The lost words
Wasn't expecting this. An evening with Robert and Jackie in support of
Sobel House
.
Beautiful, humbling, challenging, inspiring. Possibly mindset changing.
There once was a gate
The car broke, again. "That never happens to a Toyota" now thrice.
But bonus, was Fay and I walked to the Red Lion for a SPL (aka Sunday Pub Lunch). Not done that in ages. Lovely.
Autumn Path
The colours this year are amazing. More yellow than yellow. Makes walking the back way into town an extra special delight.
Boats at Benson
It's this time of year you realize just how many of the le boat boats there are cruising up and down the inland waterways during the warmer months. There's now a whole flotilla tied up at Benson marina.
Wandering Around Wasdale
I grabbed a couple of days at the end of half term for some walking at Wasdale . There were lots of sheep. And lots of sheep poo.
There was autumn colour...
...some interesting routes...
...amazing views...
...and the odd moment or two!
There's more detail, much much more,
hiding here
. Enjoy.
Optical Illusion
What's this? Sunrise yesterday morning, light fog rising from the river. Shadow of tree projected onto mist droplets in the fog creating two fake images. Spooky.
Walking to School
No trains = working from home = walk the dogs = join F on his route to school.
I wish my commute was always like this.
Still there
Left it on the bike at platform 9 for a weekend and a bit. Still there on Monday morning. F says that's because only 'a certain type' bike in London. Glad to know I'm a 'certain type'.
Moving window
It's the time of year when you see the sun peeking up from the early morning train - assuming the early morning train runs that is.
Celebrating
"Are you celebrating?" asked Sunny the waiter. "Yes, that it's Friday night" we replied. Moments later, a Prosecco with flair :-)
[Yes, I know it's a flare, but homophones.]
A lonely tree
I love this tree, it's by the car park at the clumps. I can never quite capture it, which is probably part of its charm.
River Thames at Wallingford
The best river views are in the evening, after the rain that dumped all day has cleared.
Linescape
Our landscape is full of linescapes. Here the hedgerow along the field edge peters out. Inspired by
reading Hugh Warwick
.
Band of Hope
The awesome Band of Hope (renowned third best band in Wallingford, apparently) at the Boat House during Bunkfest.
Bike Lane Reprise
The stupidity of this bike lane has me so grumpy that I'm posting a picture of it again .
It's below the minimum recommended width; and in the wrong place (per the Highways Agency Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, Volume 5, Section 2, Part 4, Advice Note TA 91/05).
It encourages drivers to think there is sufficient space to overtake (see Highway Code rule 163 " give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car ").
It has a rainwater drain that occupies two-thirds of the width which all but guarantees that a cyclist will be forced to move right (which is likely to become an unpleasant reminder of Rule 213 " Motorcyclists and cyclists may suddenly need to avoid uneven road surfaces and obstacles such as drain covers or oily, wet or icy patches on the road. Give them plenty of room and pay particular attention to any sudden change of direction they may have to make. ")
Regular Gentle Exercise is Required
Third time, this time the left arm and a double fracture. I blame irresponsible parenting, although heroic goal saving antics might be a contributory factor.
Commute Route
The first leg of my London commute home is by bike from nearly Shoreditch to Paddington. The route along High Holbourn crosses the junction with Kingsway and Southampton Row. It's not the nicest ride.
Pudding Appreciation
H enjoying a particularly good pudding during a food-break on our epic homeward journey from Vis to Luton.
Lost Bike Book
Martin & Co. gave me a book about a crazy guy who rode a bike through Europe from the cold north to the hot south. I'm pretty sure the bike was one of these — an East German manufactured folding bike, but without the usual strengthening wooden cross-bar addition seen here.
I can't find the book right now, so a note to self to check my memory later.
Modra & Zelena špilja
A tourist day with alternatura . The Blue Cave (Blue Grotto, or Modra špilja) on Biševo. Blue, because the sunlight bounces off the sandy sea floor and so passes through ~30m of water to get into the cave. Discovered by an Austrian painter or crawled in through a small gap in the cliff before returning the next year to blast a bigger opening. The green cave (Zelena špilja), which is green because blue was already taken.
Komiža loop hike
An early morning walk (hike?) with a loop up to (nearly) Mali Hum above Komiža and back. The advantage of an early start was amazing light as the sun rose over the hills and cooler air. A (small) disadvantage was the spider webs across the trial and the ants nest in the stick I picked up to clear a particularly webby stretch. The views were worth the effort but a jump straight into the pool was required on our return.
Early Morning Komiža
Get up early for cool views of Komiža (nice views, before it gets too warm); then sleep in the middle of the day. Easy.
Barjoska
Second stop on our kayak trip from Komiža was the beautiful Barjoska beach. We came here last year but walked rather than kayaked. Missing was the wooden pier that was erected for Mama Mia, Here we go again . The only evidence of its presence, a small MM2 signature in a concrete bollard.
Knezica
First stop on our kayak trip from Komiža was the beautiful Knezica beach just around the headland. It's a lovely small beach and, apart from the two nudists that joined us for a brief swim, we had it completely to ourselves.
Outdoor cinema in Komiža
The outdoor cinema in Komiža, getting ready for the late night showing of Mama Mia 2 under the stars. The fireworks scene in the film made all the more impressive by the shooting star overhead.
Ferry from Split to Vis (again)
Taking the ferry from Split to Vis. We did something very similar this time last year.
Thames Paddling II
Out for a paddle with Finn. Old Skool. He's quicker than me now. But I still have more tricks.
If you must work at the weekend there's worse places to do it
A little bit of ezra at truck
May in the garden (late!)
May in the garden this year was delayed by good weather. So here is July in the bottom of the garden. Previous May in the Garden: 2017 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 |
Aston Wood Walking
A belated post with some woody pics from a lovely stroll through Aston Wood with the Helen & Dave.
Oxford Botanic
A post-physio day out in Oxford with some tranquility in the Oxford Botanic Garden . Collecting plant life since 1621. (It's a Botanic garden, you need some pics with colour…)
Cycle life
At least the kid was strapped in. Their emergency stop nearly threw them under my front wheel.
New alarm
Criteria: It must not tick. It must not be a phone or other internet connected device. Nice to have: not too shabby to look at.
Kitchen Shelves
I thought I'd try and sneak a few books onto the kitchen shelves when no one was looking. Didn't last long.
Brov went one up with a paperback knife rack. Jealous.
Gladiators Path
At this time of the year, when I'm on this bit of the walk, I think of quotes from Gladiator.
Irony: actually fixing bit rot while supported by Coupland's book
Irony: actually fixing bit rot while supported by Coupland's book.
I busted my back, so have a temporary raised desk that's a slab of door on books. I'm using it to fix crossoak that had a spasam of bit rot. I just noticed which books I'm resting on.
Fortunatley, it's better now.
Note: This post was updated on 2020-12-22 to fix broken links.
Just wait here while I nip into the bar for a quick pint
Life was simpler when I didn't have to worry about left and right socks
積ん読 [tsùńdókú] a pile of unread books has a place on a shelf above the stairs.
Previous 積ん読 are also available.
Hair dryers mocking my bald scalp in the office locker room. The joys of modern cycle commuting.
The joys of modern cycle commuting.
