Composition

A little assignment for Gregory to photograph a tasty still life. I get to vary the composition by eating them slowly...!

Where's Mirada?

Now she can climb trees unaided, Miranda loves to disappear and pretend to have gone missing. Reliant for so long on the boys to lead the way, or me to help her up, she's now making up for lost time.

Quite often now she disappears into the garden and climbs a tree and sits there reading her book. Reminds me of my childhood in the woods at Alltycnap.

Almost forgot to mention this is Gregory's photo, as he's just startedfocusing on photography in his Art GCSE module. Some more pics may follow.

Gathering dust

A remnant from my last visit to Wales to visit my Mum and Dad. This is my Mum sorting through some drawings, no doubt to show me something interesting. My parents have serious problems with throwing things out, and as a result the house is full of occasionally really interesting things. It's the knowing what to do with it all....

Model Child

Greg getting stuck in to some model making. He's made many plastic models, but this wooden model which he's been making with the aid and sponsorship of our neighbour John, is pushing him to the limits.

Any friends or relatives who'd like to give him a weeks course in craft construction skills are welcome to put themselves forward!

Hayling Island Wind down

It's been a belter of a day as Lewi and Greg were sailing together in an RS800 organised by John Mather.  Popsie and I went cycling around the Island after watching them getting the hang of twin trapezing. After the day was nearly over Greg and John went for some fun in the slot arcades, before we tucked in to some tasty chips on the beach.

Then the larking around...

Tom Foolery

I always prefer this sort of image of people I know, laid back sort of pictures you might call them. Just candid moments in amongst the more mundane passages of life, but real ones nonetheless.

Candles on the Castle

For Greg's 14th birthday bash we went to Studland. At the beginning of the day, however heavy traffic slightly altered the plans and we went to Arne en route. This was good as Arne is beautiful but also quiet.

The sand castle was built after our picnic lunch, and then we headed down to Studland.

Badminton, swimming in the sea, running aroud the and like mad things; we had a great time.

And finally the end of the day was spent at Swanage eating tasty vege pasty and chips on the beach... Greg's favourite!

Me

On the beach, making my way north somewhere near Walberswick. I guess I planned it like this, but in focus. However I like the vagueness in this self portrait.

The wonders of Modern Technology

A screengrab from this afternoon. Thought I'd put in a quick call via Facetime with my sister Joanna as she's been visiting my parents in Wales. Remarkably they were with Rena and Jeremy on the bench at Scotts Bay, Llansteffan and the 3G signal was strong enough to convey audio and video picture.

Even managed to get them waving back!

I know we all complain about modern life ruining everything of quality, but this is one truly awesome use of the internet...?

Suffolk

Looking remarkably like the New Forest, although it's Dunwich Heath in Suffolk. I shall post some of my landscape and travel pics here over the next week or so. Top weather in the most part, and lucky to find some great places and people along the way.

"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can" Arthur Ashe

Been a long way on my bike by now, going keep pushing on!

Hats off to them Cuckoos

Can you believe that the first of the BTO tagged Cuckoos has already crossed the Sahara? Cuckoo 161321 was tagged in the New Forest this Spring and has taken the westerly route through France and Spain to his current location in Mali.

Awesome...

Sports Day

Popsie chomping breakfast ahead of her Sports Day at school.

She's wearing the T Shirts she designed for her running club.

After a less than promising start in the obstacle race, she took her place in the running. First place in both year five races, and top girl in the combined year 5 and 6 'ticket' race. So she's fastest girl in the school with another year to go!

Well done Popsie!

Nesting time nearly over

 A few of the nests in our garden this year, both now vacant. We had a pair of goldfinches nesting in a conifer tree, and although I think I know where it is, I've been unable to locate it precisely.

However the lower of these two images shows a nest that looks very much like a gold finches. It was blown out of an oak in the front garden, so it's unlikely to be theirs? Miranda was distraught that they may have lost their home.

Beautiful nonetheless.

Dartmoor

Lewis had a coaching session at Torquay with James Hollis and a bunch of other 29ers, and since enough hands were available to cover safety boat duties I was able to ride my bike!

As you can see I had a great time, getting stuck into the real Dartmoor as well as discovering some if the lovely lanes around South Brent and Buckfastleigh. Both these little towns were really worth a visit, lots of character, and some great places to eat and have a coffee etc.

Sailing talk

Lewi electrifies when he's got the services of a great coach. Torquay at the weekend with Niall Myant who just happens to also love cycle touring!

Alfie

Miranda and her chum Alfie making a video about her moshie monsters. If I can find a link I will post it but for the time being I shall post my photo.

On the trail

Out on my bike this morning, just stopped up for a breather in a beautifully quiet part of the forest.

The trail you can see was once a tarmac road but the A31 led to it's demise. The clouds were rolling over and I almost got wet several times.

Later in the day the thunder and heavy rain did come but by then I was home and dry.

Only about 40 - 45 miles today...

Trying to find the story

An old postcard image from Ashlett Creek, and a thoughts that have been rolling around for some time. I read some time ago about Edwin Mudge, a Fawley based photographer who had a small darkroom in the old mill at Ashlett.

This weekend was the 200th anniversary of the mill, and I was able to meet up with Tim Woodcock who had a similar interest in Mudge. The story goes that he buried 4 tons of glass plates in his garden, and I can't stop thinking about trying to recover these. His images are fantastic, the one above is taken from his darkroom at the mill. You can see the Jolly Sailor pub before it was extended and the square looking very different to today.

They had organised a music festival to mark the occasion, and we listened to the music of The Real Raj, a superb local musician from Beaulieu.

Bike Ride around Wiltshire and Dorset.

This is a Strava map plotted from my bike ride with Alan on Saturday, showing the map and altitude. Some superb countryside taking in Gillingham, and Stour Head, starting at Salisbury, which I need to explore further.

We had a coffee stop at Shaftsbury, cycling up Gold Hill, not exactly by mistake, but by the top we were being watched by some onlookers, and we couldn't stop then could we? Bloody steep and cobbled right to the top...!

78 miles in total, but eased along by some great food and drink in the Upham Brewery pub en route.