By chance we saw the International Space Station fly over us on Sunday night. On the Monday and Tuesday I took to taking photographs of it. The first ones taken on Monday were short 30 second exposures. The last photograph taken on Tuesday at 23.45 was for the full duration of the visible portion of the flight. Unfortunately camera was not pointing quite the correct way, so we don’t see it fade out.
A walk through Ham Wood and then back up to Grendon Underwood and across the fields home. The sun was setting, so some warm images. The Spring flowers were over, so what remained of the flowers were a bit straggly, though they still looked nice.
Sitting at home, outside, drinking our G&Ts, you must have your camera at the ready. There is the Heron visiting our neighbours’ pond. There it is sitting looking ungainly at the top of a tree. The greenfinches, constantly fighting, and the young bird being looked after by its parents. All of this in view while you are sipping your Gin and Tonic.
I had booked a test drive of a Tesla 3. We drove to Milton Keyes and walked into the ITSU shopping centre in Central Milton Keynes. The Tesla showroom is right inside the shopping centre. Here a young lad showed us how to work the Tesla in the showroom, and then took us up the stairs to the car park. A row of Tesla vehicles was sat there ready to be driven. We waved the card at the car. opened it up and sat inside. We were allowed to take the car for a 30-minute drive with no one accompanying us, but R asked for the salesman to come in case things went tits up.
So I drove out and took a random route through MK to Willen Lake. The acceleration on the Tesla 3 is very good, and this model was only the rear-wheel-drive model. The one I was contemplating also had both front and rear-wheel drive and faster performance. It definitely accelerated well and cornered around the roundabouts as if on tracks. It was definitely a good drive.
The only oddity, which didn’t take long to get used to, was when you took your foot off the go button, the car slowed quickly. This was the regenerative braking coming into action. Approaching roundabouts, you needed to leave the accelerator pressed a bit, until you wanted to slow down. I rarely used the traditional brakes.
Would I buy one? Yes? Rosemary didn’t like the inside, saying it was totally boring and not a bit like a car. So maybe we will look at the Polestar 2 coming out mid-year. Personally I would really like the pickup trucks coming out, the Rivian, or the Cyber Truck. Strongly suspect those choices would get vetoed by R.
After the weeks of rain, it was decided not to allow unnecessary vehicles on the shooting field. Instead, we would meet at Ludgershall village hall and be transported to the field by a vintage tractor (1980 Fiat) and trailer. Two trips were required. We can thank Jim for arranging this mode of transport. It was a fun start and end to the shoot.
Awaiting us at the shooting ground we had five stands of ten birds each. These were beautifully set up by Brian and his team, along with festive Christmas names. This was also the first outing of new safety cages, strong and light. As you can see from the picture, the field was truly waterlogged. Despite the cloud, there was no rain to spoil the fun. The breeze did add a chill to the air, 8C feels like 5C.
After the tea and coffee break, (please remember to bring your mug), we had a flurry shoot. Teams of three were randomly picked and shot the flurry. Deceptively slow at first, putting you at ease, until two fast, demanding flurries at the end. The final two stands of the fifty bird shoot then completed the shoot. In all 36 members and friends shot.
Back at the Ludgershall village hall lunch had been prepared. An excellent buffet meal of meats, salads, baked potatoes and desserts. A big thank you to Celia, Shirley and Ann. After the meal, the prize giving.
We had our usual Christmas this year, complete with our countdown meals, all planned on a handy Excel Spreadsheet. One change was made, a meal was swapped around because the original was deemed too complicated for a Friday pub night.
Our Christmas Eve had Phil and Selina over for our usual cheese fondue. The fondue set is one of the few possessions I brought to the family, which still exists. The set must be more than 40 years old.
Christmas Day had Julian join us for our traditional Christmas Turkey lunch. (I cannot get them all to agree to a swap to a goose.) Nothing was forgotten, except the amount of gravy made was somewhat lacking, so there was no gravy in the sandwiches on subsequent days. Traditional Christmas pudding was on offer, with Jack Daniels Butter, along with Christmas Pudding Ice Cream,
Leftover food kept us going for a week in various reincarnations. No turkey curry, and somehow the bread sauce found its way to the back of the fridge and was not discovered for well over a week. (I think this deliberate on R’s part.)
New Christmas tree this year. Gone has the natural tree with falling needles, and now a metal and plastic affair which should see me out.
Selina had originally bought me the Michael Eavis and Emily Eavis “Glastonbury 50” book for Christmas. It would have been a brilliant choice. Unfortunately, I had already bought it back in November. R had not communicated this fact to Selina when she had asked if I had purchased any books recently. Luckily, Rosemary told me that Selina was enquiring about my book purchases, so I reminded her of “Glastonbury 50”. Quickly she phoned Selina, but it was too late; Selina could not cancel the order. No matter, it was passed on to Ravi, one of the friends whom I took to Glastonbury.
During Christmas Day, I read several tweets from Glastonbury fans who had received multiple copies of the book. Several with two copies and at least three had three copies of the book.
Our usual Kingswood Firework party has held on the 9th of November, so as not to clash with the bigger firework display in Brill. The party was held in the traditional location, thanks to the new owners.
The weather was not pleasant, cold wet rain. Thankfully shelter had been erected, so we could all stand and watch in the dry. As usual, there was an ample supply of sausages and burgers cooking on the BBQs along with wine and beer. Thank you to all the helpers.
Rosemary and I visited the Bucks County Show. First stop was breakfast, we bought some sausage rolls in the food hall. Not very good!
We wandered around looking at all the stalls and animals. Enquired about new lawnmowers, electric vehicles. DB Guns had a good display of old guns, and guns which had exploded because of blocked barrels.
The cattle were on show, all groomed looking clean and glossy. The judges walking amongst the cattle marking up their notes and discussing which animal was to be the winner.
There were the Vegetable, Flowers, Cake, Handicraft and Photography competitions. Some huge leeks and nice looking cakes.
The sheep sheering exhibit was there. I know it is a bit corny but was interesting to hear about the old breeds, why they were bred and why some were successful and others not successful in modern times.
That was it. Glastonbury was over. We showered, packed up and The Love Fields at 7 am in the morning. Stopped off for a Costa and arrived home.
Ravi and Simon stayed over, so we entertained them to some local village life. The Ludgershall Bike Night. Thousand of bikes parked up in the village from 6 to 9. Stalls selling beer, fish and chips, burgers were doing a roaring trade. We opted for the pig roast which was run by a local Kingswood man. Was accosted by the Air Ambulance, who saw we had been to Glastonbury and then talked at great length about the event.
There was a fabulous American truck unit on display. Rosemary saw it pass our house that evening. The event earns money for the Air Ambulance and other charities.
I have become addicted to the YouTube channel Fully Charged with hosts Robert Llewellyn and Jonny Smith. They talk and review electric cars and discuss renewable energy. Yes, there are lots of reviews of cars, because so many manufacturers are now launching them. Robert desires to talk more about renewables for the home. One interesting recent review was about a Norwegian car and truck ferry which is now powered by electricity. When it enters port it plugs in and takes on electricity. Normally charging for 7-9 minutes.
So today we went to Silverstone to see the show. Lots of cars on show, as well as solar panels, batteries and wind generators to power your home. There were talks, which I didn’t go to, but probably should have done. Well, we did see the opening talk by the Fully Charged team, and then an interview with a design person from the company Rivian, which is launching a super pickup truck which is on my want list.
The day was very wet, so the outside stands had to be visited in the dry spells. I did get into a BMW i8 which was a lovely car. Managed to find the correct buttons to get out, and haul my self out with the aid of a handle on the gullwing doors. R said I could not have one. I also tried the electric scooters. Really fun to whizz along, but not practical where we live with the huge Buckinghamshire potholes.
We left the show, and rode back to the carpark in a Tesla S. The Tesla Owners Club had provided 150 cars with their drivers to ferry visitors between the carpark and the show. Not an inconsiderable distance. Money was thrown into a charity bucket.
