of a (gifted) duvet this week. As someone who gets too hot in bed even in normal weather (thanks, perimenopause…), I was very happy to accept the delivery from Simba.
Designed using technical fabrics that don’t sound dissimilar to those used in outdoor gear, the Simba Summer Hybrid Duvet is a light 4.5 Tog duvet designed to keep you cool but cosy.
The cotton cover with ‘Stratos cool-touch technology’ is designed to take heat away from the body to keep you feeling cool all night. And the ‘Renew Bio’ fill offers down-like comfort without being down – it’s made from recycled PET bottle fibres. It is machine washable (assuming you have a washing machine big enough!), and is made in the UK.
This is very nice, much nicer than any duvet I’ve had before. It’s got some weight to it despite being a mere 4.5 Tog, feels lovely to sleep under, and is always slightly cool to the touch. I wondered if the material used, which rustles a bit when shaken around, would be annoyingly noisy at night, but it really isn’t – no issues there in practice. So far, I reckon it does exactly what Simba claim, and I am very pleased to have it. I’ve only used it for a week, but it has been the hottest week of the year and I have definitely felt its benefits.
Better known for their mattresses, perhaps, Simba are a certified B Corp and have impressive ethical practices and sustainable UK manufacturing. Coming in at £219 for the king size, it’s an investment for sure, but worth a look if you want to add a bit of luxury to your (indoor!) summer sleep set-up.
Of course, now I have my eye on their Hybrid pillows. I hate hot pillows!
See You Next Time
Okay, that’ll do for this episode, it really has been all about the randomness of life, but I hope you’ve enjoyed a weekly blog like they are meant to be.
See you next time.
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