Bicton Park
Mother very kindly takes myself and Han & the kids to Bicton Park. It’s a nice place. Lots of trees to id, but not enough labels – only the trees that have been deemed significant during a visit by someone from Kew show name tags. The tallest tree in the park is a Grecian Fir. My favourite, though, is a Mexican Pine, of which I have no pictures. I did take some photos though – they are below:
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- Willow is looking forward to identifying some trees
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- There’s also a museum of old farming… stuff.
Riverford Organic Kitchen
Mum and Paul very kindly treat me to a meal at the Riverford Kitchen. These guys ( www.riverford.co.uk) produce organic veg (and meat) boxes. I used to live off them when I was based in Bristol, and found that I could just about get away with not having to use supermarkets. Contrary to what people might think, this saved me money – vegetables and fruit are generally cheaper than processed food, it saved the environment, my food tasted fantastic, and it meant that I felt healthier.
Now the rest of my Exmouth based family try to do the same.
Eating organic food has hit the headlines recently as there is apparently no evidence to suggest that organic food is better for you than non-organic. For me, this almost completely misses the point. Organic farming methods are considerably more sympathetic to the land, and in an age when we have the choice to live sustainably, or to destroy the environment we live in, producing organically seems to me to be a straight forward decision.
Getting back to the Riverford Kitchen… when we arrived a menu was hanging from the wall listing a choice of dishes, Squash and Goats cheese Flan, Potato Gratin, Roasted veg, Chilli Spinach and Cumin, etc. As I sat wondering which dish to go for I was told that we would be provided with ALL (six) of the vegetarian dishes at our table. So, no decision necessary – it was just a case of how much of each dish could I get on my plate.
There was also desert. I left with that post Christmas meal bloated feeling. Did I mention organic food tastes good?
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- The Riverford kitchen is visible in the background…
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- Six meals in one, C’mon!
Kids update
I spent a bit of time round Han’s, making Willow smile (not hard), and feeding Flynn. Here’s how they look at the ages of 6 and 20 months respectively…
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- Isn’t that the crazy finger gesture of a metalhead?
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- Hmm, I see you’ve failed to consider the bias of the observer in your assumptions regarding the large number constants…
Digging the allotment, and some Slow Worms!
Mum and Paul have an allotment here in Exmouth and are planning to put some fruit bushes in before Christmas. So, I was drafted in to dig the area where said bushes will go, and increase the size of some of the other dug patches.
The allotments are a hotbed of sexagenarian and septuagenarian activity. I don’t know if it is this or the fact that a certain type of people are likely to apply for an allotment, but the people on site all seem very civil, sharing ideas and shouting hello to each other and passers by. My kind of people.
However, I was surprised to note how many of them had driven there. The allotments are situated at the top of hill, but are pretty much near the middle of town. My Mum always walks up the hill to them, but for others perhaps green fingers doesn’t necessarily equate to green thinking. There are also some, unsurprisingly, old fashioned views on Stinging Nettles and Ragwort, two plants which encourage visits from insects.
The highlight of the two days was coming across first some young, and then an adult Slow Worm. I can’t remember ever having seen a Slow Worm before, and they are gorgeous. I was very disappointed at having disturbed them. Hopefully, with the carpet they were under relaid on a different part of the site, they will still find the plot an acceptable place to hang out.
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- Before…
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- …and after I’d finished with it.
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- This appears to be the mother (?) Slow Worm drooling over some slug eggs
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- I love these things.
A bit of time with Timmo
I’ve spent the last couple of days working at Omiga Technology, installing VMware and creating VMs. Good stuff (if you’re a techie geek like me), nice to keep myself up to date with what’s going on in the world of IT. Also nice to spend some time with Tim, and see what he does during the day.
Afterwards we drive over the bridge to Cardiff, where we catch up further over a couple of beers and an Italian. Unfortunately, I don’t have any pics of Cardiff, but I do have a copy of a pic of Tim that myself and Mike discovered in his home office last time we were visiting. He appears to be amazingly stubble free – it must have been taken seconds after he finished shaving.
Tim - the early years
The POW in Bristol
After a day working at Omigatech I head to Rama’s. Imogen meets us there and we walk down to the Prince of Wales on Gloucester Rd. It is a great night. However, my Tofu stir fry, although tasty, is tiny – honestly, I could’ve eaten six of them. So I have to order a bowl of chips, i.e. the dish with the most content per pound sterling on the menu. Imogen also mentions the serving size issue to the man serving, and he explains that the chef likes to leave us with room for desert. Hmm. To be fair, Imogen’s desert is nice, but that’s no excuse for a dish that’s just shy of £9.
Anyway, Imogen leaves a little cake, and I leave four chips, for Fran. But she doesn’t turn up so we have to eat them.
Imogen and Rama, after eating.
… and Fort William
I came to Fort William for the night to stay with Heather and Stuart, who lived in Harris upto about a week ago (those of you who’ve seen my OH Experience video should recognise the names). Unfortunately, showing them said video may not have been the best thing to do. Harris/Lewis is a pretty amazing place – it could be hard to wonder why you’ve left when you now live in Corpach (nr FW). So here is a small collection of photos, taken this morning as I was leaving, on a near cloudless day, with the sun rising over Ben Nevis, showing that the area around FW can be spectacular, in its own way…
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- Fort William across the loch
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- This could have been a much better pic if I’d have bothered getting out of the van…
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- Lazy road side pics are my speciality
End of week chores…
At the end of a work week myself and the other week leader have some chores to do. Firstly we drop the volunteers off at Inverness railway station. It’s always a bit of a wrench getting back into the van knowing I may not see some of these people again. But, we wave them goodbye and then have to head off to refuel the van, and pick up any other supplies before embarking on The Big Changeover.
The Big Changeover involves meeting the leaders going out on the next week(s), swapping vans, food, notes, etc and buying a fry up breakfast. This week Calum left me in Moriston’s car park to catch a train to London, so I had to head over to the Changeover on my own.
After the Changeover I drove the TFL van, “Birch” (due to its silver colour) with trailer, to Forres. There I had to meet Craig, from the work week office, to pick up a key for the office, drop of any recycling in Forres, before completing the last leg of my journey in Birch to the Findhorn Foundation, where the TFL offices are.
TFL Offices, Findhorn Foundation.
Once I’d swapped my bags from Birch to my van, and done what I needed to do in the office, I was on my way.
A work week on the beautiful Isle of Skye
The island was a little reluctant to show us her beauty on this visit, but finally did so in time for the day off, on Wednesday. Another work week with Calum, top man, and this time, a group of fairly experienced volunteers, a few of whom I knew already.
I’d heard that the week before had been a bit of a wash out, but when leaving Inverness last Saturday the sun was out and it looked like things could be about to change (contrary to the forecast). However, this time the forecast had it just about right. Sunday was a monster – removing fence in what started out as wind and drizzle and progressed to wind and heavy rain. Thankfully that was the worst of it with just light rain for the next two days. And then some sun. Until Friday night when it all kicked off again, force 7 winds, heavy showers, cancelled ferries, caution on the Skye bridge – great stuff.
Photos will follow, once I’ve stopped driving for long enough to get them online.
Ok, photos can now be found here (in fairly low resolution). There may be slightly less of them than usual because my camera got very wet in my pocket on the first Sunday, and has, since then, been performing in a most erratic fashion.
Anyway, here are some higher res highlights:
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- So Paul, what do you think of it so far?
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- Gordon in need of some ‘calories’ (available in flasks back at the hostel)
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- So, on our day off we thought we’d drive the bus down some rarely used FCS tracks, just so’s the vols didn’t have to walk so far to site…
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- …the Focaliser training taught us how to keep calm…
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- …and read maps.
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- Looking out at the Sun rising, from the Flora MacDonald hostel
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- It’s funny but I don’t miss the view I had from my office window. For a start Balloon Woman hasn’t been a volunteer on any of my work weeks.
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- Gordon and Vince distract the Focaliser while Val tries to role the wire into the sea
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- Calum after 4 weeks of Focalising.
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- The third, and final, North off.
Painting and Decorating
I’ve spent the last few days at the Trees for Life property, Dundreggan. The lodge is currently being altered to meet building regulations (disabled access, etc) for use as accommodation for the work weeks to be held there. Myself and Norman were meant to be painting but, perhaps not surprisingly, the builders had overrun. So they were in our way, and we ended up spending more time prepping than painting.
Still, it was good to catch up with Norman, who I’d not seen since my first work week, back in October ’06, and we managed to scrape together some decent meals and extract a conversation or two from Pierre, the French volunteer, who is staying at Dundreggan for a month, where he hopes to learn English. To be fair his English is better than my french, but then I have no intention of learning french or going to France. I had to speak to him very slowly as apparently I have an accent which he finds difficult to understand. I wasn’t very good at it.
Must remember to add some photos… Ok, here they are.
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- The Passion Wagon parked up next to the cottage.
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- One of the bedrooms. Mostly we were filling and sanding, prepping for paint. But this one had a layer of paint on before I left…
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- The main living area. Probably the last we’ll see of the stags heads, a legacy from Dundreggan’s sporting estate days.
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- Jane, the TFL Marketing Manager, checks out the Dundreggan deer fridge. Plus Sika stag.
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- Norman admiring our handywork
A week at Plodda/Corrimony
A brilliant week working at the Corrimony RSPB (Black Grouse) reserve, whilst staying at Plodda Lodge. Lots of singing and cakes (even some three course meals). Jane successfully navigated us through the first couple of days, before Rosie joined us on Monday evening to see the week through.
We finally got to see a Black Grouse (male) on Friday, and I personally managed to visit three sizable waterfalls in just the one week, Guisachan, Plodda and then Corrimony falls on Friday afternoon for lunch with the vols on our last full day together.
All too soon it was Saturday and time to pack up and leave. As Mick sat in Plodda Lodge garden strumming and singing “You can’t always get what you want…”, I was loading bags into the back of the van, thinking about what an amazing group of people I’d had the pleasure of getting to know over the week. And I must admit I got a bit of a lump in my throat. Later, after the Focaliser changeover in Tesco car park, I drove Birch (a van) back to Findhorn. The Sun was shining and I realised that I was pretty damned happy to be working on a Saturday. You can’t always get what you want, but if you try…
Ok, photos now available here
Some of my favourites are shown in the gallery below…
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- The first day of the experiment.
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- After applying the spare wheel Jane needed to rest
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- Jane’s last day on the hill. No one looks sad to see the back of her, but of course we were.
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- Mick Dimaio put a peartato in my lunch box. This is the silliest photo I could find of him. It’s not even close to pay back…
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- Craig came out to see us and then spent the day on the phone! Only kidding, he did take some pics of us too.
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- Guisachan Falls
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- High vis vest fashionistas Naomi and Louise. And Ellie.
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- Friday lunch next to Corrimony Falls
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- Charlie, Lisa and myself. I look happy, but it was time to pack the bus
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- “I saw her today at the reception…”
On my OWN! And a pretty cool sunset.
I’m back at Findhorn – after a slow start (pretty much the same as usual then) I eat a hearty breakfast and head into the TFL office. It turns out that Rosie, my co-focaliser for the forthcoming week, is ILL! I will have to take a bunch of potentially unruly volunteers out on my OWN!
Actually, Jane from the office will have to come out and drive for me because I’ve not taken my PCV practical yet. Jane has only been on one work week, ever, and hasn’t done the Focaliser training. It’s ok, I’m fine about it. Everything will be just fine…
Craig picks up Rohan, who I’ve not seen since the training, and we get our briefing in between sorting out the food order for the forthcoming work-weeks, and grabbing some extortionately priced food from the Universal cafe. We make up for it by taking seconds during our TFL bought meal in the CC later.
Finally, after a bit of revision, Rohan gives me a shout from outside, and I go out to see what he’s on about, and see this…
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- The boy Wadham in The Blair Witch Project, But Without Any Rooms.
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- The shepherds were delighted.
Owls and Dolphins
I’ve spent the last couple of days in the East, around Aberdeen and the surrounding coast. Last night I parked up in Balmedie beach car park. Whilst sitting in my van at dusk, texting, an owl (Tawny?) flew alongside the van and landed on a post a couple of metres in front of me. I tried to take pictures, but the light from my phone camera alerted it of my presence. We stared at each other for a second before it flew off. Beautiful.
Balmedie is a very beautiful place. I believe Donald Trump wants to put a golf course down here. Google it and find out what you can do to stop it. It is criminal that a SSSI site can be ridden over rough shod thanks to a few back handers.
This morning I moved up the coast a little to Collieston. As I sat checking out the sea from a handy view point, a group of Dolphins made their way up the coast. Apparently Dolphins jump out of the water whereas Porpoises just break the surface. These guys were jumping clean out at some point. It was amazing to watch.
I’ve taken some pictures of some of the other things I saw, fungi, herons, Aberdeen, etc. All these things will have to wait until I have time, after the forthcoming work week.
A walk in the woods
After a wee drive yesterday I stopped the night in some woods near Spey Bay. This morning I walked about the woods, which was predominantly Scots Pine, probably planted, maybe 30-50 years ago, and took some photos. The Scotties allowed sufficient light through to allow some birch to get away, and the odd Rowan. There was also some sneaky non-natives near where I’d parked (Spruce and Lodgepole). It would be nice to think that these might be removed at some point soon. A brief description of why is located here http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/tfl.ww_work.html.
It’s also worth checking out the following page while you’re on the site, just because, if nothing else, it gives a good feel of the celebrity status that I’ve already acquired here in Scotland: http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/tfl.appeal_supplies.html
Anyway, I took some pics in the woods. Here are a couple of small reproductions until the internet situation improves (I’m currently using a broadband dongle in my van at Findhorn – think old land line speeds).
If anyone wants to tell me what they are, that would be great. Otherwise I’ll have to dig out my id book. Which is at least 4 feet away from me. Under a pile of stuff in the van, in the space where the fridge used to be…
TFL Week at Strathan Cottages on the Attadale Estate.
I’ve just finished my first TFL week of the Autumn season. We stayed on the Attadale estate – worth a look if you’re passing – and worked at Achnashellach and Reraig. Big praise goes to Calum, my co-focaliser, who I felt totally comfortable working with. Good job really, as, due to the lack of beds, we ended up sharing a double together. Compliments have to end here I’m afraid, as the big man sure does move about a lot in bed, and is 6 foot 5, or something.
Anyway, we planted 3000 trees and the group seemed to enjoy themselves. Photos to follow when I get a better internet link
Ok, photos are now available here
Here are reduced res versions of some of my favourites… (actually I’ve just noticed that they are higher resolution than the way they’re displayed through photobox!)
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- Mr Wilkinson posing for the front cover of next year’s work week brochure
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- Fine accommodation.
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- Alex receives his ‘surprise’ Birthday card
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- Being kept amused…
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- So, you can see what I was laughing at…
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- I have no idea what this is, but it’s very cool.
Halifax, Calderdale
So, I’ve been in Halifax, the original home of Fauzia Qureshi, for three days doing a CSC (web front end to the Service Desk) installation for RMS at a customer site. My hotel, The White Swan, was ok, good food (most of the time – bit too much salt in my meal on Tuesday night, but last nights was good), and friendly staff. I went out for a bit of a wander and took some pics.
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- The White Swan, where they take your keys and park your vehicle for you. Sweet.
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- The New and Improved Freda modelling a Halifax car park
Time to fix Freda, the ‘passion wagon’
I left for Weymouth at 9.30 last night, the gearbox fell into ‘get home safely’ mode before I’d even made it to the A30. Justification for the trip, if I needed any, which I didn’t. This has been going on too long. But after numerous conversations with Dunnings Autos of Weymouth I’m fairly confident that this could be it. No more driving down motorways with the engine doing 3000 revs, whilst the van barely touches 50 (mph).
Anyway, I have to drive to Halifax tonight, so I need the van on the road at a reasonable time today. Given that work can’t start on it until it’s cold, I thought the best bet would be to reduce the drive required this morning.
I made it to Granby at 11ish and found a quiet road on the industrial estate to sleep on. Can’t see an cctv, but when I needed a piss I drove out of the estate anyway – never piss on your own doorstep. After that it was all plain sailing until the seagulls kicked off at 5.30 this morning.
So, I awoke in the car park of Magnet on Granby industrial estate. As it happens Dunnings is just over the road in a slightly run down looking workshop.
When the Dunnings boys turned up I handed over the keys and went for a walk. I headed down to the sea, eventually walking back along the Rodwell Trail. See photos.
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- Check out the guy/gal swimming about just in front of one of the boats – this is 9am
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- Portland
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- Henry VIII had that castle built, apparently. No, I can’t remember what it’s called. Google it.
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- A slightly blurred view of the path now running along the route of the old Weymouth to Portland railway line
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- Rodwell station
The Dunnings lads try to big up the work on the car, try to reassure me – to be fair they seem knowledgeable and are easy to talk to. When I drive away things feel good. I keep driving and there is no sign of the dreaded hold light and the speedo is working (which it hadn’t done for a month. Or two). By the time I get to Bristol I’m just about convinced, although there seems to be a large hole in my pocket.
I pop into the RMS office on my way through, then continue to North. The area approaching Halifax is a fascinating blend of green and industrial; towns (Elland) embedded in the hills. Halifax has a one way system to get lost in, but quiet roads. Ellie, on reception at the White Swan, is nice, and my room is…ok.
At home with the family
After Mum’s trip to the dentist she has some help to hang out the washing…
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- Not sure what he’s doing in this pic, but that’s my underwear damn you!
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- The little man passing some washing to Granny
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- My close up wildlife shots could be better. I need stiller subjects!
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- Cabbage White.
Wooly
Paul Temple dropped in for tea on Wednesday, and mentioned that he and a load of lads from Nantwich would be in Woolacombe from today until the middle of the week. So myself and Dave (who popped over for tea yesterday, after picking up his ‘new’ Toyota Emina) decided to get over there to join in the fun.
We went in Dave’s new machine (maybe a bit smarter than my Freda, Toyota seem to have given a bit more thought to things, but Dave’s is not converted), arrived in good time, booked into the the usual camp site (Woolacombe Sands – “We’ve been coming here for years, we’re good lads, you won’t hear a thing from us…”), top gallery, great view, and then headed down the beach. Paul said he’d be here by 4pm.
Paul and co arrive by 6, by which time I’ve been in the water for over an hour, walked back to the camp site, woken Dave up and we’ve both had showers. We meet Paul in The Electric bar a little while later.
Unfortunately I don’t have any photos of the ensuing evening, but Rich, Dave (another Dave), Paul (another Paul) and Chris get a meal with us, provide great conversation and get drunk. In the end myself and Dave leave them to it (with a couple of students from Bournemouth) and walk back to the camp site in the dark. We sleep on a double mattress in Dave’s vehicle. Thankfully I only have to get up for the toilet once, given that Dave is next to the door.
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- Hmm, the water looks a bit busy…
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- Dave is obviously lovin his new motor
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- The evening view from Gallery A
PCV theory tests
Today I sat the PCV theory tests, following a day frantically studying the Official DSA theory test book. Allow two hours for each test they said. My first was at 9.30, I arrived plenty early after having caught a train in from Exmouth, and I’d finished the multiple choice and hazard perception by 10.30. I then had to knock about in Exeter, eating, reading random books in Waterstones, and walking aimlessly about the cathedral, whilst on the phone to RMS, until the case study test at 2pm.
I didn’t like the hazard perception test. I had no idea when I was supposed to be clicking for hazards, so I clicked the mouse every few seconds for good measure. In one question I was told I’d clicked too many times and would receive zero for that question. So, I was delighted to find out that I’d somehow managed to gain a score of 73% in this particular test. Much less than the 100% and 92% scored in the other two, but a pass. Bring on the bus…
Epping Forest Day
Many thanks to Howard for arranging a day trip tour of the Epping Forest. Four of the Dundreggan 8, Stephen and some additional family Stoller spent the day walking through the woods, taking the time to observe some of the beautiful flora and fauna.
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- Apparently a fallen Black Poplar
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- A 5 Spot Burnet. Have that!
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- Slimemold. Possibly “Dog Vomit”
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- A Burr, not a head.
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- Howard instructing us in the ways of the Allotment
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- The Hale End Road Cherry thief
After the walk Ute and Stephen treated us to scones, strawberries and cream before Angela and Howard laid on a fine spread of home grown and organic produce for myself, Alison and the baby Stollers, Richard and Anneli.
Hello world!
My first ‘blog’ entry. I don’t really want this site to just read like a blog, I’d prefer it to be an informative web site about my travels and the things I’m interested in. Now I just need to work out how to add retrospective entries…
In Search of Suilven pt III
When I woke up this morning there was a midge hatch going on under the canoe. I have a midge hood with me and I try it on. I’m not sure that it seems to be working all that well so I get up, at 6.20am, to find that it’s a glorious cloudless day. Suilven looks fantastic behind us. Bastard.
I find a rock to sit on, in the breeze, while I wait for the others to get up, then we eat and head to the end of the loch, at Elfin. I walk, John, Stella and Rowan are in the canoe. There are a few people about on the loch, from tweed jacket style fisher types to young lads disturbing the peace in a motorised boat.
At the end of the loch we decide that Stella is our best bet to hitch a ride back to the car. I walk to Elfin tea shop and pick us up some fruit cake and drinks. Amazingly Stella is back in not much more than an hour having ridden in at least three different cars to get back to hers. We then drive back to my van. It’s very hot (in the tea shop I asked them if they saw this kind of weather often, the elderly English lady serving laughed, but a Scottish lady behind the bar said, “Aye, it was the same as this last year…”).
1500 hours – I say goodbye to John, Stella, Rowan (who’s developed a strange rash on her underside), and an eclectic gathering of cows that are grazing where the van is parked. I start the drive home, trying not to use the air con too much. I have to stop to sleep on the way as I’m tired and the heat is soporific. I don’t get to the lay-by at Shap (where I’ve slept before) until 3am, where I sleep soundly.
In Search of Suilven pt II
It was cold last night, but my sleeping bag is good. At one point I could smell a kind of wet hair smell, and I was sure I could hear breathing and munching close by. I assumed it was deer and fell asleep. In the morning I noticed fresh deer dung in the area, but how fresh I couldn’t tell.
Ok, so the weather is not great. Given how it looked last night we are surprised to find low lying cloud and drizzle. We hang about until 4pm and then decide that the top of Suilven will have to wait until another day.
We fish – I have a go – John uses barbless flies and puts everything back. Besides, I’m pretty sure that I’ll catch nothing. I give up after I’ve lost three flies.
Then we move on, this time with John and Stella paddling while I walk. I walk fast and, after some initial shallows, where John had to pull the canoe along using a rope tied to each end, in the style of some old explorer from the early American occupation (or so he tells me), the paddling is easy going on a long picturesque loch. So we make it to a nice wooded spot, alongside Loch Vayatie, in good time. John gets a fire going and we eat the last of our big food. We have to make it out tomorrow.
Life since the office 
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