neil.baldwin – Page 56 – Neil Baldwin's blog : Warning contains walking, technology, photography, holidays.

The wild cherry walk

Out for a walk with the people who live on the hill side. Started near the pub (that means we end near a pub), and walked round Frithsden, Nettleden, and Potten End. Weather cool but sunny, very clear atmosphere got some good photos. Towards the Potten End part of the walk you end up walking on roads so not that dog friendly.

There are a lot of cherry trees on the walk, hence the walk name, but we are out of season. The plums however were spot on just about falling off the tree with ripeness. Found some that looked like giant cherries. They were a bit sour but would make great jam.

Finished the walk back at the pub called The Alford Arms, for a pint and something to eat. The menu was great we had crispy szechwan squid, and crab and broad bean salad. Other highlights included, poached duck eggs, slow cooked Chiltern lamb, smoked Grimsby haddock, courgette dauphinoise with broad bean pistou. The pub website is at www.alfordarmsfrithsden.co.uk

Three year anniversary

Just noticed that my first blog entry was just over 3 years ago, so happy anniversary to my blog. If you click the links in the left hand column you will be able to read it.

Inglorious Basterds (***)

In Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as “The Basterds” are chosen specifically to spread fear throughout the Third Reich by scalping and brutally killing Nazis. The Basterds soon cross paths with a French-Jewish teenage girl who runs a movie theater in Paris which is targeted by the soldiers.
Tarrentino films are normally violent and this one is too. There is plenty of dark humour and it is worth seeing. Helen thought it was perhaps a bit gratuitous. (3/5)

Wentworth gardens

Day trip out with the northerners to Wentworth castle/gardens. Went to playground first for B&H and what a great playground it is. Castle, digger and aerial runway to mention a few. Then went off round the gardens on a fairy hunt with the chance of winning a bag of sweets. In the gardens there were some great plants, including some artichokes in bloom. There were reports of 3 spotted fly’s but we did not catch sight of them. We did however see a goldcrest which was unexpected. We returned to the playground for a final go on the swings, then it started raining and we went home.

Why the M1 does not get included in lists of great places to visit

Stuck on the M1 travelling to my brothers. Not my favorite place in the world, when are they going to invent the tleporter.

More travelling….

Well we’re on the road again. Pootling up a busy M1 to visit Neils family oop Norf. Looking forward to a fun weekend with the diddleys and it is pure coincidence that there happens to be a beer festival in the vicinity. As an aside, allow me a momentary rant if you will; we have just followed a car through MK where the driver in addition to the passenger spent most of the journey peering into the backseat and gurgling at his offspring. How is that different to being distracted by a mobile phone? Perhaps some sort of blinkers could be applied? PS don’t blame Neil for this one, this is all Hel

Mad dogs & Englishmen….

Looked at kitchens, then back to the Grand Prix. A hot afternoon, but whilst Helen decided to cuprinol the shed (does what it says on the tin!) , I felt the need for some gentle exercise so cycled to the reservoirs to see the black terns. Saw a modern take on a canal boat, a nautical grand design perhaps?

Veggies are us!

Off to the vegetarian restaurant in Tring on Saturday night with Rosie & Ian. Surprised them with the unexpected attendance of Helen & Nik. Good vegetarian food. Lots of choice, which takes some getting used to as a long time veggie. Ian avoided the goats chesse/mushroom combo. Can recommend the risotto, polenta & the chocolate sandwich pudding. Rosie had some lovely cheeses to finish. Good local beer – Ridgeway Rob Ale from Oxfordshire. Thanks for the life home, Rosie & Ian

An old favourite

Went for the favoured walk around Swan Bottom with John and Angela, starting & finishing at the pub. No yellowhammers today but saw buzzards and red kites. A bit squishy in places and Belle ended up with muddy paws. Lots of ragwort in the fields. Lunch in the pub garden, a few too many wasps about but a good pint of Adnams, Cornish Tribute & Chiltern Ale were had (that’s not one of each for all!).

London

Forgot to blog that we went to London on Friday for Helen’s birthday treat. Did a bit of culture at the John Waterhouse pre-Raphelite retrospective at the Royal Academy. Followed by a potter round the Press Photographer exhibition at the National Theatre. Got rained on en route but it was warm and we were entertained by a swing band on the promenade by the Thames. Then off to Sicilian Avenue for a Italian lunch, Foyles, then a flying visit to Tottenham Court Road & home.

PS. Saw these folks on the way back to the station. Helen reckons it’s a somewhat worrying indication of the state of the British banking system!