Introduction

After watching the mighty Arsenal get back to winning ways in the early match, there was just enough time to squeeze in a short 3 mile (5km) walk around the Penn Fields near my home (again) before the sun started setting at 15:40.

Penn Fields, UK

I frequently walk these grounds seeing as they are pretty much a stone's throw away from where I live but a good start point is the Penn & Tylers Green Sports & Social Club. We join the footpath that goes down to the left of the tennis courts and opens up to this pretty cool view.

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Footpath of the fields that open up at the back of the Sports Club

A Future Maths Genius

As I continued down that path, I heard a familiar voice of a man who I used to play tennis with back in my prime (yes I used to play a few times per week but it was unfair on the rest of the tennis world for me to continue so I chose to let them try to fill the gap I left behind 😉).

Anyway, he was walking with his stepson and we started talking about engineering, materials science and mathematics. You know how the saying goes, "When you see a friend in the fields, talk about cool things" - so we did.

Sharing Experiences

It turns out that the stepson was in his final 6 months of school and hoping to go to University to study Mathematics. I asked him what he wanted to do after that and he instantly replied, "I want to do a PhD, then post doctoral research and stay in academia to become a professor".

That's quite a plan! Admirable and who was I to step in the way? I have done most of what he wants to do (in materials science) with 2 year post doctoral research under my belt, I felt it would be important to give him a few minutes of what my experience was like.

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The view as I was sharing my experience with the future maths genius

Not A Walk In The Park

You know me folks, I have to be honest and said to him that it won't be until his 3rd and final year of Undergraduate studies that he will know what projects there are available but of course, I planted the blockchain seed in there 😉

It's not going to be an easy ride and it will be a new life for him, trying to solve problems that are not just related to his research but there will be a plethora of other things for him to get his head around and everyone around him will be in the same boat. He will be just fine and sounds like he is well on his way (maybe if I see him again, I will find out how the blockchain seed has blossomed Haha).

Back To The Walk

As you can see, the backdrop for our little inspirational chat was pretty decent, albeit muddy. Following our, "See you laters", I continued on the path hugging the left hedge. It was a tad muddy underfoot but there was no time to waste.

Following the hedgerow all the way down to the bottom, it was time to take a sharp right and walk along the lower path of this field, taking me back up to where I was speaking with the whizz kid and make my way around Putnall Farm to Penn Common.

Penn Common

Crossing the road just passed the Red Lion pub takes you to the lovely Penn Common, which is looking festive now with the Christmas Tree standing proud in the middle of it.

To get to the tree though, we need to circumnavigate the pond and say hello to our quacky friends - Donald and the Gang.

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Say, "Hi" to Donald and the Gang at Penn Pond

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The Christmas Tree at Penn Pond

Present Wrapping

Once I made my way back home, it was time to do some present wrapping for Christmas and Dad's birthday. Now that stress and palaver is all done, it's time to chill and get Actifit Report writing for you!

Thanks for joining the merriment today! 3 blogs in one day? What! Has someone hacked this account 😂

Take it easy folks and see you soon!

Nicky