Clare's Rebel Badge Blog

This week started with a weekend in the New Forest helping a friend. We managed to squeeze in some clauses for the Nature Lover badge between jobs by visiting a small nature reserve on the edge of the New Forest and immediately afterwards going for a walk in the New Forest for an hour. The nature reserve had a large pond that had frozen over, and we had a splendid time throwing stones on it and listening to the fantastic 'booooiiiiing' noise that happened as the impact of the stone reverberated through the ice. The walk in the New Forest provided frozen puddles for us to slide on, and magnificent views across the heathland as the sun was setting. There were also many more frozen ponds. The countryside was glorious and we appeared to be the only humans about! I must go back and explore further when I can. We also visited a wool shop and a craft shop and I have spent the rest of the week learning to knit on the round and create a cosy cowl to wear in the winter. This ...

vecteezy.com Well this was a nice badge to do! Any excuse to watch TV is good, and this pushed me to watch a few things that I wouldn't usually watch. Sally Phillips talks about Christmas I turned this on by accident, but as I like Sally Phillips and Richard Cole, who she was interviewing, I stayed tuned. This was a gentle interview about what Christmas meant to the Reverend Richard, and ranged in topic from his days in the Communards to his life as a Vicar, with anecdotes along the way ranging from the AIDS pandemic of the 1980s, communal Christmasses in New York, his conversion to Christianity and subsequent theological studies and training as a Vicar, his civil partnership, and the alcoholism and subsequent death of his life partner. The interview was gently and sympathetically done, with a good mix of pathos and humour. I am sadly, really rather jealous of the reverend's book collection and armchairs! I shall endeavour to watch the rest of the series. Wednesday There was a ...

This has been rather a quiet Rebel week for me as it was the first week back at work after Christmas and it has been somewhat full on. However, I have been pootling along with a few badges. 'Exercise Every Day' has continued with some walks with my daughter; these last for about half an hour and give us a lovely, relaxed opportunity to catch up and have an uninterrupted natter. There are always distractions at home, so hopefully we can make this a habit. We haven't managed every day due to tiredness, work shifts and weather, so I have interspersed these walks with a bit of yoga and some solitary strolls. I have finished a clause of the Foodie Badge by having a third meal out - I just have to review them now! Here goes: Chesil Rectory, Winchester I went here for a memorial lunch with family in November; The Chesil Rectory is an OLD building at the bottom of Winchester not far from the Cathedral or Kind Alfred's statue. The restaurant is spread over two floors...