Category Archives: United Kingdom

Hill Head and Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve

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We took a trip down to Hill Head to have a look around Rosemary’s parents’ old retirement stomping ground. We watched the Oystercatchers, Turnstones and gulls feeding at low tide.  Interesting watching the gulls dropping shellfish onto the stones in the hope they would break open.  Tricky business as other birds were ready to pick up the remains.

Walked on over to the Osborne View for lunch.  Ate outside in the searing heat.  The place has much improved over the last few years.

Next we walked around the Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve, owned by Hampshire County Council.  We walked the east side visiting all the hides. These are all relatively new, built in the last 10 years. Herons and duck were on display.  There was excitement in the last hide when long yellow tailed tits or something like that were spotted.

Finally tea at the Haven cafe, and a final view of a hovercraft being tested.

Visit to Walsingham and Wells-next-the-Sea

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Early September we travelled to Norfolk to see Mike and Ann. The weather was glorious, especially on the day we visited Walsingham, the Abbey and Wells-next-the-Sea.  The Abbey was weird, it is a pilgrimage site with people pilgriming there from all over Britain.   We had lunch in a pub, and then drove over to Wells-next-the-Sea.  Not there for long, though managed to get a picture of the offshore wind farm which looks a little unusual with the way mirage has bent the turbine blades down at sea level.  No this was not a time lapse exposure.

 

Le Tour De Finchingfield

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We decided to see the Tour De France as it was passing nearby a friends house in Essex.  We made are way over there on the Sunday evening, and even went to church for prayers at the Central Baptist Church in Chelmsford.  Back to their house for wine and cheese and then sleep.

In the morning we drove to Great Bardfield to park the car and then walked along some beautiful country side to Finchingfield.  Here we were met by crowds of people waiting on the side of the road.  While we drank some beer, we watched the Tour caravan pass by noisily.  Then we made our way further into the village and stood on an embankment waiting for the Tour to come by.  Great vantage point as we could see the racers come into the village, sweep across the narrow bridge and then on up the hill in front of us.

After the tour we hastened into the  Zafra Pasta Bar and Grill for lunch and wine.  Walked back to Great Bardfield by another route and then on home.

 

 

 

Bournemouth, sand, sea and Thai

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2013-06-18 20.03.01Warm evening, the pub was noisy as I walked past it. The raucous conversation, normally held inside, was now outside disturbing those quietly walking by. Down at the beach, it was a clear view to the west, but looking east towards the Isle of Wight you could see mist around the island, rising up from the sea. Yes you can see it, but the picture from the phone is a bit on the crap side. Thunderstorms predicted for tonight.

2013-06-18 20.05.15The evening meal was at a Thai restaurant called Tiien. Smart, seems part of a posh hotel, quite busy. I started with soup, usual Tom Yam something, with prawns. I asked for mine to be hot, and it came hot, very spicy hot. It brought tears to my eyes as I drank. Great stuff. Followed on with a vegetable stir fry. Yes, you read that correctly, no meat, vegetables.

Yes the Tiien Thai restaurant in Bournemouth gets a Blasdale star.

Bournemouth holiday by the sea

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2013-06-17 20.45.26Working in Bournemouth this week, so it’s a holiday by the sea. Raining on the drive down, but the sun came out to play just before sunset. Staying in the Durley Dean Hotel, not so bad, and they don’t stint on the size of the towels.

Went out to eat and had a reasonable tandoori chicken and nan bread at the Indian Cuisine. The Nan was a plain one, not soggy, not dry, but fluffy.

I followed that up with a beer at The Hop. Only real ale on was Doombar from Sharp Brewery in Cornwall. Good pint, but disappointing pub.

Don’t leave me out in the rain

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This week I have been up north, and what rather pissy weather it was. Drove up in constant rain on Monday. Rained all day, but at least I was indoors. I was almost last leaving the office, only one other person, who is in charge of locking-up, was there. The office is set in parkland and is in quite a nice setting, surrounded by wooden rail fences. Would be better without the rain. After I left, I sat in my car for a few minutes, phone calls, and satnav setting. Ready, I set off to the hotel, to be immediately confronted by a shut gate, major irritation cos I would get have to get wet, opening the thing. Oh no, it was padlocked. The person in charge must have left, and locked the gates without checking the car park. No problem, I know these 5 bar gates, you can lift them off at the hinges. Not this one, specially made so it could not be lifted off. Gypsy proof. Back to the office, all lights were off, no cars in the car park, I was well and truly stuck.

I had no mobile phone numbers, so nothing for it but google maps to find a local taxi service to come out and pick me up. One came out for me, had to get him to stop at a cash machine on the way to the hotel so I could pay him and tomorrow morning’s driver.

The hotel was a welcoming site, except ominously they seemed not to have my booking through laterooms.com, but all finally sorted. The hotel was in refurbishment mode, and the bar cum lounge was covered in plastic sheeting.

Well, it continued to rain for most of my stay there, only clearing up for the drive home on Thursday evening. Met Rosemary, and then she was off on the Friday back up the motorway to Prestwich for the weekend. Yes we met like passing doves in the night.

Now she is back, and hopefully will be giving me a fond farewell as I am off to Plymouth in the morning.

The recession

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The recession, or what recession. The chaps in the pub seem to be very busy. I have not met anyone who does not have enough work. Commenting this sorry in Twitter, it was deemed I must come from an affluent area.

For me, an employee, chargeable work has been pretty busy in the last few months. Old projects have come to an end with Aberdeen going live with their upgrade.

A short visit to Edinburgh to sort out an infrastructure change for a long standing client in the life assurance business. Had a great meal at a Tapas bar, and then of course what visit to Edinburgh would be complete without a visit to Whistle Binkies and some local Scottish musicians.

More recently new projects in Shropshire and Caerphilly have kept me busy with software upgrades. Caerphilly was interesting from a drinking and eating perspective. First week a premier inn and one of those cheap pub chains. The food was crap, and the premier inn was the premier inn with Lenni Henry sized beds. Luckily the weather was warm, and I could escape out side to drink a few pints and tweet to my tweeps in the dark. Ah the reason I drank outside was to miss the pub quiz.

Week after stayed at the Bryn Meadows Golf and Country club. Cost not a lot more, but gym and Swimming pool and a lush bedroom. Food and drink not outrageous either, at least compared with major cities.

The week after only suites available at the BM rather to costly for the budget. So tried the Half Way house in Blackwood. Pub with some new modern rooms. Rather nice friendly eye candy serving in the bar, and the land lord came and shook hands. Even the regular Welsh customers came up and spoke with the English man. Alas did not escape the Tuesday pub quiz. I won’t mention my score. Excuse, I was in a team of my own.

Shropshire was for a couple of days, which turned into three. Stayed in a hotel which could be classed as a boarding house. Was OK. Nice restaurant near by for food, but rather pot luck on what was severed. Not sure how a sirloin steak with salad was transformed into fillet steak with vegetables.

Should have a new install coming up in Brummie land on return from holiday.

Sad Gits weekend in Essex

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Sad Gits weekend in Essex hosted by Richard and Andrea. The following in attendance were Maggie & Ravi, Rosemary & Steve, Reiko & Mike, Valerie & Norman and Choir Master Simon.  The weekend was centred around culture with visits to Thaxted Church and Audley End House and a walk around the town Saffron Walden where an art gallery was visited & a garden and a “maze” admired.   The evening centred on food, drink & varied entertainment.

Full picture gallery is available here but I have included a short video which hopefully will find its way to Facebook,

Sad Gits Choir sing Jones’ Ale