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.
Mottisfont – Dressed for Christmas as Cinderella
25th November 2025
We have been decidedly recalcitrant this year in regard to taking day trips, allowing the weeks to slip by without venturing far. Now that Christmas is just around the corner and National Trust houses are being dressed for the festive season, there was finally no excuse for not making a trip. Our usual local NT site, Waddesdon Manor, has unfortunately priced itself out of our range. It was charging an eye-watering £15.50 just for NT members to enter the grounds.
So, instead, we made the wise decision to take a trip down to Mottisfont. They are well-known for always delivering a truly imaginative and immersive themed dressing of their house, and this year’s theme was no exception, centring on the classic fairytale Cinderella.
The day itself was dry but carried a definite winter chill. Despite it being an early weekday, the car park was surprisingly full—a testament to the site’s popularity. We arrived in time for a quick, early lunch before heading into the main event: a tour around the house.
The dressing for the Cinderella theme was cleverly decorated in true fairytale style. The various rooms brought scenes from the fairytale to life, all tied together by the motif of countless little mice (rodents, as the one room steward put it). They were playfully hidden in the decorations for children (and sharp-eyed adults!) to find and count. We saw glittering glass slippers, ballgowns, and imaginative recreations of the scullery and the Fairy Godmother’s magic. R claimed one mouse looked a tad hamstery!
Mottisfont Garden
Following the house tour, we bundled up for a walk along the river, following the special ‘Cinders’ trail marked out in the grounds. This led us on a circuit that included a visit to the beautiful Winter Garden. The walk offered a tranquil counterpoint to the house’s drama. Our final stop before heading home was the second-hand bookshop. Here even Steve, notoriously selective, came away triumphant with four excellent sci-fi books. The lady was very happy to sell us our 9 books!
Finally, we enjoyed a much-needed tea in the café, which was thankfully where I was reunited with my left-behind hat. The perfect warming end to a successful day trip.
Gonville & Caius Commemoration Benefactors Feast – 2025
15th November 2025
Today Gonville and Caius celebrated the benefactors of the college, going right back to the days of Edmund Gonville. We had yet again been invited.
The weather was a little damp, resulting in chaos on the roads in Cambridge. We dumped the car at the playing fields, and both walked to the hotel, keeping pace with and overtaking the traffic. At the hotel we changed into our glad rags, this time I had the correct socks, no Download logos. After the complaints last year about my shirt from R, I had lashed out on a new dress shirt. Looked fine, but R still had complaints, something to-do with the studs. She later found that Richard’s shirt was far superior as it had removable studs.
Ready, we walked to Caius College where we were immediately welcomed by the porter, removed our coats (R even changed from boots to shoes, as we greeted Richard & Andrea. We each downed a quick cup of tea, before going to the lecture theatre to listen to a talk by Dr Adrian Woolfson (1988) entitled “On the Future of Species: Authoring Life by means of Artificial Biological Intelligence “.
He talked about the “Spaghetti Code” of Evolution on how DNA is “unfathomably complicated” with over 5 billion years of redundancies. Dr. Woolfson’s central argument is that biological evolution is not an efficient engineer; it is a messy tinkerer, hence the “biological spaghetti code” analogy. It is full of ancient viruses, broken genes, and evolutionary accidents that have accumulated over eons. This complexity makes it dangerous to simply “edit” (using tools like CRISPR) because we don’t always know what those redundancies do. The proposed solution is to move to “authoring” new DNA. The goal is to write clean, optimized code from scratch, detached from the messy history of Darwinian evolution.
This is where AI steps in as the key to solving the complexity of DNA, Large Language of Life Models are being trained on the entire biological tree of life. AI allows us to verify changes to DNA before they are made. Instead of guessing, AI can predict how a new DNA sequence will behave, allowing us to “debug” genetic diseases (like cystic fibrosis or Huntington’s) before implementing them in a patient.
He also touched on DNA storage, which is a major focus of the “New Age of Synthetic Biology.” The storage density of DNA is so huge, that all the world’s digital data could essentially fit into a sugar-cube-sized container of DNA. Humanity generates zettabytes of data. Silicon chips are hitting physical limits. DNA is the most dense storage medium known in the universe. Unlike hard drives that degrade in decades, DNA is stable for thousands of years (which is why we can still sequence fossils). This makes it the perfect archive for human history.
His talk overran a little, and as we headed to the chapel for the service, the choristers were all outside waiting for us. We listened to the excellent Caius Choir, who we were quite near to. There was the usual history of the benefactors and the admission of two new members to the title of Gonville Fellow Benefactor. The sermon was by the college’s Dean’s Vicar, Revd Canon Dr Nicholas Thistlethwaite.
Back to the Senior Common Room for some fizz, and then the feast in hall. All four courses had excellent wine pairings, then fruit, cheese, coffee and chocolates. The cheese course may have been a little sparse this year, it all disappeared very quickly. The chef must be congratulated on serving around 180 people with such excellent food. I went for the meat offerings while R went vegetarian. She was a little disapointed as some dishes were repeats from last year. If we are invited next year, R says she will be going for the meat option.
I spent time talking to my neighbouring, fellow guests, the wives of two alumni. One was from Cambridgeshire farming stock, to whom I talked about holidays, while the other appeared to be involved with university building planning and the replacement of the “horrible” 1960s buildings. We also had a speech from the new master, Professor Gilbertson the 44th Master of Caius. A very different speech to the ones given by Pippa. As is usual we were again entertained by the choir.
After the meal, we retired to the Senior Combination Room for a nightcap. Some excellent malt was consumed by myself & Andrea. We managed to make the 11:45 bus back to the station and hence the hotel.
Next morning we met up again with Richard and Andrea for coffee and cake at Harvey Court. Unfortunately, on a Sunday the coffee shop Florey, does not serve savoury items! We said our adieus and departed homewards.
Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra
9th November 2025
R and I visited the New Theatre in Oxford to watch Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra. We arrived in plenty of time and eventually found a reasonable bar hidden away in the basement of the theatre, where we had a pre-show drink.
In the theatre, we had quite good seats with a great view. The show started with a 30-minute set from a solo artist called Luke Jackson. Then it was the interval; I’d ordered drinks from my seat, and they duly arrived at our seats!
Jools Holland and his huge band came on and performed miracles. Jools has a new drummer, Ed Richardson, who replaced Gilson Lavis. Gilson retired from the band last year, and sadly died on the 5th, four days before this show. The show featured a number of singers, including special guest Imelda May and resident singers Ruby Turner, Louise Marshall, and Sumudu Jayatilaka. Some great music with many solos.
Dr Selina
30th October 2025
Our daughter Selina invited us to attend her degree ceremony at the Birmingham Symphony Hall. She was to receive not one, but three awards. Two Master of Arts to add to her existing collection of MAs, and a Doctorate in Education for a thesis entitled Predicting drop-out in Toastmasters.
The two of us plus Phil headed up to Birmingham, and eventually managed to park in Arena Birmingham (South Car Park). We had a short walk along the canal to Symphony Hall where us three drank coffee. Selina in the meantime went off to check in and put on graduation robes. Selina was then photographed by us. We also downloaded an app which allowed us to take a photograph, and pickup a free printed copy within minutes!
The Ceremony
It was then ceremony time, we left to go to our seats, while Selina went to sit in her designated place in the stalls. We were in the gods above and looked down on her.
The ceremony started and groups of students were ushered out of the hall to wait in the side wings. They were then called to receive their reward. The higher degrees were awarded first, so Selina was in the first group. As she was now a Doctor, she then spent the rest of the ceremomy sitting on the stage. Those who received lesser awards were ushered back to their seats after receiving their rewards.
After the ceremony we all shared glasses of fizz and toasted the new graduates. We chatted to Prof Bart R who has helped Selina enormously these past few years.
It was now evening, so we went for a meal. This part of Birmingham is stacked out with eateries, we chose Celebrity Indian Balti, an upstairs cool, contemporary Indian restaurant and bar, offering both classic dishes and innovative cuisine.
Gallery
My Birthday in Cambridge
24th October 2025
My birthday was approaching, and we’d decided months earlier to celebrate by visiting Cambridge. We planned to stay at the Camping and Caravanning Club Site in Trumpington. To enhance the trip, I’d booked tickets for a couple of shows at the Cambridge Corn Exchange.
We set off on Tuesday, making our usual stop at the Saint Neots Tesco for last-minute camping supplies.
Near Saint Neots, the ongoing bypass construction was causing some road disruption. The final section of the Norwich to Milton Keynes road was being dualled, causing delays at the Black Cat roundabout. Fortunately, the eastbound road was clear. The A1 South looked very busy, but that wasn’t our route today – though we might face it on the return journey.
Upon arrival, we selected a pitch. The site manager promptly advised us to move, as the campsite breakdown crew would be pitching nearby and were likely to have lots of people around in the evening. We immediately relocated to a pitch as far away as possible.
Wednesday and Rick Wakeman – The Return of the Caped Crusader
Morning in the City
We took the bus into Cambridge, starting the day with coffee at the Michaelhouse Café while joining a 40-minute Zoom call with the SadGits. Once our virtual catch-up was over, we had a leisurely wander through the Grand Arcade and John Lewis, soaking up the familiar buzz of the city centre before deciding it was time for lunch.
A Taste of Domaine Delhome
R had her heart set on a wine flight at the Cambridge Wine Merchants on Bridge Street, so we headed there and settled in. The flight included two whites and two reds, all from the same vineyard – Domaine Delhome. The wines were:
- Viognier IGP Rhodannies 2023
- Crozes-Hermitage Blanc LoEss 2023
- Crozes-Hermitage Moziac 2023
- Crozes-Hermitage Boreal 2022
We ordered some bread, sardines, and nibbles to go alongside and made that our lunch. Sitting outside in the gentle warmth of the last October sun, it felt wonderfully relaxed – a perfect pause in the day.
Literary Temptations
Passing by Heffers, we stopped to admire the window display for Philip Pullman’s new release – The Rose Field, the third and final instalment in The Book of Dust trilogy. Officially released on 23rd October, it looked very tempting indeed.
An Afternoon of Art
Next, we made our way to the Fitzwilliam Museum, spending much of the afternoon in the galleries of flower paintings. R was eager to revisit a particular piece she had first seen years ago during an alumni wine evening and Vice-Chancellor’s speech. The painting – a bowl of flowers so vividly realistic that insects appeared to crawl over the leaves – was still there, glowing with life and detail.
We also discovered a gallery devoted to the collection of flower paintings donated in 1973 by Henry Rogers Broughton, 2nd Lord Fairhaven. Some were extraordinary, though none quite matched the beauty of R’s favourite.
The Eagle and Its Stories
Later, we stopped at The Eagle for a pint, sitting in the historic Airmen’s Bar. During the war, Allied airmen who drank there, used wax candles, petrol lighters, and lipstick to scrawl their names, squadron numbers, and doodles across the ceiling – a moving and tangible reminder of the pub’s history. The pub is where Watson and Crick announced they had discovered ‘the secret of life’.
Supper and a Show
Dinner was at The Giggling Squid, where I had a Green Thai curry & R a stir fry. The atmosphere was calm and unhurried, mostly older diners enjoying a quiet evening. As we and a few others left, someone joked that we all clearly knew where we were heading next – and they were right.
Across the road at the Corn Exchange, Rick Wakeman was performing The Six Wives of Henry VIII and, The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
We were seated quite far back, so the view wasn’t perfect, but the performance more than made up for it. The Corn Exchange has changed so much since my student days in the 1970s, when I saw bands like Curved Air and Hawkwind there. Then it was all standing – now it’s neatly tiered seating throughout.
The concert was superb. Both albums were performed with great energy and musicianship. R preferred The Six Wives of Henry VIII, while I loved both equally. Adding to the magic was Rick’s son, Adam Wakeman – a talented musician in his own right, known for playing keyboards and guitar with Ozzy Osbourne’s band – who joined his father on stage.
A good evening and we managed to get a bus back.
Gallery
Thursday – Curious Cures and Coffee at Caius
Today we headed out from the campsite to visit the Cambridge University Library exhibition entitled Curious Cures. The exhibition featured medical manuscripts and books from the library’s own collection, along with items from several Cambridge colleges which specialised in medicine. Together they illustrated the history of medicine — from early anatomical drawings and surgical procedures to strange and sometimes amusing remedies.
Medicine was taught at several colleges from an early date, including my own, Gonville and Caius. Some of the cures and potions on display seemed laughable by today’s standards, yet many laid the groundwork for modern medical practices. There was aninteractive quiz where you had to guess if the suggested cure was medieval or modern. Fascinating!
Coffee at Caius
After exploring the exhibition, we walked over to Caius College’s Harvey Court for coffee. There used to be a café in the students’ common room called Harvey’s, open to the public. As we made our way there, I checked Google Maps and noticed it was no longer listed, so we prepared ourselves for disappointment.
Luck, however, was on our side. In Harvey’s place we found a new coffee shop, open to the public, called Florey. Named after Howard Florey — the penicillin pioneer and former Master of Gonville & Caius — the café serves coffee and light food six days a week, providing a much-needed caffeine fix for students based near Sidgwick Site. R wanted to knmow how come students could afford to buy coffee.
Florey was opened following the closure of Harvey’s in June, after financial difficulties, despite an Instagram campaign to “Save Harvey’s Coffee House”. The name and branding may have changed, but, by all accounts, the iced matcha remains as popular as ever. Interestingly, one of the co-owners also runs the Orchard Tea Garden in Grantchester.
We enjoyed cappuccinos and very yummy, large sausage rolls before heading back towards Trumpington Street.
Books and Bodies
Our next stop was the delightfully named Bodies in the Bookshop, a small independent bookshop. R, true to form, began browsing enthusiastically and soon was buying half the shop. She mentioned the new Mr Men & LittleMiss Agatha Chrsitie themed books, published today. She bought a copy of each followed by a friendly chat with Richard, one of the owners, having been particularly impressed by knowledge and their current window display. We left as he was ordering more copies of the AC books Later, she emailed them to say how much she admired the window display — and, the next day, received a reply to say the display had since been changed. Naturally, we returned soon after to see the new version.
Heading Home
After our bookish detour, we caught an early bus back to the campsite — tired but happy after another day exploring Cambridge.
Gallery
Friday – A Birthday Feast at MillWorks
Today was my birthday, and we decided to celebrate with a meal at MillWorks, just as we did last year. This time the restaurant was noticeably quieter. Last year it had been packed, but even then, they had managed to find us a table.
We settled in, ordered a bottle of wine and some nibbles — padron peppers and halloumi fries — while we looked through the menu.
Starters
I began with Shetland mussels, and they were some of the best I’ve ever had — large, plump, and juicy, served in a delicious, fragrant sauce. Isit the cold waters of Shetland that make them so good? They easily outshone any mussels I’ve eaten in France, which so often arrive broken, tightly closed, or disappointingly small. R had a salad of beans, beetroot, and leaves — fresh, colourful, and beautifully presented.
Mains
For my main course, I went for the classic steak and chips. The cut was a flat iron steak — one of the cheaper cuts — but it was perfectly cooked, with a lovely crust on the outside and tender inside. R enjoyed a chicken supreme served in a mixed bean cassoulet, which she declared excellent.
Dessert and Reflections
Greedy me couldn’t resist finishing with an affogato — the perfect mix of hot espresso and melting ice cream. Our waitress was delightfully friendly and full of energy, adding to the relaxed, cheerful atmosphere of the meal. She even added a candle to my dessert!
Afterwards, we strolled back to the campsite and spent the rest of the afternoon and evening simply relaxing — content, well-fed, and a year older.
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Saturday – with the SadGits
Today we met up with Richard, Andrea, and Simon — some of the SadGits. Richard had arranged to meet at Kettle’s Yard at 1.30 p.m., where we arrived first and sat with a coffee while waiting for the others.
Richard and Andrea went on the tour of Jim and Helen Ede’s house, which we decided to skip as we’d done it recently. Instead, Simon joined us to explore the art exhibitions currently on display. There were two running side by side.
Lubaina Himid with Magda Stawarska — Another Chance Encounter
The first exhibition featured the collaborative work of Lubaina Himid and Magda Stawarska, titled Another Chance Encounter. The paintings were bright and colourful, depicting two figures in conversation — a tailor selling his fabrics and a buyer considering them. Alongside the images were fragments of dialogue and inner thoughts between the two characters.
The conversations were, to my mind, a little strange and didn’t seem to add much to the artwork itself. The paintings, however, were striking — bold and decorative. I could imagine having one or two on my walls, though I suspect they wouldn’t be to everyone’s taste.
Sophie Gaudier – Brzeska and Nina Hamnett
The second exhibition showcased the work of Sophie Gaudier-Brzeska and Nina Hamnett. Words rather failed me here — I had no real idea what it was meant to convey, and neither did R or anyone else, as far as I could tell. Sorry, but this one left us all rather puzzled.
Lunch at The Punter
Afterwards, we walked to The Punter pub for lunch — an enjoyable affair of good food, beer, and lively conversation. Once we’d eaten and caught up properly, we all headed our separate ways. For us, it was back to the campsite to unwind after another pleasant day in Cambridge.
Sunday – is the New Shopping Day
We weren’t in any great hurry to go into Cambridge today, so we had lunch in the van before setting out. Being Sunday, the bus service was reduced to just one an hour instead of the usual three. Minor panic (see on) when I noticed how early the buses stop running.
When we arrived, Cambridge was heaving with people. Our first stop was Bodies in the Bookshop, not to go inside this time but to admire their new window display. After that, we continued the tradition with tea and cake at The Copper Kettle — only a small piece, as we were planning to eat again later.
Book Browsing and Nostalgia
Next, we walked to Waterstones, where I debated whether to buy The Rose Field. In the end, I decided to wait — I really ought to reread the previous book first. Besides, I’d prefer to buy the paperback so it matches the size of the other volumes in the series.
We then browsed a couple of record (yes, record shops) shops, where I was briefly tempted to buy a vinyl record. I couldn’t find the Curved Air album I once owned — the one that, as far as I recall, was left on a record deck in Beccles after a party in 1975 and never seen again. Oddly enough, I kept the album cover for years afterwards.
More Books and New Discoveries
At Heffers, we revisited The Book of Dust display, and I also checked the shelves for titles from the authors of the The Expanse series and another author Liu Cixin, the Chinese author of The Three-Body Problem trilogy. To my delight, there were new books from both. Apparently, the authors of The Expanse are writing a new trilogy and have even set up a company to produce a television adaptation of The Captive’s War. Intriguing.
Supper at the Giggling Squid
By closing time we were politely ushered out of Heffers so we walked over to the Giggling Squid (again) for supper. We’d enjoyed it last time and R was keen to return. This time it was busier, and I think we were lucky to get a table.
I ordered a sharing platter — Bangkok Bites — while R added some Chilli Chickpeas. A fine start. I followed with a Massaman curry, while R had something equally good, though I can’t quite recall what! {She can, another stir fry.]
The Night Sky Show
After dinner, we crossed the road to the Corn Exchange for a performance called The Night Sky Show — a visual show about the night sky. This was presented by Adrian West – apparently, a “passionate and experienced astronomer, presenter and author”. It was an interesting idea, but rather low-tech and, at times, difficult to follow. Too much was left unexplained, and the show jumped between themes without much structure. It also tried a little too hard to be humorous when a more thoughtful approach might have worked better. All a little dumbed down for the masses.
That said, some of the images and video sequences were excellent — stunning shots of the Moon, Saturn, and meteor showers that were genuinely spectacular. The children near us respondedwell.
The Journey Back
As the buses stop running around six on Sundays in Cambridge, we had to take a taxi back to the campsite. It turned out to be cheaper than expected, and we hardly had to wait. Our driver arrived in a ten-year-old Tesla, still running perfectly and, he proudly told us, never once serviced. He’d driven 130,000 miles and spent only £1,000 on fuel.
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Monday – Heading Home
It started as a lovely bright day as we packed up the van and prepared to head home. We made two stops along the way — first at Aldi, where I picked up some new work trousers, and then at IKEA, to buy plastic storage tubs (and, of course, some pickled herring for me).
To avoid the inevitable hold-ups at the Black Cat Roundabout, we took a cross-country route. Traffic on the A1 looked dreadful, and Google recommended a slower but more scenic detour through the country lanes — a pleasant way to end the trip.
The picture of me was taken with my mobile phone. I used my watch to preview the image and position myself. When I achieved the correct pose, I pressed the button to take the photo. I can see some useful applications for this.
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The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
10/10/2025
We made a rare visit to the Waterside Theatre, to watch “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe“. It is a tradition for some of us in the village to watch the progress of the actor “Stanton Wright“. We have seen him perform in “All or Nothing“, a story of the band Small Faces. Then in London we watched him perform in “Pictures of Dorian Gray“. More recently he had several parts in the “Kite Runner” which I saw in Oxford.
In this show he starred as Aslan the Lion, as well as having other small parts as a Soldier and a Hedgehog.
The special effects of this production were extremely ingenious & magical, from suitcases with holes cut in them to form windows in an effect that looked like carriages in a train, to the animation of Aslan and the amazing witch’s platform, which launched her to soar high up. All of this performance was accompanied by live music, played by the actors as they performed the play. Yes, many of the actors are also accomplished musicians.
After the event we were invited backstage to take a close look at the costumes & props. I have never been behind stage before and was absolutely astounded by the organised chaos, and the height of the stage. The number of ropes, for hoisting and moving scenery, all the electronic sound equipment and then the actual props. The props, especially Aslan, were formidable creations.
The show moves on in the next few days, It takes five pantechnicons to move all the equipment, props and costumes!
A vist with BBOWT to Snelsmore Common Country Park
9th October 2025
We were invited on a guided tour of Snelsmore Common Country Park, hosted by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT).
While the park isn’t owned by BBOWT, they manage it on behalf of the local council. As a common, the park offers unrestricted access via numerous paths. BBOWT explained that during spring nesting season, they attempt to subtly restrict access to sensitive areas by placing branches in path openings. This is done to gently discourage people from entering, as outright restrictions are not permissible on a common.
The park is well-equipped for visitors, featuring a café and toilets, along with plenty of parking spread across several small car parks. The idea is that these amenities act as honeypots to concentrate the majority of visitors in a few areas, thus encouraging them not to walk through the entire common.
Heathland, Ponies and Wildlife
The tour took us through the common and various mires nestled within the heathland. To help manage and maintain the land through grazing, four ponies currently reside there, with the possibility of a couple more joining them in the future.
Among the trees, we observed a lovely array of fungi, including the striking Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria), and various other species. In some waterlogged areas, we were shown Sundew, a fascinating carnivorous plant. The heathland also features low sandy banks that serve as homes for nesting insects, though none were visible on the day of our visit. All four ponies were around, busily munching their way through the undergrowth.
Conclusion
It’s a lovely spot for a walk. We concluded the tour with a pleasant coffee and cake before making the unfortunate, hour-long drive back home.
France and Château du Champ de Bataille
28th August 2025
There had been a slight shower overnight, so the canopy had to be put away wet. We set off to Vouvray by non-toll roads. Because the journey was relatively short, I had decided to stop at some sites on the way. I had searched out some chateaux on the route, and we stopped off at the first, Château du Champ de Bataille.
We were a bit perplexed, no big signs, some oldish but not ancient, ruined buildings. Then gates looked firmly closed, but a small sign urging you onward. We continued but were in half a mind to turn around. But we were here, so on we continued. Eventually a sign to the car park, and an empty car park it was, specially designed to park any mobile homes far away, but as a small campervan we felt we could continue into the normal car park..
We arrived at reception to buy tickets but found it unpersoned. A rude woman did appear, sold us garden tickets. We thought to buy house tickets, but the house was not open till later. Good thing too, took us several hours to do the garden justice. You could spend days here. It is fabulous. To see it at night with the lights on, and the fires blazing in front of the house would be magical.
Especially magical was the Grotte de Cybele, a recently constructed cave and pool. R was excited by finding a tiny frog in a pond. Another area had rows of Sphinx shaped bushes, all arranged in an alley. There were some interesting hot houses, with wonderful plants and furniture. The Temple of Leda with the sharp rock internal surfaces. The final spectacular view was on the steps in between the lake and the lawn going onto the house. Here there was several fire pits strategically placed along with lighting. Would make a magical setting for a wedding or a large party.
Back on track, we headed on to Vouvray through narrow lanes across fields planted with Maize and Millet. You could tell when you crossed departments, the ones keeping to 80kph, and the other departments which signposted 90kph.
We stopped for fuel. 156 for a litre. Diesel used to be much cheaper in France than the UK, whereas now it is about the same. Presumably because the UK has not added any tax to fuel for many years.
Arrived at Vouvray, and a sign outside campsite saying it was full. They did have some suggestions on the board where else to stay. So we are down the road a little way and stayed at Camping de Montlouis-sur-Loire. Seems Vouvray is at 50minute walk, with a track across the Loire on the railway bridge.
Campsite does have a busy road nearby, but seems to have quietened down. The entertainmement solo singer and guitarist is keeping us amused. At least he has stopped singing French music now.
Supper was the remains of the chicken and a tomato salad. The big box of tomatoes we had bought on arrival in France needs to be eaten soon, so choosing the softer tomatoes to eat.
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France and Le Bec-Hellouin
Tuesday 26th August
Alarms rang at 5.00, and we were on our way to France. The trip through the channel tunnel was fast and uneventful. Well except we saw the anticlockwise lane of the M25 bereft of any traffic. Few miles on we saw fire engines blocking the carriage way, and a couple of trucks hauling hay on the side. A fire in the straw, but didn’t notice any flames
We arrived at the chunnel, and were offered a trip 2 hours in advance of our scheduled trip. For some reason I did not accept and chose to snooze in the van for a little while. Way ahead of are scheduled boarding time, we went to catch our shuttle. Despite being pulled aside for an explosive test, we were through the French customs in record time. No queuing at all.
Headed to the final queue, and found we were boarding straight away. Yes, an earlier train, which appeared to be pretty empty. Arrived in France 20 minutes ahead of schedule. On the route did an interesting experiment, used my altimeter to see what the depth was. The phone has a pressure altimeter. Interesting we went down to 210 meters below sea level, but at some point under the channel we rose to 200 above sea level. I assume this is pressure caused by our speed through the tunnel, and oncoming trains crossing the channel.
We took our usual non-pay route to Le Bec-Hellouin where we had booked for a couple of nights. The weather was generally quite good, with only the odd little drop of rain. Wind en route had been strong. Not sure there can be any soil left on the fields. The fields were being ploughed, and there were dust storms around the tractors, with the wind blowing away the soil.
Stopped at the usual small supermarket en route, an Auchan at Bosroumois. After checking in, we found a nice pitch. Funny how we always camp in the same area, and indeed use the same pitches.
Wednesday 27th August
The day started lovely. Showers. Spoke to the Dutch neighbours who were on their way home. They told us their favourite book was The Salt Path. We had to disillusion them about its credibility, and how the authors had failed to pay back loans. Theywere shocked.
We walked down to the monastery. Stopped off at a café for a pre-elevenses beer. Then walked over to the monastery where R was looking for some suitable cards. She found none. The zoom call to the Sad Gits started at around 12. We proceeded with the call and walked around the garden and outside the monastery making a nuisance of ourselves.
After the call, back up to the campsite for lunch. At around 3 I decided to go for a walk. So headed down to the village, onto the cycle track. I then took a path up the hill where R and I had been many years before. This was the track to Brionne. I didn’t want to walk to Brionne and hoped to take a track back down the hill. All these tracks appeared to be to be chained offwith forbidding and threatening notices. As a law-abiding Brit I was deterred and continued to walk on. When was I going to give up and turn around? Eventually there was a left turn I could take, this turned into a metal road, past houses.
I was still hoping for another open left, which I found. Eventually I was at where the cycle track crossed the road, the road back home. Could I find the cycle track.? No, it went under the road, and there was no way you could get to it. So, I was forced to take the long walk home. BUT …. There was a sign about Le Bec-Hellouin and nature reserve. I took this route which went back to the cycle track. As luck would have it this route eventually did join the track. Onwards and back to Le Bec-Hellouin, and then up the hill. Managed 11.0km in 1hr 52m My legs are feeling it.
Back at the campsite, a bottle of beer and supper of chicken breast and salad.
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Bloodstock – Sunday and Gojira
10th August 2025
Another warm and sunny Sunday at my favourite music festival, Bloodstock! Today’s theme was Dinosaurs, so if you spot any prehistoric creatures in the photos or videos, that’s the reason why. The atmosphere was fantastic — people really went all out with costumes, from inflatable T-Rex suits to handmade raptor masks.
We started the day in the Serpent’s Lair, chatting with a guy wearing one of those inflatable dinosaur outfits. It was powered by a small air pump that ran continuously, giving the illusion that he was riding the dino. Unfortunately, as we were talking, the pump gave up and the poor dinosaur began to deflate right before our eyes. Such a shame — but it definitely added to the comedy of the day!
Between the laughter, great music, and creative costumes, Dinosaur Day at Bloodstock was another unforgettable chapter in this amazing festival’s history.
We also chatted with a band member whose first gig ever was at the Servants Layer the previous day. Selina remembered, our viewing of the performance was cut short because of a signing. First album coming out soon. Videos done. Has friend is in Ghosts of Atlantis.
A early morning pint of Dark Drake
Ghosts of Atlantis
Our first band of the day was Ghosts of Atlantis. The crowd wasn’t huge, but those who gathered were full of energy and clearly enjoying themselves. At one point, a dinosaur led a conga line through the audience, and there were plenty of playful balloon sword fights adding to the fun atmosphere.
Ghosts of Atlantis delivered a strong performance — their blend of symphonic metal and melodic death metal, infused with mythological and historical themes, created a powerful start to the day. They’re a band from Suffolk, England, known for their cinematic sound and storytelling inspired by the legends of Atlantis. Even with a smaller crowd, they made a big impression and set the tone perfectly for the rest of the festival.
Pint of devils horns. Quite a nice bitter taste.
One Machine
One Machine hit the Ronnie James Dio stage with a fierce, precision-driven set that blended classic and modern metal perfectly. Frontman Tasos Lazaris commanded the crowd with powerful vocals, while the band’s tight riffs and crisp production kept the energy high. Drawing mostly from The Final Cull and The Distortion of Lies & The Overdriven Truth, they delivered a solid, no-frills performance that proved why they deserve their place at Bloodstock. Not the flashiest set of the day, but undeniably one of the most professional and hard-hitting.
Ok, smallest circle pit, one guy spent most of the set trying to get it started. Chatted to a professional photographer. He doesnt do Glasto because of cost and music.
Beer Duck dcku light beer, refreshing
Rivers of Nihil
Hailing from Reading, Pennsylvania, Rivers of Nihil delivered a sharp, technically-adept set at Bloodstock 2025. Their performance fused brutal death-metal ferocity with unexpected touches — including wind instruments like saxophone, which added a haunting melodic layer to the chaos. A standout for those who appreciate metal with both power and nuance.
Rock & Metal Gallery
During the afternoon, we took some time away from the stages to visit the Rock & Metal Gallery, which this year featured a stunning exhibition of artwork by the legendary Roger Dean. Best known for his iconic album covers for bands such as Yes, Asia, and Uriah Heep, Dean’s work is instantly recognisable for its dreamlike landscapes, surreal architecture, and vivid use of colour. Seeing his art up close was a real treat — the intricate details and scale of the pieces revealed the depth of imagination that has inspired musicians and fans for decades.
The gallery itself provided a calm, air-conditioned refuge from the heat and noise outside, and wandering among the artwork felt like stepping into another world. Alongside Dean’s paintings was another fascinating exhibition showcasing a collection of “out-of-this-world” guitars. These instruments ranged from custom-built masterpieces with elaborate carvings and finishes to experimental designs that looked more like sculptures than playable instruments.
Together, the two exhibitions captured the spirit of Bloodstock perfectly — creativity, craftsmanship, and a love of the extraordinary. It was a reminder that the festival isn’t just about the music; it’s also about celebrating the art and imagination that fuel heavy metal culture.
August Burns Red
The next band we saw was August Burns Red, and they absolutely tore up the stage. From the first riff, the crowd erupted — waves of people were crowd-surfing toward the barrier, keeping the ever-patient security team (wearing shirts that read “We Are Here to Help”) constantly on their toes. At one point, we even spotted someone in a full gas mask surfing over the sea of metalheads, perfectly capturing the wild energy of the set.
August Burns Red delivered a tight, explosive performance filled with technical precision and raw passion. Their mix of crushing breakdowns, soaring melodies, and complex rhythms hit hard and sounded flawless live. The band’s connection with the audience was undeniable — fists in the air, circle pits spinning, and voices shouting every word back at the stage.
It was one of those Bloodstock moments where everything clicked: the sun blazing, the crowd united, and the music shaking the ground.
Feuerschwanz
Feuerschwanz brought the party to the Ronnie James Dio stage with their high-energy blend of medieval folk and metal from Erlangen, Bavaria. The performance overflowed with theatrical flair—bagpipes, hurdy-gurdy, and thundering riffs mingled seamlessly, creating a sound that was as fun as it was ferocious. Their sense of humour was on full display, reminding everyone that while they’re serious about their music, they’re also here to crack a smile.
The crowd roared along, arms raised, as the band delivered both sing-along anthems and rollicking folk-metal bangers. If you were there for a wild good time, this set hit the mark.
Pint of Road crew. Not nice, rather sweet.
The Black Dahlia Murder
The set by The Black Dahlia Murder at Bloodstock Open Air 2025 was a ferocious display of melodic death metal at full throttle. Frontman Brian Eschbach stepped into the vocal role with commanding presence, honouring the band’s legacy while charging ahead. Their performance was precise, razor-sharp and relentless—track after track landed with visceral impact. The crowd responded with massive circle pits and unrestrained energy. Technical hiccups briefly surfaced, but the band shrugged them off and never lost momentum. A reminder that even after difficult changes, The Black Dahlia Murder remain a powerhouse live force.
They are what I call a shouty band.
Japanese noodles for lunch
The Lord of the Lost
Germany’s Lord of the Lost delivered a main stage performance at Bloodstock that was a dazzling triumph of glam-industrial metal. Frontman Chris Harms and his band, decked in signature theatrical gear, were relentlessly high-energy. The set was a perfect blend of crushing industrial stomp, like “Drag Me To Hell,” and their infectious, glitter-coated anthems from Blood & Glitter. Harms commanded the Bloodstock faithful, initiating massive singalongs and encouraging the famous “one-person mosh pit.” The band was monstrously tight, translating their studio intensity into a powerful live show. This was more than just a gig; it was a gloriously dark, heavy, and celebratory party that left the crowd completely buzzed.
Sang everything in English, just caught the count down to one song in German. Video of ‘run away‘. Pretty good, lyrics you could understand.
Feuerschwanz Signing
We then queued up to get the signatures of the German band Feuerschwanz. Really lovely group of people.
Mastodon
Mastodon delivered a monumental performance as special guests on the Ronnie James Dio stage at Bloodstock 2025. The Atlanta titans fused intricate prog with earth-shaking sludge, proving their legendary status. Brann Dailor’s frantic drumming anchored the sprawling soundscapes, while Troy Sanders’ bellowing vocals cut through the Derbyshire air. Highlights included a ferocious rendition of “Blood and Thunder,” which ignited the biggest pit of the weekend, and a tight, riff-heavy run through “Megalodon.” A masterclass in modern metal complexity and raw power. They set an impossibly high bar for the headliners.
Gojira
Closing out the Ronnie James Dio stage on Sunday, French progressive metal masters Gojira proved exactly why they earned their headlining slot at Bloodstock 2025. Following Mastodon’s immense set, the Duplantier brothers and co. delivered a transcendent performance that was as environmentally conscious as it was overwhelmingly heavy.
The set was a perfectly balanced assault of technical precision and groove, led by Joe Duplantier’s powerful, shamanistic presence and the thunderous, signature drumming of Mario Duplantier. Classics like “Flying Whales” and “Backbone” showcased their sprawling, dynamic genius, pulling the crowd into a mesmerizing frenzy.
The sheer scale of the production matched the music’s ambition. The stage erupted with colossal bursts of fire and pyrotechnics, timed impeccably to the rhythmic shifts in tracks like “Stranded” and the pulsating stomp of “Amazonia.” The heat from the massive plumes of flame added a visceral element to the atmosphere, underscoring the band’s raw power and turning the arena into a blazing spectacle that lit up the Derbyshire night sky.
The emotional high point arrived with “The Chant,” where thousands of voices sang along to the melodic chorus, offering a moment of collective harmony before the final, brutal salvo. Their encore, which notably featured a heartfelt cover of the Black Sabbath classic “Under the Sun / Every Day Comes and Goes” in tribute to the recently passed Ozzy Osbourne, brought a perfect blend of reverence and raw emotion to the festival’s close. Gojira didn’t just play a festival set; they delivered a spiritual, fiery, and deeply impactful metal mass.
Bit over the top. Great light shows, but big gaps between each song. I do wish bands could go from one song to the next without pausing
Gojira Set List – Bloodstock 2025 (August 10, 2025)
Main Set:
- Only Pain
- The Axe
- Backbone
- Stranded
- Flying Whales
- The Cell
- From the Sky
- Another World
- Silvera
- Mea culpa (Ah! Ça ira!)
- The Chant
- Amazonia
Encore:
- L’enfant sauvage
- Under the Sun / Every Day Comes and Goes (Black Sabbath cover)
- The Gift of Guilt
The End
Next day we packed the tent away, and drove back home. No issues leaving the road was clear. I have Tickets for next year. The band autographs are displayed in the loo.
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