![\"\"](\"https:\/\/peterboroughramblers.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Ail1-300x200.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
There are three fundamentals to a Peterborough Ramblers walk.\u00a0 The first is the natural world of plants and animals.\u00a0\u00a0 And these are usually to be found a-plenty hither and thither.<\/p>\n
Now as an urbanite myself I found this distinction between the two a little unsettling at first but gradually it became clear.\u00a0 The plants don\u2019t move and the animals do.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/peterboroughramblers.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Ail3-300x200.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Which pretty much sorts it all out until such time as we come across any triffids.<\/p>\n
I have enquired as to the likelihood of this but it seems that they have not been spotted in the green fields of Cambridgeshire, nor even on our occasional ventures in Northants and Rutlandshire for several weeks.\u00a0 So on this issue I shall have to remain silent for a while.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/peterboroughramblers.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Ail4-300x200.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
And so the second fundamental: and this is that Peterborough Ramblers always walk away not toward.\u00a0 It is an important distinction between ourselves and other beings on the planet and one that should be remembered at all time.<\/p>\n
Then finally we come to the signs.![\"\"](\"https:\/\/peterboroughramblers.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Ail6-300x200.jpg\")
\u00a0 Signs are important because they tell us things.\u00a0 Although quite what those things are I am often not sure.<\/p>\n
For example on the sign below \u201cNo hors\u201d \u2013 what exactly does that imply?<\/p>\n
After considerable examination of the evidence I believe this comes from the ancient Cambridgeshire phrase \u201cHors de comb at\u201d which means that one is apologising for the look of one\u2019s horse as it, poor thing, has not had a chance to attend to his or her mane.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/peterboroughramblers.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Ail5-300x200.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
However, I am told that other definitions include something to do with jumping from a military aircraft with a parachute, after the plane has been hit.<\/p>\n
The other sign \u201cHelpston\u201d is easier to comprehend.\u00a0 The first clue is at the end with the letters \u201cton\u201d which is the Anglo-Saxon for town.<\/p>\n
From this it might be gathered that the whole message is that help is available in the next town, but this would be an error.\u00a0 For it turns out that \u201chelps\u201d is mediaeval code for water buffalo.<\/p>\n
I hope you found that helpful.<\/p>\n
Pictures by Jonathan Bridgland, informative explanations and helpful guidance by Tony Attwood<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
There are three fundamentals to a Peterborough Ramblers walk.\u00a0 The first is the natural world of plants and animals.\u00a0\u00a0 And these are usually to be found a-plenty hither and thither. Now as an urbanite myself I found this distinction between the two a little unsettling at first but gradually it became clear.\u00a0 The plants don\u2019t […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2305","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n