At The Oaks

Brighton and Wirksworth

2012-02-01T07:12:00.000Z

3^rd and 4^th September – Brighton andSussex University/Shoreham and Lancing

There is no way of avoiding the M25 for us to get toBrighton. It is a good thing that motorist are not charged for parking on theM25. In fact, motorists should be compensated for hair loss.

Pease Pottage was a good stop on the M23.

Joe and Juliagreeted us on our arrival.

Julia and Joe

Joe’s room was efficiently transferred to the car.We scraped in to get a coffee at Sussex University.

University of Sussex Coffee Cup

Sussex University Chaplaincy

Thank goodness for thetoilets on Falmer station.

Falmer Station

Irene Discovering the Height of a Rugby Goal Cross Bar

Thanks to Julia we found free parking not too farfrom Brighton centre. A bus ride took us in to the town where we were directedto an excellent vegan/vegetarian pub. These establishments were easier to findin Brighton than Nottingham. Back to the car and on to our Travelodge, Gatwickhotel room. We have no complaints about the room. The one that we were in hadvery sophisticated electrics, an elegant bathroom and well designed fittings.We would query not being told that the car park charge was £7.50.

In the morning we made our MacDonalds stop for a cheap,filling breakfast. (More promotions.) We had a morning to spend and so weheaded for Shoreham from where we walked along the pebble beach to Lancing.

Beach Huts at Shoreham

Beach Panorama

Kite Fliers

Kite Surfing

Unfortunately it stayed grey, but we were fascinated by the large number ofkite surfers filling the sky and the sea. More unfortunately, the rain began tofall as we reached Lancing and our futile search for a fish and chip shop resultedin a soak through to the skin. However, we had a good baked potato meal in towncentre pub. We were about dry by the time that we arrived back in the carbefore driving back to Brighton, collect Joe and make the homeward journey.

5^th September – The Visit of Tim and the Girls

We arrived home to find that Tim had a free day. Following aphone call, it was arranged that he and the girls visited us on Monday. It wasa good day. Iona and Izzy enjoyed picking sweet corn and using the inner leavesto make corn thingies.

Izzie and Iona at Work

Corn Thingies

Joe and a Thingy

We also had a good time on the railway layout. One of myhouses has a tree monster being removed by Dr. Who. I also have ET flying overthe viaduct on a bicycle. I particularly like the scene of a trolley andcontents falling off the platform while two men have a punch up. I am glad thatJoe was able to spend to time with his brother and his nieces.

14^th September – Wirksworth

Wirksworth is not too far, as our journeys go. To our losswe ignored the short cut, avoiding, Cromford. We also missed the direction intothe car park. Car parking would have been expensive had it not been for the outof order sign stuck on the meter. (I still wonder if the meter was really outof order.) An additional blessing was the adjoining tea shoppe. It boastedhomemade, organic etc., but at my insistence we went in to find a ‘quaint’ teashop with a sole owner who served us with a large porcelain tea pot for two andtwo enormous slabs of homemade cake. Irene doggy-bagged half of hers for later.What would these delight cost? We could not believe the mind-boggling bill of£3.00.

The path from here was easily found.

Ecclesborne Railway

After crossing the railway (Ecclesbourne Valley Railway - http://www.e-v-r.com/) the pathwas very steep and lengthy, but the views were awe inspiring.

The Path Started Smoothly

Half Way Up

The Mast at the Top

There was a downhill scramble to the ‘Black Rocks’.

Black Rocks

We had previously visited this area on asnowy winter’s day, but the rocks were too dangerous then. Soon we recognisedthe path from that previous visit. Here there was a car park, mock woodenbenches for a picnic and toilets for the usual.

Cemetery

Foolishly I predicted better time as we were to follow the oldtrack bed, over the road and the beautifully laid out cemetery.

Starting up the Incline

Bridge on the Incline

I had notanticipated the incline. We came across a piece of ancient technology designedto assist locomotives make the ascent to Middleton Top. We watched a smalldiesel tractor race its way up a slope which for the massive powerful enginesof an earlier age was too much. It was almost too much for us as we trod boldlyon and up in the belief that we would get there.

Marking the Top of the Incline

At Middleton Top was thewinding engine for the continuous loop of chain to which engines would be attachedfor the upwards haul.

The Winding Engine

At this point the map and directions failed causing a detour and Iam sure that after the amazing walk across a desolate feeling quarry we wentthe wrong way through the pedestrian tunnel causing us to use our own sense ofdirection to return to the car.

The Quarry

Tunnel out of the Quarry

The journey was worth the effort. Wirksworth is itself worth avisit as it is a charming old town with quaint sloped alleys and its coachinginn on the road to London.

On the way home we slightly held up. We turned off the A6 to see before us a huge Poundland articulated lorry across the road. The driver was determined to make a turn in the road despite the long tail backs he was creating. The problem was magnified by road work just passed him. Cars coming towards us were stacked up in the single lane making it impossible to clear the road in either direction. It is a good thing that I am the epitome of a patient motorist. (Comments not welcome)

Location Relocation

2012-01-08T10:08:00.002Z

Yesterday was the final, final end to our Christmas and New Year celebrations and this is the last blog from 'At the Oaks' for some time. But, do not despair dear reader, your next item of literary merit will be available on http://wearekiwisnow.blogspot.com/

Firstly, comments on the dance. It was well attended and very enjoyable. We do need to congratulate Alan and Irene Bexton for all their efforts in this, and on the state of the dance floor, which was like a mirror.

Alan on the right running the raffle

The only hiccup was the fact that David wore the same bow tie as me.

Identical Bow Ties

I don't think Irene and I have ever celebrated New Years Eve like this other than in 2000 when we saw the millennium in from a hill overlooking Nottingham. Back then the mobile phone network could not handle the traffic. I think it did this year. (There was a missed text from Joni when I found my phone.)

On my 'skip run' I came across the following headline 'DRUNKEN DOG OWNER BANNED'. Please let me know where the pause should be. It could be after 'dog' or 'owner'.

Julia and Joe

For the past few days we have enjoyed having Joe and Julia with us. They arrived late on Thursday. Joni and Fiona joined us and after our evening meal we all played the fantastic 'Small World' game. After our introduction to what seemed to be a complicated game, it turned out to be good fun for us all. On the following day Joe's friend Alex called over and the three of them went off to Dale Abbey.

I am glad that it was one of the better days. I had the task of taking the car for its service and MOT which meant walking into town and back. I carefully planned that I would call into the post office at the right time to pick up our dollars, having ordered them two days earlier. Bad idea. After waiting outside for 8 minutes the door opened, but not to me. 'Five minutes more' I was told. Just before 5 past came the 'f' word behind me. I gave in and entered. Now came another 5 minute wait, then off to the 'Bureau de Change' I did go. The debit card did not work, the credit card did not work, and getting cash from their cash point did not work. So back towards the bank and a measure of success. Now with sufficient funds I purchased my Singapore and New Zealand dollars. A fat wad of notes was instantly transformed to a few bits of paper.

On Friday evening, after another lovely meal, out came 'Chart Busters'. My sister bought us this game in 1970. It has been used since then by successive groups of children and young people. It now consists of a battered board, the box lid (kept because it has the instructions) and a Tupper ware box containing some more battered cards, one of which is actually now in two pieces, and some playing pieces, some of which are the original ones. (This game can now fetch as much as £80 on e-bay.) We actually managed to complete the game by ten o'clock and I have vowed to rebuild the game later in the year.

Joe and Julia returned to Brighton on Saturday afternoon. We hope the bridge removal on the M1 did not delay them too much.

Fiona and Joni left at about the same time. This left Irene and me with the task of moving excess stuff from our bedroom back to Joe's bedroom, have tea, play 'Upwords', watch some TV and then to bed.

ASIDE
During Saturday afternoon I completed the task of digitizing about 850 negatives from 1967. A few were colour ones. I was very surprised and well pleased by the way that the scanner handled the task. With a little tweaking in 'Photoshop' the image quality is almost as good as some digital photographs taken today. This is the first time the negatives have seen the light of day in over 40 years. Not only are they a good record of aspects of the 60's including London, hovercraft experiments, college and family life, but I can see in them the kind of eye that I have for photographic composition.

Christmas in London

The author enjoying college life. Eat your heart out Sir Cliff.

Hovercraft Rally at Sutton-in-Ashfield

My Dad, my Sister Anne and my Mum

After writing the above aside it dawned on me that the negatives were a very significant aside. There is a good chance that more pre 1967 negatives will turn up, but it is less likely that many post 1967 ones do.

The negatives of 1967 chart my last full year of bachelorhood. At the very end of the year, in my effort to find a partner for the college Christmas dance, (my usual partner having failed to comply with my invitation) I entered the room of a friend and standing quietly in the darker part of the room was this drop-dead gorgeous young lady. For some reason she had never appeared on any college social scene. She accepted my invitation. And, as they say, the rest is history. By August 1968 we were married, and this history continues joyfully into today.

As for the photography; it took a back seat and re-emerged as colour slides from August 1968 and through the 70s when I turned to prints until the noughties.

RETURN TO MAIN BLOG
This afternoon we made our last visit to the allotment and now comes the task of getting ready to travel.

See you from the other side of the world.

Christmas Blog – 2011

2011-12-27T15:58:00.000Z

This blog will also be instead of many ‘Facebook’ postings. Photographicallythis blog follows on from ‘The Blog Before Christmas’, with a photograph of theChristmas wreath that Irene placed on her Dad’s grave on the 10^th ofDecember.

This sombre occasion was followed by a happier photo-shootof Joni, Fiona and Tay. Suffice it to say that Tay, being a young cat, was far tooplayful to cooperate in such an activity.

No, they are not poking the cat with a stick

On the 14^th we had strange encounters. Irene hasa friend who has severe depression. The only visiting hours at the hospital were at night. The ladies left me alone and went off to the ward. Although theentrance hall was large and modern and it was only 7.00 pm, there was alonesome eeriness about it. As soon as I sat still to read my book the lightswent out. The only sound was the hum of the vending machines. I was then awareof strange figures appearing like performers coming on to a stage. The first oneunexpectedly decided to buy me a coffee and then leave. A limping man dragged apile of plastic sacks across the ‘stage’ and then left. Two more gentlemenappeared and came towards me. One of the men spoke to me. His voice wasslurred. He tried to explain that he was a preacher. “You know, ‘of the goodnews’, ‘of righteousness’, ‘of the gospel’ etc.) He boasted that he used toearn £1000 a month and now he only earned £500. His friend added that he wasbaptised as Samson – you know, the world’s strongest man. As they left Ireflected that the staff must think that some of the inmates were safe enoughto wander about. Now, the limping man returned. He sat next to me with all hisworldly good gathered around him in a few plastic sacks. He told me that he wasgoing home and about the misunderstandings that had led him to be in hospitalin the first place.

The evening of jollity was not over. My party returned andin our desperate rush failed in our first attempt to get out. At the same timeanother crowd were trying to get in. Eventually someone (I don’t know if thiswas a patient or member of staff) told us that at night the pairs of doors openmore slowly so that patients can’t get out in a group. Someone had to be theguinea pig. So, it was not long before I was standing in the space between thetwo pairs of doors. Once I had explained, by gestures, to those trying to get in,that they need to back off, I made my exit. A raggle-taggle of visitors,ex-inmates and perhaps current ones followed us and we made reasonably speedy exitfrom the car park.

Christmas celebrations really began for us on 16^thDecember. This was the Friday night group's Christmas dance. This was wellattended, good fun and had a Dutch buffet. On the 17^th the staff of‘Stanton Hall Care Home’ made a special effort to take all the residentsout for a Christmas dinner at the ‘The Risely Park’.

I am so glad that I have the camera!

This was a really big logistical operation involving a largenumber of people, some with dementia and other in wheel chairs and a smallcoach making three journeys between the home and the restaurant. Our friendMargaret thoroughly enjoyed the whole event and felt obliged to give a speechof thanks at the end.

We made our Christmas visit to Irene’s mum on the followingday and shared our presents. In the afternoon we went on to visit our friendsLiz and Martin. It was good to catch up on the news.

The weekend continued with a Christmas carol service at theHaven Church, which had a fun reconstruction (or was it a destruction) of theChristmas story.

On Monday Joni started his new job at a call centre. We hopethat this is the start of his working life in Nottingham. He and Fiona havebeen picking up work with ‘Occasions’ catering. http://www.freeindex.co.uk/profile(occasions-catering)_78627.htm.We had an interesting story about catering at the Nottingham Deaf Institute. Afterthe meal came the speeches, and, you’ve guessed it, this is when silence descendedas the speakers used sign language. Strangely, the caterers also went silent,but had to be careful not get in front of the ‘speaker’.

Today, Wednesday we did our big Christmas shop. We noticedthat people were buying food as if the shops would be closed until well intothe New Year. However, we had to count ourselves amongst the ‘people’. As wesat drinking our coffee and scoffing our éclair (me) and carrot cake (Irene) wereflected on the only sign of austerity visible and this was that Asda hadsignificantly less decorations up than previous years. Were they setting us anexample or were they sharing in our pain; after all ‘we are all in ittogether’.

A major project for me, in these, holiday days has beendigitizing our vinyl records. To do this I have attached a deck to my computerand downloaded a program called ‘Audacity’. It is quite fun to watch the waveforms appear on the screen and I have developed a speedy technique of splittingthe wave pattern into tracks, labelling them and exporting them to ‘WindowsMedia Player’. However, it is a slow process; it has to be done in real time.It is also necessary to monitor during recording, in case the needle sticks onthe record. (It is sometimes possible to nudge the needle on and avoidrepeats.) Even when the record is digitized there is a lengthy process of‘tagging’ them to create albums that will appear in media player library.

What has been fun is to catalogue them; sometimes this is donewhile the records are playing into the computer. There is a great deal ofnostalgia as the record information is studied and a certain reflection of the sillinessbehind buying certain records. (I sense the need for a special blog.)

Thursday evening was followed by a church group Christmasparty. Close behind the wonderful food was the inevitable game of ‘TrivialPursuit’ (1986 version). A least, this time one team (I shall not boast aboutwhose) completed the six questions, got to the middle, but could not convertthe try.

Friday morning was our last shopping day. This was avegetable trip to Stapleford. We also wandered around the town looking forChristmas cake decorations. We ended up at a garden centre. I lovedthe little ‘Christmas Town’ figures, but we finished up buying a bird box witha robin on it. It looks fine on the cake.

Christmas Eve was the day of preparation and we did manageto go out to a final carol service at the Baptist church. The church was packedand candle lit. However, the technology let them down; lights went on and therewas a mad frenzy of giving out a few hymn books. It would have taken a Jesusmiracle to share so few with so many. However, a miracle came about and we wereback to candles and the overhead projector. It was a jolly service.

Irene and Ihad time for our own festivities. At this time Joni was joining in the ‘Danish’festivities at Fiona’s home. He was not too late back.

By the end of the 24th we were ready for Christmas

The Christmas Cakes

Detail from the Christmas Scene

The Christmas Tree

Joni's Advent Calendar

Father Christmas was Assembled on Christmas Morning

And so to Christmas morning. Put out the sack/do not put outthe sack? Out came the sacks. One of them is now 40 years old. The plan was tohave the same number of presents for each of us present on Christmas morning,but each family group was to have the same number of presents. I think that weworked the plan well.

This Christmas was to be more adventurous with the dinner.We had duck. This was a corporate effort, with a little bit of division ofopinion. However, it all came out well and this was the most animal fat that wehave consumed in a fair while. Our traditional Christmas pudding followed thistime with pouring ‘Bailey’s’ cream, as well as the brandy butter.

The Duck

Later in the day Fiona joined us and we did a present swap.Sometimes you should be careful what you wish for. I was overheard saying thatI would like to do another 3000 piece jigsaw. This is exactly what Fiona andJoni gave me. I will lookforward to doing it on our return from NZ. Many thanks.

Sharing Presents with Joni and Fiona

During the day we spoke to Joe and Julia on the phone. Theyare looking forward to moving into a bigger place so that, maybe, they canhouse more stuff. We had texts from Izzie and Iona. We followed this with aphone call to Tim and all the family. They sounded like they were having a greatChristmas at home. In the evening Sally managed to Skype us and we could seethe girls, Zoe and Emily, who showed us their Christmas presents. However, I had toleave the conversation early as the Christmas ‘Doctor Who’ started. It was acase of you can catch up with family, but not with ‘Doctor Who’. It’s a timewarp thing.

Food sort of came and went during the evening around a gameof ‘Cranium’. This game takes super intelligence to know how to make someoneelse move like a puppet. Believe it. There was no way Irene could get me to be an air-guitar playing puppet.

Fiona was much better as a puppet than I was

On Boxing Day the weather was almost superb. In fact inAberdeen it was 15 C. Irene and I went a walk around Stapleford Hill and madesomething of a hash of finding our way back to Coventry Lane.

Should there be pipes across a footpath?

Christmas Colour in the Walled Garden

In the afternoonwe watched ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’. We then went on to watch ‘Home Alone’. And soBoxing Day came to an end.

The next day it was when leaving for the Dales' that I discovered an enormous puddle of water in the garage. I figured that it might have come from the car. The water bottles were found to be full and so I thought that it might have been due to water collecting in the car after the recent heavy rain. And so, we set off to see our friends, spending a pleasant hour or so with them. They had plenty of news to share. Some of it we found mostsurprising. (There might be more later.)

In the evening it was our turn to host our other Ilkeston friends, Jan and Lawrence. This was another opportunity for exchanging presents, enjoying a good meal and catching up with friends.

Wednesday was a time for topping up the fridge ready for our day with Tim and Isla. Once again the garage was flooded. So, what was the pattern to this phenomena? Although the water was centred on the floor I spotted traces of water at the back of the garage. It was then that I had an epiphany. The one thing that we were doing that we do not normally do was to use the dishwasher. My first thought was that the pipe from the dishwasher had come out of the waste pipe.

Once back from shopping I removed everything from the back of the garage. It was then I discovered a pipe end hanging in the air. Problem solved. When I told Irene she remembered me asking her to remind me to replace the dishwasher pipe after I had completed the garage redecorating. So, I can't take all the blame. At the time of writing I do not know whether the problem is cured. I am reasonably confident, but tomorrow will tell.

On Thursday Tim, Isla and the girls came for the day. Joni and Fiona were with us. Our festivities started with Christmas photos.

Christmas photo. Notice the brother with the same cardigans

This was followed by mulled (non-alcoholic) wine and warm mince pies. Who knows how difficult it is to pour warm wine into a small cup containing two segments of orange. For me it was a disaster, but only Irene noticed, as did the kitchen table, the floor and anything else in the area. I am now banned from the kitchen.

For dinner Irene served up a very nice piece of beef and plenty of trimmings. I was going to carve the beef with our electric carving knife, but, as you know, I am banned.

Before eating dinner came our traditional wave to New Zealand. Perhaps we should do the hukka http://youtu.be/gUgKPyy_tlA next year.

Greetings to our family in NZ

After this followed another exchange of presents.

The girls making balloon things

During the afternoon the girls visited my railway and added some of my new scenics to the layout. Strangely, they removed the mountain climbing pigs and the Doctor Who tree monster.

More food followed and then the party broke up. Irene and I played the new game that Tim and Isla gave me. It is a very clever 'strategy' game. Irene could not get her head round it, but she won both times. Joni and Fiona went out. We watched 'Alice Through the Looking Glass' and Joni came back.

On Friday Jenny and Francis came over for tea/coffee and mince pies (we had four left). This was a pleasant morning listening to the Luckcocks. It is a while since we have spent so much time having a conversation with them even though they are our friends from next door.

The last 2011 events we have are a visit to Irene's mum tomorrow and the New Years Eve dance at the Washington Drive Community Centre, which will take us nicely into the new year.

A HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM IRENE (the editor) AND ME (the author).

The Blog Before Christmas

2011-12-07T17:38:00.001Z

2011 Dec Blog

Oh! to be able to keep up with a regular blog. I can’t saythat updating Facebook has consumed much of my time. I have given time to theNew Stapleford Community Centre website http://newscomcen.co.uk/and have spent some time on my own website and associated gallery http://www.theoaksphotos.com/ and http://gallery.theoaksphotos.com/#home.In fact my website has been radically transformed and is on its way to becomingmore like a blog.

The other factor that has reduced blogging is that ouroutings and photographic expeditions have reduced in number since 22^ndOctober, as the weather has begun to change and possibly SAD has kicked in. SADis more probably more accurately spelled CBB (can’t be bothering.)

However, a number of things have happened and somephotographs have been taken since the wedding.

On the 25^th October it was Irene’s birthday.Sally sent a very colourful and useful gift. There was a trip to the garden centre and then we celebrated the occasion by anevening meal with Jan and Lawrence at Bartlewood Lodge carvery. It was a dark,wet evening. The queues were long the food was a reasonable price and good.

Our next event was the bonfire. Each year the council allowus to have a bonfire on the allotment. This year it was on bonfire night. Weburn the old wood that has been stored throughout the year and Irene adds thebranches from the pruning that she does as the fire blazes. The fire was quitesmall this year, but burned furiously. We left as the fire burned out and therain came.

Early in December Joni and Fiona returned. They did verywell in bringing a largish van load of possessions all the way from Scotland.Most of them are stored in Fiona’s parents’ double garage, but we have a fairamount of them stored in various parts of the house. To celebrate their safereturn we took them to Bartlewood; this time we went at lunch, which wasquieter. Fiona stayed with her parents for a week, returned to complete somework and returned with their car a little while ago.

During the time Fiona was away we went on an expedition to find amodel railway in Cromford. This was because dancing friends said that we shouldvisit. However, what none of us knew was that the exhibition was only open inthe summer months. We walked along the Cromford Canal, stopping only to snapthe village rugby match, but the growing cold and fading light bought an end toour walk.

On the 24^th we had another visit to NottinghamUniversity. The lighting was good and squirrels were posing.

The main purposeof the visit was to see the Lowry exhibition in the Arts Centre Gallery. Incase you do not know, Lowry has been accused of only being able to paintmatchstick figures. He is however a very skilled draftsman with a goodunderstanding of composition. He portrays the industrial scene of is day withfeeling and a degree of accuracy (although this cannot always be trusted as heuses objects as metaphors). It is unlikely that such an exhibition will bestaged again in the near future as many works have been loaned from numerousprivate collections. This was a unique opportunity and gave us much to ponder on. We also learned a word; 'quotidian' which is an adjective meaning 'ordinary, common place...'

By 25^th November I was satisfied that the Bextonsidings were complete and dragged a studio light up to the loft to make aphotographic record. The little engine and its livestock wagons do not go far.From the sidings they travel into a tunnel under the back of the main line andout along a bland piece of track to terminate at the abattoir station beforereversing back empty for the next load of livestock.

On the 1^st December we braved a trip toNottingham to do some non-online Christmas shopping and to choose beforepurchasing some things online. It was cold but the sun was bright with plentyof blue. While taking a photograph to show the brightness of the sky the bottomhalf of the picture was in shade. I used the computer to convert this part toblack and white. I feel that this enhances the contrast.

Having staggered through a couple of shops by 12 o’clock wewere about ready for our annual Christmas coffee in ‘Waterstones’.Fortunately they house a ‘Costa’ café which did a beautiful triple chocolatemuffin full of rich chocolate sauce.

We did a very good deal on a book at thesame time and selected another book for online shopping. After our break weheaded for ‘Market Square’, passed the colourful cabin shops (German Market) and were awed by the high flying, rotating ride.

In contrast to the Christmas shopping rushwas the ‘Occupy Nottingham’ camp. This was tidily arranged in a corner of thesquare and occupied by a fair number of anti-capitalist protesters.

From here we headed on up to the Victoria Shopping Centre. Onthe way, at one spot, autumn colours were still in evidence and I photographedthe scene and posterized the image to intensify the colours.

Victoria Centre was busy and decorated for Christmas.

Theyhave a good indoor market. I could have spent a fortune on CDs of bygone popmusic. Irene did her purchases while I photographed colourful market stallscenes.

From the shops we headed for the ‘Nottingham Contemporary’

(http://www.nottinghamcontemporary.org/).A German artist called Klaus Weber was exhibiting in all four galleries. Wewere impressed by his ‘honey pictures’. Yes, true, the media was honey. The twoworks of art have to be kept perfectly flat and not shaken in transit as thehoney would move. The idea of the pictures was to show scenes of cooperativehuman activity using the product of social honey bees. The artist also hadcurated two other galleries. He had chosen pieces from the basements of othergalleries; in particular, the ‘Science Museum’ and the ‘Tate’. His plan was toexhibit them creatively so that the visitor would have to interact with piecesand look for patterns in the arrangements. We were fascinated by such things asamphora being displayed on red plastic buckets and a bison head being displayedin its wooden packing case. At the end of the last gallery was the artist’scollection of statues of monkeys staring at human skulls or sitting on books.Apparently some artist had created one to mock Darwin’s Theory of Evolution and copies were made, each slightly different. Each object was perched on itsown transparent tower and there was a feeling that this was a single act ofworship, but we were able to wander amongst them (but not towing the shoppingtrolley behind us). We were left wondering what Klaus Weber’s view of evolutionwas. Then it was time to go home.

Two days later, a little later than planned, Irene and I put the allotment to bed. For me this meant emptying the shed. Cleaning it out, cleaning, oiling and replacing our tools to survive the winter until work begins again in March 2012.

It feels distinctly like winter, although we lack the snowof last year. I end this blog with my latest picture, showing storm clouds near thehouse. I like the contrast between the darkness and the sunlight.

Rachel's Wedding

2011-10-25T11:53:00.001+01:00

Saturday 22nd October

One useful function of blogging is that it provides the blogger with a useful record of date, times and circumstances.

The bride and groom were blessed with a beautiful day. There was sunshine and blue sky. It was a little chilly and the wind picked up on the odd occasion. All in all, not a bad day for late October in the UK.

The last wedding that we attended in Hinckley was still fresh in our minds. We set off at the same time as we did last time and arrived at St Peter's Catholic Church at much the same time as before. This gave us good period of time to walk up to a tea shop. It has the charm of a country tea shop, but the view outside is anything but.

St Peter's is a beautiful, modern church and Father Frank is a lovely man.

It was, altogether, a special service and the bride was truly radiant.

Rachel outside the church

From the church we made our way to Ullesthorpe Court Hotel and Golf Club. This is a very remote but great place for the photographs and the meals. All the food was excellent.

The Hotel

We were able to catch up with our relatives; Anne, Sid and George as well as with Adrian, Veronica and family.

Rachel and Andy arriving at the hotel

Elizabeth, Helen, Veronica, Andy, Rachel, Adrian and Mike

The young people enjoyed the loud music and we left just after 10.00; getting home at about 11:00. This is about as much as we oldies can take.

Anne and Irene

Many thanks to Rachel and family and to Andy Clayton and family for their kind hospitality.

Wirksworth Model Railway Exhibition

2011-10-20T17:00:00.002+01:00

A Fantasy Model with rising balloon, moving buses, octopus, moving canal boat etc

A beautiful diorama

Details on an O Gauge

Roanoke Round House and Turntable

A Working Coal Conveyor

Detail inside a workshop

Coaling and turntable

Sunday 16^th October

We were pleased to see that (Facebook) Sally and Ian had not only seen the Wales v France semi-final, but had also seen The All Black beat the Aussies on the following night. This must be a memorable part of her birthday.

Lawrence rang to say that he was in no fit state to go to Wirksworth and so Irene volunteered to accompany me.

We like going to this little Derbyshire town. It is so countrified, oldie-worldly and peaceful. It is down in the bottom of quite a deep valley.

The exhibition was being held in three main venues. We easily avoided parking in the town’s only pay car park at £5 a day and walked down to the railway station. Here we bought our tickets at a staggering £6 for the two of us, got directions and went up to the ‘Town Hall’ venue. The stewards expressed great pleasure that the lifts were working this year; so up the stairs we went. This was the main event with a number of prize-winning displays. It was a relatively thinly attended event and we were able to speak to number of exhibitors. The ‘Maun Valley’ exhibit caught my eye as this has associations with my childhood in Mans (Maun's) field. I asked him about the reality of the scene and was told that his first model was meant to be a real scene. However, when he displayed it he was immediately greeted by a visitor complaining that a certain tree was not in the right place. He decided that his next exhibit would be more a figment of his imagination. This time when he exhibited it he one of the visitors was absolutely certain that he had crossed the very bridge shown on the model.

Please note that photography at these events is very difficult, as is the photography of any small scale models. In particular at these events I do not feel it proper or even fair on other visitors to use a tripod; and certainly not set up studio lighting. I do not like using high ISO speeds because of noise and am therefore shooting at a relatively slow shutter speed of 1/30^th with a large aperture. You therefore lose depth of field and the ability to freeze movement. Sometimes this latter can be used to good effect.

Tea Rooms

The next venue was the Parish Room which was a little way down from the Town Hall. From here we doubled back to make our way back to the car for our packed lunch and back up the street to our favourite tea shop. Today the shop was much more crowded but we waited patiently as the owner doddered around taking orders. Irene broke the bank. She had a Viennese cake with cream, which made our total bill go up by 50p to £3.50.

Bright Lighting

Z gauge

Continuing to retrace our steps and going further down the street we came to the Memorial Hall. This had the least exhibits, but all three were very interesting. One was a modern layout with powerful station lighting. Another was the Z gauge. This not the smallest gauge that I have seen, but is extremely tiny. The final exhibitor was showing a Trix Twin layout http://www.trix.co.uk/. This system has a third rail in the centre. The reason for this was that the outer wheels were pick up wheels and were connected through a metal axle and so a third pick up was in the centre of the engine. The power supply was 14v AC and so a solenoid was built into the motor and could be activated to switch the engines direction. The makers had come up with other innovations. Well before the advent of fibre optics wherever light was needed it was carried from a bulb through a transparent plastic tube to the output end.

In this venue we also spied some ‘bargain’ bits for stocking fillers. We also studied some less bargain bits; namely materials for constructing model gardens. Irene thinks that she should be able to come up with cheaper alternatives to construct her garden on the layout.

Now was a complete turnaround back to the station. The station is on the private Ecclesbourne Valley Line http://www.e-v-r.com/. It now runs 8 miles to Duffield. It now runs a fairly frequent service between the two ends; the days depending on the time of the year.

It is an interesting place to visit having a large yard for older standard gauge stock and a short section of 2 foot gauge which used to serve the quarry through tunnels under the town.

It was a lovely bright autumn day for the visit. On the way back we called in to see Lawrence and offer sympathy and hope that it is not much longer before he can be fit enough to get back to work.

Milton Keynes

2011-10-19T17:50:00.000+01:00

Saturday 15^thOctober

We made ourusual visit to Nan in High Clere. She seemed more settled after her last falland was able to play a good game of Scrabble.

After thiswe were able to spend some time with Tim, Isla and the girls. We had a bit ofspare time between visits which was enough to be able to walk around Loughtonlakes in the brilliant autumn sunshine.

Fisherman

Swan Family

We had ourlunch with the family and had a walk around Shenley Wood with them. The girlsfound their ‘Fairy’ tree and had a climb up it; giving some concern to the grown-ups. Iona is very agile and was under instructions to go so far, but nofurther.

Grass Throwing

That's Far Enough

Izzie Up

High-ona

The paththrough the woods was littered with acorns and many berries adorned the bushes.

Sloe Berries

We said ourgoodbyes and toddled off for our usual Saturday evening.

Before thisI rang my friend Lawrence to confirm arrangements for our visit to the modelrailway exhibition in Wirksworth. Unfortunately, due to getting in and out ofcars (this is a favourite activity which they do in a local showroom); hispainful back had flared up.

Serendipity and Garage

2011-10-11T16:32:00.002+01:00

Serendipity is when someone finds something that they weren't expecting to find. The word has been voted as one of the ten English words that were hardest to translate in June 2004 by a British translation company. However, due to its sociological use, the word has been exported into many other languages. In the simplest of word, it means "happy accident" or a "pleasant surprise". (Wikipedia)

The picture below is neither. Perhaps a different word is needed to describe such an arrangement as it certainly did happen by accident, but serves no useful purpose other than being an oddity.

Serendipity (?)

Garage

I have spent sometime working on the garage. It was perhaps the dirtiest part of the house and I am sure still is; this being the nature of garages.

As you can see, the walls and ceiling are white emulsion, the down pipe is white gloss. A once hollow ceiling has been boarded in, but best of all, the floor has a coating of floor paint. The floor will no longer be a source of dust.

To finish off, a gloss black border has been painted around the edges of the wall.

The bench extends across the back, giving more work top space (currently piled with boxes of produce) and giving cover to the freezer and washing machines.

I am pleased with the result.

The current occupant is the car.

GARAGE FLOOR, NEW SHOES AND ATTENBOROUGH

2011-10-05T18:11:00.000+01:00

5^th October 2011

This morning the work on thegarage got closer to completion. We were able to move the machines on to thenewly painted floor and then I was able to put the undercoat on half of theremainder of the floor.

After lunch the main journey was tobuy new shoes for me.

As this was done quickly we hadtime for a quick walk around Attenborough. This was the shortest walk of theseason. It is still warm, but the sky was almost overcast and the wind was acontinuous howl in the trees.

The vapour on the chimney wasvery bright.

Vapour

We had not seen waves on thelakes until today.

Waves

Nor had we seen the lakes so dry.

Dry Lake Bed

New Shore

A new feature had been created.This was a large field that had been ridge and furrowed. There seems to be awooden structure to control the water flow from a higher lake.

Wooden Dam?

Ridge and Furrow

And so, over the very windswept bridgefrom where there is the usual iconic view of Attenborough church and then tothe car and home.

Attenborough Church

Nan then Flower Show

2011-10-03T21:14:00.000+01:00

Saturday 1^st October 2011

Today was our regular visit toNan in Milton Keynes. It was October, but it was still hot and sunny. We joinedthe motorway to find ourselves in a procession of dozens of bikers. They wereon their way to Donnington. I have to say that they were behaving veryresponsibly, driving at steady speed, keeping out of the fast lane to allowmotorists, like ourselves the opportunity to make good progress. Further downon the north bound side it was not such pleasant story. There was a group ofbikers, police cars and an ambulance. Perhaps it was just an unfortunate ratherthan a silly accident.

We arrived at High Clere in goodtime. Although she is physically frail she still has a sharp mind and was ableto play a good game of ‘Scrabble’. She is still very occupied with herknitting. She is quite sad that she cannot see colours anymore and has had toget rid of her painting materials. We left her relatively cheerful. She reallydoes appreciate the company of her family. I am proud to be in that grouping.

We made two stops on the wayhome. The first was at RBS in Long Eaton. It is becoming a better time to callin. This week it was for a small bag of fine grey ballast and some fencing.

After this we called in to St Michaelsparish church, Bramcote. It is their 150^th anniversary and they hadput on a flower show. They should be congratulated on this. It was colourful,dramatic and very creative.

Immediately after tea we had theunexpected pleasure of a visit from Jan and Lawrence.

Link to photos https://picasaweb.google.com/104631083841966481165/20111001Jpg?authkey=Gv1sRgCNn527bi8qiEXg

The Melbourne Walk

2011-10-02T20:52:00.004+01:00

MELBOURNE WALK

Thursday 29^th September 2011

The walk was described as ‘A lovely relaxing walk throughthe rolling South Derbyshire countryside ..’

The weather was spectacular, for any time of year, withtotally blue skies and the temperature that would reach 28 C. But, it wasespecially out of character for late September.

Not being very far away and not much of a detour to stop offat Willowcroft Care Home to pick up the last of Margaret Cornish’s mail, we setoff along the A52 towards Spondon. It was also a good opportunity to pick upsome bits at B & Q. In the car park at the DIY store was parked a verypretty pink car and so this was the first subject of the photographic journey.The reason for this was that Zoe, our oldest NZ granddaughter likes pink cars.(They are unusual.)

Pink Car for Zoe

Following directions from there on the SATNav we parked on astreet in Melbourne within site of the church. Our walk direction said that thewalk would start between the Parish Church of St. Michael’s and Melbourne Hall;both described as ‘two of the counties gems’. We were in the right place tostart the walk. Unfortunately, one of the county’s gems was surrounded byscaffolding and thoroughly tented in.

Garden shop

The yard with its craft shops and toilets was open and thiswas our first stop. I inadvertently gave Irene the idea that we would not startwith our usual refreshments. So, through the gateway into the beginning of theMelbourne Parks. This was a nice gentle start around ‘Melbourne Pool’. It wasinfested with its usual gaggle of Canada Geese.

Melbourne Pool

The first field, or so, wasquite gentle and the paths well marked. On we plodded looking for the six stepsdown to take us to a stile.

At this point I became aware of a veritable army of brightlycoloured army in procession behind us.

The Colourful Army

It was time to give them the slip. ThisI did by continuing to walk the path at the edge of the field until it came toa dead end. By the time we got back to the six, well disguised steps, leadingto the, clearly marked post by style, the army had already found the correctpath and were well ahead of us.

They Weren't Able See Us

Here the walk began to go up hill; at first along a grassylane. (Did I say that it was now 28 C and there was no shade, even on this lane?)It was not long before it was time to leave the lane. The post came in site,but where was the path? The guide said to go left. The yellow arrow pointedleft. But where was the path. A little bit of scouting showed evidence oftrainer print in the dust. I believe the dust is what we call soil. And so, inthe way of ‘Good King Wencelas’, we did trot. This was to be the first ofnumber of fields lacking a clear path and going steeply up hill. It becameobvious that the farmers had recently ploughed their fields and seeded them. Butthe lack of water meant that the path way was not being trodden out and thatrapidly shoe prints had dusted over.

Mark My Footsteps

We plodded on though a small wood, but swarming in insects.And, becoming quite weary we needed shade and a place to sit. Having gottenover the top of another dusty hill, with a good view of Breedon church our onlyoption was a shade-less path of grass on which to sit and consume our picnic.With hindsight and knowledge that farmers generally do not put out shady picnictables in their fields, we knew that the logs in the wood would have been abetter option. But hindsight does not inspire anyone to back track up and overa dusty, sun baked hill.

The Plough

On we plodded along an easier walk, along a lane with someshade, past Breedon Golf Club and into the village of Wilson. Carefully hiddenwas the entrance to the next section of uphill sun-baked trackless waste. Inthis field we trod on pea seedlings trying to sprout out of the dry earth. Howthey are growing is a miracle. The only shady log to sit on was a waterlessoasis fifteen yards off the path. Re-finding the path proved more difficultthan finding it by looking along it at the start.

The Pea Path

From the top was a clear view of Melbourne and the pathdownhill was like a grassy piece of park land and, it seemed unexpectedly, wewere back by the pond. Refreshments were desperately needed, but shade wasstill denied us.

Finally it was a visit to the ‘Tree Tops Hospice’ charityshop. Mum though she might find something useful. But it was me who bought aCussler book for 50p before to the car and home we went.

There was a little time to spare and so we went to visit the gem that is St Michael's church. We had a good conversation with a lady attending to the flower arrangements and I took one or two photos.

We had not intended to do the walk. It was worth doing. Itcould not be any stretch of the imagination be described as relaxing.Certainly, it was lovely.

Our next sortie is to be to simply go somewhere and withoutan assault course map.

Straws Bridge and the Nutbrook Trail

2011-09-24T16:15:00.000+01:00

Bottle Kiln

It was a beautiful, warm, sunny morning. We started our journey at the 'Bottle Kiln'. This is a tastefully laid out gift shop to the west of Ilkeston with its own restaurant. (http://bottlekiln.co.uk/index2.html) The shop areas could be described as being cluttered, but elegantly done.

Christmas Decorations

Some of the art work was a bit over priced, but then you could be the unique owner of some unknown artist for £495. The restaurant area was fitted out very tastefully and it would seem that they would take special dietary requests, particularly if dairy-free is asked for.

Coffee Art

Straws Bridge

We back tracked to Straws Bridge pond car park. This was large and free and edged right up to the pond, which was had a large number of water birds enjoying the titbits from the human visitors.

Heron Spied onWalk

Then we started the walk.It was disastrously documented from the start, but we did use our common sense and find the beginning of it. The trail (on old railway line) followed the Nut Brook and passed other lakes.

Following the instruction we turned off the trail, which was then a path which went on and on without us finding any more confirming landmarks. At last we arrived at the road into Mapperley village, where we discovered that we were going the wrong way around the loop. Just before we reached the village there was a welcome bench which gave us a stop for lunch.

The Trail Map

Back tracking proved equally difficult and we never approached anywhere near 'Head House Farm' that it ever could have been a useful landmark. At one point we were fortunate enough to find an 'electric style', but even then the best we could do was exit the field by climbing over the gate.

Feeding Frenzy

Eventually we got back to the car to find a feeding frenzy of birds, before we set off back home.

Hall Porch Complete

2011-09-22T18:06:00.000+01:00

Today members of the New Stapleford Association committee completed the porch for the rear entrance of the hall.

David removing frame nuts

The base and the frame work and the roof were built by tradesmen. Over time we have boarded up the structure and David built the very professional looking window frames. All this was painted in readiness to fit the plastic glazing sheets. After one hours work this morning the structure was complete.

Alan securing the final frame

McArthurGlen

2011-09-21T16:45:00.001+01:00

Totem

Shoe shopping day. Not me; mum.

The Glen

McArthurGlen is a designer outlet which is off the second junction from where we join the M1 at junction 26. Irene needs wider fitting shoes and the 'Clarks' shop sells a good choice of shoes at a reasonable price. During her browsing time I made a visit to the 'Works' outlet. Later we bought items there for various presents.

After Clarks the next activity was coffee and cake. They have a large food hall which consists of a lot of seating surrounded by various food outlets. We found a good coffee shop with a chatty 'barista'. We were attracted to the availability chai latte. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masala_chai). Unfortunately, they only had enough to serve one. By way of compensation mine had coffee art. According to their literature 'A well trained barista will always give you latte art on your coffee. It is a sign that they know their craft.'

Coffee Art by a Well Trained Barista

After coffee Irene fulfilled her wish to look in another shoe shop. This was called 'Pavers', and had an even better selection of suitable shoes than 'Clarks'. I will refrain from commenting on the outcome.

In 'Pavers'

On the way home we called into B & Q to purchase garage floor paint before returning home for lunch and more garage painting

Anniversary Walk

2011-09-19T19:57:00.000+01:00

24^th August – Longnor

Panorama Looking Over the Valley

This was our anniversary walk. The main aim was to have ameal out. Joni was on holiday and accompanied us on the walk. Getting toLongnor and the start of the walk proved a little irksome. Firstly, the SATNavrefused to cooperate for some time. I did not do too badly navigating frommemory. (We are gradually putting together the various part of Derbyshire onour mental map.) Secondly, we arrived within just about a mile of ourdestination when right in front of us was a detour sign at a cross roads. Therewas no instruction about whether to go right or left. After some thought andtwo different pieces of advice; one from Joni’s mobile to go in one directionand the other from Irene’s paper technology to go the other. I elected to goleft. Now, instinct cut in. I correctly anticipated coming upon a further crossroads, and just as correctly anticipate that the SATNav would direct a leftturn back to the road that we came in on. I turned right. Instantly theinstrument added 25 minutes to our eta. Were we really on a road? Or where weon a very rough switch back going one way?

At last we reach Longnor. I am told that the route taken wasthrough spectacular scenery. I have to say that gritting teeth and focusing allattention on staying on the road before had the effect of blinkering me fromsuch picturesque countryside. Road side parking was free and near aninteresting cafe and near to ‘The Old Cheshire Cheese’, which was to the placefor our midday meal. After the usual the challenge was to find the start of thewalk. This was to be the worst ‘walk-start’ location that we have had. Thestart was the Market Square, were we where. The direction was to go towardsCrowdicote, which we did. We were to go left down Doveridge; which we could notfind as the only road going left had a totally different name. So, back we wentand found a different part of Doveridge. Long story, but an olde villager putus on something like the correct route. Across the valley, following our directions we did go.

Distinctive Hill Shapes

Exciting Clouds

Then came the farm on our left (no right). Not that it mattered in thatthere was no way to pass the guard dogs in the farmyard. (Can you blame thewalk author for this difficulty?) So, half an hour was added. By the time wereached Crowdicote we had had enough walking and decided that the short cutback to Longnor and the pub was the best option.

Crowdicote Showing Evidence of Road Closure

Joni Photographing Cows

We had an excellent meal ingreat surroundings. (Sounds like an advert.) A feature of the pub was thatsmall historical bits were displayed in a table cabinet beneath the glass tabletop. There were items such as a receipt for a “Milbro” Waterless Cooker from M.Rossetti, London S.W.5; described on the document as a Gass stove, costing£5.19.6 and delivered free of charge, C.O.D.

Table Display

The Receipt

My Steak

Irene's Lasagne

The main feature of this walk was that we were near thesources of the River Dove and the River Manifold, which run parallel at thispart of the world.

Last Blog 2nd August

2011-09-18T16:57:00.000+01:00

Last blog 2/8/11

I have certainly missed out on blogging for a long time. It is an activity that I quite enjoy and it might be a useful way to remember some of the lessons learned in previous years. Learning is, for me a very important activity and, these days, more important than teaching. After all, who wants to take any notice of a grumpy old man, who is entrenched in the philosophy of the good old days.

My poor blogging record lies in the slowness by which I prepare the images from the raw camera data.

However, here goes. Well nearly. I am reflecting on a comment that my photography aims for technical perfection, but is a ‘were I’ve been’ genre. I am considering a portfolio called ‘The Best of ‘Where I’ve Been’’. Hoping I have the correct collection of apostrophe/quotation marks. Perhaps I would better to format it to “The Best of ‘Where I’ve Been’”. Still looks ugly.

23^rd July - Cossall and the Nottingham Canal

This was the day that we discovered a magical world on our doorstep. Just 10 minutes drive from here is a car park near the village of Cossall. From the car park; alongside the disused Nottingham Canal is an easy walk. At each boundary along the walk the canal changes its character in a very clear way. There was a great deal of colour along the walk, wild life, industrial archaeology; although the town of Ilkeston was only a few fields away. The down side was that there were no cafes or toilets. The latter made for an interesting challenge of finding a secluded spot.

Disused railway viaduct

Heron taking flight

Bull rushes

28^th July - Dale Abbey and Stanton Hall

This was my first visit to Margaret Cornish in her new care home. We decided to combine the visit with a quick walk in Dale Abbey. We have never seen the ground so dry. Most any other time we have been there has been some mud somewhere. Today the driest areas had turned to sand. However even the dry ground did not deter an odd frog from crossing our path.

Frog

Path

Margaret is now resident in Stanton Hall, which is a large house standing in its own grounds.

Stanton Hall

3^rd August - Millers Dale

This must have been one of the best days of the summer. We headed to Millers Dale with a view to walking along the River Wye to Litton Mill. It was one of the few times this year that we have paid to park. At least there was toilet stop at the start, but no nearby tea room. The walk goes over one of two massive viaducts over the Wye, along the old track bed before dropping down the bank, across the Wye (http://www.derbyshireuk.net/river_wye.html) to Litton Mill. I had visited this area some years before with a school party. At that time we were walking in the much seasonal Peak District rain and we sheltered in a dilapidated building at this spot. Now the buildings have been converted into luxury apartments and holiday homes.

Litton Mill Apartments

Cressbrook Mill and Mill Pond

Sluice Control

Mill Pond Outflow

We arrived at the Mill to find that here the developers had taken over and the refreshment rooms had been closed and looked very dilapidated even though it was not so long ago since our first visit to Monsall Dale. So, we scrambled up to look over Monsall Dale to have the picnic that we are now in the habit of carrying.

Our final stop before the car was ‘The Anglers Rest’ which is charming and close by the river. Here Irene encountered Crabbies alcoholic ginger beer for the first time and enjoyed it. From here it was quite a struggle to climb back up to the main track back to the station.

We did conclude that the map and walk directions for this walk were pretty good.

17^th August – Illam

This walk day was almost as bright a day as the last one andthe walk was superb. The writer of the walk was once more accurate in the writeup and the map. Unsure of the area and having parked for free on the road sidewe wondered off towards Ilam Hall (http://peakdistrict.nationaltrust.org.uk/ilam-hall).Thisturned out to be a good decision. The hall is now a youth hostel in a statelyhouse building in a wonderful park. Refreshment were good and a good valuewhich we took on the terrace overlooking the hill around the River Dove.

Tea on the Terrace

A View From the Terrace

We walked past the cottages modelled after Swiss cottages.Apparently, a former owner of the hall was so impressed by his visit toSwitzerland that he had the buildings visible from the hall demolished and replaced by Swiss style buildings.

Swiss Style Cottages

The walk took us over fields towards theDove Dale car park. There was a slight difference between the instructions andthe walk. But, this was not serious.

When we arrived at the river we realised that this was trulythe Summer holidays. Cars were queuing to get in and we were in crowds headedtowards the stepping stones were we had to queue to cross.

Stepping Stones Over the Dove

On our two previousvisits, out of school holidays we practically had the place to ourselves. Wehad thought to have our picnic and return from there, but we had made good timeand decided to complete the walk. Fortunately, after crossing the Dove ourroute took us away from the crowds, around the back of Thorpe Cloud. This meantwalking from the confluence of the River Lynn and the River Dove up to the sourceof the smaller river. Here we found a small cave. Below the cave the ground wasdeeper green with water plants. Above the cave the ground was the usual moorland. This must be one of the smallest rivers as we could see the end from thebeginning. (A bit God-like.)

We were not very clear about the path at the top and keptmore to the right of the field than we should have done. We found a nice spotto sit and picnic before going on to the village of Thorpe and a convenienttoilet stop.

Picturesque Cottages in Thorpe

The route took us through the village and down a farm track with asurprise at the bottom of a major road bridge. We found out that a road hadbeen built to go through to Leek, but then it was discovered that the cars ofthe time would not have the power to climb the incline to Thorpe.

Abandoned Road Bridge

Having crossed the River Manifold the path, sadly, took usaway from the river and at one point the path would have disappeared if it hadnot have been for a brightly coloured, tall way marker. From here it was aneasy walk down and along the river back to the car.

Keyboard Jim

2011-08-02T20:48:00.015+01:00

Jim is a regular at our Friday night sequence dance. Due to his Irish ancestry he is a dab hand at the Irish joke.

However, his main claim to fame is his skill on the keyboard. We have 3 CDs of his music which sounds like a full orchestra is playing. His real heroism is that he has Parkinson's disease. To some extent his ability to record a piece many times until he is satisfied is a real plus.

Jim demonstrating his skills

Jim's Yamaha Tiros4

The real purpose of our visit to Jim's was admire a wonderful machine. Jim recently found out that I had a model railway. He has visited it. However, he had something to show me. It was a model of a steam engine made from various car parts. He had acquired from the neighbour who made it and had cleaned it up and was quite proud of it.

Part of our visit was to admire the garden that Jim and Janette are justly proud of.

They were fascinating and generous hosts and it was difficult to tear ourselves away.

Scotland Part 4

2011-07-25T16:52:00.042+01:00

Edinburgh Day

On Sunday Joni and Fiona were both off work and we elected to have a visit to Edinburgh. When we arrived in the city it was quiet and parking in the car park on King's Stables Road. Once in Princes Street Gardens we had our first glimpse of Edinburgh Castle standing at the top of an extinct volcano.

In the park there is a magnificent fountain. This known as the Ross Fountain. Further information is available at the following link: http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst8527.html

The Ross Fountain

In the park there was a magnificent specimen of a Scottish thistle,

but even as we walked the rain began and so we ducked into the Royal Scottish Academy. Once the rain stopped we continued our walk along the next section of the park, passing the Scott Monument. This is a huge structure and it seemed incredible that any author could be worthy of such a memorial.

Wikipedia has the following description:

The tower is 200 feet 6 inches (61.11 m) high, and has a series of viewing decks reached by a series of narrow spiral staircases giving panoramic views of central Edinburgh and its surroundings. The highest viewing deck is reached by a total of 287 steps (those who climb the steps can obtain a certificate commemorating the event). It is built from Binny sandstone quarried in nearby Ecclesmachan. This oily stone was known to attract dirt quickly and was probably a deliberate choice to allow the Gothic form to quickly obtain the patina of age. Arguably the soot of Edinburgh's chimneys, in combination with smoke from the nearby railway line and Waverley Station perhaps over-egged the result, and it is now very hard to make out the numerous carved figures. Bill Bryson has described it as looking like a "gothic rocket ship'.

Once through the park we opted for the more gentle climb on to the 'Royal Mile'. Part way up we spied seagulls that thought the were need of some body piercing. There many historical buildings along the Mile and many attractions and outlets aimed at tourists.

Near the top we were about ready for a tea break, which we happened to take in an interesting cafe. The cafe was named after Deacon Brodie.

According to Wipedia "William Brodie (28 September 1741 – 1 October 1788), more commonly known by his prestigious title of Deacon Brodie, was a Scottish cabinet-maker,deacon of the trades guild and Edinburgh city councillor, who maintained a secret life as a burglar, partly for the thrill, and partly to fund his gambling.

By day, Brodie was a respectable businessman, member of the burgh council and deacon (or president) of the Incorporation of Wrights and Masons. Part of his job in building cabinets was to install and repair their locks and other security mechanisms and repair door locks. He also served on a jury. He socialised with the gentry of Edinburgh, meeting poet Robert Burns and the painter Sir Henry Raeburn. He was also a member of The Edinburgh Cape Club.[1]

At night, however, Brodie became a burglar and thief. He used his daytime job as a way to gain knowledge about the security mechanisms of his clients and to copy their keys using wax impressions. As the foremost wright of the city, Brodie was asked to work in the homes of many of the richest members of Edinburgh society. He used the illicit money to maintain his second life, including five children, two mistresses who did not know of each other, and a gambling habit. He reputedly began his criminal career around 1768 when he copied keys to a bank door and stole £800. In 1786 he recruited a gang of three thieves, Brown, Smith and Ainslie.

The case that lead to Brodie's downfall began later in 1786 when he organised an armed raid on an Excise office in Chessel's Court on the Canongate. Brodie's plan failed and Ainslie was captured. Ainslie agreed to turn King's evidence, to avoid transportation, and informed on the rest of the gang. Brodie escaped to the Netherlands intending to flee to the United States but was arrested in Amsterdam and shipped back to Edinburgh for trial.

The trial started on 27 August 1788. At first there was no hard evidence against Brodie before the tools of his criminal trade were found in his house; copied keys, a disguise and pistols. The jury found Brodie and his henchman George Smith, a grocer, guilty. Smith was an English locksmith responsible for a number of thefts, even stealing the silver mace from the University of Edinburgh.

Brodie and Smith were hanged at the Tolbooth on 1 October 1788, using a gallows Brodie had designed and funded the year before. According to one tale, Brodie wore a steel collar and silver tube to prevent the hanging from being fatal. It was said that he had bribed the hangman to ignore it and arranged for his body to be removed quickly in the hope that he could later be revived. If so, the plan failed. Brodie was buried in an unmarked grave at the Parish Church in Buccleuch. However rumours of his being seen in Paris circulated later and gave the story of his scheme to evade death further publicity.

A little after we left the cafe my efforts to sort out my back pack gave rise to some hilarity. I also made the mistake of asking Fiona to hold my camera. Above is the result of this decision.

Here is my photographic nemesis at work in the castle. We had an informal competition to see who could take the best masterpiece without people in it. We could just about take pictures without people in them, but who knows what a masterpiece is.

This is certainly not a masterpiece. I really can't recall what the conversation was about, but I am sure that this Scottish guide was not interested in my tall fisherman's tale. If you look beyond the figures there is a glimpse of the magnificent views visible from the castle walls. It was impossible to see along the Royal Mile as the staging for the military tattoo was in place.

Once well into the castle we were ready to get down to the serious business of getting close to history. First Joni had to make sure that the cannons were properly lined up to demolish Bill Bryson's Gothic Space Ship.

Next Joni and Fiona had to find out what it felt like to be the Princes' in the tower.

Whoops! Wrong story - wrong tower.

This was followed later by a spell in the dungeons. In fact the castle was used to house prisoners of during the second world war.

After this it was time for Joni to do some guard duty. Later on I joined him. In the second picture I am the smart one in the pack-a-mac kilt and Joni is half way up the wall.

Before leaving the castle the group paid homage to Field Marshall Haig http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Haig,_1st_Earl_Haig

Once back on the Royal Mile we spied a kilt making mill. It was a vast warren of levels, paths and spaces. We looked to find our tartan and discovered that the McNorwood clan was wiped out at the dawn of time, or perhaps never existed.

Joni explored some steps and found that it was a good short cut back to the car. Notice the photographer and the couple posing.

At the bottom of the castle we spied a very brightly coloured bird. It seemed to have difficulty flying, but it does seem to have something in its beak.

A pair of helicopters ceremoniously escorted us over the Forth Bridge towards our evening meal at Nando's.

I am glad that we were warned about the curry strengths. I chose medium, which for me was a very pleasant flavour to go with the chicken and salad.

A nice evening sampling whiskey, eating more of my delicious birthday cake made by the fair Fiona and playing a board game. Was a good ending to a great weekend in Scotland. We are very grateful to Joni and Fiona for there hospitality and kindness and that they were could fun company to be with.

Finally don't use the SATNav to get home it takes you through Jeburgh to the A1. In future avoid Scots Corner. There is a more modern service station only a few mile north of it.

Scotland Part 3

2011-07-24T13:43:00.035+01:00

July 9th. My birthday. I am a state pensioner. Appropriately, the model engine is the 'Flying Scotsman'

Breakfast was fun. Joni and Fiona had a little time before they set off and I was able open my presents and cards. Before the end of breakfast Joni had to leave, but returned to post a birthday card. Pretty precise timing for the arrival of a card to me from Milton Keynes. (Thank goodness I am not typing this in word or the grammar checker would have a fit about the last 'sentence.)

Fiona was going to work today and so Irene and I went off on our own to explore Dundee. Dundee is where Joni had set off for work and only took us 20 minutes to arrive after him. From Cupar the journey is across the Firth of Tay. The Tay is crossed by two mighty bridges. This is the information about the road bridge:

The Tay Road Bridge
2250 metres in length, the Tay Road Bridge spans the estuary of the River Tay between Dundee and Newport on Tay.

It leads traffic directly onto the centre of Dundee and is mainly used by commuters.The bridge was designed by William A Fairhurst and was opened to traffic on 18th August 1966 having taken 4 years to build at a cost of approximately £5 million.

The cost of building the bridge today would be well over £100 million.

Having crossed the bridge you are immediately aware of a huge supermarket to the left of the bridge. We swung to the left behind Tesco's and attempted to access the first multi-storey car park we came to. We entered the car park on our second attempt. The trick is to have the car in gear, the hand brake off and your foot on the accelerator before pressing the button on the ticket. In with seconds to spare.

From the car park we walked along the outside of the railway sidings until we were able to turn left across the railway and reach the promenade. Further on we could see the more dramatic looking Tay railway bridge which was to be out first destination. The rise and fall and rise of this bridge is well documented by the press and celebrated in poetry. Dundee University has this brief statement about the bridge:

The original Tay Rail Bridge opened in 1878, only to fail during the stormy night of 28 December 1879 while a train was crossing. The train, with seventy five passengers and crew, poured off the collapsing bridge into the icy river with all lives lost. An enquiry blamed the exceptional weather conditions, and poor quality design.

The bridge was re-constructed in 1887, and the bases of the original's supporting legs can still be seen along the eastern side.

Naturally, I took many photographs of the bridge from various angles.

We walked to the end of the promenade. We did the tourist thing of taking each others' pictures.

Irene is convinced that the tree behind, my lamp-post and the bridge are elements of a picture on a postcard that she had sent to her. Here is our attempt to reconstruct the scene.

From here we walked back to the road bridge, but not without recalling the cause of the real fame about the Tay Railway Bridge. The greatest shame was, not that it fell down, but that one William McGonnagall wrote a poem about. His poem is now permanently recorder for posterity in stone along the embankment near the bridge.

As disinclined as I could be to inflict torment on anyone I feel obliged to include his poem here:

The Tay Bridge Disaster by William McGonnagall

Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silv'ry Tay!
Alas! I am very sorry to say
That ninety lives have been taken away
On the last Sabbath day of 1879,
Which will be remember'd for a very long time.

'Twas about seven o'clock at night,
And the wind it blew with all its might,
And the rain came pouring down,
And the dark clouds seem'd to frown,
And the Demon of the air seem'd to say-
"I'll blow down the Bridge of Tay."

When the train left Edinburgh
The passengers' hearts were light and felt no sorrow,
But Boreas blew a terrific gale,
Which made their hearts for to quail,
And many of the passengers with fear did say-
"I hope God will send us safe across the Bridge of Tay."

But when the train came near to Wormit Bay,
Boreas he did loud and angry bray,
And shook the central girders of the Bridge of Tay
On the last Sabbath day of 1879,
Which will be remember'd for a very long time.

So the train sped on with all its might,
And Bonnie Dundee soon hove in sight,
And the passengers' hearts felt light,
Thinking they would enjoy themselves on the New Year,
With their friends at home they lov'd most dear,
And wish them all a happy New Year.

So the train mov'd slowly along the Bridge of Tay,
Until it was about midway,
Then the central girders with a crash gave way,
And down went the train and passengers into the Tay!
The Storm Fiend did loudly bray,
Because ninety lives had been taken away,
On the last Sabbath day of 1879,
Which will be remember'd for a very long time.

As soon as the catastrophe came to be known
The alarm from mouth to mouth was blown,
And the cry rang out all o'er the town,
Good Heavens! the Tay Bridge is blown down,
And a passenger train from Edinburgh,
Which fill'd all the peoples hearts with sorrow,
And made them for to turn pale,
Because none of the passengers were sav'd to tell the tale
How the disaster happen'd on the last Sabbath day of 1879,
Which will be remember'd for a very long time.

It must have been an awful sight,
To witness in the dusky moonlight,
While the Storm Fiend did laugh, and angry did bray,
Along the Railway Bridge of the Silv'ry Tay,
Oh! ill-fated Bridge of the Silv'ry Tay,
I must now conclude my lay
By telling the world fearlessly without the least dismay,
That your central girders would not have given way,
At least many sensible men do say,
Had they been supported on each side with buttresses,
At least many sensible men confesses,
For the stronger we our houses do build,
The less chance we have of being killed.

The 'good' poet made sure that the last Sabbath day of 1879 was remember'd for a very long time.

Moving on rapidly we had a good view of the road bridge which, thankfully in more ways than one, has not fallen down or we might remember it for a very long time.

Near to the road bridge the 'Discovery' is docked. We took our photos and some touristy ones.

We had a pleasant break in restuarant opposite the ship and I saw the sky darken as we sat and from here it was a dash to get my raincoat from the car and head off to the Dundee Contemporary art gallery.

It is a beautiful building and we went to the showing of work by Nina Rhode called 'Friendly Fire'. (url: http://www.dca.org.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/friendly-fire.html.) Circles or circular movement seemed to be the theme as well as collecting objects to make an art work.

We were particularly impressed by the sculpture made of the remains from a firework display.

I experimented with using different shutter speed to record various spinning wheels.

On the way out from the gallery we passed Dundee's hands-on science museum. We popped our nose in and took a picture of the model dinosaur on display.

It was still raining so we decided to head off somewhere else and finished up at the behind some modern apartments further down the shore of the Tay. We walked passed a strange looking boat with little sign of what it was. But, I decided to put my nose in and was greeted by a friendly chap who bemoaned that no one ever visited. So, as much out of pity as to get out of the rain. we paid our £5 and went in. The ship turned out to be the HMS Unicorn. It was built and a roof put on, because it never went to sea. But it is the oldest ship still afloat. The url is:http://www.frigateunicorn.org/ and the brief description is:

His Majesty’s Frigate UNICORN, of 46 guns, was built for the Royal Navy in Chatham dockyard, and she was launched in 1824.

The classic sailing frigate was a fast and powerful warship, and was one of the most successful and charismatic ship designs of the age.

UNICORN is a unique survivor from the brief transitional period between the traditional wooden sailing ship and the revolutionary iron steamship, and is now one of the six oldest ships left in the world.

These are my pictures.

From here we made our way back to Cupar. We spent a little time with Fiona before setting off to meet Joni at St Michael's Public House for my birthday meal.

Scotland Part 2

2011-07-21T19:03:00.040+01:00

Joni was free from work today and Fiona swapped her work day. After breakfast they drove us down to Loch Leven. This is half way between Edinburgh and Perth; just off the M90.

Following the road we came to a RSPB centre where we parked in the hope of woodland walk. We found the cost of walking to a hide a little exorbitant, but found our way to the upstairs cafe. Positioned alongside a large window, overlooking the loch, were three powerful telescopes and these were free to use. So, aided by an enthusiastic volunteer the party spent a good few minutes, for free, helping us in our study of the bird life.

They also had remote control cameras on the island. These could be swivelled around until you found something of interest to zoom in on. Our guide was very excited by a bird which was very much out of place. I can't remember much about it. The on screen picture was much clearer than this photograph.

Lost bird of Leven

From here we drove on to 'The Pier'. Here there was a restaurant, shops and a place to book boat trips to the main island. On the island is Loch Leven Castle.

The official guide gives this account:

"Originally the site of a 6th century Pictish fort, the 14th century tower which forms the nucleus of Lochleven Castle is one of the earliest and best preserved tower-houses in Scotland. A royal stronghold that was granted to the Douglas family in 1390, the castle is first known to have been used as a state prison in 1316 when King Robert the Bruce imprisoned John of Lorne there. The castle’s most famous prisoner was Mary Queen of Scots, imprisoned there from 1567 until her escape in 1568. While held in Lochleven Castle, she was forced to abdicate in favour of her infant son James (later King James Ist, uniting England and Scotland)."

Tickets were purchased for our trip out to Lochleven Castle, but the weather began to look threatening. So we went for a short walk to take up some time before lunch. The first thing we encountered were carvings of animals. We think this is an otter.

At the end of the walk we had our first view of Lochleven Castle across the water. We were next to Kirkgate Graveyard which is best viewed from the water.

Loch Leven Castle from Kirkgate Graveyard

We made it back to the Pier for lunch just before the rain came. After rain we were ready to board the ferry and enjoy the 10 minute ride to the castle.

There were few people on the island. It is well kept and even as we disembarked a lawn mower was at work.

Irene had fun on the spiral stairs.

I enjoyed experimenting with ground level photography

Someone was not cooperative

We all posed together

We admired the skill of a determined grouse photographer

In the damp woodland at one side of the island we were introduced to the delights of the infamous Scottish midges.

Having explored the castle and the island we boarded the boat and returned to the mainland just as the rain started again.

Our drive to our next destination led us back through Cupar and the sun began to shine again and so we continued through to Leuchars.

Cupar

When we arrived in Leuchars it was the home of RAF Leuchars and we saw signs asking that the RAF stay. We have recently found out that the army is to take over the base. Will the people of Leuchars like this?

Out of Leuchars is the Tentsmuir Forest, surrounded on three sides by a wonderful beach. The beach is accessed through a pay barrier which opens the way to a forest drive were vehicles are parked at the edge of the dunes.

Someone was very excited by all the shells lying around; particularly the razor shells.

Razor shells and collector

The beach is very wide and clean, with wonderful patterns made by the wind and the flowing water.

As we left the beach I spied a what seemed to a lone bright yellow clump of flowers, but when I looked closer, I found that it was a miniature eco-system supporting bright caterpillars and red insects. There is even a lone ant in the centre of the picture.

And so we headed back through the woods and to Cupar for a good meal and the company of Tay.

Confidently striding out to find the car

More from the adventures of Tay

Scotland Part 1

2011-07-20T15:34:00.021+01:00

We started our trip north just before 9.00 am on Thursday 7th July. We had determined to try crossing over to the M6 and heading due north. The SATNav was determined to take us to the M1 and north. We eventually prevailed and by Stoke the SATNav lady stopped her 're-calculating'.

Our first stop was Charnock Richard, which is the one with the tower, but otherwise an ordinary motorway dive.

We continued north from there with the heaviest rain being at Shap Summit. A little way on we encountered better weather and by the time we had reached the A74(M) services called 'Abington' the sun decided to shine. The services were accessed from the A702, which was perfect for the start of the cross country to Edinburgh. This was a splendid stop with a picnic area giving great views over the Scottish hills.

View from Abington Services

And so on to Edinburgh and the Forth Road Bridge.

We arrived reasonably early in Cupar and after parking the car in the large central, free car park we decided to go walk about and look for a cafe. The park is very colourful with a colourful bandstand in the middle.

Standing on guard at the top of the park was the Angel of Cupar. Beyond this was a cafe. This was next door to Joni's flat and this is where a phone call found us.

It was not long before we were out in the secret garden. A private alley way runs from the locked shared entrance. Opposite Joni's and Fiona's entrance is a 'doorway' into the shell of an old house. The doorway is the only entrance into the area. All the other ground floor windows and doors have been bricked up. Joni and Fiona spent a while removing years of accumulated junk and growth. In this area they have created a garden. Blue pallets make a decking area. Various plants and objects are artistically arranged and they have sown grass seed which is showing through. The photographs do not do justice to the area that they have created.

The Secret Garden. Fresh grass is showing.

A wonderful feast of stuffed butternut squash and asparagus was followed by delicious cup cakes.

Cup cakes - I chose the orange and lemon one.

During the evening we were introduced to 'Tay', the kitten. Tay is a delightful kitten. Very energetic, but thinks he is a dog. Throw a sock and he will retrieve it.

More of Tay later

We were given a good room for our stay; furnished with double bed, wardrobe a some desk space to lay out our bits. We slept comfortably with one problem. For three nights as soon as a particular shop closed an alarm went off at regular intervals through the night until the shop opened again in the morning. So much for burglar alarms.

A Couple of Stories

2011-07-19T20:21:00.006+01:00

These are without dates or photographs.

1. A while ago Irene and I were working together on the allotment. We were working on the same task of moving 'mare's tails'. They had grown under the path from our neighbour's overgrown border and were taking over the raspberry patch. This involved much digging and pulling in a confined space. It was a hot day and we were in shirt sleeves. At one point my phone fell out of my shirt pocket. We carried on working. A particular tough weed suddenly came free and I fell over into the neighbour's patch. We carried on working.

Later, at home I realised that my phone was missing. So, I got in the car and started to head for the allotment. I had not got out of the drive when I had a brilliant idea of taking Irene's phone with me. At the allotment I dialled my own phone. (Have you noticed it is at times like this when low-flying helicopters hover overhead.) When I did hear the phone; Irene's phone; the mechanical voice said, "You do not have sufficient credit to make the call." Brilliant. I tried digging where I had dropped my phone. Not there. I walked halfway back - drove around - walked halfway back.

The solution was for Irene to ring from home at 4.50 and 4.55. The first call was too short, but gave a rough location - dig again. The second call revealed my phone lying on the neighbour's plot. Reunited. I like my phone number.

2. This was Friday night. Both the regular guy and his usual deputy had been hospitalised the day before. Derrick was still there. For a while it looked as though I would be D.J. However, David turned up.

I am not quite the youngest person at the sequence dance evening and was quite surprised when a couple in the twenties entered the hall. They were tall and elegant and danced at a standard above the average. As I standing in for the hosts I decided to speak to them. They were called Chris and Julie. Chris had come from Sheffield and Julie was local. Apparently they had seem the blog of Tony in which he mentioned sequence dancing at the centre. They had known each other for some time and decided to have their first dancing date in NSCC., having decided only a week ago to spend time together. I joked that they might soon be considering marriage. Chris said that was just what they had been talking about.

It get better. Both of them are dance champions. Chris holds the title of British Dance champion in modern and old time ballroom. We always have a request time and, surprisingly, they asked that we do an 'Engagement Waltz'. Un/fortunately, no one else could do it. And so, we were treated to a magnificent performance. (Their first public performance dancing together.)

I wondered that after slightly embarrassing them that they would come again. Apparently they did on the following Friday, with two friends.

I did get to be D.J. the following Friday. I was forced into doing it as training to be the back up guy.

More Than a Busy Month - Part 3

2011-07-04T17:53:00.029+01:00

10th of June and return home day. Most of the journey was without hassle, but just south of Worcester things began to change. There were the odd heavy shower and the traffic suddenly ground to a halt. Just to rub it a passing car threw stone at us making a large chip on the windscreen. (Later in the week it was repaired by an 'Autoglass' man. He found the stone chip lying in the shelf in front of the windscreen.) We eventually arrived at service station, had refreshments and changed drivers. The delay meant that we were in rush hour traffic from the Birmingham section and along the M42/A42.

Shortly after arriving home we were treated to thunder and hail.

I was able to put in a couple of hours marking in the evening and get my camera kit ready for the Saturday11th wedding.

More marking during the morning interspersed by fixing a white ribbon on the car bonnet. While Irene was helping get the hall ready for the Bexton wedding I was taking David, the groom, to the registry office and waiting to take the first photographs. In fact we all waited and waited. The bride was late and was not allowed to park near the office and her mother was even later. But the ceremony got underway.

The cake was pretty special.

The next task was to meet the 15th June deadline of marking 1280 items. Since it looked doable I got my head down and had achieved this by Tuesday; hitting the bonus. However, this was not the full number of items contracted to mark. There was some leeway for this, but at midnight on Saturday more items would be available for any marker who had completed their allocation.

Working on the marking and preparing the photos and DVD slide show for Alan I completed this by Friday and also the photo task.

Sturday 18th was going to be a busy day. In the morning we visited Nan at High Clere. In the afternoon we went to give Izzie her birthday present and Iona a shared present. We are told that the girls think 'Labyrinth' is the best game in the world. I think they told us.

This is the large 'Scrabble' set that Margaret gave Nan for her birthday.

Izzie asked for a few pencils

The game was well received

The evening was spent helping my brother and Veronica to celebrate their Ruby Wedding. It was good to meet up with them, their children, Anne, Sid and George and Aunty Mary, cousin Rita and her husband John. It was a 60's do, so we were able to join in some of the dancing. The food was too good.

Names withheld for obvious reasons

This was the long weekend of the long month. From 2.00 pm. to 8.00 pm. I was carrying out the Castle Donnington wedding assignment.

The Hand Fasting ceremony - Hands tied and drinking punch - Hands tied and jumping a broomstick

The wonderful cake

By Wednesday the exam work was over. The wedding work was to begin, bringing to end the long month.

More Than a Busy Month - Part 2

2011-07-03T17:51:00.043+01:00

29th May - Sunday and the start of 'Qualification'. From this point on most of life is on hold. Going to open and close the Community Centre was to make a welcome exercise break.

Qualification means that examiners are presented with 'live' answers from candidates; firstly as practice and compared to the senior examiner's grading. Then comes the qualification sets. There is a percentage pass mark to meet. If only the candidates would use the standard language marking would be a walk over. I found it easy to grade an answer from a candidate who wrote 'I am an atheist, I shouldn't be taking this exam' followed by a significant 'full stop'. Neither was it difficult to grade an answer which said that you should not commit suicide because you might regret it afterwards. I was more puzzled by an answer which said that a civil partnership was when a couple have been married for some time and still live together. (Some truth here!)

By Tuesday I had qualified and marking began. My first target was 10th June when I had to mark 835 answers. This I hit in very good time. On the 5th was to be the first break from marking when I went off to the next wedding photo shoot practice at Castle Donnington.

The following day was an even longer break. We set off for Cornwall.

The next part was written on a 'Word' some time ago.

The Cornwall Adventure – 2011

Monday 6^th June

I’ve got a new SATNav. Unfortunately the old one died. (I am grateful to my family who bought it for me.) I ordered it from Amazon and it was delivered on Friday. I first used it on Sunday to get me to a location to prepare for a Pagan wedding photo session. Last week I was driven to do a similar activity to prepare for a Goth wedding shoot. Are Christians getting married? The issue is that the SATNav was not good at drawing the map; this function being unreliable. However, it did talk me through the drive,

So, on Monday morning I was delighted to find that the recycling men were late and so I was able to rescue the Amazon packaging. Now with the reassurance that I could easily return the devise, the car packed, the thing set up with our destination, we set off for Cornwall. Unfortunately the machine failed to draw the map and stuck 64% complete. As we drove I got Irene to reboot the machine. Now I had a map, but after a while (some 5 miles) realised that it was not navigating. Another reboot and now the lovely lady was giving instructions and the map was fully active. At one point her clear instruction was ‘drive 42 miles’

Our first stop was at (place name needed[1]). I can’t currently check the name as it Tuesday morning in the B and B room and my map is in the car and I do not have Wi-Fi password. At this point Irene took over the driving which was to take us to the end of the M5 and some way along the A30. The maps do not show service stations on trunk roads. (Generalisation; (I am good at these) I should say ‘my map does not’.) Close to Oakhampton there was a sign to an off-road service area which we carefully followed; the machine protesting and finished up back on the A30. However, a little further on was an easier to find one, which allowed a pit stop and had a good picnic area where we could sit, allow the wind to deodorise (blow the sweat from under our arm pits) and eat our picnic lunch. So far the machine was behaving really well. We were enjoying our drive and had just a little more than an hour to go.

So, off the A30 and a few miles to go. Three thirty and here was Newquay. Now here was the internet cafe, now was the pedestrianised area, now was the side of the internet cafe, now was the pedestrianised area, etc. What about asking in Sainsburys? No one seems to live in the area. Repeat the process. At last help. This involved ‘parking’ on the double yellow lines while Irene dashed into the information centre. Out she came with maps marked by a very kind gentleman. He was most reassuring. He quoted a similar occurrence when a lorry driver was unable to find the Lynton Guest House. After making several attempts the kind gentleman had jumped into the lorry driver’s cab and personally navigated us. He said that he finished work at 5.30 and would be prepared to take us to our destination personally. In the evening we met him again and he gave me a very firm handshake as I gave him our most sincere thanks.

Armed with the map we set off and eventually worked out that we were meant to go down a street that had a sign saying that there was no vehicular access. Having navigated the many pedestrian bodies we came to a sign pointing towards ‘The Crescent Hotels’. Arrive, we did, at 4.30.

Arriving at Lynton House

View From Lynton House

We were shown to a pleasant room with ensuite by a pleasant b and b owner called Mandy. After a cup of tea it was time to explore and find food. We walked only a little and came across a somewhat seedy bar, with gaudy red doors which advertised a restaurant upstairs. We braved the noisy bar below and made a straight line for the stairs. Upstairs was ‘dark’. The music was more subdued and a man was hovering about. I found it necessary to ask him if food was being served. He asked us to find a table, consult a menu and order at the bar. We found a nice table for two in the bright sunshine. Outside was the roof top area almost level with the bus station. The two course meal was very tasty, as were the glasses of cider.

To end the evening we made our way to the harbour, watched the boats and the boys jumping into the area next to the sign that said ‘Swimming here is forbidden and could result in death.’ We did notice that the boys had a healthy respect for the sea lion that had been spied in the harbour. Basking sharks can also be found in this area. A game of cards and a bit of television ended the day. The bed, although not quite up the Travelodge standard was more than adequate.

Tuesday 7^th June

A full English breakfast was served. We had a good conversation with a couple from Burton-on-Trent and a gentleman from King’s Norton.

With less than a full tank of petrol we set off for the Eden Project which was little over twenty minutes away. It is a great place. We had to remember that we were in car park ‘Lime 3’. A large articulated bus took us to the entrance. Booking on line meant a speedy check in free entry for the year came by ‘gift aiding’ the price. Down we went to the bio-domes. Firstly we went into the Mediterranean one and then into the rain forest one.

Biodomes

Mediterranean Zone

Tropical Zone

Irene’s sharp eye spied two tiny lizards. We spied one of them grabbing and consuming a large insect.

I jokingly asked Irene if she would go up there. Meaning to the forest look out platform. She said that she would like to. Unfortunately when we go to the entrance we were met with a notice saying that the temperature is greater than 40⁰ and so the area is closed.

Finding a bit of cake and a drink at the domes was difficult. However, we found a more useful cafe at the ‘Core’, which is an interactive display area. Sitting at a display there I concluded that the high price of copper was due to the large amount used in making solar cells. Who are the winners?

The Core - Coffee and an Exhibition

A walk back along the domes led us past the ‘Metal Man’ and some well planted gardens, and so to the land train.

(A huge tractor towing four carriages full of passengers.) It wound its way up to the top. From here there was no choice but to walk through the plant deck and though the shop. I always wonder why you just can’t leave the building? Once back at the car I checked for the nearest petrol station and was delighted to there was an Asda two miles away in St Austell. This was a brilliant choice as we paid 1p less than our usual at Long Eaton, and some 10p less than some of the local stuff. A small diversion paid off.

The route back was to lead to another diversion. I wanted straight on, but this was blocked. It is in these situations where SATNavs come into their own. I can’t remember how many times I have been diverted and from then on you are on your own. After an initial attempt to turn me back the SATNav easily plotted a good alternative route.

Once back (quite easy when you know how) we attempted to access the internet. The granite in the house made it impossible to do so from the room, so we went into the lounge and did our Facebook and email stuff. After this we went walkabout (not to the ‘Walkabout’ which is the landmark for this place.) We finished up at an Indian restaurant offering a ‘Tuesday Banquet’. This consisted of a choice of any starter, with any main and then ice-cream. It was a great meal in a great setting. It was just after we left there when the heaven decided to open and then close again and we reached the boarding house. A bit of ‘Holby City’ and typing followed by the climax to current ‘CSI’ season and its usual cliff hanger and then to bed.

Wednesday 8^th June

After another, tasty and filling full English we set off towards ‘The Lizard’. It was quite a straightforward drive. There was evidence that there had been rain, but the sky stayed mainly blue for the journey. After Helston it was a straight drive south though and out of the Lizard village along a narrow lane to the car park. I (it is never we in these situations) made the mistake of parking too soon and paying too much when there was free parking a little nearer.

The first things that you see at Lizard Point are shops and a cafe.

The shop and the cafe boasted as being ‘The most southerly .... in England. It is pity that such a beautiful spot had to be littered with such places. After a brief exploration we headed for the lighthouse. Like all lighthouses white predominated. The only odd thing was that the chimneys, including the stacks were black. Among the things we learned on the tour was that the chimneys were painted black in order to preserve the profile of the building when seen from the sea. For many years sailors coming in from North America in daylight would have gotten their first bearings in the UK from the unique shape of the lighthouse complex. Given today’s recognition technology I wonder if a camera on board the ship could compare the view with all the other lighthouses in the world and simple give navigation confirmation without anyone even seeing land. Sad idea!

We also learned that this lighthouse was unique in another way. This being that a number of lighthouse keepers and their families lived on the site. They would be paid, have uniforms, live rent free, have free medical service and free schooling for their children. The only thing that they had to provide was food. This they did by tending the allotments around the building. It is sad to think that all lighthouses are controlled by computer from Essex.

We walked back to the ‘Most Southerly Cafe in England’ and had our obligatory Cornish cream and jam scones with tea and filter coffee.

Given the remaining short time that we had we went off in the opposite direction until we had a view of Kynance Cove.

The flowers in the area were stunning; one purple flower stood out from the rest and happily populated many areas of the cliff face.

We also encountered a bird called a chough. It seemed happy to drop off the edge of the cliff, but was much more careful in falling off a chair back on to the floor. It preferred to do it by a series of hops.

From here we elected to go on to Porthleven. It is a risky town to visit. The car park meter behaves like a one armed bandit that cheats. At first we thought that we had hit the jackpot, but then we found that we had been had when the ticket revealed that we had been charged excessively for one hour parking when we wanted two. Just to get our own back we hurried through the town passed the harbour which guarded from invasion by two mighty cannons. I presume that they were put there to prevent being invaded by Spanish cucumbers[2].

Once back to ‘Lyndon’ it was time to download photos and go down to the lounge to access the internet. Having had the fish and chip meal at the Newquay Arms by our breakfast companions we decided to follow suit. This time we entered by top through the terrace areas. You get a totally different impression. Also, this time the restaurant was staffed by busy young ladies in their black uniforms, the outside door was open wide and two families were already dining. A pint and a half of Stella was used to wash down the large piece of succulent fish and no fat large potato wedges. I chose to have the mushy peas (unheard of in Australia – blog ‘We Are Kiwis Now’) and tactfully ordered garden peas for mum. We finished off with chocolate brownie ice cream cake. Not a bad meal for two for £15 all in.

This time we got back to the room dry. We had a game of ‘Up Words’ before NCIS and bed. We do live life to the full.

Thursday 9^th June

Heavy rain woke us, the sky is blue and sun is shining, but showers are forecast for the morning. We shall see how our relaxed New Quay day goes. It’s now 2:30 pm. Taking it easy has failed. We walked down to beach, up some steps to the island level,

On the left is a private island. It has a house on it and is cut off at low tide.

along the cliff top, down more steps, along the tramway (this is a bricked walkway with two parallel lines of bricks at right angles to the other bricks), out on to a shopping area, back along the cliff edge, through a close of quality houses, around a style and across a little meadow. At least we stopped for a few minutes here. This was to draw the view. This was when I discovered that the colouring pencils weren’t in the art bag. Irene had to be content with using soft drawing pencils. As I type she is colouring the drawing in, having had a quick look at the photo that she took.

The Bridge on to Island

On the Island

We were on one long side of a bay enclosing clear water and golden sand. The other side was an arm of land to which was attached an island. The top of the island was to be our destination. This meant walking around the end of the bay, which involved going up through a road bridge, up some more steps, up a slightly inclined road and into the meadow which led to the bridge which led to the hill which was to be the end of our journey. It was beautifully rugged. At one point the boom of the sea hitting the rocks was loud as spray rose into the air.

Near the top a gull’s nest was clearly visible so in good ‘David Attenborough’ style I lay on the mossy grass with camera atop a tussock and waited. The pair could clearly be seen just outside a small hole in the cliff. The chicks were obviously being fed, but did not show themselves.

On the way back to the mainland Irene spotted a pair of brightly coloured insects which meant changing my lens and by coincidence my camera card. Fortunately, the insects did not seem to be in any particular hurry. I think that they were too busy doing insect type things.

We made our way back to the cafe at Porth to have the pot of tea for one, a latte for me and two pieces of Bakewell tart (a piece each). And then it was the walk back to chill out on the bed, were I am sitting, at the time of writing.

The afternoon was just as restful. It consisted of walking up to road, Irene buying pressies and postcards, me nipping to Sainsburys to by some bottles of fruit juice and then hauling ourselves ever upwards and to the right until we reached Fistral Beach.

This beach is the place where world championship surfboarding takes. It is overlooked by the magnificent ‘Headland Hotel’.

We went down on to the beach to write messages to the two girls in New Zealand and then it was back up and onwards to the headland itself. We both chickened out of the walk up and down the headland, but wanted to see the large cross and the small white building nearby.

Cross and Moon

The cross was in memory of an ancient admiralty building and doubled as the town’s war memorial.

Further on the white building turned out to be the huer’s cottage. This was inhabited by a man known as a ‘huer’. He would raise the hue and cry when shoals of pilchards were visible. Then it was back along the other side of the headland down towards the harbour, up to the main road, down to our beach and up a big flight of steps to our room. After a brief rest it was a case of uphill to the Newquay Arms for our third visit. Tasty reasonably priced food can always be repeated and I repeated the ordering of ‘Hunters Chicken’ while Irene had the bean chilli. This was finished off by a repeated order of chocolate brownie ice cream cake and a similar repeat of one and half pints of Stella.

We are now backing in the room. It is 8:00 pm, the sun is shining in. Irene is completing her drawing. I won’t mention her struggle to represent flowers in coloured pencil. Soon it will be time settle down for a last night here and a 10:00 am return on Friday.

This has truly been an inspirational place. We have been nowhere else in the country where the water has been so blue, where there has been a surprising vista around every corner and where such a large variety of colourful wildflowers have bloomed in any one area. This is ‘must go back one day place’.

[1] I have now found out that the place is called ‘Michael Wood‘

[2] At the time of writing the Spanish cucumber has been accused of causing a deadly outbreak of salmonella poisoning in Hamburg. I hope the German are well compensated.

More Than a Busy Month

2011-07-03T11:25:00.014+01:00

The period starts around the middle of May. A timetable of work with a few days away stretched out in front. One of the weddings had been planned for many months, another one has just popped up and exam marking season was about to begin. In the middle of this was holiday booked earlier. Not many people go away during the weeks of marking. Last year I told the board that I did not like the marking process and that I found it demeaning. Earlier this year I was twice offered a contract, but let each deadline date expire. Eventually came the phone call. How could I refuse if they were so desperate as to call on my services. However, I was not about to un-book our holiday and I could not break the wedding photography contract and so a decision was made to do as much marking as reasonably possible and not aim for completion; let alone the bonus for keeping up to schedule. I even thought that the £60 training fee might be sufficient. (£48 after tax).

The first recorded date I have is 18th May. The wedding couples having paid their balances and with money to come from marking, I thought this was a good time to buy a lens which would improve on the Nikon kit lens that came with the camera. I did a bit of research on the internet, but could not remember which type of lens I had seen month ago in a Nottingham shop. And, so on the 18th into Nottingham we did go. I had my camera and was able to try out the lens in the shop. I panicked a bit and did not get the best of results.

In the shop we had talked about 'image stabilization'. But, told the assistant that I generally use a tripod. He told me that it was necessary to switch off this function when the camera was on a tripod.

Back home I went to find the lens on the internet. The camera shop price seemed cheaper and so, next day, back to the shop I went. It was not the same assistant and after some time he discovered that the only lens available was the one in the case; so he found a box, cleaned up the lens and proceeded to check it. The price looked staggering. I thought this was due to VAT. However, I was being wrongly charged for the additional function. Phew! Purchase made and home to test it.

At this point in the history of the world I had equipped my locos with decoders and I thought that this was a good opportunity to photograph them and produce a card showing the code for each loco. (I still have to produce the card, but with another loco on the way, I will do it soon.)

On 25th there was still time for a brief trip. This being to the University gardens.

The rhododendrons were well passed their best.

On the 28th came the first wedding preparation. This one was with Alan and Irene at Basford registry office. The had a bit of a garden at the back and here I did a test photo.

Irene and Alan. (Mother and Father of the Groom)

On Sunday 29th came the beginning of exam marking qualifications.

Next blogg.

Manifold Valley

2011-05-08T09:23:00.034+01:00

As forecast, Wednesday was to be the best day for going for an outing during the week. I was keen to see the Manifold Valley, so preparations were made for the visit. The web site http://peakdistrict.nationaltrust.org.uk/manifold-valley was particularly useful as it contained an OS map of the area. These I printed, together with a Google map and route to Wetton Mill. However, thinking that the roads around the area would not be that difficult to negotiate, I set the SATNav for Weags bridge on Larkstone Lane, Wetton. I imagined the Lane to be lined by pleasant country cottages. My plan had been to have had 'pit stop' at the pub in Wetton so that we might first find the car park and then back-track to the pub. Another 'however'. Once down to Weags bridge there was no going up and down Larkstone Lane.

This is a photograph of Larkstone Lane. It was taken by Irene as we drove back along it.

Irene was confused that the SATNav route we were following deviated from the Google route, but this was to be a blessing in disguise because we were to walk an interesting route. There was plenty of free car parking at Weag bridge. The only signs in the area were old footpath ones, signs warning of car thieves and a one at the bridge saying 'Weak bridge'. The trail was easy to see. At this point it was entered through a gate by a cow field and was a wide tarmacked path which ran along the route of the once busy ' Leek and Manifold' railway.

Brown Cows

The map clearly shows a that there should be a river flowing through the valley. This was our first glimpse of it.

Further along it was obvious that the water should have been quite wide.

At least the wild flowers did not disappoint us. We came upon some that we did not recognise as well as some that we did.

Unknown

Butter burr

Irene found out that butter burrs grow by the sides of rivers.

Also along the trail were interesting rock formations. At this side of Wetton Mill we came across this example of steeply inclined bedding planes.

On the other side of the Mill I saw an example of what I believe to be recumbent folding.

Not too far into our journey we came upon a sign near 'Thor's Cave'. We set off over the bridge by the sign, but it was not long before we realised that this was not for us.

The explanation board about the area

On the way down we did spy one of the rare butterflies, but I was too slow in pressing the shutter release. The next picture was taken on the way back, but shows why we were right to give up.

A little further on we came upon a lonely barn, but to the right is another cave which is above Wetton Mill.

It was at about this point that we began to hear the sound of running water and around the corner, at the mill, there was water and something of a river. The pictures do show the results of the long dry spell that we have been having. On the way back it was at about this spot when the sound of water ended. I guess that whatever water there was in the fenced off field was disappearing beneath the limestone hill.

The tea, after the proprietor had finished her phone call, was served in a somewhat elegant manner. It was tea-leaf tea with a metal spoon for the sugar bowl and disposable stirring ones. Basic, but pleasant food was on offer.

From the mill we set off through a farm yard

and on up along track which turned out to be a C road. There was no wonder that it was closed to traffic. The road took us past a field of sheep and quite newly born lambs.

Not too far along we turned off the road and sat at the edge of a field over looking the river. I was interested in the intertwined branches, as well as the shadows that they were casting in the water.

After walking a little further we headed back via the mill for further refreshments and the walk back to the car. Having attempted to exit the valley by an easier route it turned out that the only way out was by the infamous Larkstone Lane. But this took as back through the beautiful village of Ilam and home.

These are our final shots, taken by Irene has we returned home.

In the Mirror

Ilam

A Distinctively Shaped Hill

Wedding Weekend - Decorations, Dung, Dale and Digital

2011-05-03T13:12:00.030+01:00

I expect that I am not the only one to have had a brilliant wedding weekend.

Joni arrived in the area sometime in the early hours. We were to see him later. See blog http://fiona-becomingagrownup.blogspot.com/. The first task of my day was to start on decorating the New Stapleford Community Centre (newscomcen.co.uk) ready for the evening 'Red, White and Blue' dance. Just before the magic hour of 11:00 (when most of the world would be glued to their TVs) I set off to pick up my new pair of glasses. It was a case of 'park where you want'. By 11:04 I was back to see the main event. It was certainly a spectacle. (Pun intended).

The afternoon was taken up by completing the hall decorations. We already had strings of union flags, to which I added streamers of the usual colours. I purchased the crepe paper in Rymans earlier. I let the helpful assistant guess which colours I needed.

The evening was very well attended with the majority of dancers suitable attired. Some of us had the privilege of receiving an appropriate bowler. I even sported a white carnation supplies by nan and Irene had a blue sash from the same source.

The Dutch buffet was enjoyed by all.

I thought that evening went well. I hope that everyone else enjoyed themselves.

Saturday - Moorgreen Reservoir

By Saturday morning Joni was home. While he slept mum and I popped off to Ilkeston. Her hope was to buy some wedding souvenirs. Mine was to trade two analogue train controllers for some more digital decoder chips. I got £30 for the controllers and purchased two more chips and a turnout. (See note on DCC below.) Before lunch I was able install a chip in one more engine. Joni was quite impressed by how easy the controller was to use. He enjoyed adding two engines together as a consist in order to haul a large train up the incline.

In the afternoon the three of us set off to explore pastures new and not too far away at a place called Moorgreen reservoir. Our neighbour, Jenny, told us about the bluebells that were growing there. This was not one of our best arranged walks. We found the reservoir and something of a place to park, but it was not clear as to where the footpath started so we drove off in an attempt to get closer to the woods. We found a parking spot and a marked footpath, but decided to stray from it into the woods itself. Firstly we came across a profusion of wild garlic. We noted that this plant seems to be taking over from the bluebells. We were to note this on our visit to Dale Abbey on the following day.

Joni and Mum enter the woods via the wild garlic

The light in the woods was certainly of the 'green wood' variety.

The dark woods opened up to larger road ways were logging was taking place. However we were not finding the promised bluebells so back to the car, back to our first parking spot and at last we found the path alongside the reservoir. The reservoir is private property (a fishery) and so we had limited views of the water, but we did find bluebells.

At one point Joni thought that it would fun to get in the way of my shot.

The mixture of blue and white was special.

We finished off Saturday evening with a game of Rumicubs. This a game that Joni excels at, usually, but mum won twice to my once and Joni's ....... We all sat and enjoyed our beer and chocolate while we watched 'Dagenham'. It was a film worth watching.

Sunday Dale, Dung and Digital

As usual the young can't hack it and need more time in bed and so mum and I set out for the dung heap. In a very un-church-like way we set off for the Bessell Lane allotment site where there is free manure available between 10:00 and 11:00. We collected our four bags and delivered them to our own plot and returned home for 11:00. Our next adventure was to be Dale Abbey. This a favourite spot of ours and another great bluebell viewing area.

I decided to take the minimum of camera equipment. I used the telephoto for all shots without the use of a tripod. The trick is to take only those photographs that the equipment is capable of.

This is the remaining wall of the abbey viewed at a distance.

On our way through Hermits Wood Mum and Joni spied a rabbit. For some reason it was a long time before I could see it. Mum grabbed the camera and this is her shot of the rabbit moving.

Here is my effort. It really is camouflaged.

The bluebell wood

We decided to walk down to the abbey wall itself. This took us past the church. All Saints Church must be the smallest church in the country. The attached house is far larger.

On the way through the village I spied these magnificent lilac blossoms

And finally to the Abbey. In the picture Joni is looking over the wall into the garden of the private house in which the abbey stood.

After a final go with the DCC railway we had tea and Joni set off ready to leave for Scotland the following morning.

A Note on Digital Command Control

A new era (for me) in railway modelling has just begun. Today I successfully installed a decoder chip into one of my locomotives and it runs under full control together with an un-chipped loco running under analogue.

The adventure began last week when I was able get hold of a very reasonably priced digital command control. A few weeks earlier I saw the price of a different manufacturer's unit and threw in the towel.

I did have one failure with the first decoder that installed, but today I replaced it and the new one is now up and running.

To do the conversion every other control unit has to be removed and under board wiring carried out so that every centimetre of track carries 12 volts. This is supplied by the unit and the rewiring is almost complete.

The principle is very much like remote control except that the rails that carry the current also carry the messages that tell each engine what to do. This means that more than one engine can run on the same section of track possibly going at different speeds and even in different directions. It is possible to couple two engines and run them as a single until in cases of pulling heavy loads or climbing inclines.

All the functions are carried out from one box and the sole power source is the transformer to the controller. All that is needed is to set the points to run the engine on whatever route is chosen.

It is so brilliantly simple.

Easter

2011-04-24T09:12:00.015+01:00

Good Friday March Setting out from the Haven Church

The Cross Arrives at Stapleford Square

Jason Preaches the Easter Message

The Salvation Army at the Saxon Cross

Singing in the St Helens Church Yard

Hot Cross Buns in the Church Hall

The Girls make Easter Chicks on Saturday

26.5 degs C on Saturday afternoon

Easter Sunday - 'He is Risen'

Stanton Moor

2011-04-20T19:34:00.019+01:00

As promised we took up the Rowsley walk almost where we left off.

By way of a change we thought that we would start with refreshments at Darley Station.

Mistake 1 - The SATNav had this idea to take us into the station by the back route. However, the route was marked 'No Through Road'. There were posts across it.
Mistake 2 - Darley Station were no longer serving refreshments and a train was not due for 30 minutes.

And so on ward to Rowsley Station. The steam engine to Darley and then Matlock was just filling up. It was the identical engine and carriages that I photographed and subsequently painted a picture of.

After the train left the station went quiet and we had our refreshment and comfort stop.

Perhaps we wouldn't have dined here had we noticed the sign above us.

My cake had a chick on it.

And so it was on and up to Stanton Moor, this time by car. We started in the wrong place and we possibly did the walk back to front. There were information signs (There is a proper term for signs which tell you about the place.) all over the place with a map. It would have helped if the signs has 'You are here' markers. But, Derbyshire is for real men who do orienteering through peat bogs in the moonlight.

We did get to the 'Nine Ladies' stone circle. Following the path though a field with a sign saying 'This way' did it. The stones are quite small, but evidence of prehistory in the area.

We walked on across the moor getting confused at one point, thinking that we were going to see the 'Cork Stone'. We found a different rock looking over the valley to have our lunch.

Going on we eventually came across what we thought was the 'Cork Stone' It had the 'easily recognisable ... footholds and hand grips'. But I am uneasy about the identification when I compare it to the photo in the guide.

Cork Stone - as guide

Cork Stone - my photo

We were very sure that we had found Earl Grey's Tower.

And so back to the 'Nine Ladies' then along the panoramic edge,

back though the dandelion covered field to the car (at the edge of the picture). And so to home.

We really will have to return if only to satisfy ourselves as to which is the true 'Cork Stone'.

Rowsley Walk

2011-04-18T11:30:00.028+01:00

This has to be one of our better walks. Firstly it has the right degree of challenge, it was varied despite the shortness of it, it was quiet for a Derbyshire beauty spot, it is circular, the parking was free, and best of their was a 'pit-stop' at the start and the end.

Rowsley is a village along the A6 between Matlock and Bakewell. The walk starts at Cauldwell working flour mill. We did not arrive particularly early, but the mill was not yet running. After tea and cake I returned to the car. I had to photograph the powerful gush of water coming from under the mill.

It created a powerful spray just a little further down stream.

Had I not have taken the photographs at the this time I could not have done so later. Once the mill was running the powerful force was converted to the energy needed to turn the mill and only a weak outlet was visible on our return in the middle of the afternoon.

This was also one of the better documented walks. The author of the walk's description made only one error. It was reasonably clear which was the private road to start on. However, the road was marked as going to Woodhouse Eaves rather than Stanton Lees.

Off we set. A nice gentle start followed by a sudden climb which continued for miles.

Stanton Lees was quite a pretty village. Its hard to believe that you can get a sense of remoteness and still see the A6.

The top of the village

The top of the lower part of the village

Leaving the village. Note the lower pool.

Not far through the village we exited onto a road which we followed until we reached the stile to enter Stanton Moor. We had decided that the path around the moor would be too much for us so we went over the stile and only as far as a log to sit and have lunch. This was another plus of the walk as we sat looking over the Derwent valley.

The Nine Ladies stone circle would have to wait for another day.

Back to the road and another up hill trudge to the start of Stanton in Peak village. Just before the village the path left of the road and down through the woods, back onto a road which had a view point before we left the road on the left.

From the view point

Foot path entrance stile

And so on back down the hill; giving us a view of the River Wye.

Back down to Cauldwell Mill. It was now running. This was quite nostalgic. As I looked through the door I could see the boxed in belt lifting grain to the start of its journey as I had done as a boy in thewater powered flour mill that my dad worked in. The same clanking noises. King's Mill where he worked stood on the site of a Medieval water mill, but by the time my dad was working there the mill wheel had been replaced by turbines that generated electricity to turn the massive grinding machines.

Mill entrance

So to the final 'pit stop' and collect one each of the local ice-creams. These we enjoyed sitting on a rough wooden seat looking up to the mill weir. The ducks were disappointed by our purchase, but happily followed us up to edge of the weir before we left for home.

Unlucky duck

Ducks on the mill pond

There will be another episode when we return to Stanton Moor and the Nine Ladies.

Beyond Tissington

2011-04-06T20:12:00.011+01:00

The Derbyshire walking season is here again. Last year we started by walking from Ashbourne to just short of Tissington (I was wearing new boots and we did not put enough money in the meter.) This year we set out to carry out our resolve to complete the High Peak Trail. Today we set off for Tissington to walk as far north as we could in the time. We were late in setting off and had to call into Margaret Cornish on route with pain relief spray. The SAT Nav did its thing again. It took us along the most dire route and at one point directed us of the main road down what probably was the shortest way, but the ford we encountered would have needed a four wheel drive with a vertical exhaust to get across. (On the way back our SAT nav lady was very insistent about getting us on to the A52 instead of our preferred route.)

The first thing to do at Tissington was to park the car. We noted that most cars were parked facing the wall. We read the notice that told us to park with our bonnets towards the wall. After parking we ate at the Old Coach Tea Rooms.

The Tea Rooms are on the left. Our car is bonnet in on the left.

After toileting I did a quick snap of the hall. The hall has the following URL http://www.derbyshire-peakdistrict.co.uk/tissingtonhall.htm

Tissington is known for its 'well dressing'. There are five wells around the village.

This is 'Hands Well'

The village has its church (St Mary's) and a village pond.

And so on to the trail.

It follows the path of an old railway line and is mostly in a cutting with ocassional glimpses of the countryside. To walk along is a slower version of a train journey.

Tidy farms and sheep with their little lambs

The most prolific flower on the way was the lesser celandine. We have not tracked down the ordinary celandine, much less the greater one.

We plan to return for the well dressing in June, exam marking permitting.

A Different Sunday

2011-04-03T14:34:00.018+01:00

We always knew that this weekend would be different. It has been good having Joe home and we look forward to a fleeting visit from him on his way back to Brighton from a conference in Harrogate.

This being Sunday meant trouser shopping for Joe. 'I know', I said we'll call into the new Beeston Tesco's on the way to the station. Mum thought that she had better come too. This Tesco does not open until eleven. 'How about back tracking to the clothes shops at the Chilwell retail park. Same result. And so, with trepidation we went to Tesco's at Toton; almost completing the round trip. Trousers - £3 a pair - job done - off to station - drop off Joe and out for a walk. (Excuse the punctuation - don't know how to expressive with usual markers.)

Holme Pierpoint was to be our destination. We have only been on a brief visit, some years ago, when Martin Holland held a service at the caravan park their. (The only thing that I recall about that visit was using the mobile to ask where Martin was and I heard his voice saying 'just behind you'. It is now quite normal not to use your eyes to look for someone.)

We made our first stop at Holme Peirpoint Hall.

Holme Peirpoint Hall

This was private property and so we turned around and found a lane to walk down by a fishing lake. I had to take a of the pussy willow. One day I will achieve the perfect shot of one.

Pussy Willow

The lane ended at the National Water Sports Centre main lake. Here they were setting up for racing. While I waited there were Canada geese in flight.

Canada Geese

The race got underway.

Finally we called into a small nature reserve. The larch cones presented an attractive, but difficult shot against the light.

Library and the Plot

2011-03-31T19:19:00.006+01:00

Arthur Mee Display

The first strange job of the day was to take photographs of the display in the library for my friend Francis. Francis regularly gives guided tours for foreign students, in particular tours of the locality and Nottingham. The main feature of the display concerned Arthur Mee. He is famous for writing newspapers for children and, of course the Arthur Mee Childrens' Encyclopaedia. He is the most celebrated of the Stapleford dignitaries. Nest to the library is the college, known as the Arthur Mee Centre.

This is the permanent Arthur Mee collection held in the library

Potato Planting

After my stint as chaplain in the care centre it was time to start planting the spuds. Despite the rain, the ground was still dry and I was able to dig a trench ready to plant my first earlies. The first picture shows the trench with chick pellets in place ready to plant the tubers.

The second picture shows the tubers in place ready to be covered over and the patient wait until the growth appears.