On Sunday – the hottest day of the year so perhaps not the best choice – I joined the local Wey & Arun Canal Trust on their very special 50th Anniversary ‘Poddle’.
The term Poddle takes its whimsical name from a delightful blend of words - "podiatry" and "waddle" - which aptly encapsulates the spirit of this walking event. Typically stretching over about 12 to 15 miles of beautiful countryside, it is more than just a sponsored walk. It's an embodiment of community spirit and passion for local history and environment. This year’s Poddle commenced and finished in Petworth Park which has a special link with the Wey & Arun Canal as it was thanks to the 3rd Earl of Egremont (1751 – 1837) that the canal was built. His aim was not to make money but to improve the district by providing better transport and trading links. I was one of around 150 taking part raising funds for the Trust and my congratulations to the organisers and all of my fellow ‘Poddlers’. If you would like to donate you can find the link on my website.
I was pleased to see the Government clamp down on the sale and those giving free samples of vapes to children last week. Selling vapes to under 18s is already illegal, but it is clear from the recent rise in teenage usage of vapes and the promotion of cheap, colourful products and ‘nicotine free’ vapes that businesses are targeting children. Research suggests that vaping is less harmful than smoking cigarettes, but it's still not safe. Vapes heat a cocktail of chemicals which end up inside young lungs with uncertain long-term damage. Worse still, some vapes may be cheap imports with toxic and illegal chemicals doing real harm.
