8900 [k m] steps in 90 minutes.

This elderly beech tree bowing gracefully to the ground caught my eye as we walked out in the woods this afternoon . Some trees , as they age , send a bough or two down to the ground to gain extra support. These lovely examples attracted my attention .I often walk in these woods, along this path but hadn't noticed it before .

During lockdown our walking routes have become shorter and slower. 
We need to sharpen up as walking is our main [ only] form of exercise. 
Our aim today was to walk more quickly over a longer route .  
Bramble is still struggling though so we need another visit to the vet .

I had a call with my dad , he was cheerful but found it hard to focus and we only managed a few pages of The Screwtape Letters [ they were written by C.S. Lewis for J.R Tolkein -  {only realised this earlier today.}
This letter was about prayer , I shall finish reading it myself later . 
I'm reading the second book of dust by Phillip Pullman but its much too exciting to read in bed. 

My sister's visit to see our dad went less well but it has set off in motion a family review of what we want for him . We have power of attorney for him, which makes it easier for us to take action on his behalf . For many residents the manager of the care hone has power of attorney which makes it more difficult for relatives to call the shots on their loved ones behalf .

My friend rang this evening with some cheerful news about the teaching of maths at the school I recently retired from . Maths was the subject area that I led and I spent many hours trying to get staff to appreciate that most children [and adults ] need practical equipment with which to explore new concepts. There has been whole staff training [ again] this week about the use of 'manipulatives,' as they are now called . Training made more urgent by the impact of lockdown . The head teacher has ordered lots of practical equipment and there will be a big push on staff to use it . It has been a long fight to get junior staff onboard but it looks
like , this time it will happen . 

I could go on but we are just about to watch the last episode in a fantasy series called ' warrior Nuns , ' pure escapism !