Geocaching 365 Grid - February 2026

Yay managed to fill in February with another 15 finds plus a few DNFs too.

We did a few around the racecourse at the beginning of the month. 

The rain was never too far away.

A Church Micro - St Albans Cheam which I'd done the numbers for many years previously!

The Village Hall Betchworth where the info number had been taped over!

Chris did one on his own when I wasn't too well - the underground bunker.

Chris also did a few on his bike rides.

Great Bookham and St Marks in Reigate which I'd tried to get 7 years ago but wasn't tall enough!!

I did the magical mystery tour round Chipstead when Chris wasn't well. The main throughfare was closed so I went round the houses.

Robin's Cache was a DNF despite asking another cacher for help and returning for a thorough rummage. We ended up at Anton  Crescent Wetlands. Not a great day.

Brockham Church Spire, Big Hill in Betchworth, a fine pair in West Horsley and finally a muddy walk in Nonsuch Park via Cheam Park (less dogs!)

It was quite a trial this month with us both being under the weather with one thing or another but we did it.

WOYWW #873 - Watercolour Painting

I treated myself to a little 12cmx12cm watercolour sketchbook, which I'd seen on the 7 day art journey I did last week. 

Plus some metallic threads and some eclipse glasses for the solar eclipse expected in August!

I christened the little book with a repeat of my day 1 page which I really liked, then some of my houses and a couple of pages copying some watercolours I'd saved as I liked them too.

Here are the last 2 pieces from last week's course. 

I did a journal page last week too but not really taken by it myself. Did use my new stencils though, they are cool.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #872 - Post Birthday (15th Feb) Edition

Here's my desk with my birthday crafty things.
Oh my where did 62yrs come from?

Got some 12x12 papers/card, 30 stencil set, 26 pearl threads with 2 silks, 8 blending brushes and a night sky book.

Had a pizza cake!

Finished off the calm retreat with some watercolours, Wobbly Houses.

I did some more of my houses and hearts too whilst I had my paints out.

Needed the hearts as I'd used mine up on my Valentine card for hubby.

The last presenter did blobs with watercolours. I think I was well inspired and lined them out as flowers later.

The penultimate presenter offered a 7 day art adventure so did 5 of those  on my birthday.

Actually used oil pastels as well as watercolours. Love the way she used pens on top of the watercolours. Another feather in my bow in my art journey for sure.

I've ordered myself a watercolour sketch book so I can duplicate my favourites in there.

Earlier in the week I did the February Mixed Media challenge over on JOTW. 

Be Joyful in Hope

Patient in Affliction

Faithful in Prayer

 Romans 12:12

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #871 - Craft Corner

My desk with a journal page, trimmer and pending last photos for August. 

Sort of gave up on the BB Bash and joined a Calm Retreat but my head isn't in that either really.

I did some doodling/mark making on a strip of book page scraps (the page edges with no writing) so a bit of both courses.

Although the journal page is from the Calm session by Casey Turner , it was from her that I heard of the Calm Retreat anyways. I love her style.

At least now I have a HOPE page in my main journal as the others were in my Advent journal.

The latest scrap page was one of those which really "worked" I cut a patterned paper in half popped a dotted paper in the middle, made the photos run like a film strip and emanated the paper's colours with additional flowers.

Not at my best again tummywise - oh man

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #870 - This and That

Hmm couldn't sum up my week for the title this week! Curious. 

I have started the BB Bash but I'm not a messy kinda gal so I'm just taking what I like from it and leaving it at that. I love the style of the presenter so hoping something rubs off on me.

Sad to hear on the replay video that some participants hadn't been so nice to the presenter with their comments - some people eh!

On my desk is a impromptu "messy" accordion/concertina journal made whilst watching the BB Bash video last night. 

It's not on the agenda but was a good way for me to contain lots of different papers in my small work space.

I did do a "messy" kind of a page in my journal the day before. I had already started collaging bits and bobs on the page so just followed the instructions from there.

I did however have to finish off the page. I used the oftentimes forgotten scripture from the Old Testament about the crafter Bezalel who was one of the first to be filled with the Spirit of God to enable him to adorn the temple with creative arts. Exodus 31:2-3

I finished off my scrapbook pages from 2 geocaching circuits done last July.

The first an urban adventure in the village of Ewell (pronounced You-el). The second in deep Surrey countryside near Tandridge.

I then started August 2025 - depicting various memories of the long dry Summer we had! especially how the harvest was a month early!

Our first sighting of a frog on the garden and the iris leaves being as tall as me!

I followed this with a page of hubby's exploits cycling including the Basingstoke Canal and back to Tandridge to the DAD bench.

The latter which he did the day he cut 6 inches off my hair. 

And finally a quick 2nd anniversary card made from part of a watercolour I did a while back, it needed a home.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

Geocaching 365 Grid - January 2026

On Boxing Day 2025 whilst pondering what cache to get for the end of year souvenir I happened to look at our statistics page and noticed a couple of days we hadn't got a cache on at the end of December - ever!

So we went out on the 27th December and then I got to thinking wouldn't it be good to fill in the whole grid, so we did the 28th as well whilst we were at it.

(on the way to Wisley)

So the Challenge was set for 2026 and about time too as we have been geocaching since 9th March 2009 so nearly 17 years! 

(Mill Lane Ewell)

Although now we are both retired it does make it a little easier.

(Oaks Park Corner on a very cold day)

Our only full month at the start of this challenge was August which was the result of a month long challenge back in 2013.

(A DNF from last July which has eluded many a cacher as hidden in a stick!)

Anyway we are going to take it a month at a time and see how it goes, we were 15 days short  for January...

This urban cache was hanging on by a thread in Carshalton

We visited railway stations in the sidetracked series namely Dorking.

We've discovered local gems like the Seears Park Nursery in Sutton.

Those found whilst out cycling for Chris.

Local history like the the original well for Epsom Salts. This was sadly a DNF (Did Not Find) so we had to go to another one that day.

Soggy logbooks - all part of the fun but we will replace if required.

Nature reserves between railway lines. I'd been here previously with our son a few years ago but the first time for Chris.

Woodlands in built up urban areas we never knew existed especially as google maps don't show the area as a "green" space.

Caches which have eluded even the most seasoned cachers. In this case I messaged the previous DNFer as I knew him and offered extra help which was gratefully received.

A DNF from nearly 2 years ago! YAY!

And finally a Church Micro in the the ever expanding series of caches related to churches.

So that's January all done, now we need 15 for February, can we.....?