Travelling North – pit stop at Manley Common
Last night I drove up to John’s to stay, as a good stop off point on my way to the Focaliser conference at Dundreggan, due to start tomorrow. Today John called me, as I was about to leave, to say that he and his boss were going cycling to recce out some routes to take the kids from their outdoor centre on. There were flurries of snow, but none of it stuck. Hopefully it will be sticking in the North.
As a result I’m quite late leaving John’s for Scotland (6pm). A night in the van for me then…
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- The first signs of snow on my way North
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- During our ‘short’ bike ride we are able to see 7 counties, apparently, including Jodrell Bank centre right.
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- John in foreground, Chester in background.
New year plans…
Exmouth's moon, tonight.
So, following recent discussions with the very accommodating Jane, from the RSPB office, and the people at TFL, I’ve a sort of schedule for the spring. It’s like this:
January – The Focaliser conference comes up at the end of this month, at Dundreggan. It’s my first one of these, but this year there are more people going, it’s on TFL grounds, and there’ll be a lot of first timers about. Including Colin, the new work week co-ordinator, and Steve from Dundreggan.
February – Hopefully, I’ll then get to spend a bit of time doing some TFL web site work, before I head off to the RSPB reserve at Abernethy for the 21st Feb. A week later and I’ll be getting ready for the first TFL work week of the season.
March – I have two work weeks booked for March, although there now appears to be some doubt that they will all happen when they were originally meant to, but anyway, after that I’m volunteering for the RSPB again, this time at Loch of Kinnordy. I’m there for 4 weeks during April, and then I have one more TFL work week, in early May.
Middle of May onwards – After that I’m looking for work (preferably paid), so if anyone has any ideas (IT, conservation, getting my hands dirty, etc, it’s all good) please let me know.
But hey, look at that for a schedule. It looks great doesn’t it? I’m chuffed.
Brighton.
This weekend I went up to Brighton to see the Big Fella. I was amazed at the amount of snow that was lying around – 6 to 8 foot piled up in car parks, even though all the snow on the roads had melted. Funny how different it’s been from East to West.
Anyway, myself and Mike spent most of Saturday out and about, having a few drinks, playing (or throwing, in my case) a few darts, eating an “all you can eat…” veg curry, etc. Before meeting up with Julie, and Fran and “It’s a hat!” Andy later.
Brighton is a nice place, there’s pretty much something for everyone. I think you’d like it.
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- Round the clock, going for three, every dart rests against a piece of wire – amazing.
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- Four good reasons to like Brighton…
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- Me modelling the “It’s a hat!” hat
John & Vic get married
The venue – The Ettington Park Hotel. I liked this place. Mostly because it was covered in snow. But also because no one had a go at us when we were still in the downstairs bar at 4am playing the piano, talking crap and dancing sporadically.
I gave Dave, the best man a lift there (hence the opportune photo of him keeping me awake on the way back), crashed on the floor of the room we shared with the groom the night before, and added chocolate coins to the tables.
One more thing – Manoj lost his camera. It’s an Olympus u1050, or something equally as waterproof. If you find it it’s got the best wedding photos on it, please give it back…
Snow in Exmouth! And a new camera.
Two things I really wanted for Christmas, but knew were a bit beyond Santa’s budget, have turned up in the last couple of days. Yesterday a new camera, with zoom, and today, more importantly, some snow finally fell on Exmouth, after hearing about lots of it falling elsewhere in the country. The camera is a budget digital compact, but should still do better than my phone. The snow was just a thin covering, but was much better than nothing. Here are some pics. The camera’s instruction manual is fairly lengthy so some of them may still fall short of it’s full potential…
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- I wake up, open the curtains and… it’s snowed, c’mon!
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- New zoom facility – I also took this shot, of Phear park, from the same bedroom window.
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- Exeter Rd
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- It’s snowed, so most of Exmouth decides to go out to check it out…
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- Zara building a snowman
John the stag
Saturday
Venue – Britannia Hotel on New Street, various pubs, Slobs and some other altogether “Bit casual that mate”, posher club.
Activities – Karting, drinking, eating, drinking, dancing and walking around in the cold looking for food and the hotel
Attendees – John, Dave, Dave, Darren, Manoj, Tom, Mark, James, Doug, Dave, Jungle Boy, Ben and myself.
Sunday
Venue – Some Wetherspoons pub where we could all eat some cheap fried breakfast
Activities – buying and eating the fried food
Attendees – John, Dave, Dave, Darren, Manoj, Tom, Jungle Boy, Ben and myself. I think.
Following the food we made our way home (hopefully I’ll be able to get hold of some pictures from Saturday night at some point):
Job done, let's go home...
Life since the office 
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