Sunbathing goldfinches

I had just finished chatting to Nige when I spied a goldfinch taking the rays. I grabbed the camera and managed to snatch a few shots – hope you like them.

Hope too that you all like the new design – if not, let me know. And while we are at it, if there’s any other kind of content you would like to see, then fire away.

For the technically gifted among you I have tried to set up an RSS feed to both new posts and new comments. Now, for reasons I don’t understand, only the posts feed (entries) is working at present.

What the hell is RSS? I hear some of you cry. Well, it’s a way of news coming to you rather than searching for it – a bit like an e-mail. I’ve only managed to get it working on the browser called Firefox but it’s grand. You just click on the wee orange logo and then next time you fire it up, you will see a list of all the new items. On my blog, they are under the heading called Subscribe.

Anyway, if that’s too much hassle I’ve created a link to all the most recent comments in the top left-hand corner because I know you like to see who’s been a calling.

Right…. off to the banjo lesson.

I will be back in the Shire at the end of the week.

Ooooooh

Do not adjust your set – I just thought I would freshen up the blog as it mirrors my mood heading into June.

I’m sure you all know, the hurling season got serious on Sunday. Congratulations to Cork (the Rebels) who are heading to the final with Munster. Roisin sounds chuffed because she says she has her tickets sorted. Now I’ve just got to get my head round the rules.

I’m really looking forward to getting out in the wilds with my recently acquired long lens now that the DIY is finished. I’ve realised that I need good light, a tripod and a lot more patience to get decent results. Either that or about £6,000 to buy a proper wildlife lens.

I’ve posted my first couple but they are hand held and not really sharp enough.

I still haven’t got round to publishing the provisional schedule for the Ridgeway trip but I promise I will do that over the next couple of days.

Enjoy the Bank Holiday all.

Time trials

It was great to hear from my ex-colleague David who now runs his own show in Mallorca (see comments on Jurassic bones below).

The freakiest thing is that the masthead of his website features a Californian poppy – a flower I’d photographed in the garden not more than an hour before I read the post. Anyway, Dave’s web design enterprise is to be found here. Matt, if you’re looking for websites for new artists…..

There was a break in the weather today so I stole the moment to observe. This career break has really brought home to me that quality time is something we are all missing.
I really enjoyed the fragrance of the honeysuckle and the incredible luminescence of the Californian poppies which seem to so confuse the camera’s sensor.

I’ve posted a few more pictures here to show you what I mean.
Thanks to everyone for visiting and leaving some thoughts. I had a record day on the blog yesterday and I know people love wading through the comments to see who’s been around. I wish I could say I’ve had that Dowler in the back of my blog but sadly no hair or hide of the ol’ boy.
One final thought. When I was regrouting the tiles a word association popped into my head. That bloke in Porridge who was the godfather of E wing. Was he grouty or snouty? I can’t remember.

Jurassic bones

A fabulous trip to the Jurassic coast in Dorset has reminded me that I am indeed a plodding dinosaur. My back is killing me after our exertions on the cliff walks ….and, er, on the kids’ trampoline. To cap it all I was walloped at the card memory game by a four-year-old. Of course, I expect full sympathy in the comments box in the coming days.

John and Cath were fantastic hosts and I really enjoyed being immersed in the family whirlwind. They are blessed with four kids who are relaxed, curious and full of fun. And they go off to their beds when asked – how astonishingly rare is that? (And don’t spam me for the answer – you will have to ask mum and dad the secret of successful parenting). Anyway, it was great to see you all and the walking was superb despite the fierce breeze. We had sunshine enough to take a few photos which are in the picture stream. Roo(ee) even kept still for me to snap a couple of profiles.

I’ve just mailed Mort with the latest on the Ridgeway walk at the end of June and as soon as we’ve talked it through I will publish the schedule so you can join any part that you feel like. (And if you feel like pushing me in a wheel chair just let me know).

Speaking of Mort, we had a really fascinating philosophical discussion about linear time when he was here last (or is that in the future?). Then this evening someone on the TV tripped out that old cliche about there being no straight lines in nature. I’m growing increasingly convinced that time is cyclical or curved. What do I mean by that? Well I haven’t thought it through but it would be surprising if time proceded in a direct path – even light gets bent by gravity. Travelling closer to the speed of light slows down time so it must run at different rates. I think there’s room for some strange manifestations of this hypothesis. Anyone got any thoughts?

Break out the sherry

Hereford United have finally escaped the clutches of the Conference after a decade in non-league football and two years of injustice through the play-offs.
Well done fellas. It’s just a shame we can’t play Oxford who were relegated into our place.
Now that we’re promoted I can criticise the system without it sounding like sour grapes. Halifax finished fifth this year and if they’d beaten us in the final would have leap-frogged the three teams above them (Accrington were automatically promoted). It just makes a mockery of having a league which rewards consistent form home and away throughout the whole season.
Anyway, we’re up so who cares.
C’mon you Bulls.

PS. Is Halifax famous for anything other than John Noakes?

Aphids!

By spontaneous conception they arrive overnight, silently engulfing the roses and honeysuckle in a microscopic lime lava flow.

I’m trying to entice the ladybirds and blue tits into the garden but they just can’t keep up with the workload. It’s a ghastly greenfly Gomorrah out there.

I notice that the weather is about to get medieval again so I made some hasty pictures of the clematis and fallen cherry blooms while I had the chance.

Off to Dorset on Thursday and when I come back I will cook up a preliminary schedule for the Ridgeway walk so you can join us if you wish.

I’m also hoping to escape on some more adventures now that I’ve nearly finshed that dreadful DIY.

FA carp

Well congratulations Liverpool but feel desperately sorry for the Hammers – Andy we were one minute away from a new door code!

But it’s the big one next week. Hereford are in the play-off final.

Apologies for the lack of updates but yep it’s the same old kitchen excuse. However, I think I’m only two days from salvation and there’s a Dorset trip on the horizon. More photos to come soon.

Yet more then

A couple more from the archives. This is John and And playing for Moles Cricket Club, somewhere near Kingstone I think. I spoke to And the other evening and he wasn’t far out with his guess that it was 1989 – I’ve written 88 on it.

They were a team like no other and extremely entertaining. If it wasn’t for And, John and Ian there would have been hardly any cricket played at all as I recall most of the rest of the team were too “distracted” to field let alone anything else. Do you remember the wicket keeper? A big fella, and very effective. He never used to catch anything, he just got in the way. Every ball was accompanied by a sickening thud of leather on body. He reminded me of that silent movie star Fatty Arbuckle. Anyone remember his name?

And had some news about his films. He thinks it’s possible to encode the first one (circa 1984) on to a web page so watch this space. I will also post some stills from the latest movie if And can mail me some grabs.

Then this shot was taken in 1992 when Will and myself were training for SAS selecton The look of fatigue says it all really and the product of one of Mort’s route marches. Morten has posted up some more insights about wave power in the comments below. I was hoping Ruth and Ian might have some observations about alternative energy sources. Mort also says Fernanda’s photography exhibition is about to get under way. Some of the pictures can be viewed here. Fernanda showed us some of the exhibitors’ pieces when we were in France. I particularly liked the work of Jerome Souriau.

I suspect Matt’s album must be nearing completion so I am waiting with baited breath to hear that. What’s the latest Matt? I would love to post a fantastic picture of Matt playing guitar in the early days so if he gives me the go-ahead I will publish that one together with a shot of him playing his new Fender Strat (OK so I haven’t taken that one yet..but next time I’m back in the Shire).

I think I may have solved the mystery of the trio picture below. I found the exact same snap in one of my albums and it says on the back Myndd Mawr, Easter 1982. (Must admit, I’m none the wiser now).

The kitchen renovation is now into it’s third week after yet another shoolboy error. I didn’t allow enough room for a new tumble drier to fit under the work top (Doh!) so I’m going to have to hack a slice off the window sill.

….Cue a Bernard Cribbens song.

More now and then

Ian sent a selection of embarrassing pictures showing some almost unrecognisable callow youths. So here are just a couple from the archives.

Ian reckons this is the Black Mountains and he’s probably right but I can’t recall the trip or where there is an outcrop like this – but possibly it’s the Sugar Loaf or Red Darren. Or it could be in the Beacons. Can you remember Ian?

And I think this is in the hills above Betws-y-Garmon in north Wales, but again I’m not certain. They both date to the very early 80s.

Anyone got any more they fancy sharing?

It’s been a bit quiet in recent days because I’m still labouring on the house. I managed to get all the kitchen drawers in but some wall tiles fell off in the operation so that’s another new job. There’s also more exterior woodwork to salvage but the end is in sight so hopefully I will have something more entertaining than kitchen capers.

Looking forward to durdling down to Dorest to see John at the end of next week (as pictured above, centre, in hippier days).

Tranquility base

This is my favourite time of year and today didn’t disappoint.

I managed to find a few minutes to sit in the garden watching the swifts screeching round the rooftops like excited teenagers with their mates the house martins chirruping in more sedate, fluttering flight. My fragrant viburnum wafted scent on the breeze while the honey bees busied themselves collecting off my trees which are nearly in full blossom. Fantastic peace and what a career break is all about.

Remind me why I would want to sit on a plane for 24 hours to go to an Australian winter. Contentment is right here and now. I’ve posted a few pictures here to give you a flavour.