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COLUMN<br />
Walkies<br />
#13 Berwick Circular<br />
Sarah is ‘faffing’. I think faffing is one of those<br />
Mars and Venus things. I’m not saying there aren’t<br />
men who faff but I do reckon that women tend to<br />
faff more than men.<br />
My confidence in this controversial assertion is<br />
boosted by the fact that Todd obviously agrees<br />
with me. He’s pulling on his lead and has let out<br />
a whine and a bark. Quite why there’s this delay<br />
in starting our walk, he can’t quite fathom. And<br />
neither can I.<br />
Not for the first time (or the second for that matter),<br />
Sarah has decided to replace one article of<br />
clothing with another and is now staring up at the<br />
sky which, it has to be said, is giving few indications<br />
of its ultimate intention.<br />
Finally, an alternative anorak, an umbrella, a<br />
woolly hat and a scarf are dragged out of the boot,<br />
stuffed in a backpack, and handed to me. Despite<br />
some dark mutterings from yours truly, it’s clearly<br />
the price that must be paid if we are ever to leave<br />
the car park.<br />
This particular walk from the Cricketers Arms<br />
near Berwick, up onto the Downs, west towards<br />
Firle and then back through Alciston to the pub<br />
is a summer favourite ending in the Cricketers’<br />
delightful garden. In winter, the allure of a roaring<br />
log fire is even more appealing.<br />
When we reach the top of the Downs, the weather<br />
gods are in a particularly fickle mood putting on a<br />
son et lumière worthy of a scene from King Lear.<br />
Within the space of a few minutes we are battered<br />
by high winds, drenched by a cloud-burst, and<br />
then blinded by bright sunshine.<br />
Todd may be in seventh heaven – and would probably<br />
remain so even if the sky fell in and we were<br />
abducted by aliens – but I feel like a man more<br />
sinned against than sinning. If I have to open this<br />
wretched backpack one more time I shall pull my<br />
own eyes out.<br />
On the way back down to Alciston we shelter in<br />
some trees to find some respite from the wind and<br />
rain before making our way along the footpath<br />
towards Berwick. Here we decide to take a look at<br />
the famous WW2 murals in the church painted by<br />
Duncan Grant and Vanessa and Quentin Bell.<br />
I am immersed in an admiring reverie when I hear<br />
a bark from the porch and Sarah’s voice echoes<br />
down the nave. “Come on,” she says. “What on<br />
earth are you doing? Todd’s getting impatient. We<br />
can’t stay here all day.” Faffing, you see. Depends<br />
how you define it. Richard Madden<br />
Map: OS Explorer OL25. Distance: 4 miles. Terrain:<br />
Steep climb onto Downs, views over the Cuckmere<br />
Haven to the sea. Directions: From Berwick follow the<br />
footpath up onto the Downs and then west along the<br />
South Downs Way. At Bostal Hill, follow the sunken<br />
path to Alciston and then the footpath east back to the<br />
pub. Start/finish: Cricketer’s Arms, Berwick<br />
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