Welcome to our little home on the net. We are Steve & Rosemary and live in Buckinghamshire, UK. This is a blog of our life, sometimes interesting, but mainly boring. It is very picture orientated as Steve loves to take pictures, especially of wildlife. Sometimes he has his arm twisted by Rosemary and takes the odd snap of a weed.
Vintage Sports-Car Club Meet
20th June 2024
The Vintage Sports-Car Club has been a fixture in the British automotive landscape for decades. Known for their monthly gatherings at pubs across the UK, they foster a sense of camaraderie among enthusiasts of classic vehicles. The club’s local chapter holds meet at the Canaletto pub on the third Thursday evening of the month.
Despite its modest size, the village of Kingswood in Buckinghamshire has become a hub for automotive enthusiasts. The Aylesbury VM club also meets regularly, gathering once a month on a Sunday morning at the Akeman for a special breakfast and car show.
It’s a testament to the enduring appeal of classic cars and the vibrant community spirit of this small village that it can host two such events. The sight of vintage vehicles and VWs gleaming in the sunlight is a delightful treat for locals and visitors alike.
Here is an ERA (Englis Racing Automobile) from the 1930’s being started.
Moorhens and Foxes
1st June 2024
The weeks before we went on our Outer Hebrides holiday, I had been monitoring a Moorhen nest in our wild garden pond. Interesting visits from a fox who came around several times but gave up trying to scavenge the eggs. Foxy didn’t like getting wet. As fate dictated the eggs hatched when we were away on holiday. Luckily, they started to hatch as we left, so I did get some video footage of a couple of chicks. The constant movement of the Moorhen, and vegetation caused the trail cams memory card to fill up in two days.
Unusual Sunset
31st May 2024
The sun was setting in an unusual way. As it descended, it turned red, The sky looked overcast, with no red hues, making the fiery globe particularly unusual. As the sun approached the horizon, it seemed to disappear into a hazy layer, its lower portion blending into the sky.
This was a rare opportunity to capture the sun’s beauty with a zoom lens. The images revealed four distinct sunspots, dark blemishes on the sun’s surface caused by intense magnetic activity. Additionally, the sun’s circumference appeared uneven, with various solar eruptions, or flares, creating a jagged edge. These flares are sudden bursts of energy released from the sun’s surface, often accompanied by intense radiation and charged particles.
Scotland – Moffat Scores Two Ticks
30th May 2024
On packing up for the next part of the trip, R felt there was “something” on the back of her neck. I had a look. It seemed to have already been de-bodied (hairbrush), with only its legs visible, and head buried in her neck. I tried to remove it with a tick remover, but the head remained buried in the neck. Walked to the pharmacy to see if they could help. No, can’t remove the head you will need a doctor. Found the doctor and made an appointment for 12.10
We walked around the town for the next couple of hours. Had coffee and cake at the gin restaurant. Viewed the cemetery, not seen a churchyard with so many huge tombstones. A few notable ones were there. One in memory of several Royal Mail postmen killed in a storm in the Highlands.
Looked through the windows of many rather bizarre shops. One was still selling filament bulbs, seems to have a huge stock of them.
Visted the GP where the doctor gave R a numbing injection, then set to work with a scalpel to remove the head. If there was any doughnut shaped rash later, he said to contact our local GP for antibiotics. Strongly suspect our local GPs would not have done that, but how far were we from A&E?? (Two ticks cos one for the tick itself and another tick for the Moffat GP.) Soon we were on are way home to Buckinghamshire on the M6, M5 and M42.
Scotland – Moffat
29th May 2024
Packed away the van, and we headed off to another CCC campsite, this time at Moffat.
The trip took us to Inverness, where we stopped at the Tesco which Steve was sure he knew where it was. No, it was somewhere else. Found it, used the loos and bought lunch.
Continued down the A9 and then the road down to England. Twenty plus miles from the border we left the motorway, and a short distance to the campsite in Moffat. A very large CCC site probably used as a stop on the way to and from England. Have no idea what this town was like, unfortunately the gin lounge closes early on a Wednesday, so we missed out there.
I had a short walk around in the evening and it turns out to be quaint. Very few national shops on the street, all independent.
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Electric Vehicles Festival
28th May 2024
On a particularly rainy day, I joined a group of Polestar 2 electric vehicle owners for the Electric Vehicles Festival at Stanford Hall. We met at the M6 service station to capture a photo of our vehicles charging before embarking on a convoy to the event.
However, upon our arrival, we were met with disappointment. The Stanford Hall event had been cancelled due to heavy flooding along the River Avon. Despite the organizer’s attempts to stop people from attending, many had already made the trip. With no mobile phone reception, it was difficult to communicate the cancellation.
Despite the unfortunate circumstances, we decided to make the best of the situation. We lined up for a group photo in front of the flooded Stanford Hall and then headed to the nearby Motor Museum for a tour and lunch. While I returned home, many of the other Polestar owners continued their day exploring the area.
The organizers have rescheduled the Electric Car Festival for September 8th, but unfortunately, I will be unable to attend due to prior commitments.
Scotland – Poolewe – Inverewe Gardens
28th May 2024
Rained in the early morning. It should not have done so. Weather forecasts can be unreliable.
First, we walked to the village hall. There was a bookshop there, plus a market. We bought four second handbooks, including one titled “Warm or very Warm – the Story of a Scottish Summer”, which we thought hilarious. In the main hall there were a number of stalls. Bought three 500ml bottles of beer. Two stout and a light citrus beer. Brewed in Poolewe.
Walked to the Inverewe Gardens where we spent several hours walking around. The flowers and trees were spectacular. Parts of the gardens featured plants from different places in the world, or plant types, such as New Zealand and a bamboo garden,
Unfortunately, the restaurant there was a bit crap, offering pies and soup, not much more.
Back to the campsite by four when it started to rain yet again. Didn’t look like a chance of a sunset tonight. What was that book called? Suddenly out to sea, there was a break in the sky, and the sun was setting. Think most of the campsite was looking out to sea and standing on the water’s edge to see the sun dip below the horizon. A drone joined us for the spectacle. Must purchase one of these, a useful tool for photographers.
It had been a nice stay in Poolewe. The campsite was lovely, right next to the sea front, well kept & well landscaped. Some of the hardstanding was concrete, the floors of army buildings from the war. The property is owned by the Scottish National Trust. Unfortunately, they only give the CCC three-year leases. The short lease means that the CCC won’t take the risk of investing in the shower block. with the result the block is rather antiquated and inadequate.
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Scotland – Loch Ewe and Arctic Convoy Museum
27th May 2024
Today, the day started off OK, though rain there was promised for later. We were going to the Arctic Convoy Museum, and looking aroun Loch Ewe. First we took advantage of the roadside café up the road, and had a breakfast pie, while R had a savoury flapjack.
We set off in the van to go up the road to the The Russian Arctic Convoy Museum. Here we talked with one of the curators and were shown the convoys HMS Vindex was involved in. Rosemary left details of her father and promised to send on further information.
We headed back in the other direction, looked at the viewpoint overlooking the lock and the NATO refuelling station. We had noticed it before, and Steve assumed it was for tankers to pump up fuel for distribution in the area. Nope, it was NATO.
The whole area is either a yellow drone area, ie ask for permission, or red over, especially over the fuel depot, no drones.
We then went to the Southern headland where there are many concrete lookouts and gun emplacements. Took some photos
Next it was to Garelock, where we had coffee in a very radical, left-wing coffee shop. A very interesting selection of books on sale.
Visited the dock, but why is it you cannot ever buy fish?
Back to the campsite, and the rain came in a little harder. Cleared up for the evening, but not enough for a sunset image from the beach. Some lovely shots of birds on the shore though
Birds Photographed
- Common Ringed Plover
- Dunlin
- Curlew Sandpiper
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Scotland – Ullapool
26th May 2024
Sleepless night waiting for the alarm, but when it did ring, I could not stop it quickly. Van packed quickly and we were away well before 6:30
Into the queue for the boat loading, and soon on board. Seemed quite a new boat, and the biggest we had been on this holiday amongst the islands. It even had a second layer on one side of the vehicle bay for cars.
Smooth trip across. Wish I had not eaten the Cornish Pasty for breakfast, everyone else was tucking into a Scottish Breakfast. The black pudding looked scrumptious, though I did hear they had cut corners on the beans, not Heinz.
The trip was 160 minutes and smooth. A pleasant view from the front viewing lounge. Whenever I went up on deck, I had to use the stairs that also go down to the car deck, the noise from all the car alarms going off is a real racket.
When we arrived at Ullapool what struck most was trees & green – green grass, green trees etc etc.
Unloaded and straight to Tesco. An exceedingly small one, but we did alright buying wine and Campari which was on offer. Had to do a big Tesco shop.
Now it was the drive to Poolewe and the Camping and Caravan Club site. I told Google to stop at various places along the route, some were viewing spots along the road. One though was a Gorge. The Corrieshalloch Gorge, run by the National Trust of Scotland. It has various waterfalls down the canyon, and a suspension bridge for pedestrians where you can a good view of the gorge and a waterfall. There is also a viewing platform further on to view the suspension bridge. A rain forest. Certainly, masses of moss. All very impressive. The NT carpark and buildings there opened this year. You can buy a coffee and cakes there.
A few more stops, and we made it to the campsite. Checked in and walked into Poolewe. A shop, which we may or may not use, and a small art café. All closed today or because of the time.
Had a quick look around the graveyard, sat on the bench, like two old people, looking over the loch, and attempted to photo the sunset. Today we had all kinds of weather, sun, rain and boring cloud. The sunset was photographed in the rain.
Looking forward to breakfast tomorrow. There is a roadside shack on the Northern end of the campsite. They do good coffee apparently and have breakfast pies. Never had a breakfast pie before. The place has all 5* reviews in Google, over 60 of them. Nothing less than 5*. I have never seen that before.
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Outer Hebrides – Butt of Lewis
25th May 2024
Day started dry. Hurrah. Actually, became a very nice day with mainly sun. Though we did get caught out during lunch when it became foggy with some low flying cloud.
We started off looking for the Stac a’Phris. Parked in the nearest car park at Dailbeag beach, didn’t realise it was a long walk to get to Stac a’Phris. Suddenly realized this was not happening, a brand-new fence across the fields stopped any progress. The map at the car park showed we had been on the correct route. Some wire cutters are required for this walk. I thought in Scotland you had the right to roam.
The beach and rocks were stunning, so I photographed them.
Disappointed, we drove on North and stopped to look at the show Black House at Arnol. Very quaint. It even had a peat fired fire on the centre with a kettle. Needless to say, it was very smokey in the room. Love the beds with their curtains around them.
There was also a white house nearby. After the land reforms, the crofters could invest in better homes. Still, they had no damp proof courses, but at least the livestock did not sleep in the same building. Single story. The house contained the cattle, in one section, and the family in the other section. Fire in the middle of the room. Some houses had a third room for storage.
The white house, these were more modern house and replaced the black house when crofters were allowed to live and stay on the land without being turfed out at the whim of the landowner.
The Black House was inundated with starlings who did not like us, so shrieked and squawked. They were bringing in food for their nestlings. Some lived in the chimney of the black house, and others in the crannies of the stone walls. What a din.
Still heading North, we stopped at the Clach An Truishal Standing Stone. At 20ft, four times R’s Rosemary height. Met a couple who were completing the Hebridian Way on bicycles. Seemed they were friends. They were doing it with a car and a van, and two bikes. Driving to the destination in both vehicles, piggybacking the route. Driving back and picking up the other vehicle. They said they were doing a lot of driving.
On northwards for lunch at the The Breakwater in Barr a’ Yard, Port of Ness, Isle of Lewis HS2 0XA.
Here the cloud and mist came in for a while, we thought this was the end of the day. Had a can of Iron Bru, well I am in Scotland.
Next on up to the Butt of Lewis Lighthouse. Brick built lighthouse. Lots of Gannets and Fulmars with the odd shag.
Drove back home, filling up with diesel. We had done over 520 miles on the islands. Navigation error on sat nav, had us going on a 20 mile detour, Why does google maps not do U-turns.??.
At campsite, lovely meal, and our Welsh neighbours with the 1940s bike were proficient in German and conversed with the German campers about bikes. Apparently our Welsh neighbour he was a real Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, and had worked in the building industry in Germany for eight years
We packed aways as many items as we could for a fast getaway early in the morning. We had to be checked in at the ferry before 7.15, so needed to leave at 6.30, giving us 15 minutes lee way. So alarm set for 5 minutes to 6 to do the final dismantle and quiet pack away.
Birds Photographed
- Common Starling
- Northern Fulmar
- Yellow legged gull
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