Veg!

Posted on 29/07/2014 by Martin

Three nights away and this lot has grown in our veg patch.

IMGP6753_900

Posted in blog entries | Leave a comment

Exemoor and Porlock

Posted on 29/07/2014 by Martin

A long weekend staying at Burrowhayes Farm near Porlock, North Somerset.

Exemoor, near Porlock.

Exemoor, near Porlock.

Porlock Weir.

Porlock Weir.

Exemoor, near Porlock Weir.

Exemoor, near Porlock Weir.

Exemoor, near Porlock.

Exemoor, near Porlock.

Exemoor, near Porlock.

Exemoor, near Porlock.

Exemoor.

Exemoor, North Devon.

Posted in blog entries | Leave a comment

Bruges, Belgium

Posted on 13/07/2014 by Martin

Record high temperatures and sunshine in England last week, particularly the West. So we took the camper to Belgium where the weather was unremittingly awful. Despite the conditions we had a really good time exploring the lovely city of Bruges, riding our bikes around the surrounding countryside and, when the rain became too heavy, sampling the cuisine of the area. Also stocked up, on the way back at Dunkirk, with the next few months’ supply of wine.

Bruges, Belgium.

Bruges, Belgium.

Bruges, Belgium.

Bruges, Belgium.

Bruges, Belgium.

Bruges, Belgium.

IMGP6694_1200

Lace shop, Bruges.

Bruges, Belgium.

Bruges, Belgium.

Bruges, Belgium.

Bruges, Belgium.

Bruges, Belgium.

Bruges, Belgium.

Bruges, Belgium.

Bruges, Belgium.

Bruges, Belgium.

Bruges, Belgium.

Tintin and Snowy, Bruges, Belgium.

Tintin and Snowy, Bruges, Belgium.

Scooter, Bruges, Belgium.

Scooter, Bruges, Belgium.

Scary lace-weaving automaton in window, Bruges, Belgium.

Scary lace-weaving automaton in window, Bruges, Belgium.

Bruges, Belgium.

Bruges, Belgium.

Bruges, Belgium.

Bruges, Belgium.

Long lunch to avoid rain.

Long beery lunch “to avoid rain.” Honest.

Weird public sculpture in Bruges (double exposure).

Weird public sculpture in Bruges (double exposure).

View from waffle shop.

View from waffle shop.

Bruges, Belgium.

Bruges, Belgium.

Old brewery, Bruges, Belgium.

Old brewery, Bruges, Belgium.

Bruges, Belgium.

Bruges, Belgium.

Sal works wonders with enormous prawns in the camper.

Sal works wonders with enormous prawns in the camper.

Bruges, Belgium.

Bruges, Belgium.

Bruges, Belgium.

Bruges, Belgium.

Bruges, Belgium.

Bruges, Belgium.

Sculptures in hotel gardens near Bruges.

Sculptures in hotel gardens near Bruges.

Bug house in conservation centre near Bruges.

Bug house in conservation centre near Bruges.

Boat "Rudy" in Bruges.

Boat “Rudy” in Bruges.

Bridge (road) lowered.

Bridge (road) lowered.

Bridge (road) raised.

Bridge (road) raised.

Bruges, Belgium.

Bruges, Belgium.

Bruges, Belgium.

Bruges, Belgium.

Posted in blog entries | 1 Comment

Walcot Street, Bath

Posted on 26/06/2014 by Martin

Unusual poster in this hippy/artistic/alternative area of Bath.

DSCF2704_1200
DSCF2705_1200

Posted in blog entries | Leave a comment

Poppies

Posted on 20/06/2014 by Martin
Poppies at Failand, North Somerset.

Poppies at Failand, North Somerset.

Poppies at Failand, North Somerset.

Poppies at Failand, North Somerset.

Posted in blog entries | Leave a comment

Cycle ride to Chepstow

Posted on 19/06/2014 by Martin

There are two motorway bridges over the River Severn, and one (the M48) has paths on either side for walkers and cyclists.

Sal, about half way.

Sal, about half way.

Chepstow. The Bridge Over The River Wye.

Chepstow. The Bridge Over The River Wye.

Ancient petrol pumps in Aust on the English side of The Severn.

Ancient petrol pumps in Aust on the English side of The Severn.

Posted in blog entries | Leave a comment

Powys, Mid Wales

Posted on 15/06/2014 by Martin

Took advantage of the good weather forecast and spent a couple of nights in Crickhowel, a nice little town on the River Usk. Fantastic scenery, good pub (The Bridge End Inn) and easy cycle ride along the Monmouth-Brecon canal and back. Met Wendy and Graham in their camper; safety in numbers.

Sisters.

Sisters.


Wendy, Sal and Graham on Crickhowell bridge over The Usk.

Wendy, Sal and Graham on Crickhowell bridge over The Usk.


From bridge towards pub garden.

From bridge towards pub garden.


Tunnel on the Monmouth-Brecon canal. (See "light at end of tunnel".)

Tunnel on the Monmouth-Brecon canal. (See “light at end of tunnel”.)


Sheep by canal.

Sheep by canal.


Paddle gear on lock.

Paddle gear on lock.


Bench (and our bikes) on Monmouth-Brecon canal.

Bench (and our bikes) on Monmouth-Brecon canal.


Lock on Monmouth-Brecon canal.

Lock on Monmouth-Brecon canal.


Lock on Monmouth-Brecon canal.

Lock on Monmouth-Brecon canal.


Arthur's Stone. Neolithic burial chamber in the hills above Herefordshire's Golden Valley.

Arthur’s Stone. Neolithic burial chamber in the hills above Herefordshire’s Golden Valley.


Hay on Wye.

Hay on Wye. Sal on Table.

Posted in blog entries | Leave a comment

Horse Dung

Posted on 09/06/2014 by Martin

When we moved into out present house, five years ago, most traces of the natural world had been removed from the garden via the use of decking and plastic sheeting. We were told by neighbours that the soil was not good due to the land’s previous use, some decades earlier, as an industrial (“brown field”) site. To which we said “Horse Dung!” And, many sacks of the stuff later, the garden’s looking good and producing quite a lot of vegetables. And we live to tell the tale.

IMGP6672_800

IMGP6670_900

IMGP6673_800

Part of garden in 2009 (in black and white to emphasize urban brutalism).

Posted in blog entries | Leave a comment

The Gower Peninsular

Posted on 07/06/2014 by Martin
Rhossili Bay from Worm's Head.

Rhossili Bay from Worm’s Head.

John, Di and Sal.

John, Di, Max and Sal.

Worm's Head, south end of Rhossili Bay.

Worm’s Head, south end of Rhossili Bay.

Rhossili coastguard station.

Rhossili coastguard station.

Horse and paragliders on Rhossili Down.

Horse and paragliders on Rhossili Down.

North end of Rhossili Bay, looking toward Burry Holmes.

North end of Rhossili Bay, looking toward Burry Holmes.

Sheep on Landimore salt marsh near Llanmadoc, Gower Peninsular.

Sheep on Landimore salt marsh near Llanmadoc, Gower Peninsular.

Posted in blog entries | Leave a comment

Sundays in Bristol

Posted on 01/06/2014 by Martin
Park Street, Bristol.

Park Street, Bristol.

Bristol’s mayor George Ferguson has endorsed another “Special Sunday” in Bristol. “Park on Park Street” saw the steep road shut to traffic today, with stalls, music, food, etc. Bristol is becoming an increasingly fun place to live, and our new elected mayor is a great publicist for the city.

Looking up Park Street, Bristol, towards the University's Wills' Tower.

Looking up Park Street, Bristol, towards the University’s Wills’ Tower.

(Slightly defaced) graffiti by Banksy on Park Street.

(Slightly defaced) graffiti by Banksy on Park Street.

Posted in blog entries | Leave a comment