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Category Archives: Buckinghamshire

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Looking for Foxes #12 and Badgers

Blasdale Home Posted on April 14, 2025 by SteveApril 23, 2025

14th April 2025

The recent weeks have felt noticeably quieter on the animal front, which is why the video updates have been on hold.

However, the grey squirrel still provides some entertainment with its acrobatic dashes up and down the tree, culminating in a daring branch-assisted crossing of the pond.

Our regular visitor, the Grey Heron, continues its foraging trips between our pond and the neighbours’. While I’ve only observed it catching frogs, I did hear a report of one elsewhere preying on the protected Great Crested Newt.

Adding a much-missed face to the local wildlife, a badger made an appearance, initially by the pond and then on the lawn a few days later.

Finally, the Moorhens are still active on the pond and seem to have successfully displaced the ducks, a change from their peaceful coexistence in the previous video.

Badgers at night

Posted in Kingswood, wildlife | Tagged Badger, Fox, Foxes, Grey Heron, Grey Squirrel, Moorhen, squirrel | Leave a reply

MK Gallery: Andy Warhol: Portrait of America

Blasdale Home Posted on April 14, 2025 by SteveApril 25, 2025

14th April 2025

A trip to Milton Keynes and the MK Gallery to see the Andy Warhol Portrait of America Exhibition. The exhibition was run in conjunction with the Tate and National Galleries of Scotland. Despite being bombarded with emails and asked to book tickets, we ventuured forth in the hope of gaining entry without pre-booking. The gallery was not at all busy, and there were plenty of Andy Warhol paintings and drawings, from the early years up until his untimely death. Some images were provocative, the electric chair featured quite a few times. I enjoyed this exhibition far more than our visit in 2024 to see Vanessa Bell: A World of Form and Colour. I could imagine wallpapering the sitting room with the image of the pink cow head on a yellow background. Although it must be produced for the exhibition, R is lucky I have not found any of it for sale.

As it usual on these days out, we ate in the cafe, where the same chef as last time was on duty.

Andy Warhol : Portrait of America
Andy Warhol : Portrait of America
Andy Warhol : Portrait of America
Andy Warhol : Portrait of America
Andy Warhol : Portrait of America
Andy Warhol : Portrait of America
Andy Warhol : Portrait of America
Andy Warhol : Portrait of America

Posted in Art, Buckinghamshire | Tagged Andy Warhol, Milton Keynes, MK Gallery | Leave a reply

Starlings on the field

Blasdale Home Posted on February 20, 2025 by SteveMarch 17, 2025

20th February 2025

We have had starlings on the field. They have been bathing in the puddles, and looking around the field for food. They are always busy moving on to different areas, never stationary for a moment. No large murmurations as we are only a gathering point in the evening before they move off to roost for the night somewhere else.

Starlings on the field
1W5A7157-Enhanced-NR

Posted in Kingswood | Tagged Starlings | Leave a reply

Stowe Gardens – Snowdrops

Blasdale Home Posted on February 19, 2025 by SteveApril 5, 2025

19th February 2025

We visited Stowe Gardens for the annual Snowdrop viewing event. Dull day, but not raining. We arrived at opening time and walked down to the park and around one of the lakes. Yes there are snowdrops, but not an impressive numbers. Not as good as last year where we visited the church ast Swyncombe. The grave yard at Swyncombe church has an impressive array.

Despite the limited numbers of Snowdrops, we had a nice walk around, followed by lunch at the NT cafe. The gardens also showed some signs of distress from the winter storms, with a few trees uprooted.

Stowe Park - Snowdrops
Stowe Park - Snowdrops
Stowe Park - Snowdrops
Stowe Park - Snowdrops

Posted in Buckinghamshire | Tagged National Trust, Snowdrops, Stowe Gardens | Leave a reply

Looking for Foxes 8

Blasdale Home Posted on January 22, 2025 by SteveFebruary 15, 2025

22nd January 2025

It has been quite some time since I last shared a video showcasing the wildlife around the garden. Sightings of foxes have been infrequent, mostly limited to them passing through the garden without settling. They have not yet taken over any rabbit burrows for breeding purposes.

Looking for Foxes

The most notable sighting was that of a Grey Heron, which appears to have made the field pond its new habitat. I was fortunate enough to capture footage of the heron stalking across the pond after sunset. There is one particular moment where it can be seen holding a frog in its beak, and another where a fox is seen walking behind it. You can find these scenes using the YouTube chapters.

Please note that the dates displayed by the cameras follow the American date format (Month, Day, Year), as the cameras do not support localized date settings.

Bird species recorded by the cameras include: Blackbird, Chaffinch, Heron, Crow, Jay, Moorhen, Pheasant, Redwing, and Starlings. Mammals observed include: Domestic Cat, Muntjac Deer, Fox, and Rabbit.

Posted in home, Kingswood | Tagged Blackbird, Chaffinch, Crow, Domestic Cat, Fox, Frog, heron, Jay, Moorhen, Muntjac, Pheasant, Rabbit, Redwing, Starlings | Leave a reply

Various Events and Days Out in 2024

Blasdale Home Posted on December 31, 2024 by SteveFebruary 1, 2025

31st December 2024

Some images from 2024, which I have combined into one posting.

  • Gracie, a local Kingswood resident, demonstrating dressage on Jeb
  • Trip to Upton Park
  • Funeral of James Wilkinson
  • The Aurora Borealis at home
  • Bicester Village – meal at Ottolenghi
  • Snow at home

Gracie Catling
Gracie Catling
Gracie Catling
National Trust - Upton House
National Trust - Upton House
National Trust - Upton House
National Trust - Upton House
National Trust - Upton House
National Trust - Upton House
National Trust - Upton House
National Trust - Upton House
National Trust - Upton House
National Trust - Upton House
Funeral of James Wilkinson
Funeral of James Wilkinson
Funeral of James Wilkinson
Funeral of James Wilkinson
Funeral of James Wilkinson
Aurora Borealis
Aurora Borealis
Aurora Borealis
Aurora Borealis
Bicester Village
Bicester Village
Bicester Village
Bicester Village
Bicester Village
Snow in Kingswood

Posted in Buckinghamshire, Kingswood, Oxfordshire, Wales, Warwickshire | Tagged Bicester Village, Kingswood, Upton House | Leave a reply
Kingswood Firework party

Kingswood Bonfire Night

Blasdale Home Posted on November 9, 2024 by SteveNovember 15, 2024

9th November 2024

The Kingswood bonfire night was held on a dry Saturday. Ian excelled himself with the largest bonfire we have ever had and a brilliant (in both senses of the word) firework display. The heat from the fire was intense. Julie had yet again organized a guy which quickly succumbed to the heat.

As is usual we were supplied with hot burgers and sausages from our excellent village catering team of Karin, Duncan, Keith and Charlotte. Beers & wines kept coming from the man with the festival hat, George.

Thanks are also due to the Hubbards for hosting the event. It’s certainly not everyone who wants a large burn mark on their lawn!

Very sadly, this may have been our last bonfire night. After Ian’s exemplary 25 years of sterling service, someone else is now needed to carry on the tradition..

Posted in Buckinghamshire, Kingswood | Tagged Fireworks, Kingswood | Leave a reply

Vanessa Bell: A World of Form and Colour

Blasdale Home Posted on November 5, 2024 by SteveNovember 25, 2024

5th November 2024

We decided to venture back into Central Milton Keynes after a long absence, parking in the multi-story car park near John Lewis. It was quite a surprise to find the former ground-level car park transformed into a towering structure. I wondered when the transformation took place.

A short walk from the car park led us to the Milton Keynes Gallery, where the much-anticipated Vanessa Bell exhibition was underway. I am told that Vanessa Bell (1879-1961), a prominent figure of the Bloomsbury Group, was a pioneering modernist painter, designer, and ceramicist. The exhibition showcased a wide range of her work, including paintings, drawings, ceramics and furniture.

While I personally found the abstract nature of her paintings a bit too avant-garde for my taste, preferring more realistic or draughtsman-like styles, R thoroughly enjoyed the exhibition.

We capped off our cultural outing with a satisfying lunch at the gallery’s on-site restaurant. The menu featured “Handmade mug of soup”. R tutted, but no, it was correct! The mug was handmade! Watching the chef, he definitely had a flourish when he added seasonings.

Vanessa Bell: A World of Form and Colour
Vanessa Bell: A World of Form and Colour
Vanessa Bell: A World of Form and Colour
Vanessa Bell: A World of Form and Colour

Posted in Art, Buckinghamshire | Tagged Milton Keynes, Vanessa Bell | Leave a reply
Muntjac

Looking for Foxes 7

Blasdale Home Posted on October 20, 2024 by SteveOctober 20, 2024

After a disappointing spring looking for foxes, and a busy summer travelling, there were very few sightings of foxes, Now back at home, we decided to put out the cameras again. Not much to report, a fox, rabbits, randy pigeons, cat and a muntjac deer. It is a start, as we search the garden for the best position to set the cameras.

Posted in Buckinghamshire, wildlife | Tagged Feline, Fox, Muntjac, Pigeon | Leave a reply

Vintage Sports-Car Club Meet

Blasdale Home Posted on June 20, 2024 by SteveAugust 19, 2024

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.

The Vintage Sports-Car Club
The Vintage Sports-Car Club
The Vintage Sports-Car Club
The Vintage Sports-Car Club
The Vintage Sports-Car Club
The Vintage Sports-Car Club
The Vintage Sports-Car Club
The Vintage Sports-Car Club
The Vintage Sports-Car Club
The Vintage Sports-Car Club
The Vintage Sports-Car Club

Here is an ERA (Englis Racing Automobile) from the 1930’s being started.

Posted in Kingswood | Tagged Canaletto, Cannaletto, Sports Car, Vintage, VW | Leave a reply

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