I sometimes lie in bed and stare out across the fields and golf course on the other side of the road. Somehow I’ve been either too busy or unable to get someone to come with me and walk around that view for eight years now.

So today I walked up the hill to find my way round the footpaths that circle the comb-like top of the valley above Coleford to get the view from the other side. I’m so glad I did. There’s nothing like knowing what’s under your nose.

The first half of the walk is across the golf course. I’ve never walked over one before. What lifeless, boring places they are! I’m sure Capability Brown could have made a beautiful golf course. The landscape is tortured into an unnatural shape that is all about function not beauty.

The footpath back was squeezed in between two house fences, ugly or what? And intimidating. You have to be quite brave to go walking on your own! Public footpaths have been sacrosanct, so building boundaries are built right up to them. Interesting, in that you get to see into back gardens and see what other people do with theirs, but the downside is that the owners don’t really want you walking past them, so they make it an unpleasant experience. Barking dogs being only one of the hazards.

I caught a glimpse of a fox running away at the start of the walk. I caught him later. I’m quite impressed with my camera – it can really get quite close up.

More ice pictures too. Different to puddles as the stream is still running so it makes the edges all crinkly, like Norway!