tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65090631206475123382023-11-16T12:17:24.482+00:00A Village LifeJimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920660937843894030noreply@blogger.comBlogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509063120647512338.post-28129795416739523602012-09-13T17:57:00.000+01:002012-09-13T17:57:21.513+01:00Marbella and Ronda<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last week we took the family to Marbella and Ronda, Andalicia, Spain. We decided that the boys hadn't had a decent holiday for some years and we ought to make use of our pre-paid accommodation at Playa Real in Marbesa.<br />
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On the first day, we did our usual thing of going to the local (Marbella) Market. It only had the usual things - jewellery, bags, shoes and dresses, etc. but the fruit and vegatables were beautiful. <br />
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<strong>Here are the family at Marbella Market. L to R: Helen, Toby, Marea, Emilie and Ben</strong></div>
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One of the main things we wanted to do was drive up into the hills to Ronda. </div>
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This is Ronda. This is the picture you can't take from the town itself but, as you can see, it sits on the edge of a cliff and you drive in across the bridge that spans the chasm. </div>
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Ronda is a bullfighting town. It has the oldest bullring in Spain and celebrates its matadors, particularly Pedro Romero, said to have created the 'art form' type of bullfighting. Coincidentally, we arrived in the middle of the Pedro Romero Festival, the the ‘Feria Goyesca de Pedro Romero’ which takes place in September every year. The main attraction of this fiesta is the bullfight which takes place on the first Saturday of the month in the Real Maestranza bullring. Before the bullfight there is a procession of horse drawn carriages through the streets of Ronda with everyone dressed in 18th century Goyesque costumes. The matadors themselves also wear this traditional attire.</div>
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Pedro Romero was mentioned by Ernest Hemingway in 'The Sun Also Rises'. I'm afraid I'm not a fan of Hemingway or bullfighting.</div>
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The Statues outside the bullring are of Antonio Ordonez and Gaetano Ordonez and it's the Ordonez family that organises the annual feria.</div>
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The main shopping street, Calle Pedro Romero, is decorated and, a little later on, crowded with people in the tapas bars and shops, dressed in 'Goyesque' costumes, eating and drinking and having a good time</div>
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<strong>The family in Calle Pedro Romero</strong></div>
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<strong>From little girls to matrons - Goyesque</strong></div>
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<strong>And this is the bridge across the chasm</strong></div>
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<strong>And the wonderful surrounding countryside</strong></div>
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<strong>Goyesque costumes come short as well as long</strong></div>
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<strong>...but always elegant</strong></div>
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<strong>Marea outside the bullring</strong></div>
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<strong>Needless to say, we didn't stay for the bullfights on Saturday and Sunday.</strong></div>
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Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920660937843894030noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509063120647512338.post-57316739882847288682012-07-05T16:29:00.000+01:002012-07-05T16:29:31.219+01:00Les Miserables and the Royal Academy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a retirement present for Marea, we were both given tickets to Les Miserables at the Queens Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue with a back stage tour from the sister of Marea's ex-colleague who works there in stage management.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We decided to stay at the Bloomsbury Park Hotel (just round the corner from the British Museum) without realising that Sir John Barbirolli was born there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We took a cab down to Shaftesbury Avenue to meet Vanessa and, arriving early, we had a drink and a wander round. For once, this Summer, the weather was good, warm and sunny.</span></div>
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About 5pm, we went in the stage door and into the bowels of the theatre. </div>
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Photos onstage are difficult with much of the lighting turned off, but we got a chance to see, and travel on, the revolve wich is so much a feature of the show.</div>
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The auditorium is small and intimate and the stage is very tight with no real wings and little depth. I've been useed to the Haymarket, Leicester where I was a Director for about 20 years. Being a new, modern theatre, it had very large spaces to rear and side of the main stage.</div>
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Costumes for quick changes, props and even 'dead' soldiers from the barricade scene are fitted in as best they can.</div>
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<strong>Dead Soldiers</strong></div>
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<strong>A tiny part of wardrobe</strong></div>
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<strong>Marea on stage</strong></div>
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One thing I do remember very well is the 'Silence' sign - a feature of every theatre I've ever been in.</div>
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After the tour, we went for a stroll around thw Wardour Stree area (Chinatown). Something I always enjoy.</div>
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Of course, there are no photos during the show but you can take it from me, it's spectacular. If you get a chance anywhere in the world, go to see it.</div>
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The next morning, we stowed our baggage at the hotel and went off to Regent Street to look at the shops. Regents Street is hung with flags ready for the Olympics and it looked great in the warm sunshine.</div>
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Of course, we visited Liberty, spiritual home of the Arts & Crafts movement (at least the commercial arm). We didn't buy anything but just enjoyed wandering around and looking.</div>
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After this, we went on to the Royal Academy for the Summer Exhibition...</div>
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One's not allowed to take pictures in the RA but I didn't think a single general shot would infringe anyone's intellectual property rights.</div>
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We bought a picture by Frederick Cuming RA and are now suffering from buyers' remorse (not really - we could have put the money into an ISA or other investment and watched it diminish. We think a picture by a Royal Academician will only appreciate and we have the joy of living with it.) The picture is called 'Studio Moonlight' and I'll put a photo up when it arrives following the closure of the exhibition.</div>
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A quick drink in the courtyard and then off to the station via the hotel to pick up our case and off home.</div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920660937843894030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509063120647512338.post-85095487130823209412012-06-24T12:00:00.001+01:002012-06-24T12:02:41.756+01:00Leicester Children's Holiday Centre (Mablethorpe)<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Friday; a quick trip over to Mablethorpe with my Vice-chairman to have a look at arrangements for the new season of children's holidays at Leicester Children's Holiday Centre (Mablethorpe).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We provide free seaside holidays for children from Leicester and Leicestershire who wouldn't otherwise get a holiday. There are many reason why children come to our Holiday Centre - poverty, bullying, neglect, illness or loss of a family member; the list is almost endless. Our only criterion (apart from the age of the children - 7-11 years) is that the child will benefit from the holiday. Of course, the benefit is usually family-wide; everyone gets a break.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiBMyWEUAePHLuxEA2NF21jNTodNyxcFQao56yQ9k30fMOpHQSPdMgVpGCFoqaKSl8py2vuMYAA59_zOGGv7b1jQxzzdX9PZz7Y66w_XJEzXlhMb4s8HALEu9UcF8Z3dvp-SOpGqmsWsM/s1600/house+photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiBMyWEUAePHLuxEA2NF21jNTodNyxcFQao56yQ9k30fMOpHQSPdMgVpGCFoqaKSl8py2vuMYAA59_zOGGv7b1jQxzzdX9PZz7Y66w_XJEzXlhMb4s8HALEu9UcF8Z3dvp-SOpGqmsWsM/s640/house+photo.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Leicester Children's Holiday Centre (Mablethorpe)</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I often think the building looke a but unpreposessing but it is placed just behind the dunes on Mablethorpe mbeach - one of the best beaches in the country and its appearance is no guide to the fun and enjoyment it contains.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The dormitories look bare but they will soon be full of colour, children's paintings and designs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We really need to replace our beds and some of the curtains but this is just one of the many expenses we have to meet regularly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">This is the dining hall with a small stage at the end where a group of the the children put on a show each week for their companion holidaymakers</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8Ec95ApWYvu38o_o_EWW89uxvSQS_fGuEG_DnNlLQdLS8vuHol1D4iL3O1vStNbESc80B0wurfkTeNKDaBu_qMHCpGfs_PGGvvK_psmcezXCioYlr0hzBd7X0GE0FH9tmPFHht6Ly_k/s1600/civic+tea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8Ec95ApWYvu38o_o_EWW89uxvSQS_fGuEG_DnNlLQdLS8vuHol1D4iL3O1vStNbESc80B0wurfkTeNKDaBu_qMHCpGfs_PGGvvK_psmcezXCioYlr0hzBd7X0GE0FH9tmPFHht6Ly_k/s640/civic+tea.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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And I just thought I'd put this in - it's a buffet for our visitors; the children sit down for meals and enjoy good local food which takes account of cultural needs, etc. though a child asked last year "Why are we having another meal - we've already eaten today?"</div>
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Time to include a few pictures of our children just having fun...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Jv86V1gyZlKmgCD5e8dk120OLrgepNSPL_60S_pbRogwBIAO5kOcy9bPaB6VBt0G5uALEP23kfVui7gIIfYz6Xv8U4f3olnt12agqqbi1-qra2KyyNFp2nujsZbyfHkqDaDWZpA2IKs/s1600/%2521cid_IMG_0108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Jv86V1gyZlKmgCD5e8dk120OLrgepNSPL_60S_pbRogwBIAO5kOcy9bPaB6VBt0G5uALEP23kfVui7gIIfYz6Xv8U4f3olnt12agqqbi1-qra2KyyNFp2nujsZbyfHkqDaDWZpA2IKs/s640/%2521cid_IMG_0108.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<strong>Even in England, the sun shines sometimes!</strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLTJMuibV-0bPn1mnvc0gCsKRr9ohquNBA35LXz2vfJ0qpnopuHIstmajlbWCYoOV4lhooYwIbXIgDh8C_wghta9Sm2_Pzb5phQOmTbQSRWoiSKZir9ribr5rMsW1G5oE6ZOgcFcn70BA/s1600/%2521cid_IMG_0113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLTJMuibV-0bPn1mnvc0gCsKRr9ohquNBA35LXz2vfJ0qpnopuHIstmajlbWCYoOV4lhooYwIbXIgDh8C_wghta9Sm2_Pzb5phQOmTbQSRWoiSKZir9ribr5rMsW1G5oE6ZOgcFcn70BA/s640/%2521cid_IMG_0113.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5rUeoBl2K_3Cv-7CRw6EyXc8bxcBieEyAanINdTPiOpW2psMD6nBImbDmIMtlACXWPyPcdhZqasT-_GiOZ7J0F3iwZcsFYpefkMoqUzpogg6UMtS9qOHSdAh20Z_tWXlxr57AOZ4gWg/s1600/disco+5+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5rUeoBl2K_3Cv-7CRw6EyXc8bxcBieEyAanINdTPiOpW2psMD6nBImbDmIMtlACXWPyPcdhZqasT-_GiOZ7J0F3iwZcsFYpefkMoqUzpogg6UMtS9qOHSdAh20Z_tWXlxr57AOZ4gWg/s640/disco+5+2010.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<strong>Discos - always popular</strong></div>
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<strong>And, of course, that wonderful beach</strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdaPLXEUwuUtYEGdxjBUjx3BIbekHpNkuK39Fhc-HUUtYK7clTw4HYUtH5sYMkBwuyAVLt56M_m92Dg-CsLDKR53xaMe8-7zw_5Gy_PVAGj9kS1c1lP4q1SbNFDnN5t5EkpghPqtSpjCE/s1600/pleasure+island10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdaPLXEUwuUtYEGdxjBUjx3BIbekHpNkuK39Fhc-HUUtYK7clTw4HYUtH5sYMkBwuyAVLt56M_m92Dg-CsLDKR53xaMe8-7zw_5Gy_PVAGj9kS1c1lP4q1SbNFDnN5t5EkpghPqtSpjCE/s640/pleasure+island10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<strong>And a weekly visit to Pleasure Island</strong></div>
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This takes us back to the beginnings of the present building at the turn of the last century. This mared the change from camping in the dunes, then the building of two wooden buildings, one for boys and one for girls, and finally, the building of our existing Centre.</div>
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My job now is to get more people involved in putting on events, fundraising for the maintenance and refurbishment of the Centre and stregthening the Charity so it can continue for the next hundred years.</div>
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<br /></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920660937843894030noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509063120647512338.post-82461642599700771372012-06-04T21:38:00.001+01:002012-06-07T18:32:51.197+01:00A more magical sight<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What could be a more magical sight than the Diamond Jubilee Flotilla?<br />
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Well... yesterday, before it all happened on the river, we sat in our garden and watched the sparrow chicks fledging.<br />
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In a quiet moment, they flew out rather tentatively and sat in the Pineapple Broom Tree as if they couldn't quite believe they were finally out in the daylight and fresh air. <br />
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After a few minutes, the mother flew in with a couple of caterpillars for them and this went on for about an hour until they got the feel of things.<br />
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Some time later, one of the juvenile blue tits which had fledged a couple of days ago was feeding from the peanuts when the sparrow mother flew in and drove him off the claim the peanut feeder for herself and her brood.<br />
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<strong>A more magical sight!</strong>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920660937843894030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509063120647512338.post-39465052462409748382012-05-31T15:32:00.000+01:002012-05-31T15:32:18.953+01:00The Pleasures of Neglect<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I don't know whether it's because of local authority cuts or just that we go missed out but our grass verges haven't been cut for weeks. <br />
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The ditches are full of Keck, with that wonderful almondy smell but that's just as usual. <br />
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The grass is getting deep and, among it and the daisies (Bellis Perennis - everlastingly beautiful) or Day's Eye because they close completely at dusk - Chaucer named it 'Eye of the Day'... anyway, among them are the much less well-known Common Storksbill, more usually found in sandy soil near the sea. These open at dawn and close at dusk. They are usually shorn by the mowing so we don't see them. Just one of the pleasures of neglect. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEienzWErQZULbg9HKHmwb69dz1BkDEjQl3fCSyIPpcW7oytK5zo528pfBrLeJu-QbWbg740Y_ZkbEyeil6R77XC0iEIYAnay9DG2EPTHQLg867djmatP5dZfFJMmee0PJ9e768BYBR_0Ns/s1600/DSCF1403+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480px" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEienzWErQZULbg9HKHmwb69dz1BkDEjQl3fCSyIPpcW7oytK5zo528pfBrLeJu-QbWbg740Y_ZkbEyeil6R77XC0iEIYAnay9DG2EPTHQLg867djmatP5dZfFJMmee0PJ9e768BYBR_0Ns/s640/DSCF1403+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920660937843894030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509063120647512338.post-20643121873272406682012-05-17T16:27:00.000+01:002012-05-17T16:30:16.927+01:00Cast not a clout 'til May be outWe may have lost the real May Day to the forces of reaction and there are even those who want to change it again into a celebration of nationalism, the blight of the 20th century and now infecting the 21st.<br />
In this puritan era where anything that distracts from the the purposes of commerce is frowned upon, we have forgotten that, since the reform of the Catholic Calendar, May 1st is the Feast of St Joseph the Worker, the patron saint of workers. Seeding has been completed by this date and it was convenient to give farm labourers a day off. In France, the Fete de Travail is kept in the letter and the spirit "Saturday 1 May 2010 Le Premier Mai: Fête du Travail. Being a bank holiday, it rained. We knew everything was closed; even the Géant said ‘Fermeture Exceptionelle’. The boulangerie in the village was open for a short while in the morning, so I went down for croissants and a baguette. Got soaked on the way" <br />
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<a href="http://www.livingvillage.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/week-in-aveyron.html">http://www.livingvillage.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/week-in-aveyron.html</a><br />
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This was the time we had a puncture in France and were unable to buy a new tyre because everything was closed but it was hardly the end of the world!<br />
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Anyway, now at last and in spite of the rain, May blossom is coming out.<br />
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I caught a scent of it as I came in from walking the dog one evening earlier this week but what we really need is a few warmer afternoons and a bit less rain, then, as in previous years, the high hedge opposite our houses will erupt with the sight and scent of Spring and early Summer.<br />
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As well as the heady scent of May, the verges are filled with the stems and flowers of Cow Parsley, which as children we called Keck. It's a type of wild Chervil and, so long as you don't mix it up with similar-looking Poison Hemlock(!) and Fool's Parsley, you can feed it to horses. Cow Parsley adds to the almond-like perfume of the hedgerows at this time of year.<br />
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If only the rain would stop for a decent length of time. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiqK6LBvTkW-fs-BiR40urbrQUcXkwF5N0h45itO7jAdqplRMFEaT81iB0Vka9MZSN36EBYcM35G-5GupzhlNEMo6zuGqoERNyFvBF-RcWP2RrYM4y6EzACqT1YxmePW8gVFYnq3KdrA/s1600/DSCF1321+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480px" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiqK6LBvTkW-fs-BiR40urbrQUcXkwF5N0h45itO7jAdqplRMFEaT81iB0Vka9MZSN36EBYcM35G-5GupzhlNEMo6zuGqoERNyFvBF-RcWP2RrYM4y6EzACqT1YxmePW8gVFYnq3KdrA/s640/DSCF1321+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920660937843894030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509063120647512338.post-70217954005989102322012-05-03T15:09:00.000+01:002012-05-03T15:27:41.667+01:00The Rain it Raineth Every Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftVw-lyyFv7G9bvXTF7Fpxcb_4ZneqzXypPbCOoPU-Gg9uVbqmf0vc9hZJkdenAhfBJJIQ_sViuAM7Arkw-JOi4ezsqO7cWEwaAafbsWvEVEMgjVPZUya023l2i1SiZj4JTMmympC1vE/s1600/DSCF1316+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480px" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftVw-lyyFv7G9bvXTF7Fpxcb_4ZneqzXypPbCOoPU-Gg9uVbqmf0vc9hZJkdenAhfBJJIQ_sViuAM7Arkw-JOi4ezsqO7cWEwaAafbsWvEVEMgjVPZUya023l2i1SiZj4JTMmympC1vE/s640/DSCF1316+(Large).JPG" width="640px" /></a></div>
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I was loth to set out with Molly the Spanielt this morning. "Hey ho, the wind and the rain". Apparently it's been the wettest and coldest April since records began and we're still in the grip of a drought.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOD1-jCeJLQn487C_957Slq74G2K1IAm1scIJAW9qylfZP4ls5NVHH9Sc6FiROSMMUhaSrLhWTxlJk2LNBKwqtGScbMFY5mzwu_pA5SNV2QbhIgDTjzvKu3SrBJPRDCAV3r4d4WlEXALU/s1600/DSCF1317+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480px" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOD1-jCeJLQn487C_957Slq74G2K1IAm1scIJAW9qylfZP4ls5NVHH9Sc6FiROSMMUhaSrLhWTxlJk2LNBKwqtGScbMFY5mzwu_pA5SNV2QbhIgDTjzvKu3SrBJPRDCAV3r4d4WlEXALU/s640/DSCF1317+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div>
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Even Molly didn't want to go out. Unlike most Spaniels, she really doesn't like water at all. In fact, she would really rather sit at home on silken cushions, but here's a pic of her from April 2011 - flowers and sunshine, etc.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00XeCu5wb-pS-HWdfRNMWLCr5MjZQRV6XdP35f_wAtLgREp6_LvIZxclw7fdv7lCCEXa9dD-KQFOp4wZOSnqBuRlk5GmY9jgZPECV-zQGq6wkMoWC62YW2_bvuDUqKrXbsJQRib4ZuGY/s1600/IMGP5651+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00XeCu5wb-pS-HWdfRNMWLCr5MjZQRV6XdP35f_wAtLgREp6_LvIZxclw7fdv7lCCEXa9dD-KQFOp4wZOSnqBuRlk5GmY9jgZPECV-zQGq6wkMoWC62YW2_bvuDUqKrXbsJQRib4ZuGY/s640/IMGP5651+(Large).JPG" width="640px" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWVD_zFd8K-cF9ojJXVy_3zKeCL6ov-Ga6bSPLH9oeKZnbD_ev8VAdjBuO51H0GvXyO1lZ4_zF2VCWP5eSr8wtmcUGMnuxAP5OUWb0hOERyYQqDGHgbF8OqtwfnMHQqVGG1PygexBz5xw/s1600/DSCF1321+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480px" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWVD_zFd8K-cF9ojJXVy_3zKeCL6ov-Ga6bSPLH9oeKZnbD_ev8VAdjBuO51H0GvXyO1lZ4_zF2VCWP5eSr8wtmcUGMnuxAP5OUWb0hOERyYQqDGHgbF8OqtwfnMHQqVGG1PygexBz5xw/s640/DSCF1321+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div>
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We've rather missed the blossom in the cold and rain but the lilac is struggling through. this one, at the Stone House is a bit further on than ours, being more sheltered.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT0ZYgzcPB_9S4eNBXoMhkaBM7gznasogVRRiYUVB5tGDAyU5XQB0jQ2YRn-R_ADWfEZecHeRBycQPxzkzrhATCXK4koLwfY3gTu_o9Th-A6wnrP_1xQrWQFyCGD1wjuRYCc1gNKU19Gs/s1600/DSCF1322+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480px" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT0ZYgzcPB_9S4eNBXoMhkaBM7gznasogVRRiYUVB5tGDAyU5XQB0jQ2YRn-R_ADWfEZecHeRBycQPxzkzrhATCXK4koLwfY3gTu_o9Th-A6wnrP_1xQrWQFyCGD1wjuRYCc1gNKU19Gs/s640/DSCF1322+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div>
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Not much else to write home about. Everything is cold and wet.<br />
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Now, on the drive into the office, Cosby is beginning to flood and, as you see from the road sign it will soon only be suitable for ducks.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8fsQdBABXcVGhvWLL8Ewe7M83712roMtKC-7YP72Ff6BiU4k0UiLE4MvW-ys_vxSxuN1RByG4he9ZxI93eyfLYnk9pfv4ODKvv-3WHlwDLeOUkrWHnvKyDWMSmxWvucb4-tNEVSzznw/s1600/DSCF1323+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480px" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8fsQdBABXcVGhvWLL8Ewe7M83712roMtKC-7YP72Ff6BiU4k0UiLE4MvW-ys_vxSxuN1RByG4he9ZxI93eyfLYnk9pfv4ODKvv-3WHlwDLeOUkrWHnvKyDWMSmxWvucb4-tNEVSzznw/s640/DSCF1323+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920660937843894030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509063120647512338.post-9598437614856360462012-04-21T17:52:00.000+01:002012-04-21T18:34:51.980+01:0032 Years Later... the Lake District<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzLAqWYWO9SGI_H-dwo5UxAjUZNHPSu8KF4B-n4V4LmhEwn6HybD_sYis9k5sKSYs4tym5dfOoUSn8OgbRkK1D-ZoyidUli3eCwptLMoBYpO71AckWZ0tsjDyZNMd0a_sGhuLtXXpYN8/s1600/IMGP7631+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzLAqWYWO9SGI_H-dwo5UxAjUZNHPSu8KF4B-n4V4LmhEwn6HybD_sYis9k5sKSYs4tym5dfOoUSn8OgbRkK1D-ZoyidUli3eCwptLMoBYpO71AckWZ0tsjDyZNMd0a_sGhuLtXXpYN8/s640/IMGP7631+(Large).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Windermere from Bowness</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The plan was to spend a couple of days in the Lake District,
stay in a decent hotel and visit a couple of favourite places (e.g. Blackwell).</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfuUbSa27vsTcW6Zxs3CljfpLQqjFfsPPMG_a6TIKex5kTwon_6Xq7NsJm25aTtMBgEQB80MVd1GPvFLNwySlLRMwjIzocrc2yVUbglYznb4TgavVp4EUafVKySxVgIEVecsH6O-IhUw/s1600/IMGP7633+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfuUbSa27vsTcW6Zxs3CljfpLQqjFfsPPMG_a6TIKex5kTwon_6Xq7NsJm25aTtMBgEQB80MVd1GPvFLNwySlLRMwjIzocrc2yVUbglYznb4TgavVp4EUafVKySxVgIEVecsH6O-IhUw/s640/IMGP7633+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The weather was a bit mixed; after all, it’s April and the
Lake District is pretty well-known for ‘mixed’ weather. (‘Mixed’, when applied
to weather means ‘definitely not mixed but unalloyed dark skies and pouring
rain.) In fact it wasn’t like that; it was mixed between warm sunshine,
occasional heavy showers and thundering hail!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we arrived in Bowness, we did the usual thing of picking
up a few brochures for places to visit and were instantly taken back 30
years...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_gt9vuBbHKzzwgG0WZIlyoy8kaF1i_-hM4Q72IFDIELIoXGYN9JIROeTrkam9WG2w7_2clfaf9Mg6Qm2BaxGJ8db_dItLEKWkwfg6VSGGmhbA3mfYQlosezv2G88x9MB8aME1IJ3U64/s1600/ben-toby+lakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_gt9vuBbHKzzwgG0WZIlyoy8kaF1i_-hM4Q72IFDIELIoXGYN9JIROeTrkam9WG2w7_2clfaf9Mg6Qm2BaxGJ8db_dItLEKWkwfg6VSGGmhbA3mfYQlosezv2G88x9MB8aME1IJ3U64/s640/ben-toby+lakes.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ben, age 6 and Toby, age 4 by Coniston Water</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In June 1980, we took our 2 sons, aged 6 and 4 to the Lakes for a week and, while there, we went down to Coniston Water.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93k7weaQgHu6Eu4Xq4hTG_oc76ekrUGrrEq_wGWOsUBR9w0iV8Q0U73SI_IOcagU90wGtdr68Ywb6YOaVmu1Opl5p9qaws9AM7hppE73ugDroV5Kl93wSc8qE8EjJt_tt3hYWC1xUQ8c/s1600/IMGP7635+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93k7weaQgHu6Eu4Xq4hTG_oc76ekrUGrrEq_wGWOsUBR9w0iV8Q0U73SI_IOcagU90wGtdr68Ywb6YOaVmu1Opl5p9qaws9AM7hppE73ugDroV5Kl93wSc8qE8EjJt_tt3hYWC1xUQ8c/s640/IMGP7635+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="640" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coniston Water</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The boys were
really taken with the restored steam yacht ‘Gondola’ which was sitting by the
jetty looking wonderful. They were keen to take a trip down the lake on board
Gondola, but we were too early. She was due to be inaugurated 2 weeks later by
the Duke of Devonshire so was unavailable for trips. We promised the boys we
would come back one day. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6M5R4rjnOUGPK4mWeZjhgzCgyAgUuKHYzAvrpd2anXY1oSbUed-exLw2n2-aIfiz2MPPlV835D440wiJezwjF-16a-Yptk4fiGFvaY3ETnN3R6DXGRI-Mbrfj7Cm1-RqcJQkC71cW1A/s1600/ben-gondola.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6M5R4rjnOUGPK4mWeZjhgzCgyAgUuKHYzAvrpd2anXY1oSbUed-exLw2n2-aIfiz2MPPlV835D440wiJezwjF-16a-Yptk4fiGFvaY3ETnN3R6DXGRI-Mbrfj7Cm1-RqcJQkC71cW1A/s640/ben-gondola.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Ben with 'Gondola', 1980</strong></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbxssez4dkG_KzAn3a_vgfvNgq9IaWyeEE2sqZdz8tWbFReJW0H8ZwROrrwjkcKZLukSUf2RIXfIPOAcRF70KDJhyphenhyphene63agy5hpHEuwezNznx4t1JgwbNX27EXS9EutQKgVaxAL10X07s/s1600/Gondola+watercolour+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbxssez4dkG_KzAn3a_vgfvNgq9IaWyeEE2sqZdz8tWbFReJW0H8ZwROrrwjkcKZLukSUf2RIXfIPOAcRF70KDJhyphenhyphene63agy5hpHEuwezNznx4t1JgwbNX27EXS9EutQKgVaxAL10X07s/s640/Gondola+watercolour+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<br /><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Watercolour, 1980</span></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2NOAfx6gvW3tmokSYN3TSfBag-2uOdO9egfOizvmR_kS5oXlhy6fm9yaexbcgw_3yAxU2emQT5-UAbi8x0YyVEXN0h3GmYafQVIe0IrhPil2UGytOl7EodLBvBsiLNVfNoRqd8awoAE/s1600/coniston+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2NOAfx6gvW3tmokSYN3TSfBag-2uOdO9egfOizvmR_kS5oXlhy6fm9yaexbcgw_3yAxU2emQT5-UAbi8x0YyVEXN0h3GmYafQVIe0IrhPil2UGytOl7EodLBvBsiLNVfNoRqd8awoAE/s640/coniston+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<br /><strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">Watercolour, 1980</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was our first visit to the Lakes and we all loved
the area. The weather was (occasionally) sunny so I was able to paint a few
watercolours as well as taking photos (in those days, I was using film so
couldn’t afford to take many).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thirty-two years later, Marea and I found ourselves again
driving down Lake Road to the North end of Coniston Water to take a trip on
Gondola. We were early, so there was plenty of room in the car park and we sat
and waited in the sunshine for her to come<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>round the corner at the North end.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioAbTZqsT8x13HPZlAjeLIaFJcixOWJ99E09ZfDZt-Uoznu43VPc-liTLKAEsJQbjvpjFHbiFt220PpqobMtqLw6b9cxne_TbmPaQXfIgloiXTZPv18rwcUUFW1kTHeuvER4yfljHaXw/s1600/IMGP7639+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioAbTZqsT8x13HPZlAjeLIaFJcixOWJ99E09ZfDZt-Uoznu43VPc-liTLKAEsJQbjvpjFHbiFt220PpqobMtqLw6b9cxne_TbmPaQXfIgloiXTZPv18rwcUUFW1kTHeuvER4yfljHaXw/s640/IMGP7639+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Gondola' arriving</span></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCSiYZ4QDg7tlLWYsxsZjJrWd-DkDTBhGXazIP5eHvyNpIYCKewdK5cJKiAPdLVHKom_wzdJE_Tvy6j3ZlS8HZzZX6rxhPJ0UlA-YbNCrZO-8aceFk0-nLdblezs44hvYdAHjzsFVzmQ/s1600/IMGP7640+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCSiYZ4QDg7tlLWYsxsZjJrWd-DkDTBhGXazIP5eHvyNpIYCKewdK5cJKiAPdLVHKom_wzdJE_Tvy6j3ZlS8HZzZX6rxhPJ0UlA-YbNCrZO-8aceFk0-nLdblezs44hvYdAHjzsFVzmQ/s640/IMGP7640+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVEHApLnrHPdyPjtaKgm06-3_OfbBB5TFwtItirpxupl8OHIe7ipjOOJrKbvoJxBNwwjk83ZXDKuKN_LGCvpwWe2RZgh7bZZuY97fUfX2KJiumHAg5G22do3xT93tyW_VrudVRm4viZI/s1600/IMGP7642+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVEHApLnrHPdyPjtaKgm06-3_OfbBB5TFwtItirpxupl8OHIe7ipjOOJrKbvoJxBNwwjk83ZXDKuKN_LGCvpwWe2RZgh7bZZuY97fUfX2KJiumHAg5G22do3xT93tyW_VrudVRm4viZI/s640/IMGP7642+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Front Saloon</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmN5QSElgmlUxLGCzwypdTG0qW9SISn2Eyx85lRc3IZs0IfWiIx23WtpFjSOEdnfwPVK8OoXjgZUXCWbPIseCzvOIz9J1x5Rtnrj2IA3fuX0Jbr3abUNmgITIc4Q074M_782n0OwMs0WU/s1600/IMGP7646+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmN5QSElgmlUxLGCzwypdTG0qW9SISn2Eyx85lRc3IZs0IfWiIx23WtpFjSOEdnfwPVK8OoXjgZUXCWbPIseCzvOIz9J1x5Rtnrj2IA3fuX0Jbr3abUNmgITIc4Q074M_782n0OwMs0WU/s640/IMGP7646+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looking back Northward</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnMoVhlg6h05my8OBR8mKFx9tgXkG3Qsn8TwZTmYDhK7mvXiuru69gw6K7Y5bepMqKeQWZn2XbBrDKKMgoeKzAoeDqNsKXrMKJSO2X6f9mWb-tcfSBKy891zjKpyJ_jlbvZXZfud731M/s1600/IMGP7648+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnMoVhlg6h05my8OBR8mKFx9tgXkG3Qsn8TwZTmYDhK7mvXiuru69gw6K7Y5bepMqKeQWZn2XbBrDKKMgoeKzAoeDqNsKXrMKJSO2X6f9mWb-tcfSBKy891zjKpyJ_jlbvZXZfud731M/s640/IMGP7648+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Great Skies</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFnUvC7c-JKDj0ixSPUfU1nKzG8nN-QOWOzZ-WTuvltIxtYA4W3Txtwr4SyBSu2AxW4s8WjiwkvgQ_eVaNDnBa2Bg2KsSh8JQSFJGeR_sjL8KjPxenbBXCvjcFZX2Ta0fxG1d-mILcs1M/s1600/IMGP7650+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFnUvC7c-JKDj0ixSPUfU1nKzG8nN-QOWOzZ-WTuvltIxtYA4W3Txtwr4SyBSu2AxW4s8WjiwkvgQ_eVaNDnBa2Bg2KsSh8JQSFJGeR_sjL8KjPxenbBXCvjcFZX2Ta0fxG1d-mILcs1M/s640/IMGP7650+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="428" /></span></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Gondola's' figurehead</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We boarded and sat out of the wind for the trip down to
Brantwood, a National Trust property, home of John Ruskin the leading Victorian
art critic. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5aeSVZn5sI2ZqrKe8EvWm0X3EcEfloGX5Z4aFZMggCPBDYQYrG101IHXT8nGa9aUcQTCsbAs_yLLExh3fo7TTRijNprjJ5Cn0HgpQGqHGHbFyOkGHV8WI7K7UUi6ZkY2smyBRDWNdXEY/s1600/IMGP7671+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5aeSVZn5sI2ZqrKe8EvWm0X3EcEfloGX5Z4aFZMggCPBDYQYrG101IHXT8nGa9aUcQTCsbAs_yLLExh3fo7TTRijNprjJ5Cn0HgpQGqHGHbFyOkGHV8WI7K7UUi6ZkY2smyBRDWNdXEY/s640/IMGP7671+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brantwood</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In this photo, the little gazebo is there for the inauguration of
the new public toilets later in the day. We didn’t have a lot of time before
the boat came round again so we avoided the introductory video and had a quick
look around the house. Ruskin is to be admired for his support of the
pre-Raphaelites but had some other strange ideas. </span><a href="http://www.visitcumbria.com/john-ruskin.htm"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.visitcumbria.com/john-ruskin.htm</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTO2ov-P78SfsydDzHegSYfzSDAIqkBMSAtEkQz8_sEFGP-ebNsIxHaSB3oiFWM1b6NuhvwkmYLiJvtnbytd_dO4J-CMsoUfzRFFxfUpccjWTOkrYJbtjwFKSgzTMbmvyiGEhHiIo800/s1600/IMGP7661+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTO2ov-P78SfsydDzHegSYfzSDAIqkBMSAtEkQz8_sEFGP-ebNsIxHaSB3oiFWM1b6NuhvwkmYLiJvtnbytd_dO4J-CMsoUfzRFFxfUpccjWTOkrYJbtjwFKSgzTMbmvyiGEhHiIo800/s640/IMGP7661+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brantwood interior</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1WiboPbHSnmi-sTzO0F8A9LHY_5gKbYbA1U3-9D39C-HWVj-kl6FJpMKM6rt5fS23uEh4-w9E8RvvBKUzrUS4whs_PGlktIxzz0hCQEm8vbW_r98PcVSdsGOZIscUdc8Nox8c1leATNY/s1600/IMGP7663+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1WiboPbHSnmi-sTzO0F8A9LHY_5gKbYbA1U3-9D39C-HWVj-kl6FJpMKM6rt5fS23uEh4-w9E8RvvBKUzrUS4whs_PGlktIxzz0hCQEm8vbW_r98PcVSdsGOZIscUdc8Nox8c1leATNY/s640/IMGP7663+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Forgetting that the National Trust doesn’t allow photography
in its properties, I took a couple of interiors before a house steward
discreetly asked me to stop. No-one has satisfactorily explained to me why one
can’t take photos except that they want to sell their postcards (the steward
said as much). They quote ‘conservation reasons’ (I know of none), copyright
(I’d like to know who owns the copyright to the interior of a building) or
security but they provide extensive plans to their buildings!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqq9a4anTGVZaDw849-Zs0ffwaZjF4maMJW3gfWtpEEOpxhJ-VkElFByniT6u-AF2CvGfkkoreZ0TyirKgImNaNtY3wZrap-bE8vTaaWJm41BQvBUqeVgm4KL0MFg9r8vR6XLzIJJ33cc/s1600/IMGP7651+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqq9a4anTGVZaDw849-Zs0ffwaZjF4maMJW3gfWtpEEOpxhJ-VkElFByniT6u-AF2CvGfkkoreZ0TyirKgImNaNtY3wZrap-bE8vTaaWJm41BQvBUqeVgm4KL0MFg9r8vR6XLzIJJ33cc/s640/IMGP7651+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<o:p><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Boarding to continue our journey</span></strong></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
next day we went to Blackwell, Britain's finest surviving Arts and Crafts house,
designed by M.H. Baillie Scott. </span><a href="http://www.blackwell.org.uk/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.blackwell.org.uk/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijG16IgohH3NDthcEPrj10WoUVMDE04rJgrIw8ROYfYNXFpr71TpoGdBzqyjbv2yAIbJAe96szJ9onfpulch2fJ0K32cE-G8iCuwrKVGOCo96Htr6IZp9kTQAMDtoDIfmic7KqwOoZdyc/s1600/IMGP7685+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijG16IgohH3NDthcEPrj10WoUVMDE04rJgrIw8ROYfYNXFpr71TpoGdBzqyjbv2yAIbJAe96szJ9onfpulch2fJ0K32cE-G8iCuwrKVGOCo96Htr6IZp9kTQAMDtoDIfmic7KqwOoZdyc/s640/IMGP7685+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJhyphenhyphenb432MLRiGu4m-YKlrG_f_sws81lGc-myWLJItCrdvcDiUHwuWT4TGvqzrGygw_7m46laONCUJ0geeAz3q9_64YxZXjWuqqwukDcrP036mJRmC0WUXM2AI6NCc5R1OheNk6qiR-BKc/s1600/IMGP7689+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJhyphenhyphenb432MLRiGu4m-YKlrG_f_sws81lGc-myWLJItCrdvcDiUHwuWT4TGvqzrGygw_7m46laONCUJ0geeAz3q9_64YxZXjWuqqwukDcrP036mJRmC0WUXM2AI6NCc5R1OheNk6qiR-BKc/s640/IMGP7689+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86t-V6namftHkAxxcglPcUrXgNnLjIwO_Ogm0juzl53t3R90WVdxnZCcGW1stqG35IW021zdhOKC9uNeGu2t0rHUicqd4VmbdyMi7KhOLbHCUdd9nDeXpkaxNdgYlMwY72dFrRQlvxMo/s1600/BW+exterior+%25C3%2582%25C2%25A9LAT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86t-V6namftHkAxxcglPcUrXgNnLjIwO_Ogm0juzl53t3R90WVdxnZCcGW1stqG35IW021zdhOKC9uNeGu2t0rHUicqd4VmbdyMi7KhOLbHCUdd9nDeXpkaxNdgYlMwY72dFrRQlvxMo/s640/BW+exterior+%25C3%2582%25C2%25A9LAT.jpg" width="640" /></span></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46zscIeBbhXUtxLDteX_EHn8U6SnaZBzpyDB5HIW-xk_W64yy72dTO185sxVpgva-QlV0-97gdMOwAmx9NT6zt6YIBvsl86G0nm-7PGEQbAviVDtwAPTv6dIhqP8F90qW8yNSjubO4pg/s1600/IMGP7690+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46zscIeBbhXUtxLDteX_EHn8U6SnaZBzpyDB5HIW-xk_W64yy72dTO185sxVpgva-QlV0-97gdMOwAmx9NT6zt6YIBvsl86G0nm-7PGEQbAviVDtwAPTv6dIhqP8F90qW8yNSjubO4pg/s640/IMGP7690+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Stained glass from the</strong> <strong>porch</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-oquYO158JuMN3HHo726_h1pY0iWNnCYExVCLxapxqPwVjsMslkpx6Rks1ElojIeS5B9n46jG0rYouisDt467eYp1y0zxmOQnbvy5AufXmYoiQmEvQ1-6bBgsm9vldPNG7MHj1gCBkII/s1600/BW+dining+room+stained+glass+%25C3%2582%25C2%25A9LAT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-oquYO158JuMN3HHo726_h1pY0iWNnCYExVCLxapxqPwVjsMslkpx6Rks1ElojIeS5B9n46jG0rYouisDt467eYp1y0zxmOQnbvy5AufXmYoiQmEvQ1-6bBgsm9vldPNG7MHj1gCBkII/s640/BW+dining+room+stained+glass+%25C3%2582%25C2%25A9LAT.jpg" width="452" /></span></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...and from the Dining Room</span></strong></div>
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<br /> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCVyz3dfDI0etm4FJf6iMkYlrN7sqp_EWwki4lR1h9RQ0nK2cE53lb3-W7HauKy2mdwYTYcxcpRUUI1qQMXyenvy1tbaSdsdegUf_-8YwgDgqLpsz3Nq-hlHQsAU7BpQgzD_uu33N7a0/s1600/BW+hall+to+dining+room+%25C3%2582%25C2%25A9NW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCVyz3dfDI0etm4FJf6iMkYlrN7sqp_EWwki4lR1h9RQ0nK2cE53lb3-W7HauKy2mdwYTYcxcpRUUI1qQMXyenvy1tbaSdsdegUf_-8YwgDgqLpsz3Nq-hlHQsAU7BpQgzD_uu33N7a0/s640/BW+hall+to+dining+room+%25C3%2582%25C2%25A9NW.jpg" width="490" /></span></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looking through from Hall to Dining Room</span></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8anVGZA0vrtqsy4oX4KLTfwznaAPA6nDUr-Uxm6F9OdiXu10XegEy8t7IA9iSArBUxY6CjEhbG0JuipotNhaBM5zw6imzcVhImHu7wz6EmhxIph-tB2CmTa_LU4GqJjn_B4Gzuyg5Dsc/s1600/BW+main+hall+%25C3%2582%25C2%25A9NW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8anVGZA0vrtqsy4oX4KLTfwznaAPA6nDUr-Uxm6F9OdiXu10XegEy8t7IA9iSArBUxY6CjEhbG0JuipotNhaBM5zw6imzcVhImHu7wz6EmhxIph-tB2CmTa_LU4GqJjn_B4Gzuyg5Dsc/s640/BW+main+hall+%25C3%2582%25C2%25A9NW.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Hall</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">White Bedroom</span></strong></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What I like most about Blackwell is the scale
of the rooms and the consistency of the design. The main hall is almost like a
mediaeval hall but its elegance is enhanced by the stained glass, the friezes
and the Minstrel’s Gallery (seems like there was only 1 minstrel). This would
have been such a beautiful house to live in that I would never have wanted to
go out. My own love of stained glass is well catered for and the craftsmanship
throughout is exquisite. I can’t provide lots of photos but here are a couple
from Blackwell’s own publicity (<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">©
Lakeland Arts Trust).</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">If you’re in UK, love the Arts and
Crafts movement and can get there, I’ts a great place to visit. Just take
plenty of money; the shop’s full of exquisite things!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Arnside 1980</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we came up with the boys, we stayed in a small flat attached to a pub in Arnside. The pub is still there but the small flat has been incorporated and is now the restaurant part of the pub.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>2012</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <strong>Across the sands, 1980</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Tide coming in, 2012</strong></span></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920660937843894030noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509063120647512338.post-25545154880382543782012-02-09T17:29:00.000+00:002012-02-09T17:29:50.640+00:00Luxor to Kom OmboThis turned out to be a long, gentle run with all the life of the river going on around us.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62ucPJ471yDcb5FNpcFyfIYFhW2FMBl8wQdTnCwFtv_CZJier1kOgADCmoede9ew8mkgGiZ-wTMw7OnvgAkq0jKWNzgf1mjncz6dGRc-vINfGlYWgU4-oUXetcCs6l5TaVV1cOuHqGAM/s1600/IMGP6960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62ucPJ471yDcb5FNpcFyfIYFhW2FMBl8wQdTnCwFtv_CZJier1kOgADCmoede9ew8mkgGiZ-wTMw7OnvgAkq0jKWNzgf1mjncz6dGRc-vINfGlYWgU4-oUXetcCs6l5TaVV1cOuHqGAM/s640/IMGP6960.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhiYQHWZNA938uDhuLW5gCdlrTUcVh84FrIfi4YOTLDoqvWxnwYPWdU_rVqX8MExbhajiR4EO1c3g3V3V4crjoSxtWnXDsf65xS1MMIJ_2CHzQ4P99s4SL_2HBhw-UHpylVYnf05ONOFM/s1600/IMGP6963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhiYQHWZNA938uDhuLW5gCdlrTUcVh84FrIfi4YOTLDoqvWxnwYPWdU_rVqX8MExbhajiR4EO1c3g3V3V4crjoSxtWnXDsf65xS1MMIJ_2CHzQ4P99s4SL_2HBhw-UHpylVYnf05ONOFM/s640/IMGP6963.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrwwlw-LukODKrQR-gjh8pxbkJEzy4U9-SFaLQChAThrJV68w82G49Kl3vGh3_GTwIVdQL_IAGbryQZ1furrxlmcePtQqHpb7kQ9chljXMAmEezZB-UMT7vVj9S5Twwtm046oJOfjS-8/s1600/IMGP6968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrwwlw-LukODKrQR-gjh8pxbkJEzy4U9-SFaLQChAThrJV68w82G49Kl3vGh3_GTwIVdQL_IAGbryQZ1furrxlmcePtQqHpb7kQ9chljXMAmEezZB-UMT7vVj9S5Twwtm046oJOfjS-8/s640/IMGP6968.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Along the banks are hills and palms that bring the closeness of the desert to mind. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwmwo-uV2htyVr1Scnr0jvlQj3DCI4MrwEoFm-bFLVKirkNVfbocLZoR4R8RYZuFCwXsc32mNlPj3xemIsfzZjCoEN3rXHNC8diDr0iQSL0LTtOb0YCRoaOqfQU1WBNfNEOgZyVHyb4Ho/s1600/IMGP6965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwmwo-uV2htyVr1Scnr0jvlQj3DCI4MrwEoFm-bFLVKirkNVfbocLZoR4R8RYZuFCwXsc32mNlPj3xemIsfzZjCoEN3rXHNC8diDr0iQSL0LTtOb0YCRoaOqfQU1WBNfNEOgZyVHyb4Ho/s640/IMGP6965.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqxs10srH6AL1KcwHRDdJoXLQfbk0b_w-p1s4FXlwhlSUV9-iFKjvPvWnBOMqLs7n3-VWS6TQGah5yVoCsOcGHI8LFMfNSSzoyGmGK9nFFM-5sLAhAzDYgFIGcvVb2EjjWjGrGV_9kRmA/s1600/IMGP6969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqxs10srH6AL1KcwHRDdJoXLQfbk0b_w-p1s4FXlwhlSUV9-iFKjvPvWnBOMqLs7n3-VWS6TQGah5yVoCsOcGHI8LFMfNSSzoyGmGK9nFFM-5sLAhAzDYgFIGcvVb2EjjWjGrGV_9kRmA/s640/IMGP6969.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">The river is full of fish and provides a living for many of those who live in the villages along its banks.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJC-vv48pTL18ssu-rWIol0gWrx276jQJdrnfd9WGIK9nfdRTXOheSDYEuAByAZWl8df6y8sf_sKBqpGhxJVQkZsokQSIU7E98Sg9kFgrqUSRjDnu4kqvn99QGggZ4EgOkR6SCQyeNhjA/s1600/IMGP6977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJC-vv48pTL18ssu-rWIol0gWrx276jQJdrnfd9WGIK9nfdRTXOheSDYEuAByAZWl8df6y8sf_sKBqpGhxJVQkZsokQSIU7E98Sg9kFgrqUSRjDnu4kqvn99QGggZ4EgOkR6SCQyeNhjA/s640/IMGP6977.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">There are some very elegant craft on the river</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And the domesticated oxen are common</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Traditional lateen rigged feluccas are the most elegant</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">There were lots of happy children and, indeed, everyone we met was happy to see us, in Luxor, Kom Ombo, Philae, Aswan, Abu Simbel, etc. The fall off in tourism has been catastrophic for those who depend, directly or indirectly, on it for a living. Our guide had not worked for a month and his assistant would not work again until March. The revolution, as much as it HAS to happen, has meant great difficulties for those in the South particularly, though they are far from any trouble.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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Spearing fish<br />
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Nubian houses<br />
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Cave dwellings<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">The river approach to Kom Ombo is supposed to be spectacular, but with so many boats laid up for lack of trade, the view was rather obscured. Kom Ombo's reputation is that of being only an introduction to Edfu, but as we were not stopping there, it would have to do.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Sobek</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The hypostyle hall</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thoth, Horus, Ra-Horakhty</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Sunset through the pylon</div>In the event, it was rather good. Its location high above the river though close enough to walk to gives it a more stately setting, especially as the sun starts to set across the river. The carvings are good and the hypostyle hall, though nothing to compare with Karnak, has some great columns and capitals.<br />
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</div>As we left to return to the boat, the temple was beautifully lit up in the warm night.Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920660937843894030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509063120647512338.post-20755170811316992612012-02-02T17:14:00.000+00:002012-02-02T17:14:07.562+00:00Return of the blog ... Egypt: cruising up the NileI know... I've been a bit remiss, but now, I thought I'd bring you EGYPT! Well, not all of it, plainly but just a bit about our cruise up the Nile from Luxor to Aswan.<br />
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This is our boat, the MS Hamees. It has capacity for about 140 but we were only 42 on board, a sign of the huge drop off in tourism since the revolution.<br />
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It has the sort of elegance one would expect for a 5star boat. So much so that I decided to download <em>Death on the Nile</em> to my Kindle to read while we were on board.<br />
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On our first full day, Marea and I decided to take ourselves off to one of the food markets in Luxor (always a sucker for a good market) so we took a taxi and off we went.<br />
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The local produce is magnificent - if I said cabbages and cauliflowers like footballs it would be inadequate - they were bigger than medicine balls and the tomatoes were fresh and juicy but not unblemished like those in an English supermarket - all image and no taste.<br />
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We were tired after flying from UK so went back to the boat for lunch and then we set off upriver towards Om Kombo. I love the sight of passing villages, palm trees and mountains behind. <br />
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Already the traders were out, selling cloths. This looks a dangerous trade to me; they hitched themselves to our boat and were pulled along at about 15knots. I think they must have drifted far downriver during the day's trading so it was getting them home as well.<br />
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Then, the sunset and it was the first day (to almost quote another book).<br />
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There's lots more to tell, but at least I've made a start.Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920660937843894030noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509063120647512338.post-20351745585714255962011-11-01T15:21:00.002+00:002011-11-01T15:25:22.896+00:00Why do cows all point the same way?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Autumn dog-walking</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>This morning’s walk was a bit of a quiet one. <br />
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The only real noises were from the crows shouting at each other for no apparent reason, intently watched by Nippy, our local stray cat, who has so many adoptive homes where she gets fed that she never needs to hunt, though I’ve seen her carrying mice along to some hiding place.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Nippy overseeing the crows' argument</strong></div><br />
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Walking past the new allotments with their numbers, just waiting to be occupied, I was struck by the old conundrum – why do cows all graze in the same direction? Apparently Google Earth has confirmed that this is the case though they were unable to distinguish head from tails; it was still apparent that many groups of cows were aligned north/south. I confirmed this myself this morning; all these cows are facing South and presumably when they reach the end of the field, they’ll turn and munch their way north.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Molly enjoyed the walk</strong></div><br />
Molly the Spaniel enjoyed the walk though I can’t break her of the habit of giving a wide berth to the gateway where Izzy the St Bernard lives.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Passing Izzy's gateway</strong></div>Unlike New York, our weather is still surprisingly mild and we’ve been suffering a plague of flies. It’s eased off a bit now, but I think we’ll have to wait for the really cold weather to get rid of them completely. We tried a couple of fly sprays but they are immune, unlike the wasps that came in from the nest under our floor. They died within a few minutes but we had to pay to get the nest eradicated.<br />
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The warmth is a bit incongruous as the city’s stores put up their Christmas displays. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>John Lewis windows</strong></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Inside John Lewis - a bit 'Galeries Lafayette'?</strong></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>The Shires Mall</strong></div><br />
Inside, there’s snow, Christmas trees and baubles while outside we’ve had a Moroccan market full of hot colours basking in the sunshine.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Leicester's Humberstone Gate</strong></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Great fossil sink</strong></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>The Luggage (Discworld)</strong></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Mehndi (Henna)</strong></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxeNYTZDy2nR4BtaAJ9z2EN5OaTG5uwWy2S01HmJLDVOMXuBIUIgLPG3FbAhs-Gnyjj95m__mL-Cvullg2i6v5_q5bw2S_i0nMkllhZqysNQ0aM7Tl13NOOly51uM0qgqLk79UpM9gP44/s1600/IMGP6854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxeNYTZDy2nR4BtaAJ9z2EN5OaTG5uwWy2S01HmJLDVOMXuBIUIgLPG3FbAhs-Gnyjj95m__mL-Cvullg2i6v5_q5bw2S_i0nMkllhZqysNQ0aM7Tl13NOOly51uM0qgqLk79UpM9gP44/s640/IMGP6854.JPG" width="428px" /></a></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920660937843894030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509063120647512338.post-78719596768675157302011-10-19T23:47:00.001+01:002011-10-19T23:47:56.010+01:00Golden OctoberWhen I was first a young technician in the Department of Museum Studies, there was a series of adverts for Goldener Oktober Leibfraumilch. Each month there was a new top design with a different colour variation but the bottom half was supposed to be consistently the same colour. I used a full 12 month set to demonstrate to the students how much printing ink colours varied according to the skills of the printer. This was about the time that Pantone was beginning to be promoted and I used the adverts to demonstrate how much the Pantone formula was needed. Now everyone uses it and colours of inks are consistent.<br />
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Apologies for the resolution of these 2 pictures but you can see what I'm getting at.<br />
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All of that has nothing really to do with this blog which is about the October we've been having so far and the end it is coming to....<br />
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Across the road, the sun glows through the hawthorn hedge and everything is touched by gold. The beginning of the month has been unseasonably warm and not feeling like Autumn at all. Across the fields towards Croft Hill, the sun gives everything a warm glow and all over the valley is the same.<br />
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Along the footpath, the sun catches a Robinia behind the thatched cottage and in their garden, the Hollohocks are still in full bloom. The beasts are happy - there's plenty of fresh grass still. <br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Hay bales back up the site of the new viillage allotments which have been cultivated and rolled ready for planting.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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I've been waiting anxiously to see whether the sweet chestnut will broduce any nuts this season. Last year was disappointing and the Summer this year has been generally cloudy and dry - the worst of all worlds. <br />
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On the tree, they look good but what will they be like when they open. <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The haws have filled nicely - supposedly a sign of a hard Winter to come but everyone seems to be forecasting a very cold end to the year anyway. Beneath the Chestnut tree there are certaily some good nuts, but only one in each shell with a tiny shrivelled one each side. Not all those that have dropped have good nuts in them but I have managed to gather a few. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In a day, the weather changes from this golden picture to cloudy and cold. The new elms are turning but looking very healthy and over the hill the clouds are gathering.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Birds gather on the wires ready to fly off to the sun. thicker and thicker, undaunted by the model raptor and, as we pass, they start from tree to wires and back again. Autumn is here and the cold is coming. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCfkj4JUBrvMsJznzEy825Lms7Qf5JfLmam7stEorAA6uy9mcE0JTAqu7vprAjygNWMve9cBNf35f1pPR55wXN-lpsZJXj5-C4BFL3HthWpcE91-KaV_jow2hBCezN4Wz4-PE3mD6pYc/s1600/IMGP6818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCfkj4JUBrvMsJznzEy825Lms7Qf5JfLmam7stEorAA6uy9mcE0JTAqu7vprAjygNWMve9cBNf35f1pPR55wXN-lpsZJXj5-C4BFL3HthWpcE91-KaV_jow2hBCezN4Wz4-PE3mD6pYc/s640/IMGP6818.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920660937843894030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509063120647512338.post-85496535084726008112011-09-29T10:33:00.000+01:002011-09-29T10:33:47.844+01:00...and the finished articleSo, I finally got the bathroom floor finished. Spending the week on my knees might just have been worth it.<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Pictures bought in Oban, 'By the seaside' sign from Inveraray, bought at the Highland Games, and the little boat from a shop in Tobermory.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzHwaampd94Fa-t-Zgdd-5IifG_E-_lbmb750kmz4EaWjEXhYUKML6ak09Cj7RtZ56_ZRi8K3_Fo7AwoZJtjMdETzoCQHzbjtX7ABf5HMF_4O6R_aRVgmW8ISMQoDzKwJuuwQ3Rqx9No/s1600/IMGP6777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzHwaampd94Fa-t-Zgdd-5IifG_E-_lbmb750kmz4EaWjEXhYUKML6ak09Cj7RtZ56_ZRi8K3_Fo7AwoZJtjMdETzoCQHzbjtX7ABf5HMF_4O6R_aRVgmW8ISMQoDzKwJuuwQ3Rqx9No/s640/IMGP6777.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Just need some minor adjustments to the curtain drop and all will be well.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNVVdWTiFVp6VgE1L6nuVlXOhYvnwjgfdQmPf-ug86sWIGDjWdU6PYJ1CdYKI2jUWzmB3IPIWHFVZ3YpvS5Rxbglw7QDf0vm2Cul-EgPWM5vKE80aRxbQ_omlDnJtOfjyTUDHGiBPCcuM/s1600/IMGP6776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNVVdWTiFVp6VgE1L6nuVlXOhYvnwjgfdQmPf-ug86sWIGDjWdU6PYJ1CdYKI2jUWzmB3IPIWHFVZ3YpvS5Rxbglw7QDf0vm2Cul-EgPWM5vKE80aRxbQ_omlDnJtOfjyTUDHGiBPCcuM/s640/IMGP6776.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920660937843894030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509063120647512338.post-1073119413831080632011-09-22T15:14:00.003+01:002011-09-22T15:30:09.834+01:00Autumn projects<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGK-LUYm2iOAKkCGJ2yfXCsGXZnuTYHMnmkL7Ly9uJImnx5Y7FcKm6fBHGFMiT9Hj0a45_gfyrKdwpLgRM6g258VakBMWKML-p4VDpcAI0HYCxHhyphenhyphenMyzq0nEpSnjMrZ2WhU4SFoUu6l7g/s1600/IMGP6771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGK-LUYm2iOAKkCGJ2yfXCsGXZnuTYHMnmkL7Ly9uJImnx5Y7FcKm6fBHGFMiT9Hj0a45_gfyrKdwpLgRM6g258VakBMWKML-p4VDpcAI0HYCxHhyphenhyphenMyzq0nEpSnjMrZ2WhU4SFoUu6l7g/s640/IMGP6771.JPG" width="640px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">One of the new elms at the entrance to the village</span></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Autumn, and there’s lots to do. In the village, the ‘new’ elms are just beginning to change colour and the field set aside for new allotments is almost ready. A team of men rotavated it and then stone-picked right across the site.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Sm7Ewdlx7eyxn1ARtjVMDVFYKRsN1YkRM3Uy4Gh9-Y78653R_VfoVKTCfTINwQCDh5vEfvuOPg-M21hTRnG3vOojChUq10V3KgZ-eHcwVSpY0JhB70_OWUCPbR6xG7wE5K0L3U1stks/s1600/IMGP6772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Sm7Ewdlx7eyxn1ARtjVMDVFYKRsN1YkRM3Uy4Gh9-Y78653R_VfoVKTCfTINwQCDh5vEfvuOPg-M21hTRnG3vOojChUq10V3KgZ-eHcwVSpY0JhB70_OWUCPbR6xG7wE5K0L3U1stks/s640/IMGP6772.JPG" width="640px" /></a><strong>The new allotment field</strong></div><br />
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At home, I’ve been laying a new oak floor in the bathroom. It’s very awkward because of the narrowness of the room and the need to cut around the pedestal and washbasin. <br />
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The planks fix to each other with blind metal clips on the backs but, if there’s anything to restrict the angle of tilt when a new plank is inserted, it’s almost impossible. Pipes around the edge of the floor are a real nuisance. I seem to have spent most of the week on my knees, rather like when I was a window-dresser in the ‘60s. Still, it will look good when it’s finished.<br />
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Earlier in the Summer, we visited the Salvo Fair at Knebworth http://livingvillage.blogspot.com/2011/06/salvo-fair-knebworth.html and was rather taken with some flashed blue glass starbursts on the Cox’s Reclamation Yard stall. <br />
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Unfortunately, they wants about £17.50 each for them. Not a bad price but more that I wanted to afford. In discussion with the staff, I found out that they were having an auction at their yard in Moreton in Marsh early this month so I went down with Marea and had a look around. The stained glass had been divided into 3 lots and I decided to bid for at least one of them. Also, there was some new limestone, cut into slabs, 1” thick that I thought would do nicely for me to practice letter carving. <a href="http://www.coxsarchitectural.co.uk/index.htm">http://www.coxsarchitectural.co.uk/index.htm</a> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhID0S9x8x4j7kV5MBNa3QEWl-AfqQWCeyli4dAM60WVYybCDIMgydn8mT_3bg7NAhjekJrZxHDvNSLhvwRgzaYcrRAQ4PS6fa7hGOkkqJAdxSMiH93WLPGnumv1C5cAAtSIaz4rfJ5ccE/s1600/IMGP6765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="640px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhID0S9x8x4j7kV5MBNa3QEWl-AfqQWCeyli4dAM60WVYybCDIMgydn8mT_3bg7NAhjekJrZxHDvNSLhvwRgzaYcrRAQ4PS6fa7hGOkkqJAdxSMiH93WLPGnumv1C5cAAtSIaz4rfJ5ccE/s640/IMGP6765.JPG" width="428px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Lots of lovely limestone</strong></div><br />
It turned out that there was rather more stone than I thought (about 10 m2) but I bid and got it for about £120 (plus commission – 10%). The glass wasn’t due to come up until the late afternoon (there were over 1000 lots) so we decided to take the stone home and bid online for the glass. We loaded the stone into Marea’s car and limped home, though without incident. I sat through quite a lot of the auction live online and eventually won the third lot of glass for £45 (+10%). When I picked up the glass and saw how much there was, I valued it (using Cox’s retail prices) at £488, so quite a bargain.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbbJAOiZtpkkQmC-UBdtQCW6aSxozMCte8m9GE8qk474CrmJhMJG_aDdhU_R-ZjeVKPgaqND5fjFCV3GarjBh8o43z5wiDPPeYHaBkrJgJ1TuiwWsLj6MVRaqsY-KoMTx9XSaz8oqhNkI/s1600/1165930514_Starburst%252520blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="640px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbbJAOiZtpkkQmC-UBdtQCW6aSxozMCte8m9GE8qk474CrmJhMJG_aDdhU_R-ZjeVKPgaqND5fjFCV3GarjBh8o43z5wiDPPeYHaBkrJgJ1TuiwWsLj6MVRaqsY-KoMTx9XSaz8oqhNkI/s640/1165930514_Starburst%252520blue.jpg" width="310px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmsmdasYi-UdKrIhLqz4SySorYsgUgJZiwXkllDYkG7HVOVWChfQGdxFWQJTX_9xJIoBWLtiz5bu3tuQH6tg7NUjlPqM3U1Z8cq1Oa0b0iwRFhT_TtRiMMPPIfszq_Cx27ANL1ka79yg/s1600/1142771050_D7-G0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="640px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmsmdasYi-UdKrIhLqz4SySorYsgUgJZiwXkllDYkG7HVOVWChfQGdxFWQJTX_9xJIoBWLtiz5bu3tuQH6tg7NUjlPqM3U1Z8cq1Oa0b0iwRFhT_TtRiMMPPIfszq_Cx27ANL1ka79yg/s640/1142771050_D7-G0012.jpg" width="316px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Bristol pattern glazed doors</strong></div><br />
The glass is designed to fit a Bristol pattern door but I won’t be using it for that – just happy to have it in my studio at the moment. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrhCCDZqyHP7-jee2Cq8ZPOGlVcwly6-JX1qApqdVWCstOX_5HSDLex6T6X4IPJAQISCf3b5tnR6iJYw-ijUFvQsuNeF9kPbcFsK8jPfHULKadOpDpUzfbwHLRU27NO5YdZF9H8g1hPU/s1600/IMGP6767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrhCCDZqyHP7-jee2Cq8ZPOGlVcwly6-JX1qApqdVWCstOX_5HSDLex6T6X4IPJAQISCf3b5tnR6iJYw-ijUFvQsuNeF9kPbcFsK8jPfHULKadOpDpUzfbwHLRU27NO5YdZF9H8g1hPU/s640/IMGP6767.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3IcpvtcC1SGTEz-uy4D5zRv9oajJ-v9bhrPtYC8ublYS32DY0pJkJ_IZ58M-haOPd5G9hHyVb2gEFc2Ikn3khYbpHcyyjKoDFL6w5vHaF43nxYUjHoyoqy0-E9WvgTF8daYcOQe4rAQ/s1600/IMGP6766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="640px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3IcpvtcC1SGTEz-uy4D5zRv9oajJ-v9bhrPtYC8ublYS32DY0pJkJ_IZ58M-haOPd5G9hHyVb2gEFc2Ikn3khYbpHcyyjKoDFL6w5vHaF43nxYUjHoyoqy0-E9WvgTF8daYcOQe4rAQ/s640/IMGP6766.JPG" width="428px" /></a></div><br />
Because there was so much limestone, I’m going to use it to replace the dilapidated steps up to the back of the garden. I’ll probably carve some letters on the steps as well. Maybe more about that in future blogs.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9yG-UPTCq0In5XeI4-6fs6GhdA4arf8WjqQgeyuBvllNS3yHpOLHTl2qIQjQA1aJhJDbt8uFaDdanpHU6nQo1y9_g3LaVkoK4erANpQB1jH3fevX8szXw10Qt2_ie6NP8o6kmPO_S648/s1600/IMGP6758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9yG-UPTCq0In5XeI4-6fs6GhdA4arf8WjqQgeyuBvllNS3yHpOLHTl2qIQjQA1aJhJDbt8uFaDdanpHU6nQo1y9_g3LaVkoK4erANpQB1jH3fevX8szXw10Qt2_ie6NP8o6kmPO_S648/s640/IMGP6758.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920660937843894030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509063120647512338.post-4561483940530576132011-09-15T11:43:00.002+01:002011-09-17T13:20:21.169+01:00Heritage Open Days at CotesbachLast weekend was the Heritage Open Days weekend. Marea and I did a short stint on Sunday at Cotesbach Educational Trust. <a href="http://cotesbachschoolhouse.org.uk/">http://cotesbachschoolhouse.org.uk/</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubjFmZhZ4rxpigXX1pR1zo09sh872e7tR_mO1vqUqKIN6janQU4wcq6JdGueAd4l9ZZlGEwK5KMDagtXlHH-gUWcI-VDhD7ZPnbS__ydOY4SStLbVEZe-Gaqxv5ZLuD8u-2Rm49duI3U/s1600/IMGP6722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubjFmZhZ4rxpigXX1pR1zo09sh872e7tR_mO1vqUqKIN6janQU4wcq6JdGueAd4l9ZZlGEwK5KMDagtXlHH-gUWcI-VDhD7ZPnbS__ydOY4SStLbVEZe-Gaqxv5ZLuD8u-2Rm49duI3U/s640/IMGP6722.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Entrance to the Cotesbach Estate</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The project involves the restoration and adaptation of three outbuildings on the Cotesbach Estate. The buildings will provide the setting for activities of the Cotesbach Educational Trust. The Cotesbach Estate is the nucleus of a larger estate, which has been in the ownership of the Marriott family for over 250 years and as a consequence has survived as a remarkable example of architectural and social history. The Trust has a 50 year lease on the buildings which stand in the centre of the Estate.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfPt79UvO6Vll6lbihf39j-jx4NETDZaW5QAcS3smvmbp_F5bhav-ZxpyG9EVcvVvBx28vhfS1tSH02jiuDjULP1vJ_Q2fu4OT5uHiTGbyQZaUwsDelhyMdlxi5I4WKJcRsbwNUP9sXI/s1600/IMGP6720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfPt79UvO6Vll6lbihf39j-jx4NETDZaW5QAcS3smvmbp_F5bhav-ZxpyG9EVcvVvBx28vhfS1tSH02jiuDjULP1vJ_Q2fu4OT5uHiTGbyQZaUwsDelhyMdlxi5I4WKJcRsbwNUP9sXI/s640/IMGP6720.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>The 18th century Schoolhouse - the windows are original</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
The Schoolhouse, separately listed Grade II, is reputedly one of the first of its kind in the country. It was purpose built in the late 18th century, by Rev. Robert Marriott, for the education of the children of Cotesbach and the surrounding villages;</div><br />
The Stick House, an old milking parlour of a similar date; and the mid Victorian Coach House <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOM6MVmVr57fc5jXNp24S89tX1UaN44rADb-DXSERH-pcI_gDZm4I1Q30zqfpUjH0ZOI-qhHgHM7lZWTNfU-d2AvBNlOOFZt_kcvVNyC7ICPURlkhxavTx2x2uCKEo061TibBdbF3sBfw/s1600/IMGP6710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOM6MVmVr57fc5jXNp24S89tX1UaN44rADb-DXSERH-pcI_gDZm4I1Q30zqfpUjH0ZOI-qhHgHM7lZWTNfU-d2AvBNlOOFZt_kcvVNyC7ICPURlkhxavTx2x2uCKEo061TibBdbF3sBfw/s640/IMGP6710.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>The Coach House</strong></div><br />
All three buildings are located in the curtilage of Cotesbach Hall, which is listed Grade II, Queen Anne, Georgian and Victorian. Together these buildings provide a significant heritage focus for Cotesbach; and an example of very local history, unique to the village but which contributes to a larger national social change.<br />
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The project seeks to retain the historic fabric of these ancient buildings; introduce new elements which protect the historic setting and sustain the site and its long term viability <br />
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The restored Schoolhouse will accommodate 30 children at a time, whether visiting for a study day or for field studies to support a set of work they might be engaged in at school. The Coach House will include an archive repository viewing space and artefact display case. The Coach House will be extended to provide additional teaching space and to accommodate a café area, selling seasonal produce sourced mainly on the Estate, with opening doors to extend the space into an external seating area. It will include kitchen facilities and be used for cookery demonstrations for up to 15 people. There will be a cloakroom and toilets as well as flexible mixed use space for an arrival point, reception/office, space to form an exhibition and a second teaching area with a kitchen store.<br />
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The trust is working towards raising £750,000 to restore the buidings and for funding for the delivery of community based programmes. To date a grant of £570,000 has been secured from the Heritage Lottery Fund along with grants from The Architectural Heritage Fund, The Ernest Cook Trust, Harborough Estate.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUelrVlEEq6C6acnmzZZjcIpixl5Qu9QoLd7FvmNCgLXlutM9AYn4S5LGqiktcBKIoP_mm36-hBsU3-HVO0v8KlI2RyL014C4w-M1_q0TEI3Fp1crdfByIw_x3DxN9er8_nzD4vPXxByA/s1600/IMGP6711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUelrVlEEq6C6acnmzZZjcIpixl5Qu9QoLd7FvmNCgLXlutM9AYn4S5LGqiktcBKIoP_mm36-hBsU3-HVO0v8KlI2RyL014C4w-M1_q0TEI3Fp1crdfByIw_x3DxN9er8_nzD4vPXxByA/s640/IMGP6711.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>The Hall</strong></div><br />
The Trust has become the guardian of the Marriott family archive, much of which has survived intact at the Hall, a happy consequence of the long term ownership of one family.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_KVej83JdPYYiH7aWUPac1gNoJ6cBqkvLQ169RvN_HmH9r1EgTFfuDmyvKgCkNzXBwnZboxIVnZsLMmJFKoTCr9NahD6nR8QHVtUPmr7N5iwJ7kLeaTNNHrRUJipiMTDMX6oxtbNq24/s1600/IMGP6719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_KVej83JdPYYiH7aWUPac1gNoJ6cBqkvLQ169RvN_HmH9r1EgTFfuDmyvKgCkNzXBwnZboxIVnZsLMmJFKoTCr9NahD6nR8QHVtUPmr7N5iwJ7kLeaTNNHrRUJipiMTDMX6oxtbNq24/s640/IMGP6719.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Sophy Newton, family member and tour guide</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8i1IrXh3buS75ePTcmqCzzduTPOf6j-1kqqH8bHitM6Y5dy2yRdtzo-28xlcNKQU1YRn_RyfuDCDC1bEEGFT1F2xXOBalTjonXj5C3o0np_2qJ-2YdqOJzGRilvz3ltQtsCsZ_L7BfY/s1600/IMGP6716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8i1IrXh3buS75ePTcmqCzzduTPOf6j-1kqqH8bHitM6Y5dy2yRdtzo-28xlcNKQU1YRn_RyfuDCDC1bEEGFT1F2xXOBalTjonXj5C3o0np_2qJ-2YdqOJzGRilvz3ltQtsCsZ_L7BfY/s640/IMGP6716.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Part of the archive</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKRl4N7EO7MhtTos3zBillLJ1Crc7co9T59zSBZVk7k09hTUVz8ONmtTzbgIpQjAZn9dxfDVOfOcEI4c11lBXDb513jaX9OsPR0JDUAbdEi0lKR585tlF42utAJ8CzAL-63jouksFgCw/s1600/IMGP6715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKRl4N7EO7MhtTos3zBillLJ1Crc7co9T59zSBZVk7k09hTUVz8ONmtTzbgIpQjAZn9dxfDVOfOcEI4c11lBXDb513jaX9OsPR0JDUAbdEi0lKR585tlF42utAJ8CzAL-63jouksFgCw/s640/IMGP6715.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>1874 map of the Cotebach and Shawell Estate drawn on linen. </strong></div><br />
The earliest document, recording a land transaction in Cotesbach, dates from the time of Henry VI, a Plantagenet (1422-1461) and as such is a gem of local history. The collection covers the 15th to the 20th century and includes deeds and papers relating to the Estate, substantial family correspondence and papers, and important groups of sermons and religious papers (of particular value for the study of Anglican sensibilities and practice in the late 18th and early 19th century.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIC-bGKNFVFJIX31drk2nAv5yYRvTqIOj7F3plQp1baC4hBAlpL823GMcQVHOqG05hMNk0D2jdiaDHjR1kZlG5xXx4LCcxvwAhdWpwtkhY7IyIID0CstVoy_JRSJ-IDZdK7fC8GQsU84/s1600/IMGP6724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIC-bGKNFVFJIX31drk2nAv5yYRvTqIOj7F3plQp1baC4hBAlpL823GMcQVHOqG05hMNk0D2jdiaDHjR1kZlG5xXx4LCcxvwAhdWpwtkhY7IyIID0CstVoy_JRSJ-IDZdK7fC8GQsU84/s640/IMGP6724.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Our 'reverend' John Denny delivers a 200 year old sermon</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
The archive will be on permanent loan to the CET and is to be housed in the Coach House which is to be specially converted for archive storage to national standards, with public viewing space. </div><br />
In addition there are small collections of artefacts, such as a toy collection (late 18th century to the present) which will be made accessible for the CET to use as educational resource material. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7B4pY_dKaqKOTZukUGnoKWinLkPL1AIRucjaq9NQyz9HpPLVATeIUilII0Hhopn51dPL4RDHnyyule0ATvxPCA6Z1J0tCBOYbqbahk0Q1ynSvpK71bqRVzfN4UPQXNMX839eAD7Xqlw/s1600/IMGP6731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7B4pY_dKaqKOTZukUGnoKWinLkPL1AIRucjaq9NQyz9HpPLVATeIUilII0Hhopn51dPL4RDHnyyule0ATvxPCA6Z1J0tCBOYbqbahk0Q1ynSvpK71bqRVzfN4UPQXNMX839eAD7Xqlw/s640/IMGP6731.JPG" width="560px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Pressing apples for juice - hard work!</strong></div><br />
Marea and I spent our time greeting and orienting visitors; this was a steep learning curve for us as I've only just joined the Trustees and am still feeling my way. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnn7lUijK9ypHv3O2f9HIec3tilwxZmGvvYIe1zk7FsbB7Jpv3QW1yKbWhKsdi51rEcixav7fZJXSl_X1ZvBipg-YDe7wWVzImSyk_T0KPkvn7MyO37lqge28gg2ftGEig2tVQFrF1w2s/s1600/IMGP6735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnn7lUijK9ypHv3O2f9HIec3tilwxZmGvvYIe1zk7FsbB7Jpv3QW1yKbWhKsdi51rEcixav7fZJXSl_X1ZvBipg-YDe7wWVzImSyk_T0KPkvn7MyO37lqge28gg2ftGEig2tVQFrF1w2s/s640/IMGP6735.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Merlin Spitfire engine, fired during the open day; very noisy!</strong></div><br />
We had a good turnout and some visitors came from as far away as Cheshire. What was gratifying, however, was that many visitors were more local and this will halp to spread the word about the project and the Trust throughout Leicestershire.<br />
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Cotesbach was also the scene in 1607 of riots against the enclosures - the greatest single crime purpetrated by the 'landowners' against the common people of England. <br />
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Reputedly, 5000 people took part - the largest gathering there had ever been. At any rate the situation in Cotesbach prompted a huge gathering which represented the peak of non-violent protest by the peasant community, marking the final episode in a struggle over land which stretched back to medieval times: a week later, the gallows in Leicester having been erected by the so-called Earl of Huntingdon, torn down again by the mob, and re-erected on 10th June, when the threat of social and political unrest became too great, the final uprising that took place in Newton near Geddington in Northamptonshire was dealt with by force, and things changed for ever. (<a href="http://www.cotesbach.net/quattrocentenary/history">http://www.cotesbach.net/quattrocentenary/history</a>)<br />
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See also<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.geddington.net/newton_rebels.htm">http://www.geddington.net/newton_rebels.htm</a> </div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920660937843894030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509063120647512338.post-16778529589926709702011-09-08T13:06:00.003+01:002011-09-08T13:13:03.482+01:00Marie Curie Cancer Care Walk 10 at BoughtonOver the weekend I agreed to act as official photographer for the Walk 10 event in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care. This took place in the grounds of Boughton House, Northamptonshire <a href="http://www.boughtonhouse.org.uk/welcome/">http://www.boughtonhouse.org.uk/welcome/</a> home of the Dukes of Buccleuch and Queensberry . <br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Walk 10 is a sponsored evening walk, 10 kilometres usually around the grounds/estate of a stately home. <a href="http://www.mariecurie.org.uk/walkten">http://www.mariecurie.org.uk/walkten</a> It culminates in an evening of entertainment/picnic and a firework display at 10pm to coincide with the start of the night shift for Marie Curie nurses who care for terminally ill people in their own homes free of charge.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOqGITYcISRTpTUJE60q6Rqluc-Ul2h90QI8Qhk0h3B95N59XZxZYmS94SvI9qKY4mLfpSu2AiAFGdqGkKt5ZtOBhQUoVyLF8Pmhqso7rfT5ZwUwltHU9SF4tEpXe_jYLKjPd6Vo-TBXQ/s1600/IMGP6519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOqGITYcISRTpTUJE60q6Rqluc-Ul2h90QI8Qhk0h3B95N59XZxZYmS94SvI9qKY4mLfpSu2AiAFGdqGkKt5ZtOBhQUoVyLF8Pmhqso7rfT5ZwUwltHU9SF4tEpXe_jYLKjPd6Vo-TBXQ/s640/IMGP6519.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><strong>Warming up</strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We were very lucky in that, although the day started cloudy, by the time we had the tents set out for registration, and selling Marie Curie Cancer Care merchandise as well as Ice creams, coffee and tea, and a hog roast, the sky had cleared and the day was warm.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiFDIMKYSDBtW74W577ZJ7vK2S4twW-hrzIzRl-gM5QChPTIiMO9DM8y15qpAz-ija9llv2Qo8_8A4L0-XX2ysxgRuFkcR-R_WhPbunApZNr7VmWmaE5sdmL3Wll9dO9tTAacuklgof3g/s1600/IMGP6527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiFDIMKYSDBtW74W577ZJ7vK2S4twW-hrzIzRl-gM5QChPTIiMO9DM8y15qpAz-ija9llv2Qo8_8A4L0-XX2ysxgRuFkcR-R_WhPbunApZNr7VmWmaE5sdmL3Wll9dO9tTAacuklgof3g/s640/IMGP6527.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>All ages participated</strong></div><br />
Over 360 people registered for the walk, all ages and after collecting their T shirts and goody bags with drinks, snacks, torch and poncho (in case of rain), they warmed up and set off at 7.30pm.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv43D2-Skwg02VQmsV3huskXyE65I2GKYu7vcBqGPpih6kNztVBmiQCAuRAoZ7FSwH0MGhTcJTyACTGFW-dgUr71QiaLFqFuPADtzutwiP3AFj9gMfGytg379ZBeXkWCycOc_8r8pVssw/s1600/IMGP6565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv43D2-Skwg02VQmsV3huskXyE65I2GKYu7vcBqGPpih6kNztVBmiQCAuRAoZ7FSwH0MGhTcJTyACTGFW-dgUr71QiaLFqFuPADtzutwiP3AFj9gMfGytg379ZBeXkWCycOc_8r8pVssw/s640/IMGP6565.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Watching the great phalanx of people in matching T shirts mounting the first hill and making their way across the estate and down the great rides was inspirational but seeing the triumph in their faces as they finished the 10km was great.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNVv3oFFJKcM4nh7_b3PLE35Q1xJndycekkiF45FV6cLdAsvcqy12nQlbZLxjWjIVdbMX9xkbXRo0WtdjK9kbUdb-EEdxOQLiR7bu2Wc2GV8fLHwteSJnIaODtUAEURcJwN3YEkooTkw/s1600/IMGP6601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="550px" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNVv3oFFJKcM4nh7_b3PLE35Q1xJndycekkiF45FV6cLdAsvcqy12nQlbZLxjWjIVdbMX9xkbXRo0WtdjK9kbUdb-EEdxOQLiR7bu2Wc2GV8fLHwteSJnIaODtUAEURcJwN3YEkooTkw/s640/IMGP6601.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><br />
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As everyone settled down with their picnics in what turned out to be a balmy evening to listen to the band, they became a community united by their remembrance of their loved ones and the great feeling of having helped Marie Curie Cancer Care provide essential nursing for yet more people. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Memorial lanterns</strong> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidM6KzVm1MJ8-KrdiXglcT-VRJ5qSPI7zkLVGsACkk2kieuZY-nnveVgBVF8N4V0Y2LKZdH6ThtJHa_csN_t8DKuEBJdLznuruslnhPM4xV64RrsFieqiMbC8S1ZTXvLrVWVxiKCL_eik/s1600/IMGP6705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidM6KzVm1MJ8-KrdiXglcT-VRJ5qSPI7zkLVGsACkk2kieuZY-nnveVgBVF8N4V0Y2LKZdH6ThtJHa_csN_t8DKuEBJdLznuruslnhPM4xV64RrsFieqiMbC8S1ZTXvLrVWVxiKCL_eik/s640/IMGP6705.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div> <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Well worth celebrating with fireworks.</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">If you think Walk 10 is a good idea and you would like to take part, go to <a href="http://www.mariecurie.org.uk/walkten">http://www.mariecurie.org.uk/walkten</a> and find one in your area.</div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920660937843894030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509063120647512338.post-89805595548098579152011-09-01T11:19:00.000+01:002011-09-01T11:19:58.091+01:00Learning Stone Carving (lettering)Marea’s Christmas present: a stone carving course.<br />
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<a href="http://www.stonecarvingcourses.com/">http://www.stonecarvingcourses.com/</a><br />
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I was thrilled to receive this but didn't want to go over to Lincoln in midwinter so I arranged to attend during July...<br />
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The night before, I was rather nervous that I wouldn’t be able to do this; that I’d simply be useless. I set off for Lincoln, a city I love, where the course was to take place in the workshop of Eilidh Fridlington. <br />
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The drive was OK in spite of the roadworks where the A46 is being dualled (seems like the A46 has been being dualled since I was an adolescent.) I stayed at Orchard House, a small B+B on Yarborough Road – very friendly welcome and a neat and clean room. The owner put a lot of effort into the design and decor. (I think I’ll enjoy staying here.)<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>The workshop is on the left under the scaffolding; El Portico (for lunch) straight ahead <br />
and, up the hill on the right, The Collection, lincoln's new Museum</strong></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Eilidh (pron. Elly) Fridlington, our expert tutor</strong></div><br />
I walked into the centre and found the workshop. A bit early so I had a good coffee in ‘Cafe Portico’ next door. I met Eilidh at 10 with her daughter who’s on school holidays. Very surprised to find that there’s only one other member of the class; Denise who came down from Hull. We spent the day doing straight lines, starting and finishing, then curves. I had some good results but was losing my concentration by the end of the day. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Denise starting straight lines - my station in the background</strong></div><br />
I walked back to the B+B. It seemed a very long way this time (uphill all the way). After a rest, I walked in again and had fish and chips, then back to Orchard House feeling rather tired, to settle down with <em>University Challenge</em> and An<em>tiques Master</em>.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>My practice straights, curves and crescents</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Eilidh polishing a lump of stone to prepare it for carving</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7DkFjzXfZnh09yqvL741F1M0Bb5mgb7oVVkol0HsnVT4Nl9HB4yN64cwe2iQCrwgqquIXtasu41ueFmOVmF60vAXuy5zxb8GrX3jk6eGMDj-JgEXfPxmkMMbdWcm5TZemnvlMoZ_lQc/s1600/IMGP6323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7DkFjzXfZnh09yqvL741F1M0Bb5mgb7oVVkol0HsnVT4Nl9HB4yN64cwe2iQCrwgqquIXtasu41ueFmOVmF60vAXuy5zxb8GrX3jk6eGMDj-JgEXfPxmkMMbdWcm5TZemnvlMoZ_lQc/s640/IMGP6323.JPG" width="428px" xaa="true" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>And some of her work</strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">There’s not a lot to write about the second day; spent the whole day practicing 'V' endings, curves and entrances and exits where small curves rise to join verticals or horizontals. It’s sometimes difficult to get curves right – not too deep, centre line in the actual centre; that means both slopes are at the same angle; cutting a nice sharp V where the curve joins the vertical. My real problem is starting confidently, getting the centre line in the right place and cutting a fishtail at the end to form the chiselled 'V' ending. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXrY7MbUpiFkGYMPAeCB1slJ4aVNabSLhIaBMn_9VJcQiKIqeoBbPCW7Ud7tkgFsy46oIE1oMJliINjfHlUI72wfNxR-b2mghlRRjIIzQdVrvpeemOS7Rm0UlBwWlygwBjOH28KRHrzI/s1600/IMGP6328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXrY7MbUpiFkGYMPAeCB1slJ4aVNabSLhIaBMn_9VJcQiKIqeoBbPCW7Ud7tkgFsy46oIE1oMJliINjfHlUI72wfNxR-b2mghlRRjIIzQdVrvpeemOS7Rm0UlBwWlygwBjOH28KRHrzI/s640/IMGP6328.JPG" width="640px" xaa="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><strong>My 'end of day' results - carved lots of joins and endings and, eventually, a couple of letters</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmEEM-7GuJ4VD4AbNPsXPV4nIlrGVwHCBj1LfzVIh5SkhR5SqD4XLPTVhu5mgPnjIBUlmzEuaNkN4GYGAgw6jRArX2huWhECZYlfl5sg0gA2ty317ClpiIfctZFcEh6HQqlJYPVzi-2k/s1600/IMGP6330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmEEM-7GuJ4VD4AbNPsXPV4nIlrGVwHCBj1LfzVIh5SkhR5SqD4XLPTVhu5mgPnjIBUlmzEuaNkN4GYGAgw6jRArX2huWhECZYlfl5sg0gA2ty317ClpiIfctZFcEh6HQqlJYPVzi-2k/s640/IMGP6330.JPG" width="640px" xaa="true" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>My practice letters - the 'e' took an hour to carve - need to improve.</strong></div><br />
Having finally cut my letters, I then gave some thought to what word I wanted to cut on the third day. Before coming over, I had thought of ‘Paradise enow...’ from the <em>Rubaiat of Omar Khayyam</em>. <br />
<blockquote>“<em>A cup of wine, a loaf of bread, and thou; beside me, singing in the wilderness; and wilderness were paradise enow</em>”. </blockquote>However, I now realise that since it took me an hour to cut my practice ‘e’ even my shorter idea of ‘Amor vincit omnia’ is out of the question. <br />
I spent the evening looking at fonts on the computer and finally decided that it will have to be a hand drawn font. Eilidh thinks I ought to make the baseline a bit wavy and I think this will go much better with an informal font.<br />
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When we got to the class, I settled down to draw and carve my word ‘<em>dream!</em>’; trite, I know, but in the time available, having something to complete and take home had become important. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>So, I turned my stone over and set about grinding it smooth and polishing it ready to carve.</strong></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Eilidh suggested cutting the verticals first and this certainly speeded me up <br />
and gave structure when it came to the curves</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Rather like the Glass Leading day I went to in Liverpool, I am pleased with what I achieved, though I can see all the mistakes. For a first attempt, it’s quite satisfying.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAuKevcYUMumhGGOTUFDeOlJRSLmDWt3DMzpTy2IznOJWbsjFUl96rsVcq0SYon3KXW8aaUhEG1QYRLhruWAqePNTKQkt0Ntmm5EHLeVZboNqMBlNOlsz0K1xabCsvwcsBNcoITwUwOY/s1600/IMGP6344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAuKevcYUMumhGGOTUFDeOlJRSLmDWt3DMzpTy2IznOJWbsjFUl96rsVcq0SYon3KXW8aaUhEG1QYRLhruWAqePNTKQkt0Ntmm5EHLeVZboNqMBlNOlsz0K1xabCsvwcsBNcoITwUwOY/s640/IMGP6344.JPG" width="640px" xaa="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
I now feel that I could carve anything with a bit more practice so I’ll have to buy myself a lettering chisel and dummy, some bits of stone and just get on with it.</div><div align="center"> </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4a_VnMxeI0068zBTm_7md3tClDRFqLaSFPPTMnyqbjBkZwnSBBbrP_SAztSPU1KfSCUC3srAaqvjvW4YPS-kNwQIY0xA8_XA_VTz7ia4ev_xygINZq2y8XpJhLI2mOUcI7EKcpxeKLk/s1600/IMGP6345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4a_VnMxeI0068zBTm_7md3tClDRFqLaSFPPTMnyqbjBkZwnSBBbrP_SAztSPU1KfSCUC3srAaqvjvW4YPS-kNwQIY0xA8_XA_VTz7ia4ev_xygINZq2y8XpJhLI2mOUcI7EKcpxeKLk/s640/IMGP6345.JPG" width="640px" xaa="true" /></a></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920660937843894030noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509063120647512338.post-51545274059074456282011-08-19T11:26:00.003+01:002011-08-19T23:17:27.541+01:00Down to the River Weaver<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>Friday 12 August – the ‘Glorious Twelfth’</strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">John arrived to finish the electrical work in the bedroom so we left him with a key and set off for Anderton (Cheshire) where Ophelia is now moored. About halfway we got a call from John to say he hadn’t got a key... seems he had put it in his bag. (If we didn’t have mobile phones, we would have to remember stuff).</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMpuBOKE09WfqTMI7f27_IvzcVuAmJyPidbdC8EDdZk5bjJ3aVrs23DNq2pksyCLlfEpwUToBNzoygslrBDnkGhUxjQjDa_zmBFyALYmgcCuVqN2oE23zmZm-ZLjLBaq_enomED4nJYM/s1600/IMGP6347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMpuBOKE09WfqTMI7f27_IvzcVuAmJyPidbdC8EDdZk5bjJ3aVrs23DNq2pksyCLlfEpwUToBNzoygslrBDnkGhUxjQjDa_zmBFyALYmgcCuVqN2oE23zmZm-ZLjLBaq_enomED4nJYM/s640/IMGP6347.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Ophelia in Anderton Marina</strong></div><br />
The people at Anderton were very friendly – previous reports had not been great – and we set off for the lift down to the river Weaver. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Waiting for the next passage down</strong></div><br />
Some years ago, when they were trying to raise money to restore the Anderton Boat Lift, we subscribed and helped raise the necessary funds. Because of this, we were invited to an event and got a free trip down and back up but this wasn’t in our own boat and was at about a third of the speed. We got to the holding moorings and booked our passage – about half an hour wait but it could be much longer. However, if you turn up on spec and are prepared to wait, it’s free – booked passage is £5.<br />
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<strong>Entering the lift caisson</strong></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Looking back at the Anderton Boat Lift</strong></div><br />
Down onto the Weaver and straining to remember the lock timings. I think she said we wouldn’t get through Saltersford tonight because the last passage is 15.45 and, sure enough, we were too late so we moored in warm if cloudy weather and settled down to wait for the morning passage. You can’t work these locks on your own; they are all staffed and are very large. Vale Royal Lock can hold 28 boats.<br />
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<strong>Himalayan Balsam at Saltersford Locks</strong></div><br />
We arrived at Saltersford too late to go down but there is a very pretty mooring with a path through the woods one way and through the Himalayan Balsam the other that goes to the lockside. We left a message on the answerphone saying we wanted to go down so the keeper would get it ready first thing.<br />
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<strong>Saturday 13th</strong><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Saltersford Lock - like all the lock, big enough to take seagoing craft</strong></div><br />
We went through just after 10am having had our bacon sandwiches and coffee. Just as we were about to go in, another boat arrived and went down with us – better use of the water. The Liverpudlian lock keeper was very informative and said he would let the keeper down at Dutton know we were on our way. It should take about 35 minutes. Because we were dawdling (no reason to hurry) it took us a bit longer and there was another boat in the lock waiting for us. The woman lock keeper said it was no problem; she had enjoyed chatting to the other owner.<br />
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After this, we cruised down past Devil’s Garden where we had been recommended to moor on the way back up. There was no-one there so we hoped there would be a place when we came back. The river is canalised all the way down to the Manchester Ship Canal and there are a couple of major swing bridges at Acton Bridge and Sutton built to allow ships up to 2500 tons to go through to the Ship Canal.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Acton Bridge</strong></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Rowers</strong></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>MV Chica </strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Forthe history and legends of MV Chica see <a href="http://www.heritage-now.com/content.php?page=52">http://www.heritage-now.com/content.php?page=52</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Dutton Lock with its very happy woman lock-keeper. Always cheerful and helpful.</strong></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Dutton Viaduct</strong></div><br />
The wind got up and it was rather cold as we cruised towards the industrial section at Weston. The factory goes on for what seems about a mile and the whole section is rather dreary. The only reason to go down is to say you’ve done it.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>The Emerald City(?)</strong></div><br />
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We cruised back in a bit of a hurry, wanting to moor and get out of the wind. However, as we came up, the wind got better. By the time we got to Devil’s Garden, it was almost full of other boats and we had to squeeze in at one end, mooring without a bow rope. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Devil's Garden</strong></div><br />
However, all is quiet, weather and river, so it doesn’t look like it will be a problem. Getting Molly off and on will be a different matter; she can be very nervous sometimes. I may have to lift her across the gap. The TV signal here was rather difficult. Why is it that the BBC stations are always the first to go? We played the DVD of the Nutcracker just for the music while we sat and read. Altogether a rather quiet evening, but that’s what we like. Tomorrow, we’ll head up the other section from the Lift towards Winsford Flash.<br />
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<strong>Sunday 14th</strong><br />
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Woken early by Molly out of a very bad dream so my mood was low. I dressed quickly and took Molly for a walk which she needed since she hadn’t fancied getting off the boat in the dark last night. The Weaver way runs beside the river along here and is very pretty. At one point, I was reminded of the part in the <em>Lord of the Rings</em> film <em>Fellowship of the Rings</em> where Frodo says to the other hobbits “Get off the road!” and they hide while the black rider comes and sniffs around. I started re-reading <em>Lord of the Rings</em> for about the 20th time last week while I was on the Stone Carving course last week (subject of anothet blog entry when I have time); it seemed appropriate to lettered stone and monumental carvings. I have it on my Kindle so it’s really easy to read anytime. One day, I’ll write a piece about how I first read <em>The Hobbit</em> and <em>Lord of the Rings</em> at the age of 18 and how it completely changed my life and gave me a whole new imaginative world to revel in.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Weaver Way - my <em>Lord of the Rings</em> moment</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>... and Molly the Spaniel</strong></div><br />
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We decided today to have a lazy day so we came up through Dutton and Saltersford locks. It was rather cold and rainy so we moored for lunch in a little niche by a willow tree. Unfortunately there was a wasps nest close by so we had to be a bit careful. However, we sat and read our books for a couple of hours. There were occasional breaks in the dense cloud but it didn’t look like clearing up. Eventually, I got bored and decided to move so we cast off and moved up past the Anderton lift and moored for the night at the visitor moorings where there is a picnic area. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Visitor moorings at Anderton</strong></div><br />
The sun came out and it got a bit warmer. After a while, Soulbury came by (another ex-Ownerships boat) and we had a discussion about the future. Soulbury is independent, but he thought the owners would probably decide to sell before too long. The problem as he saw it was that there was no market for selling individual shares in an independent boat because no purchaser knew what was likely to happen in the future. Also, finding people prepared to do minor works and take responsibility for organising (licences, fees, etc) was difficult.<br />
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Like so many owners, he said he had always enjoyed <em>OwnerSnips</em> (the Ownerships magazine I used to edit) and had always meant to write something but never actually got around to it.<br />
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We tried to rescan the TV signal but there was nothing so we made do with Classic FM. There was a Brass Band concert at the marquee but we wanted an early night so we didn’t go.<br />
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<strong>Monday 15th</strong><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Off to Northwich</strong></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>BW Regional Repair Yard</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Approaching Vale Royal Locks</strong></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Inside the lock - heavy steel gates and freshwater mussels</strong></div><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><strong>Vale Royal</strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We set off in fairly cold weather to go up Hunts and Vale Royal locks. As we went through, the weather began to improve and, as we made our way up towards Winsford, the sun came out. We asked the lock keeper about moorings in Winsford and he was pretty scathing, saying there was nowhere; “Winsford has never come to terms with its boating community”. He recommended some moorings about 1000 metres above Vale Royal lock. The river above the lock is very attractive for some of the way, then it passes the salt/grit works and is a bit dreary. Winsford flashes are quite interesting – lined on one side with holiday cabins though we thought some or most were permanent dwellings. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Winsford Flashes</strong></div><br />
I re-tuned the TV here where it was very open, though the autoscan didn’t work; I had to manually scan those channels that showed a decent signal. Interestingly, the BBC channels I got were Midlands not North but they were very clear.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Goose washing... and drying opposite our mooring.</strong></div><br />
We made our way back to the suggested moorings and spent the afternoon reading in the sunshine.<br />
We’ve decided that we will make our way back to the lift tomorrow because it looks like the weather is going to worsen so we might as well get home early and go to John Florance’s lecture on John Betjeman.<br />
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<strong>Tuesday 17th</strong><br />
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We didn’t need to start off too early because the lock passage wasn’t until 10.30am so we took our time. We arrived in plenty of time – there was another boat waiting ‘Mrs Tiggywinkle’ so we moored to the pontoon. After a while, another – ‘Tempranillo’ came up and ‘loitered’ on the river waiting. As we were all waiting, the owner of ‘Mrs T’ came through and said the lock was almost ready so I stepped on board and loosed the rope; we drifted slowly towards the centre of the river at which ‘Mr Tempranillo’ got incensed and demanded to know why I had not stayed on the pontoon. Just at that moment, Molly the spaniel decided to be sick so I wasn’t in a mood to explain my actions to a very angry boater; angry, I might say, with no reason (I sometimes wonder why some people go through life believing they have the right to order everyone around.) Meanwhile, a wide-beam boat arrived and another small narrow boat. When the lock was opened, the wide-beam (naturally) was taken in first, then the longest narrow boat and so on down to the smallest. The owner of ‘Mrs Tiggy...’ was extremely upset; he had obviously set off early to be fist in the lock but, since it was easily able to accommodate us all, I didn’t see the problem. Anyway, he refused to tie up to another boat - we were all roped together – Mr ‘Tempranillo’ refused to take my rope and completely ignored me until the lock-keeper ordered him to take it so it was a bad tempered 25 minutes wait while the lock emptied and we all went down. To cap it all and the rain came down in buckets; it all seemed very appropriate, really. The couple in the last boat to arrive (‘Lily May’ I think, though they were waiting for a paint job and had no painted name) were extremely friendly and couldn’t understand why Mr ‘Temper...’ stood with his back to us all the way down. <br />
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We were positioned in the middle of the lock and the keeper said “As soon as there’s a 7ft gap in the gates, go for it!” so we were first out and on our way to Hunts Lock. After Hunts, the ‘problem’ boats decided to moor in Northwich so we didn’t have to put up with them any further. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Going up with nb Valour, an ex 'Challenger' boat</strong></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The tour boat which delayed us</strong></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>A view back to the River Weaver</strong></div><br />
We moored at the Anderton Boat lift ready for our passage up at 2.15. However, because of the tour boat’s lateness in coming down, we were rather late going up. Now, it’s not generally known (unless you’ve been up on the lift) that you boat ends up with hundreds of muddy drip marks all along the roof and down the sides. These dry rock hard; the mud in the drips is very fine and they are extremely difficult to scrub off. Anyway, when we got to the marina and had filled up with fuel and water, paid for these and pump-outs and turned the boat around, we realised we could not leave the boat spattered with mud – we had already cleaned, polished the brass, etc., but we settled down to scrub every inch of the roof and sides with hot soapy water, and then rinse it all off. By the time we were satisfied that everything was clean, we suddenly realised the lateness of the hour. The secure car park where our car was sitting closed at 5pm – it was now 5.01 and when I ran over to look, it was closed and locked. At that moment, the heavens opened (I assume all this is literary ‘pathetic fallacy’ or something like it) so we were unable to do anything except move to our mooring and decide to stay another night. Lots of thing to unpack again and a meal to prepare. Still, we made the boat homely again and settled down to listen to Classic FM and read – no TV signal again!<br />
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<strong>Wednesday 18th</strong><br />
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Packed and off quickly this morning; home by lunchtime to a garden that’s been very deprived of water, unlike us.Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920660937843894030noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509063120647512338.post-8792739336663814192011-07-31T17:25:00.001+01:002011-07-31T17:29:02.349+01:00Scotland, day 2<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Sunday 17 July 2011 </strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a good lie in; down to breakfast about 8.30am. Smoked haddock and poached egg – as good as I’ve tasted anywhere. I couldn’t get a signal on the wi-fi this morning and when I checked with the front desk, the receptionist said it was only available in the lounge and foyer on the ground floor. She was amazed that we had got a signal on the second floor. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQ_622JVErzMi2OZUiU7P8ZwkWDJrhyphenhyphenXUVyZAF_fi_8RNBYPro2BNgW7tcy1-TXeqhUKOzpN2wSk8e82sPLCcjFrFknh9iYhQnalkGFOxoReKY6szVf2Z5XQMXtOWuRj1plLNfCRTfOA/s1600/IMGP6141+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQ_622JVErzMi2OZUiU7P8ZwkWDJrhyphenhyphenXUVyZAF_fi_8RNBYPro2BNgW7tcy1-TXeqhUKOzpN2wSk8e82sPLCcjFrFknh9iYhQnalkGFOxoReKY6szVf2Z5XQMXtOWuRj1plLNfCRTfOA/s640/IMGP6141+%2528Large%2529.JPG" t$="true" width="640px" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oban Harbour</span></strong></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We set off for Oban but had to wait until noon for most of the shops to open. Weather cool, windy with rain blowing in. We looked around the shops avoiding the rain, bought a map of Mull and booked passage for Monday to Craignure. Marea particularly wants to visit Tobermory.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehz9HdvnBnDojZfbn0Vs76SI7tIPj3UxBCsBHefLjZ6wbwmuuycxzrtffkbjOHXg4geEyaugmDirY26dEb5a3JSjWOTjwFImXFYp62a2Se6nkIVpXocwUsKOu_poUjKbl2XJ4S_NLMfk/s1600/IMGP6143+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehz9HdvnBnDojZfbn0Vs76SI7tIPj3UxBCsBHefLjZ6wbwmuuycxzrtffkbjOHXg4geEyaugmDirY26dEb5a3JSjWOTjwFImXFYp62a2Se6nkIVpXocwUsKOu_poUjKbl2XJ4S_NLMfk/s640/IMGP6143+%2528Large%2529.JPG" t$="true" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>McCaig's Tower over Oban</strong></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We thought of visiting Crarae Garden near Inveraray but the rain was rather persistent so we drove into Inveraray itself. I bought some Loch Fyne whisky – one that I particularly enjoy. Marea bought another French necklace like the ones she bought last year. We were pleased to see that the Parisienne lady who owns the shop was still in business – it can’t be easy, even in a tourist spot like Inveraray. We checked where the Highland Games were (for Tuesday) and went back to Portsonachan for dinner and <em>The Apprentice</em> final.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Narrative</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Smoked haddock is a real treat here – it’s undyed very fresh and juicy. The only problem is that it’s a long way to Oban so deliveries could be more frequent. When available, it takes away the temptation to have a ‘full Scottish Breakfast’ with bacon, egg, sausage patty, white pudding, beans, toast and jam... etc.</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Rain is a constant hazard in Oban – i don’t think we’ver ever been there when it hasn’t rained, though it rarely stays; clouds pass relatively quickly leaving the streets warm and damp with that Victorian seaside town feeling familiar from childhood holidays in Southport, Skegness, Cromer, St Leonards, etc. </em></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em><strong>Wonderful old-fashioned toilets near the ferry terminal in Oban</strong></em></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Inveraray doesn’t seem to have any real reason for being where it is at the top end of Loch Fyne – though it is the traditional county town of Argyll and ancestral home to the Duke of Argyll. The present town was built in the late 1700s after the then Duke moved the population of the existing village to improve the view from his rebuilt castle. This is one of the most prominent features of the place – the Duke and Duchess (new ones of course) are still in residence – together with the gaol, now a museum together with the floating maritime museum, neither of which I have to confess to not having visited. This is not because I don’t like museums but because the majority simply don’t come up to my ideas of what a museum ought to be; I have, unfortunately, been trained on the best. </em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Inveraray is a place that most people visit. (I’ve only just discovered that much of this is due to the regulation that bus drivers must take a rest after 2 hours driving. Inverary is exactly 2 hours drive from Glasgow so all services connecting Campbeltown, Oban and Fort William to or from Glasgow stop at Inverary for a 20 minute break. The real giveaway that it’s a real tourist trap is the fact that the public toilets cost 30pence rather than the Scottish norm of 20pence.</em></span>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920660937843894030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509063120647512338.post-70667441812989164342011-07-31T16:53:00.011+01:002011-07-31T17:02:02.808+01:00North of the border down Inveraray way<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wow! A whole month with nothing written. Just goes to show you have less time when you are retired than when you were working.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also, holidays get in the way and, as usual, Scotland beckoned...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Saturday 16 July 2011 </strong></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had left the sat nav in my car over at Toby’s so we went over to collect it and eventually got away at about 8am in the rain. It was a pretty awful journey – heavy showers and spray.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We stopped at Tebay for lunch. This is one of the most beautiful locations for a motorway services overlooking the Vale of Lune. I got my first Scottish money in my change and the weather brightened a bit as we came into Scotland.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>View of Loch Awe from the hotel terrace</strong></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We arrived at Portsonachan about 4.30pm – not bad; about 7 hours driving plus stops. Last time we came up, our room wasn’t ready and we had to wait on the terrace overlooking the Loch – the hotel has a reputation for being a bit like ‘Fawlty Towers’- see <a href="http://www.youtube.com/show/fawltytowers">http://www.youtube.com/show/fawltytowers</a> but we have a real liking for the place and its location is simply stunning. There’s no doubt they try hard but the hotel is a bit isolated on Loch Awe so they find it difficult to get and keep staff. This time, all was ready and the whole place seemed more efficient – a real improvement. Marea insisted on doing the unpacking while I went to sit outside in the sun with a malt whisky and my book (<em>Water for Elephants</em> – unputdownable!). It was warm, dry and very pleasant.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Across the loch to Ben Cruachan</strong></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eventually when Marea came down, we sat in the sun with a glass of wine (I had forgotten how big their glasses are). Had dinner early and, in spite of good intentions (having had a good lunch) had langoustines followed by chicken with lime and coriander. The food at Portsonachan remains probably its best feature. Back in the room, we turned on the laptop to see if there was a wi-fi signal (not advertised) and found there was a good free signal. We fell into bed after watching The Impressionists – very good.</span><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Narrative</span></em><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Normally, the run up to Scotland is very pretty and, despite the distance, quite enjoyable. On this occasion, the weather was so awful that it was something of an ordeal. Tebay is one of the best services on the whole motorway system , not just because of the location, overlooking the Vale of Lune, but because the food is good, the staff are friendly and you might get your first Scottish money in your change. Everyone seems to want to meet here. </em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Onward into Scotland via Gretna where people used to get married in a hurry. </em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>"Gretna's famous 'runaway marriages' began in 1753 when Lord Hardwicke's Marriage Act was passed in England; it stated that if both parties to a marriage were not at least 21 years old, then parents had to consent to the marriage. This Act did not apply in Scotland, where it was possible for boys to marry at 14 and girls at 12 years old with or without parental consent. Many elopers fled England, and the first Scottish village they encountered was Gretna Green. The Old Blacksmith's Shop, built around 1712, and Gretna Hall Blacksmith's Shop (1710) became, in popular folklore at least, the focal tourist points for the marriage trade. The Old Blacksmith's opened to the public as a visitor attraction as early as 1887.</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>The local blacksmith and his anvil have become the lasting symbols of Gretna Green weddings. Scottish law allowed for 'irregular marriages', meaning that if a declaration was made before two witnesses, almost anybody had the authority to conduct the marriage ceremony. The blacksmiths in Gretna became known as 'anvil priests'." <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gretna_Green">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gretna_Green</a> </em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>The road goes through Inveraray to the Portsonachan turn and we take the rather lengthy and winding road along the south side of Loch Awe – the longest freshwater loch in Scotland and ancient stronghold of the Clan Campbell. </em></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>Main Street, Inveraray</strong></span></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920660937843894030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509063120647512338.post-10404802666731683012011-06-30T15:57:00.000+01:002011-06-30T15:57:43.353+01:00Salvo Fair, KnebworthWent off to the Salvo Fair earlier in the week. <br />
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I still remember Knebworth as a place where psychedelic raves and music festivals were held. It’s all a bit quieter these days… or perhaps it’s just me that’s quieter – viz: “The grounds of Knebworth House near the village of Knebworth has become a major venue for open air rock and pop concerts since 1974 when The Allman Brothers Band attracted 60,000 at the first large concert held at the venue.<br />
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Since then, it has been the scene of outdoor extravaganzas featuring Pink Floyd (1975 & 1990), The Rolling Stones & Lynyrd Skynyrd (1976), Genesis (1978, 1990 & 1992), Frank Zappa (1978), Led Zeppelin (1979), Mike Oldfield & The Beach Boys (1980), Cliff Richard (1983 & 1990), Deep Purple (1985), Queen (1986), Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Elton John & Dire Straits (1990), Oasis (1996), Robbie Williams (2003) Sonisphere Festival (2009/2010).” <br />
Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concerts_at_Knebworth_House<br />
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The Salvo Fair is the usual eclectic mix of bygones, architectural salvage, fascinating small antiques and general rubbish.<br />
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There’s always something literally monumental near the entrance and you would need to be building your own minor stately home to make use of it. Indeed, that’s the way a number of historic buildings got their various features – by recycling them from other, older buildings. Or, Like Peter Jackson in his settings for Lord of the Rings, you could strew them around the landscape to give an impression of an earlier, grander history.<br />
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I did rather like these box pews, but have no idea where I would put them. There seemed to be rather a lot of pews, and some religious statues – see later. Looks like a number of churches are closing and being demolished. <br />
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I always go looking for inspiration for my stained glass and there’s always plenty. Here, some beautiful plain art nouveau glass just to teach us that not everything has to be wildly coloured to be entrancing.</div><br />
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This marble floor really knocked me out. It would be worth building a house just to have somewhere to put it!<br />
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More stained glass in various sizes: the 4 dividing doors were spectacular – totally undamaged and very tall. They extend below the piece of glass that’s leaning against their bases.<br />
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More, and lovelier.<br />
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If you were refurbishing a house or building from scratch – this is exactly what you would need: multiples of knobs, handles and other fittings, all matching. One wonders where they have come from.<br />
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There’s also, I have to say, rather a lot of what is simply junk...<br />
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And here’s more junk. Makes a good photo, but wouldn’t want to expend any hard-earned cash on it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKjjFFNcUN5dnbospueR6XvRSzqkGwy10yyY3Ic24xbk9qSqcGcbDlf4HI3BteT-UFcl2HpDRdCW2rFUJ-owSudP0F9b6r7-ZGQd8SdtCwaDuR_X7sKa_f9Ume_0x4bikjmf89g_iAXA/s1600/IMGP6060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKjjFFNcUN5dnbospueR6XvRSzqkGwy10yyY3Ic24xbk9qSqcGcbDlf4HI3BteT-UFcl2HpDRdCW2rFUJ-owSudP0F9b6r7-ZGQd8SdtCwaDuR_X7sKa_f9Ume_0x4bikjmf89g_iAXA/s640/IMGP6060.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><br />
And just what would you do with these rather forlorn statues (though the fireman looks more cheerful)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRGivSmd-2Qx-Z5AyRdQB473K6zoXHtUXvQPk7kJK0RfBoaBUTr15g1DSOmLA4WAFStCyoZx3riiVl1mwWM7vncFbVfkG1CB_keQn4vD8wsYUsW6eWxrtRzzG69PIhUQ9q-sSV_hqyego/s1600/IMGP6061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRGivSmd-2Qx-Z5AyRdQB473K6zoXHtUXvQPk7kJK0RfBoaBUTr15g1DSOmLA4WAFStCyoZx3riiVl1mwWM7vncFbVfkG1CB_keQn4vD8wsYUsW6eWxrtRzzG69PIhUQ9q-sSV_hqyego/s640/IMGP6061.JPG" width="428px" /></a></div><br />
Back to the monumental and a 7ft high cast iron urn for the garden.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYOk0iI9QX0SirKpHktA-sqS-zYGxnUWWe2pJ7jvY7uXJmHJk1XDpA4dAIweTTqxuoHV0Xb-x_TjXWEamF4h_QpcJYLqzMfOf1CaOI7hI47CtQ6UCDvQaRlz0lC_Yzp_9oE6KFhYF13Q/s1600/IMGP6062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYOk0iI9QX0SirKpHktA-sqS-zYGxnUWWe2pJ7jvY7uXJmHJk1XDpA4dAIweTTqxuoHV0Xb-x_TjXWEamF4h_QpcJYLqzMfOf1CaOI7hI47CtQ6UCDvQaRlz0lC_Yzp_9oE6KFhYF13Q/s640/IMGP6062.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><br />
This is a child’s (play) shepherding hut converted from a chicken shed. It’s a bit twee and makes me think of sending children up the chimneys or out into the fields to glean discarded ears of wheat.<br />
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A Yellow submarine – not a film prop but a genuine working 2 man sub.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjexedcdpJ3LH9hJ07fvUvNzIc2AGiVrDIFE2xNht5svQK5CswotIjf2yuSG7WQyunZz2_KBcvx9S_04SKPpl-72qGb4x9IYW7u99In2m0AlFTs6zHuhh8pIArNEMGttpM5gQOtUsTm33I/s1600/IMGP6068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjexedcdpJ3LH9hJ07fvUvNzIc2AGiVrDIFE2xNht5svQK5CswotIjf2yuSG7WQyunZz2_KBcvx9S_04SKPpl-72qGb4x9IYW7u99In2m0AlFTs6zHuhh8pIArNEMGttpM5gQOtUsTm33I/s640/IMGP6068.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><br />
And this is the iconic tribunal desk that appeared on the Salvo website – hold your own trials! I don’t know whether they sold it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmdLgMIXZHnqkX-oyGg_wDWprb6Jzsc6Fpxz2RqChRPs_8Jb7E9tzCcoYSjiihxwnP0ESLSUTRIRGZMiGVq_cTObSQgbV6kwOgmSTGxssPi4omcD5NIRpWBRhMEAL9-n8K9q_Sq1h-TxA/s1600/IMGP6069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmdLgMIXZHnqkX-oyGg_wDWprb6Jzsc6Fpxz2RqChRPs_8Jb7E9tzCcoYSjiihxwnP0ESLSUTRIRGZMiGVq_cTObSQgbV6kwOgmSTGxssPi4omcD5NIRpWBRhMEAL9-n8K9q_Sq1h-TxA/s640/IMGP6069.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><br />
But what I really wanted was this Blue flashed starburst glass. I didn’t really want to spend the money while I was there but will probably drive down to the Cotswolds to buy from the dealer.<br />
Altogether, this year’s Salvo Fair was much like last year’s – full of fascinating objects but. We thought, very over-priced. Whether this is because it’s the Salvo Fair and they get all sorts of people who don’t know the market or whether they start high, knowing that their customers are knowledgeable and will drive a hard bargain.<br />
We enjoyed it but didn’t really spend (we bought a couple of small teapots made for P&O in the 50s; that’s all).Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920660937843894030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509063120647512338.post-65534612707584172592011-06-16T13:32:00.000+01:002011-06-16T13:32:35.690+01:00The Mole Man cameth...... and the Mole Man tooketh away.<br />
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Towards the end of the last entry, I had noticed that the new lawn was lifting along the edge. <br />
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Checking a little more carefully, I found that there was a tunnel all round the edge of the lawn and that the plants which were falling out of the soil and for which i had accused Marea of 'just sticking them in' and not planting them properly, had been undermined by the digging of a mole.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEint49jg6yNxgUHRXyYRqsvOYkXdA2rUhnXezH6rFX1q9N59RDVagDVlczOyQvG7l2HTBftHXsn37pMOITBzDP_UQ9Z9IPIMkH9iiNQZPFSxEi-XsHugQq4B3xPCICutoGuo8Hzahg7mls/s1600/IMGP5921+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEint49jg6yNxgUHRXyYRqsvOYkXdA2rUhnXezH6rFX1q9N59RDVagDVlczOyQvG7l2HTBftHXsn37pMOITBzDP_UQ9Z9IPIMkH9iiNQZPFSxEi-XsHugQq4B3xPCICutoGuo8Hzahg7mls/s640/IMGP5921+%2528Large%2529.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></div><br />
Raising the edge of the lawn, it became clear that, unless we solved the problem, the mole would burrow under the lawn and areas would drop making the whole thing unlevel and hazardous. I rang the Mole Man. <br />
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He came, set two traps under the soil and left, telling me to watch out for the tell-tale lifting of a tiny lever showing that the trap had been sprung. Well, he hadn't been gone more than an hour when I was showing Marea where the traps were and I noticed the lifted lever. Extracting the trap, we found a large male mole which the Mole Man came and took away. We now have to wait a few days to see if there are any others, but, since he was a male, this is apprently unlikely.Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920660937843894030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509063120647512338.post-70635660468941699782011-06-08T13:44:00.002+01:002011-06-08T13:50:46.516+01:00Retirement: week one. The Summer Garden<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I've now been retired just over a week and I don't seem to have had time to sit down.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXtmHBS7xfUVuINTeNFIpyyT4XwYCQmXQNViDsmhVX1asyU63yniWlX2pyaN8VIrhKoymqck6rP1lFPMXymHFVN0N9FUECjoKzBwKw_3OSGQ0GZW2SccWAWliq0AoEDxRM_pgcinqjEvs/s1600/IMGP5896+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXtmHBS7xfUVuINTeNFIpyyT4XwYCQmXQNViDsmhVX1asyU63yniWlX2pyaN8VIrhKoymqck6rP1lFPMXymHFVN0N9FUECjoKzBwKw_3OSGQ0GZW2SccWAWliq0AoEDxRM_pgcinqjEvs/s640/IMGP5896+%2528Large%2529.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I know there's lots to do around the house and in the garden... I've had to dead head and prune this rose around the door (Paul's Scarlet) so it will produce another flush of blooms later in the Summer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjabQrAiLfTTii67DKuSUU6aQUqoi_jqq_8QYKL2zh4HLLP3hTSlK3IyOm2eL8wPClzhuccMgZG7hyphenhyphen-7LXeikIKdfbraYqgWu1bnY99w7bSZvwTzQzW8nTlYKgeiFxIlWlCn7EKTZ2qnm8/s1600/IMGP5906+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjabQrAiLfTTii67DKuSUU6aQUqoi_jqq_8QYKL2zh4HLLP3hTSlK3IyOm2eL8wPClzhuccMgZG7hyphenhyphen-7LXeikIKdfbraYqgWu1bnY99w7bSZvwTzQzW8nTlYKgeiFxIlWlCn7EKTZ2qnm8/s640/IMGP5906+%2528Large%2529.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It's now officially Summertime - poppy time! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmmn4o_sNgnKNxRbnF4PD6llc7gNZ0wmmxyhOIQqc30aKZcv0K61xjafMFnF_JP05QhFfGXWUe2B-vZcAMIpBOFoJd-72YGF-A_sE_P1kbQmnq9Nc5rtTwcnAzuc0SlkNYVCky-iEjWI/s1600/IMGP5901+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmmn4o_sNgnKNxRbnF4PD6llc7gNZ0wmmxyhOIQqc30aKZcv0K61xjafMFnF_JP05QhFfGXWUe2B-vZcAMIpBOFoJd-72YGF-A_sE_P1kbQmnq9Nc5rtTwcnAzuc0SlkNYVCky-iEjWI/s640/IMGP5901+%2528Large%2529.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxjEfm3lAMcUgIQlRVFRYNfH3Y0zK59JmLA5ZKfodwJ4p7xr_k529xiixUGcy8CK05biDqtyh1bq-C0eGaPs7NUkYi_7_JDp7dRhFC1C9CEMUdrR6YT6ZbZVLYxLleNdBwbLoF1mAork/s1600/IMGP5897+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxjEfm3lAMcUgIQlRVFRYNfH3Y0zK59JmLA5ZKfodwJ4p7xr_k529xiixUGcy8CK05biDqtyh1bq-C0eGaPs7NUkYi_7_JDp7dRhFC1C9CEMUdrR6YT6ZbZVLYxLleNdBwbLoF1mAork/s640/IMGP5897+%2528Large%2529.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We have a number of varieties because we both enjoy them. our favourite is Patty's Plum but we also have small Californian poppies, </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNkszWKqFLyYAYZ1hI5FytfACZ0YraKXi-VH76VPJuOIjagQYgLT-YStoxm8dPyNi2npkCCJ_z5kVZn3Uku3BYE27Oei-EqDqUnmrVGhvWGJvcDZWMCEX9Fk3nG24VfV-XuwBO41Z7xA/s1600/IMGP5887+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNkszWKqFLyYAYZ1hI5FytfACZ0YraKXi-VH76VPJuOIjagQYgLT-YStoxm8dPyNi2npkCCJ_z5kVZn3Uku3BYE27Oei-EqDqUnmrVGhvWGJvcDZWMCEX9Fk3nG24VfV-XuwBO41Z7xA/s640/IMGP5887+%2528Large%2529.JPG" t8="true" width="428px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">and, of course, the garden's full of roses at the moment.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9N6uIghLWnuXp06-KCXqFlpgFzva-AoCB3In_nrdEZRRX_7zjyMpahlogErvCR7StiCgopcGYIS4oZ86Rfe2VPsLUE1kfCSER3VDp09i8UAB6Uq1h_8KRkfvkE7uBRDUrorfqn1-66k/s1600/IMGP5884+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9N6uIghLWnuXp06-KCXqFlpgFzva-AoCB3In_nrdEZRRX_7zjyMpahlogErvCR7StiCgopcGYIS4oZ86Rfe2VPsLUE1kfCSER3VDp09i8UAB6Uq1h_8KRkfvkE7uBRDUrorfqn1-66k/s640/IMGP5884+%2528Large%2529.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZvELXkIYdbEgA3AOGHFzTF_lbN8wuIAtGDmU0ld2F6hpY8oeZ851dSn0HFTSWe4wlUUQxeBqKjDr7iUlNecwKnIKQ_lPGij3lyAK7jv00XmkI4xqFhBzoBwyVkSo0Nn8eEbdNl6rAwc/s1600/IMGP5885+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZvELXkIYdbEgA3AOGHFzTF_lbN8wuIAtGDmU0ld2F6hpY8oeZ851dSn0HFTSWe4wlUUQxeBqKjDr7iUlNecwKnIKQ_lPGij3lyAK7jv00XmkI4xqFhBzoBwyVkSo0Nn8eEbdNl6rAwc/s640/IMGP5885+%2528Large%2529.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></div><br />
I've forgotten the name of this white rose but it's one of the best and fragrant too. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Just Juliet</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbdInUJJd72KxZa768DGySeFZ8ihcPcyehNhYtlZqNzXDOjTSrYVlmiN4nBME7KvbSTUljk4226iHrM8rKrtUtJwH4ppdIQj9cFhI8U08Pf3qoMhxWdalIn_OFLqmLp0nRGjrySe4_xY/s1600/IMGP5920+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbdInUJJd72KxZa768DGySeFZ8ihcPcyehNhYtlZqNzXDOjTSrYVlmiN4nBME7KvbSTUljk4226iHrM8rKrtUtJwH4ppdIQj9cFhI8U08Pf3qoMhxWdalIn_OFLqmLp0nRGjrySe4_xY/s640/IMGP5920+%2528Large%2529.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Handel </strong></div><br />
Just Juliet can always be relied on to look wonderful and Handel is exquisite and beautifully scented.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUJmcC-4YIbPrRa-QusihS68Cq61euYsElZXRMWcxmz22e5-kikeQ1jvpqHWwbN1UZ0kbJHB7y1ZID7k2iERlpGtH5DciKpCKNV_5d_2ruEHG7ZPRzZRT4nIOxclC6m9KlM0ee2ekCLk/s1600/IMGP5888+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUJmcC-4YIbPrRa-QusihS68Cq61euYsElZXRMWcxmz22e5-kikeQ1jvpqHWwbN1UZ0kbJHB7y1ZID7k2iERlpGtH5DciKpCKNV_5d_2ruEHG7ZPRzZRT4nIOxclC6m9KlM0ee2ekCLk/s640/IMGP5888+%2528Large%2529.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxzt8vgMJ5kG6W4UF23HFCuAw1VotcKMAbV1HOhJG0pHfspkhz8tVFfg8WbbXZG5GcIjbAhH9gAwUYn1H5yrxI7wFy_wlBIqpfcwWu5-MY4Nx9s27p-GF_hGx2rlRFt5DLKcjeIxnj8M/s1600/IMGP5916+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxzt8vgMJ5kG6W4UF23HFCuAw1VotcKMAbV1HOhJG0pHfspkhz8tVFfg8WbbXZG5GcIjbAhH9gAwUYn1H5yrxI7wFy_wlBIqpfcwWu5-MY4Nx9s27p-GF_hGx2rlRFt5DLKcjeIxnj8M/s640/IMGP5916+%2528Large%2529.JPG" t8="true" width="428px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The bottom of the garden where we redesigned it before having the lawn put in has come on quite well and is beginning to look settled. Paul's Himalayan Musk looks wonderful falling over Cleopatra but the laurel hedge will have to be cut hard back in the Autumn and, with it, some of the rose. It's so vigorous it probably won't even pause.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVM8k3dxsQn9kuqDzQHbB5asA0AOvu_atIFd2LFY5tN-EuL-SphINTXmURQdORkm8Xpqn-2AuMMkllRlDBwBHxIGxMPIWfwdOT6tc8AuPP8g4YO22DiGJnn_BVXFzr9VhTMW4qI2DtFSY/s1600/IMGP5917+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVM8k3dxsQn9kuqDzQHbB5asA0AOvu_atIFd2LFY5tN-EuL-SphINTXmURQdORkm8Xpqn-2AuMMkllRlDBwBHxIGxMPIWfwdOT6tc8AuPP8g4YO22DiGJnn_BVXFzr9VhTMW4qI2DtFSY/s640/IMGP5917+%2528Large%2529.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Pleine de Grace is coming into its own where it grows over the shed. It produces good hips in the Autumen so I'll wait until deep Winter to cut it back after the birds have had their fill.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFmIE-nJxdd19uOT1gCBVfz3uG4owMqbHCr3SadLMJX2Laik5RbNr1HJsqj-ppaFcCJBBc5NLwJaJuKZSn9KT8-HhRS7qIQyu_kxE6XmRQvaXt8oEHLaLBqIIcZ7Ngl0OEoZ7VwvCAVY/s1600/IMGP5915+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFmIE-nJxdd19uOT1gCBVfz3uG4owMqbHCr3SadLMJX2Laik5RbNr1HJsqj-ppaFcCJBBc5NLwJaJuKZSn9KT8-HhRS7qIQyu_kxE6XmRQvaXt8oEHLaLBqIIcZ7Ngl0OEoZ7VwvCAVY/s640/IMGP5915+%2528Large%2529.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We have a real love of rambling roses. This is one of the best known, Rambling Rector. It can get out of hand if not watched carefully.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGztI-A3B7g-6fYK-AXrGwcsNSmwhqL4nJvbPoUFVLaax2EA2Sk9n9LYw_0aysuj4kTMB2evgCF1ZGNUPZ5UtDX5n8sk2Pow1c73fs1Okaehb-sWkbE1PzK0BJ9AUaUBHW4vuD94hpf8Q/s1600/IMGP5878+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGztI-A3B7g-6fYK-AXrGwcsNSmwhqL4nJvbPoUFVLaax2EA2Sk9n9LYw_0aysuj4kTMB2evgCF1ZGNUPZ5UtDX5n8sk2Pow1c73fs1Okaehb-sWkbE1PzK0BJ9AUaUBHW4vuD94hpf8Q/s640/IMGP5878+%2528Large%2529.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wysKKJJtUllbL_vUutlPXH4F7VxqQrMoZfLTETAioBNTPDlnOm_rB1yiRd5Rx9klyCfrWJxHqJ67fXLsQyyn9ogwZDYEK-X85MM6AfzRl31mzxem45eE_8qZiZ3H6UBbzpRu1zFkYow/s1600/IMGP5850+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wysKKJJtUllbL_vUutlPXH4F7VxqQrMoZfLTETAioBNTPDlnOm_rB1yiRd5Rx9klyCfrWJxHqJ67fXLsQyyn9ogwZDYEK-X85MM6AfzRl31mzxem45eE_8qZiZ3H6UBbzpRu1zFkYow/s640/IMGP5850+%2528Large%2529.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCOKpjt1we5Y_BHFYaWc_9d5VSH9uRj01nNwjU9EkOpBBQaGzBUFfA3Y5fh_RzLs5_eDTYPHxwue0sRQa7sHimF9qqRQ0MyteDnS-4rPZgVJQZ4umLYTxKcnj9E-PSH58K6DC5y9Y7kM/s1600/IMGP5889+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCOKpjt1we5Y_BHFYaWc_9d5VSH9uRj01nNwjU9EkOpBBQaGzBUFfA3Y5fh_RzLs5_eDTYPHxwue0sRQa7sHimF9qqRQ0MyteDnS-4rPZgVJQZ4umLYTxKcnj9E-PSH58K6DC5y9Y7kM/s640/IMGP5889+%2528Large%2529.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Of course, one of the great things about being retired is having the opportunity to take Molly for a walk whenever I feel like it. I can choose the best part of the day and go and admire the dog roses and say 'Hi' to the rabbits. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrtB58FWxSS5af37a6n8zrLThkXGQ_1Ay_k5MHAv_ShQeWgYI09VfzG0AulS5mwNWNa5vVxqtD81zCnB1mgX079Ytrw_mLICc9Kydfs6VrC0CpSPIo1dZbfHBdIGwycj17eDO6cU0kB0Q/s1600/IMGP5881+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrtB58FWxSS5af37a6n8zrLThkXGQ_1Ay_k5MHAv_ShQeWgYI09VfzG0AulS5mwNWNa5vVxqtD81zCnB1mgX079Ytrw_mLICc9Kydfs6VrC0CpSPIo1dZbfHBdIGwycj17eDO6cU0kB0Q/s640/IMGP5881+%2528Large%2529.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Summer, of course is not without its hazards; here are just a couple:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-eF7m0reeOhH4RCIanW3ms6xxxW0VGqgfbycvz5wERTtZkA_vUIfuZpj1GmlSOrJFpJ2K5bWQQL9c_jqa-pS_kOJcL89ZdOKE1gDK6OndiS8vbTl5iQst4SyV_BuZlT7A8jSfv9f_YU/s1600/IMGP5914+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-eF7m0reeOhH4RCIanW3ms6xxxW0VGqgfbycvz5wERTtZkA_vUIfuZpj1GmlSOrJFpJ2K5bWQQL9c_jqa-pS_kOJcL89ZdOKE1gDK6OndiS8vbTl5iQst4SyV_BuZlT7A8jSfv9f_YU/s640/IMGP5914+%2528Large%2529.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is where the new lawn is lifting at the edge. I wondered what had caused it until I saw a molehill just off to one side. We've never had moles in the garden but it looks like we've got them now. Under this edge, there's a long tunnel. Plainly the disturbed soil made an easy dig for the mole.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VkrRiK87zDjUyXOPJIZQ_mL063a-09mwRD0pycaxGnmWrfdAfqQDGaxkAXSBQJQQ15_8YtuVG7dZPUqhTDDsqKLkJGpOz3f0uZCehLcDreeQkmxAhXLPmDQ9NA5DlN6BZgD-W4JfGtk/s1600/IMGP5910+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VkrRiK87zDjUyXOPJIZQ_mL063a-09mwRD0pycaxGnmWrfdAfqQDGaxkAXSBQJQQ15_8YtuVG7dZPUqhTDDsqKLkJGpOz3f0uZCehLcDreeQkmxAhXLPmDQ9NA5DlN6BZgD-W4JfGtk/s640/IMGP5910+%2528Large%2529.JPG" t8="true" width="428px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">And this, much more difficult to decipher as a picture, is where a birds nest is lodged behind our digital TV dish and disrupting our picture. I don't know whether there are young in there, but we're going to have to get up and have a look.</div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920660937843894030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509063120647512338.post-81972622277332083602011-05-11T17:34:00.001+01:002011-05-11T17:36:18.312+01:00You can't keep a good tree downApril was such a great month. Not only did we get an extended holiday because of Good Friday and Easter Monday/Tuesday, but these were followed by the royal wedding and the normal Spring bank holiday.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjgnJPTiFCgVFUwcxXcGWRHZty7rVXDvYoqHgtxwF0GBFTwwlURZUJq0k0cNTNfwvPqZZBxw8Y78HWiRz1rdDp__bwmGMITAZ9B9FQPah1A2xSMhV65utG98yHVF_fsopByUP5bPrQ_s/s1600/IMGP5841+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjgnJPTiFCgVFUwcxXcGWRHZty7rVXDvYoqHgtxwF0GBFTwwlURZUJq0k0cNTNfwvPqZZBxw8Y78HWiRz1rdDp__bwmGMITAZ9B9FQPah1A2xSMhV65utG98yHVF_fsopByUP5bPrQ_s/s640/IMGP5841+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><br />
Like many people, we too the 2 extra days and made a lengthy break. With nowhere to fly off to and no major events to organise (e.g. Christmas), this was a really restful period; maybe good practice for retirement. We went to watch cricket (in the sun!), spent time getting the garden into shape and generally enjoyed ourselves.<br />
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Meanwhile, the village is looking forward to Summer - everywhere is greening up and blossom covers the hedgerows. <br />
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The vandalised elms have sprouted again - you can't keep a good tree down. My neighbour says they will never grow into proper trees but I wonder whether, if we take off all the shoots but one and create a single leader, we might get a result.<br />
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All the rest of the elms are burgeoning and will look magnificent in a few years time. <br />
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Across the road, the guy who broke into our house and disturbed Marea has set up a sort of playground for his children and they light bonfires on warm nights. Still, they haven't bothered us yet.<br />
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My favourite plant, cow parsley, (keck) is out everywhere and is at its best at this early stage.<br />
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It has a smell that brings back Summer every year. Marea and I both love this plant so much that I actually bought her a gold and silver brooch representing cow parsley for Christmas from Paula Bolton Jewellery <a href="http://www.paulabolton.net/acatalog/Hedgerow.html">http://www.paulabolton.net/acatalog/Hedgerow.html</a>. <br />
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I've bought Marea lots of Paula Bolton jewellery in the past. She's a favourite designer.<br />
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Sumer is icumen in;<br />
Lhude sing cuccu! <br />
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<a href="http://www.pteratunes.org.uk/Music/Music/Lyrics/summerisicumenin.html">http://www.pteratunes.org.uk/Music/Music/Lyrics/summerisicumenin.html</a>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920660937843894030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509063120647512338.post-89844707490175041892011-04-19T17:06:00.001+01:002011-04-20T12:11:52.412+01:00The new planting and THAT lawn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsPp81ndCbdV1qk-9jG7OevsySUR13OoUw9lj14NKKZwE7pGjtf3f1JV3m6s3ERUSJVerQx54Xy_Z3o-j2vPc0QAlEhDVuboL6jRbLHZdiruQBtQQ9CxbBgEO4wBwTYlNeFvJ9TU9HyE/s1600/IMGP5651+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsPp81ndCbdV1qk-9jG7OevsySUR13OoUw9lj14NKKZwE7pGjtf3f1JV3m6s3ERUSJVerQx54Xy_Z3o-j2vPc0QAlEhDVuboL6jRbLHZdiruQBtQQ9CxbBgEO4wBwTYlNeFvJ9TU9HyE/s640/IMGP5651+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><br />
Now, Molly, the Springer Spaniel, is a wonderful dog; friendly, caring and doesn't run off or escape from the garden. The only trouble is; she can be a bit of a bitch and that's unfortunate. It means we can never manage to keep a decent lawn. Even if I tried re-turfing it, the result would be the same; a tatty, muddy (at times), mouldy (in places), moss infested mess.<br />
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So we decided to take drastic action. <br />
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We moved most of the plants from the bottom bed where they don't get enough light, dug over the area, fed it with farmyard manure and planted shrubs. <br />
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In case you can't read the names, they are: (L-R) New Zealand Flax, <em>Amelanchier</em>, <em>Buddleia Davidii</em>, <em>Cornus Sanguinea</em> (Midwinter Fire), <em>Philadelphus Aureus,</em> <em>Pieris</em> (Forest Flame), <em>Olearia Haastii</em>, <em>Cornus Alba Sibirica</em>, <em>Nandina </em>(Firestorm) and, hidden off to the right, <em>Jasminum Stephanense</em>. (I think it's obvious from the varietal names what we're trying to achieve. The next thing to do, after the nesting season, is to cut the laurel hedge hard back to let in much more light.<br />
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Then we called in the suppliers to lay our new ARTIFICIAL lawn.<br />
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They stripped it, prepped it, laid a membrane to stop weeds and then laid what they call 'the carpet'.<br />
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After a lot of sanding (kiln dried) and brushing, this is how it looks.<br />
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I'm very pleased; apparently the dog will love it because it stays warm. It's great to sit on because it dries quickly and doesn't feel damp. But, most of all, and best of all: I WILL NEVER HAVE TO WASTE MY TIME MOWING IT - EVER AGAIN.Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17920660937843894030noreply@blogger.com1