A Radish

Radish
Radish

Helen is a natural gardener, she threw some seeds in a pot, watered them a few times and hey presto a few weeks later radishes. The loving care that Helen gifted to the plants resulted in a beautiful specimen see the picture.

Earilier today we went on a pinic with some freiend/relatives. I took my kite with the plan of sending an old camera up the string to take some aerial photos but the wind was not quite stromg enough the kite flew but I need a proper bracket and a stonger wind to pull it off. Watch this space.

Whipsnade on a hot bank holiday Sunday

Mad dogs and English men go out in the midday sun. So we got there early to ensure we were out in the midday sun! Met up with Kev, Ron, the kids, Marie, and John at Whipsnade Zoo.

We arrived just before the gates opened at 10. The queues went very quickly and we soon found ourselves in with Lemurs from Madagascar. It certainly was hot we started to find the shade and had to slap on the sun screen. We probably managed to see all the animals except the farm. As for the shows we only managed the bird show, which was excellent, but nothing was tickable.

Everyone enjoyed themselves despite Ben complaining about the pong. Left the Zoo at about 16:30 so we managed to make the most of the day. Later that evening we met up with Rory and Lizzie for a well earned pint at The Buck (does that make us regulars?). The were off to see the cheese rolling on Sunday.

The Buck

Once a year on the 2nd Bank holiday weekend, the village hall in Buckland is turned into a pub by volunteers, to raise funds for charity, this year it is The Iain Rennie Hospice at home.

Despite the after effects of our walk today (see previous blog entry) Helen and I forwent the tempting soft sofa for a hard bench and a pint of Tribute straight from the barrel. It was worth the effort the amber liquid was clear and hit the spot nicely. It seemed that the whole village was there including ALL the children.

Anyway the pint was great so we decided to have another one……

Walk to Wendover and back

The plan was to walk from home to Wendover along the grand union, then grab some lunch and walk back via the ridgeway over the hills. On the way round the village we decided to invite Helen’s folks along so we stopped off at Hillside on the way.

We left at about 10:30 and got to Wendover about 12:30. Along the way there were lots of ducking and signets, including Mandarin Duck. After lunch and a pint at the Red Lion we headed out along the brook that runs out of Wendover along the ridgeway.

By 15:40 we got to “The Cafe in the Woods” for a welcome coffee and cakes. Finally got back home at 17:40 with tenderised feet, but a good walk all the same.

Swift, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Thrush, Starling, Rook, Red-legged Partridge, Pheasant, Magpie, Coot, Little Grebe, Mallard, Mandarin Duck, Long-tailed Tit, Buzzard, Swallow, Mute Swan, Dunnock, Jackdaw, Wood Pigeon, Blackcap, Moorhen, Blackbird, Red Kite, Green Woodpecker, Swift, (22 YTD )

Ribble Valley

Had to go to Ribble Valley County Council again on Monday. A long way to go especially when the meeting was scheduled for 15:00, about midday would have been ideal. Anyway I left home at 09:30 and took my time driving north. I stopped a few times to check my emails, and decided to take a look at Pendle Hill as there was a possibility of seeing Dotterel at this time of year, according to the book Where to watch birds in Britain.

I found a village called Barley and headed out towards the hill and it became obvious that I would get nowhere near enough to get to the top of the hill in the time I had available to me. So I took some pictures and headed down to Clitheroe where the meeting would be.

I had an opportunity to take a walk round the town, which seemed to the thriving properties prices were high and the shops seemed to independent. I chanced upon a gallery at the station I liked the art branded “Particle article” the objects were little creatures made of wire and things found in nature ones and pine cones and old leaves. Each figure had a great name and a story, for example see the link to Note Nibbler.

Star Trek ****

Star Trek film poster

Raining today and windy to boot, so went to the movies instead. Star Trek it had a lot to live up to and I am glad to say it did live up to the hype. All the essential Trekkie stuff was there only better. Liked the humour it added a new dimension. Scores a well deserved 4 out of 5.

Mamma Mia win West Eurovision

Paul, (Helen’s cousins husband) is in Mamma Mia, he was the singer in a team from the show that entered, and won, the West End Eurovision show.

Another skill to add to the CV

Today I roded a drain! The next door neighbours told Helen that the drains were backing up. When Helen went and had a word because we thought we should help, it turn out that Eric had tried to phone a plumber, but he was on holiday. A bit of investigating and it turn out the blockage is between the neighbours on one side and the neighbours on the other. Eric and Gladys are up hill from us.

Off we went to borrow Helen’s dads rods, then from Eric and Gladys garden we started roding but did not seem to make any progress. In the end we had to use about 10 poles, without the plunger bit on the end to get the whole lot moving. We probably saved quite a bit of money for not much effort, although not a pleasant job.

Angels and Demons ***

Angels And Demons film poster

Another Dan Brown story. Based in the Vatican during the election of a new pope, it is interesting to be reminded about the pomp and ceremony that surrounds that event. The film is a thriller and it has you on the edge of your seat right from the word go. Interestingly it starts in the large hadron collider, in C.E.R.N. The scenes in the LHC are a bit far fetched but they have artistic license I guess. Over all I give the film 3 out of 5.

Holiday bird list

Bar-tailed Godwit, Bearded Tit, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Common Sandpiper, Common Swift, Common Tern, Dunnock, Golden Plover, Greater Black-backed Gull, Greenshank, Grey Plover, Little Tern, Linnet, Redshank, Reed Warbler, Ringed Plover, Rock (Feral) Dove, Sand Martin, Sandwich Tern, Sedge Warbler, Short-eared Owl, Spotted Redshank, Swallow, Wheatear, Whimbrel, Egyptian Goose, Barnacle Goose, Brent Goose, Cetti’s Warbler, Common Cuckoo, Hobby, Knot, Little Ringed Plover, Mistle Thrush, Pochard, Temminck’s Stint, White Wagtail, Wood Sandpiper, Yellow Wagtail, Common Crane, Golden Oriole, Stone Curlew (101 YTD 129)