Tuesday 30th April 2024

 

Today Julie and I were meant to be in Axminster and working with alpacas. But the weather forecast was dire and the day has been postponed. I'd booked a day as leave anyway so instead of cancelling it I kept it. During the night when Gingernut keeps me awake, I thought I know I'll go and see the Richard Jefferies exhibition at the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre in Chippenham. Julie wanted to go to Bath too. It's the same train so we caught the 09.35, direct service.

The exhibition is small but very well put together and while I looked through it Naomi Oakley popped down to see me. She's led the year long archive process to amalgamate three collections into one. The main collection was from Samuel Looker who in the 1930's to 1950's compiled masses of material about and on Richard Jefferies and published many essays for the first time himself. It's a great resource and one of the exhibits was this charming photograph of Looker himself with ice creams. I like this image a lot, there's real warmth of personality there I feel.

Monday 29th April 2024

 I'd got to around 9pm and still had no idea what to say about today. Work was work, though interviews were taking place for a new production manager. Otherwise it was an ordinary day. Then Julie said have you seen the postcard from Rob and Rosy. I'd not but this provided the image for today.  Very interesting image it is too.  Weirdly I knew it was coming as Rob had WhatsApp'ed me one day last week to say Rosy was writing us a card. Old school new school in Wales then last week.

Sunday 28th April 2024

 

The image sums up what today has involved. Further words are unnecessary.

Saturday 27th April 2024

A day at the Richard Jefferies Museum for the Richard Jefferies Society AGM. I only tend to come here in April, attend the AGM, then the Spring Lecture and home. Repeat 1 year later. The Lecture this year was on the Meaning of Butterflies by Matthew Oates who I used to know fairly well around a decade ago when he was presenting programmes for NHU Radio on his great passion the purple emperor butterfly. I find it interesting when I visit here, it's full of people but 175 years ago was a simple farmhouse containing the baby Jefferies. I wonder what he'd make of the farmhouse in 2024, still containing his actual writing desk.

Friday 26th April 2024

I call this cuckooflower, some Lady's smock. Whatever you call it the fact it is growing here is terrific. I'd just taken the Clio in for its MOT and walking back I noticed these flowering by the estate path. In recent years the Council here have let the verge grass grow throughout the summer. I've noticed wild flowers have begun to appear including cuckooflower but not near home. Not that is until today.  There's quite a patch of them. Did they arrive by chance as airborne seed, or, and more likely, they were always here as a farmland species before the estate was built in the late 1990's when this area was grassland and orchards?  However it got here it is a wonderful find on my walk back home. Just need to hear an actual cuckoo now, which were regular here until a decade ago. 

Thursday 25th April 2024

 I'm pretty poorly, not deaths door of course, that would finally tip me over the edge,  but exhausted with this head cold and pretty miserable. I can't be bothered to take any images so this one of a bottle fish, taken at Amroth in south Wales by my friend Rob will have to surfice. No energy to say any more.

Wednesday 24th April 2024

Still struggling with my head cold but this image cheered me up. It came from Julie, her group had done spiral dancing in the morning, in the afternoon they walked up to Hurley Beacon which isn't somewhere I know on the Quantocks. Looks a lovely walk up there on a lovely spring day. I'm too tired to write anymore, but glad Julie's having a good time.

 

Tuesday 23rd April 2024

 

And that is am, not pm. Last night I thought I had a sore throat developing. At 3.20 am when Gingernut woke me as is his want I definitely had a head cold. At 11am the Dream Doors team arrived to measure up the kitchen, but by the time they left I was coming down quickly, shivering and a thick head. Worse still there's hardly any food in the house so to feed a cold I had chips with baked beans. I thought while Julie is away at Halsway I could get a few jobs done. As it's turned out I lay on the sofa watching black and white movies before turning in at 8pm absolutely shattered. 

Monday 22nd April 2024

I knew Gingernut would feature regularly on this year blog. Tonight we had a bag of crisps and then watched Car S.O.S. a proper lads night in. The reason being Julie is at Halsway Manor on a Yoga and Mindfulness week. So for four nights us chaps have the house to ourselves. I've not got as far as wearing a teacosy on my head as most men do when left in a room on their own, but we got close. It was an interesting Car S.O.S. as they restored a Citroen HY van for a 19 year old who lost her mum in the Manchester Arena terrorism attack a few years ago. The poor girl looked traumatised and not sure about this reveal and restoration, which fits, as her grandmother said she's still suffering from the attack as one would expect after such a tragic event.

Sunday 21st April 2024

 

As you can see it has been a busy day gardening. Well for us humans at least. For Gingernut it has been a truly exhausting day sleeping. to be fair though, he dis wake up mid morning, walk over to the greenhouse, had a look at what I was doing and then curled up on top of the compost bin, asleep. Tonight as I relaxed after our gardening day he came into the conservatory, bagsied the best chair in the sun and collapsed. it is truly remarkable. However as a result of pottering about I noticed 'Thelma's' Lily of the Valley are just looking fabulous, not all in bloom yet, nothing is going over, simply that perfect state of emergence, fresh and green. The originals of these came from Thelma's garden in Dorset, and have been in this pot for years, though some have also escaped into the garden now. for a few short days each year they bring back lovely memories, memories now that are nearly a quarter of a century ago. 

Saturday 20th April 2024

 

The first of two trips to our favourite theatre today, the Watermill Theatre at Bagnor just outside of Newbury. Today we were there to see a very modern adaption of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. It was excellent, in fact I can't recall ever seeing anything here that was not brilliant. The stage and auditorium inside a converted Watermill is tiny, I think something like 150 seats,  but the cast they get here are so creative you forget the stage is six feet away. As it's about an hour and a half away we make a day of it, stopping at the Hungerford Garden Centre, then lunch at the Watermill before the performance. We left home at 9.30 and got back at 7pm. Really lovely day in the April sunshine.

Friday 19th April 2024

I wonder when it was that a hot chocolate could only be served with a fancy design on the top? The last time I was here the lady serving me tried to do a swan. Today it's more Fred Perry logo than avian illustration. What this doesn't show is it was raining, more fine mist but definitely raining. I was desperate for some fresh air over lunchtime and headed out for a wander just as the blue skies of the morning packed their bags and shuffled off. I didn't mind sitting in the drizzle, it gave people walking past something to talk about, and the drizzle only lasted ten minutes.

Thursday 18th April 2024

 There is a reluctant tolerance happening in this image. Gingernut, sunning himself on top of the compost bin doesn't link Treacle. Treacle is always in our garden avoiding being chased by Gingernut. There is a regular sparring going on but this morning in the warm sunshine they both just avoided contact. We do worry about Treacle, her home next door has two dogs and another cat. That fact is probably why she spends so much time in our garden. But she's always restless and fidgety which possibly explains why she's so thin. I like her and she sometimes sleeps on my chest. Sadly though Gingernut can not stand her. Not long after this was taken he chased her out of the garden.

Wednesday 17th April 2024

 

I had a day off today. Initially I'd booked this as we'd planned to be on an alpaca keeper's day but had to change the date due to Julie being on a course. I kept my day off and just thought about a 'me' day. I'd planned to go to Dorset but in the end I got the train to Taunton, my first trip using my Senior Railcard. £7.30 return is brilliant, it would cost nearly half that just for parking if I'd gone by car. The main reason for visiting Taunton was to buy a suit for Ascot, which I did at Astaire's who I've used a few times. It needs altering so I'll collect in a couple of weeks. Lunch followed at the Museum cafe. I was minding my own business when a voice shouted "you shouldn't be drinking at lunchtime". This came from a chap pushing a bicycle. I thought it a little strange but replied "I only started today" and returned to reading my book. Five minutes later the bicycle chap came over to apologise, he thought I was his friend Paul, but realised his mistake and was too embarrassed to confess. But felt he had to. I found it all hilarious. None of that would have happened if I'd have been driving, no drink, no random conversation. I think train travel is the future. 

Tuesday 16th April 2024

 Oddly I didn't take any images today so instead an image of a giant finger in front of a small model of the Tyne Bridge, where my mate Heppy is working at the moment. I think the finger is pointing to where he'd been inside the bridge all day 

Monday 15th April 2024

 We played this nine men's Morris game tonight. I've had it for years, so many years I've no idea where it came from, it may even have been in the caravan in the 1970's. It's been ignored in the conservatory for years where it's recently received some water damage. Tonight though it was dusted off and three games in we'd just about mastered it. I like these simple to begin playing games with a hidden complexity.

Sunday 14th April 2023

Very nice day today. Quite unusual for us but we hosted friend Sheena and her sister Fiona. Lunch, gluten free lasagne followed by raspberries and cream, followed by a walk along Sand Bay, then back home for a cup of tea. Such a lovely day. The lasagne was a triumph, the M&S gluten free lasagne sheets were really good. Very tasty in fact. I'd even made a chocolate cake using a pre mixed gluten free pack. That worked a treat too. In fact the food worked beautifully. Lovely walk too in a very strong wind, that blew the cobwebs off wonderfully.  It's very good to be sociable and have a laugh more importantly. In the evening caught up with school friends Chris and Susan on WhatsApp. Nice end to the day indeed. Gingernut however was less impressed with guests in the house, looked really put-out. 

Saturday 13th April 2024

 

Really? I've managed to get to 60 without ever giving a single thought to replacement kitchens. Gawd it's dull thinking about home improvements. But that's what we did today. Yesterday we had a home visit to have the kitchen looked at, today we went into the showroom to check a few things. Yes to a stainless steel sink and a change to the worktop we looked at yesterday. So I think decision is made. Can we afford it, possibly not. Do I think we need a new kitchen, possibly not. Will it be a positive move, probably. And we don't even cook.

Friday 12th April 2024

Julie and Gingernut doing what they love best. Julie potting on seedlings and sowing seeds, while his lordship sits watching what's going on. Those orange ballerina tulips are fabulous too. They've been in the lawn for four or 5 years and now naturalised, disproving the theory that tulip bulbs don't last more than one year. What a lovely day too, sunshine, very little wind and about 18 degrees, the first day this year that it's really felt warm, properly warm. Lots of butterflies on the wing including my first orange tip. A day to stop and just unwind.

Thursday 11th April 2024

This has to be the most complicated form of hopscotch I've ever seen. Over the weekend within the BBC complex and along both Belgrave Road and Whiteladies Road these survey marks have appeared. For three years now the original Broadcasting House in Bristol has been threatened with closure. Television moved out to a modern facility at Bridgwater House leaving only local TV and radio plus us in Network Radio on site. Less than 100 people. 90% of the site is mothballed, and for three years and alternative site fou us has been saught in Bristol. Now there's a suggestion we'll stay on site but in a much more restricted way. Which makes me think are these marks everywhere part of that process? Only time will tell. 

As for this cherry tree it is inside the grounds of BBC and once part of a garden and always beautiful for a day or two around now. The light wasn't great today but I tried my best to capture its beauty. I often look at at thinking poor thing growing in a carpark. But it seems happy enough. If our move happens I'll not see this tree again.

 

Wednesday 10th April 2024

 

Quite strange. Not the wheelie bin, but these traffic lights. Yesterday some cones were put out along part of our road. I chatted to one of the workers who said they would be repairing a manhole, and needed to erect traffic lights and  it would take two days. But, importantly, the traffic cones were not operational until 9am today. Sure enough as I headed off to work just before 9,  road signs were up, lights installed and I left them to it. I got a text from Julie around 2pm. She was home but all the lights, signs and cones had gone. That was at most 5 hours of work. It almost took longer to put the cones out on Tuesday  I'm assuming the manhole is repaired as I can't hear the regular clink clunk as cars drive over it, but it is odd to think all this activity for few hours work. No wonder our council tax is so high, this must have cost a fortune.

Tuesday 9th April 2024

 

I took this image at lunchtime while waiting for my fish and chips. It's the precinct at Congresbury. I spend a lot of time here as it has good shops, but the building itself is truly awful, late 1960's brutally functional style. There's the co-op, which was an absolute boon during lockdown. Cottage Loaf bakery, Hodders butchers which are great and a proper post office run by Ash. What you can't see well is Dream Doors on the right who are coming this week to estimate on a possible kitchen refurbishment, and of course Oldfield's Fish & Chip shop. I thought while waiting I've never taken an image of this area, and one day there will be a final visit and I'll never return, this chapter of my life will close. Strange how these thoughts appear. All roads lead then to Congresbury, well for me at least.

Monday 8th April 2024

Unrelated images today. I was looking for my birth certificate today and stumbled across this business card from my mate Heppy. This would have been early to mid 1980's when he moved to York (Boston Spa really) to be an in-house photographer for Rowentrees Macintosh. He must have given, or sent me, this card. Seems a very long time ago. I only visited him once down there as about a year later he moved back to Tyneside. Not long after that Rowentrees Macintosh became Nestlé.

The image below is of Julie's car's refurbished wheels. Her car is a workhorse but she keeps it tidy. The wheels though were corroded and a complete mess. About 6 months ago Weston Wheels moved onto a farm site just across the fields, so we gave them a go, and they've done a cracking job. They almost look new. Mind you at £100 per corner plus VAT they should be good.  I'm quite impressed that said and Julie is happy too.

 

Sunday 7th April 2024

 

What a really interesting day. Julie and I took part in a Ranger walk at Mapperton House in Dorset. It was fascinating as this estate is rewilding 1,000 of it's 2,000 acres. They are two years into this and while there's a lot to do, changes are happening. Ben Padwick the ranger met us at 9.45am and over a flapjack and coffee he began by outlining the overview of this long-term project. Another couple joined us which was nice having such a small group. We then had a hour and a half walk across the estate where we saw what's happening and met the Exmoor Ponies and their two Tamworth pigs. It was fantastic to hear of such positive things happening at this ancient estate. I've been wanting to visit Mapperton for a long time and today I wasn't disappointed at all. Great morning.

Saturday 6th April 2024

 

I learnt something today, which confirms the adage one is never too old to be newly educated. For my birthday Julie bought me this lovely 1837 map of Northumberland. Given it's nearly 200 years old it's in super condition. It shows how early this is as there are only two short railway lines showing. However what intrigued me more was a little table denoting areas of Northumberland locally administered by the Country of Durham. This was Northamshire, Islandshire, Bedlingtonshire and Monk's House. I'd never heard of this before. After some research I discovered the Palentine of County Durham held enclaves going back to early Medieval times. I well knew of the powerful Prince Bishops who were effectively a self governing state within Britain, but I thought this was centuries ago. I'd not realised that until a parliamentary act was passed in 1844, the Counties (Detached Parts) Act, Durham administered areas in both North Yorkshire and Northumberland. You have to give it to Durham, it was a real player in our history of the British Isles. I was born in County Durham and used to dismiss it as a second rate county compared to Northumberland and North Yorkshire but over time I've realised how central this northern powerhouse was. 

Friday 5th April 2024

Two unconnected images that became loosely connected. The fizz was given to me by Clare Balding last autumn. It was a thank you for everything I'd done for her over the years while she was on Ramblings. A lovely gesture. Julie and I decided to open it this evening for a belated birthday celebration. The vineyard Chatham in Kent was very close to where my Uncle Ken lived at Chatham Hatch. I thought of him as I opened the bottle. It's rather nice, very lemony in taste but extremely drinkable.

I was drinking glass number 2 when a WhatsApp message appeared, my Goddaughter Sarah gave birth to a baby girl, Lucy this afternoon. Lucy was actually due on April 1st which would have been a wonderful 60th birthday present. But five days later, and one day after Sarah's own birthday is perfect. It doesn't seem that long ago that I held Sarah in my arms at her christening. Now she's a mother herself, time really is passing. Such lovely news, which I was able to celebrate with some English fizz.

Thursday 4th April 2024

 Oh it's all getting real now. I've received my Senior Railcard. Okay it cost me £70 for three years but I'm hoping with it allowing a third off all train travel it will more than be worthwhile an investment. I'd looked up the price of one return trip to Newcastle and it was a saving of £89 on the standard fare. I had thought about using this for the first time this Saturday to go to Salisbury and visit Ann my late uncle Ken's wife. But there's a train strike on. Typical!

Wednesday 3rd April 2024

Technology is becoming amazing. I've just received this Zoom F2 field recorder. Designed for podcasters on the go it records using 32bit floating software. The advantage of that is it is impossible to record a sound that 'distorts' as it peaks. With 16bit recorders any sound over 110 dB, say a jet engine, will crash the capture buffer and there's nothing that can be done to save the audio. In this tiny recorder (as described to me) "there's no sound in the entire planet it could not capture". All in something not much bigger than a 50p and costing under £200. I've been testing it today ahead of it going to Bass Rock as a back up recorder trial, attached to the presenter Martha Kearney for Open Country. That will test it, sea, gannets, wind. I'm looking forward to hearing the results.

Tuesday 2nd April 2024

Just heard tonight that Nigel Tucker died back in February, he was 75. I've grabbed this image off his website. He was a phenomenal birder but I got to know him when I first began at the BBCs NHU as he was then the Sound Library's sound recordist. Employed purely for capturing sound on NHU programmes we'd also send him off to record the odd sound we did not have in the library, often surprisingly British species. He was a maverick in some ways but kind. We'd go birdwatching occasionally and he'd  happily pass on his knowledge to me. Nigel was also the first person to show me Chew Valley Lake as I forget thirty years ago having just arrived in Bristol I didn't know Somerset at all. I hope he's up there having a fag listening to the summer migrants arriving. R.I.P.

Monday 1st April 2024

Well I have to say the big day has arrived, and to be honest it's worse than the build up. Maybe I should be happy, grateful even, positive but I'm not. I couldn't get out of bed first thing. Julie eventually woke me around 9.30am which caused me to burst into tears. I felt guilty as she was so excited for me. But I did warn weeks ago I wanted no fuss. Anyway I pulled myself together and began opening cards (16) and presents. That set me off again seeing dad's card which he'd signed bless him. His hands don't work now so it did say dad but almost illegible. I really miss having mum around and dad as he was. I've lost that permanence in my life. 

Julie bought me a lovely 1837 map of Northumberland and a reproduction of Jane Austen's Second Book as her short stories were called. I also received a pair of beer mats from Blakey, which my dad printed for my 21st, I remember him doing that. Graham had been clearing his mum's loft out recently and discovered these there, presumably not seen since 1985. I also received Mr Bumble Gnome, knitted by Rosy. It's fantastic, she's so talented. We took it with us to Elworthy Cottage Garden open today under the NGS scheme.

I'd set my heart on coming here on my birthday as I'd never been. When I arrived I realised I'd been here before. Nice to be back then, especially at this time of the year when spring is really gathering pace.

A different birthday then, subdued and a little melancholy. I hope I snap out of this negativity soon, not for me but for Julie's sake. It can't be easy listening to me chuntering on about nothing at all that's interesting.  A nice day despite myself, but I still can't abide being 60. Makes me wonder why I continue to write this blog.