Fynns 5th Birthday

60 Photos

Sorry for the delay in posting these pictures of Fynn’s 5th birthday party. It was a party with lots of action: entertainers, rolls and rolls of loo paper, a tractor ride, too much sugar and lots of cool presents. Oh yes, and cake. Lots and lots of cake.

If anyone wants to buy prints this is how you do it.
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Marlow to Henley

12 Photos

I am living in Marlow at the moment, hoping to find some work. While I am waiting, I am exploring the local environment. The other day I took the 8 mile (13km) walk along the Thames tow path to Henley. Between here and there, there are three locks: the first being Temple, then Hurley and finally Hambleden lock. Watching the boats go through, waiting while the water is raised or lowered is fascinating, and makes the walk all the more interesting. I was surprised by the number of quite large (read there expensive) motor boats moored along the way – boats seemingly big enough to go to sea, yet locked in mariners far from it. To my eye they would have looked more comfortable in an ocean mariner somewhere. Still, considering the Thames is navigable from the channel, then I guess it’s quite likely that they do go out to see from time to time. The water looks pretty clean – quite different from the grayish mix you find down around London. All in all a pleasant way to spend an afternoon, especially when there are a number of watering holes in Henley and an excellent bus service back to Marlow.
If anyone knows the type of duck can they let me know please.

Marlow Cricket: 24 July 2010

28 Photos

Went out for an evening stroll last night and happened upon a one day cricket match being played on the local park. Seeing I had my camera and that the local team was batting I decided to stop awhile to take some pictures. In the end I was there for about 3 hours, happily snapping away – and I only had to be told twice to get off the pitch!!  Marlow (so I was told) was delighted to have held the visiting (higher ranked) side to a draw.

Cycling around Bishops Waltham - Hampshire

21 Photos

Lou and I went to stay with Erica at her parents place in Bishops Waltham which is north west of Southampton, at the end of May. Borrowing bikes from her parents we went for a 20 odd mile ride to New Alresford and back.

New Forest Ride - Hampshire

21 Photos

Cycle ride in the New Forest with Abbi (visiting from NZ) Jake, Lou and Erica. Rest point was Bucklers Hard, on the banks of the river Beaulieu. In the 18 and early 19 centuries it was a boat building yard where many of Lord Nelson’s fleet were built. It is now a tourist magnet where boat rides can be taken and walks along the river enjoyed. You can read more about its history in Wikipedia.

The Pennine Way was the first National Trail (long distance footpath) to be established in England. It came into being on the 24th April 1965 after 30 years of negotiating by the Ramblers association et al. It goes from Edale in the peak district to Kirk Yetholm on the Scottish borders. It loosely follows the Pennine range from start to finish and is roughly 268 miles (431 km) long. (The distance varies depending on the book you read). It took me 16 days, with one rest day in Hawes. The weather was pretty amazing, with only one days actual walking in the rain, (Whilst we crossed Cross Fell, the highest point on the whole Pennine Way – fit was windy wet and cold!) and two nights worth. The track was dry – something of a rarity judging by the books I have read and the people we met along the way who had walked it before. Each days mileage is dictated to by where you can find accommodation – or in my case, a camp ground, rather than how far you actually feel like walking. Initially the days are shortish – around 12 -16 miles, but by the end 18 to 20 seem to become the norm. Rather than being grand the scenery is low key: rolling hills and moors, rather than the soaring peaks that I am used to from the Southern Alps of New Zealand. There is little forest along the way, most of the trees having been removed over the centuries, so the landscape is pretty stark. What I loved most was the interaction between man and the landscape. The miles and miles of rock walls, the stone barns, farm houses and beautiful stone villages. I was lucky enough to meet up with Nick Smith on the 3rd day when leaving Standedge. He is the 1st conductor I have ever met! We had a great time together, and there is no doubt that Nick made the trip for me: there are only so many moors you can cross before you start going a little stir crazy. There are more photos here.

Cycling the South Downs Way

22 Photos

A friend visiting for a couple of days from New Zealand was a good excuse for me to quit my job in a car insurance call centre (please don’t make me go back) and go cycling on the South Downs way (not the real reason for quitting, but it sounds good). We parked the car at Alfriston, cycled up a hill or two through wooded lanes, to gain an elevation of around 200 metres. We then bumped along the tops for a bit, dropped down to a beautiful small hamlet called Jevington, showed great restraint in cycling past a pub without stopping, then back up another small incline, through the Eastbourne Downs golf course hoping all the while that we wouldn’t attract the attention of a wayward golf ball, then headed south out to Beachy Head. Beautiful down hill to Birling gap, then an undulating ride across the seven sisters through to Cuckmere haven. From there followed an easy cycle through Alfriston to where the car was parked a bit further down the road. Roughly 5 hours riding and according to Peter it was 100 kms, but according to the map more like 30 kms! All in all a great ride, with pleasant views, especially from Beachy Head through to Cuckmere Haven.

Glastonwick

109 Photos

Spent the weekend imbibing real ale and listening to a variety of music at Glastonwick with music ranging from folk to punk, loud and raucous to singer songwriters – soft and melodious. Held at Church Farm, Coombes, just outside Shoreham-by-Sea on the south coast, just a bit west of Brighton and Hove. Great weather (apart from the brief drenching at midnight on Saturday night) and a great location. The festival is limited to 500 people, so no problem with crowds, and there were 68 real ales to sample.

Some of my favourite acts:
Pressgang
Wob
Rory Ellis
Robb Johnson and the Irregulars

Just done the road from Mulranny is the market town of Westport. Pleasant looking down and the launching point for the sacred walk up Croagh Patrick. Yes evidently people make pilgrimages to the summit, (some in bare feet!!!!) the place were St Patrick supposedly banished snakes (and sent them all to Australia) from Ireland. Not sure what the snakes did to piss him off, but it must have been bad what ever it was.

Welcome to another random POD. These pictures were taken around a small Village called Mulranny, situated beside Clew Bay on the west coast of County Mayo in the Republic of Ireland. This is a favourite haunt of Lou’s where she has spent many hours over many years in the company of her Irish relations and friends. Very friendly place with too many pubs and a population that sure knows how to drink. I went to my first Catholic service to watch one of Lou’s cousins sons take his first communion, climbed some hills behind the village and stayed up too late drinking a little Guinness …. all in all a pleasant 4 days spent in a rugged corner of Ireland. You can see more pictures here