Author Archives: Martin

Possibly the last really hot few days of the Summer, so we had a couple of days near Swanage, on the inaccurately-named Isle of Purbeck. Fantastic area, haven’t been there for years. We walked from Woodyhyde Farm to The Square and … Continue reading →

I met some old (in both senses) friends in a pub called The Volunteer Tavern, between Old Market and Cabot Circus in central Bristol. I seem to have missed this pub, over the many years that I have been visiting … Continue reading →

The greenhouse is working well. Another few years and it might have paid for itself! This year has been great for tomatoes, chillis, cucumbers and various herbs, particularly basil. Bowls of toms like this every couple of days have been … Continue reading →

One of Bristol’s regular Summer events with possibly even more variety of airborn craft than the more famous Balloon Fiesta. We walked down to The George at Abbotts Leigh afterwards where I had a pint of prawns. Ages since I … Continue reading →

We stayed with Freda for a couple of nights in a village a few miles south of Salisbury. The village is called Alderbury, which is very close to Whaddan. So close, in fact, that they share a village sign: We … Continue reading →

You’re right, we do seem to spend a lot of time around Bristol docks. The area, including Hotwells and into the old centre of Bristol is very familiar to us, and, although neither of us is a Bristolian, the area is … Continue reading →

Clevedon has a Victorian “pleasure” pier. The “pleasure” was the ability to use it for promenading and for boarding pleasure craft, which were largely unaffected by the tides. Any Victorian pier is, to me, a slight disappointment as I grew … Continue reading →

No more onions! – Ed.

Last Christmas my uncle, Ivor, bought us a packet of shallots for our allotment. Yesterday, we lifted them, and a fine sight they were! We also lifted some onions as well as the usual selection of courgettes, peas and runner … Continue reading →