Category: Living With Cancer Strollers

LIVING WITH CANCER STROLLERS

A robust, resolute, determined and committed group of walkers didn’t allow a bit of rain, a lot of puddles and a large amount of mud to get in the way of their last stroll of 2020! The strollers were surprised when they assembled at Cosmeston to find a man in a red suit with a large white beard and a horse trying to join the walk….he was allowed in the photo but not on the walk, as he should have been busy delivering presents!! Dodging mud and skipping over puddles seemed to be the main activity on the walk, though in a dry interlude mince pies were shared.

If you want to walk off the excesses of the Christmas season, meet us at Cosmeston for a relaxing walk in good company on the first Thursday of every month at 10 30am.

The Living with Cancer Strollers would normally enjoy a Christmas lunch together, but 2020 has not been a normal year, as everyone knows. So a Christmas stroll was planned to an eerily quiet Cardiff bay, where social distancing was easily achieved. We enjoyed the walk, but enjoyed the coffee and stollen, provided by Jill, overlooking the still waters of the Bay, even more!

LIVING WITH CANCER STROLLERS

A gloriously sunny day greeted the Strollers as they gathered at Cosmeston for their November walk…in October. The walk was brought forward due to the “firebreak” announced by the Welsh Government coinciding with the date of the November walk. Everyone was pleased to have been given the opportunity to meet, to chat and to walk before the imminent local lockdown. Indeed, there was so much chatting going on it was difficult to keep everyone together!

There was some discussion about the world puddle jumping championship, which due to Covid restrictions has had to go virtual! The event is usually held at Wicksteed Park in Kettering, but this year entrants will have to submit videos of themselves jumping into puddles they have made or found. Entrants are judged on jumping ability, enthusiasm and splashing distance! Walkers were encouraged to have a go but no volunteers were forthcoming….

The Valeways walking programme has had to be suspended for the 2 weeks of the lockdown. However, for strollers that are lucky enough to live in the Vale, there are plenty of walks to go out and enjoy…and we will all meet up again soon!

Walking Is Man’s Best Medicine.

Hippocrates lived a long time ago, but he spoke a lot of sense when he said, “Walking is man’s best medicine.” All the women who met at Cosmeston for the Living with Cancer Strollers, under a bright blue sky in glorious sunshine, would definitely agree with him.

In the uncertain times of a Covid 19 pandemic and the restrictions placed on people by local lockdowns, the certainties of the benefits of a walk in beautiful countryside can be reassuring.

In the photo accompanying this article, you can see some members of the walk deep in conversation, and I promise you this wasn’t posed! It’s what the walk is all about: relaxing in good company, chatting and laughing together, feeling the warmth of the sun (or the wet rain) on our face and feeling energised and a boost in mood when the walk is over. Come and join us!

LIVING WITH CANCER STROLLERS – September

The wipers were rapidly moving across the windscreen as I hurried to Cosmeston for the first Living with Cancer stroll since lockdown in March. Fortunately, on arrival and for the duration of the walk the rain stopped, and the walkers enjoyed a dry stroll.

Two new walkers were welcomed to the group. They had enjoyed walking during the lockdown and now wanted to join a group and explore new areas. With most children back in school, Cosmeston was quiet and it was easy to follow Welsh Government guidelines to socially distance when around other people. The group enjoyed catching up and sharing lockdown stories.

Cosmeston is ideal for a circular walk as there are many routes through the trees and fields and around the lakes. Wildflowers, squirrels and birds are also in abundance. Many of the group do not realise we go on different routes as they are too busy chatting, and openly admit they probably would not be able to find their way to the car park if they were abandoned! Join us next month, if you want a short stroll in friendly company and you will never be abandoned!!

One of the Longest Walks

March’s walkers welcomed a new member, Sylvia, who was lucky enough to join us for one of the longest walks the group have been challenged with. However, plied with St David’s Day Welsh cakes, everyone stayed dry and finished the walk in style.

So after the wettest February on record, what made people turn up for this stroll in March? In summary:

Marvellous scenery

Animals, insects, flowers and trees all around

Robust exercise

Companionship

Humorous chat

The Valeways Walking Organisation has cancelled their walking programme for March and April, due to the coronavirus. Hopefully the Living with Cancer Strollers and the Carers walks will resume soon

In Africa the Big 5 are a huge attraction for people visiting the safari parks: rhino, lion, elephant, leopard and buffalo. On the Living with Cancer stroll in February the group were treated to the Little 5 and enjoyed spotting a rabbit, squirrel, Dalmatian, blue tit and pigeon! Eyes could be occasionally lifted from the mud below our feet to enjoy the wildlife, as walkers had to be very careful to navigate themselves through the quagmire created by Storm Ciara the previous weekend.

Two new walkers were welcomed to the group and enjoyed the walking, talking and refreshments. If you want to join us, we are back to our normal schedule in March: the first Thursday of the month, 10:30, Cosmeston.

New Year, New You!

Want to feel better, have more energy and have fun? Then join our walking group at Cosmeston.

Exercise has many benefits including burning calories and can prevent and manage health problems. But everyone knows that! So make time this new decade to exercise more and feel some of the benefits!

The group managed to keep their boots relatively clean for the first walk of 2020, despite the previous weeks of rain turning many paths to muddy puddles. No promises about clean boots for this year, but in two years the group has only experienced a light rain shower!

February’s walk is a change from the normal plan: it’s the 2nd Thursday of the month, then back to the first Thursday for March and the rest of the year! Hope you can join us.

December’s Cosmeston Walk

Christmas hats adorned the walkers for December’s walk around Cosmeston. A 3 course Christmas lunch was the carrot that kept the group going for the longer walk the leader decided on! Thanks to the staff at Cosmeston for a splendid Christmas lunch, enjoyed by all. And thanks to the members of the walking group who have turned up on the first Thursday of every month in rain, sun, wind and mud: it’s been a great year of walking and talking. Join us in 2020.