Just because

Not a new photo, but as I am clearing out rubbish thought I should use the jewells I have, but have not used!

The Bluebells at Allt Blaen Y Bryn

Memories of a few weeks ago in the Bluebell Woods with my parents near Abernant.

The Old Folk's Home

Took this one last weekend, and it's a familiar view of my childhood. Long before the TV arrived at my parents house, taking an interest in stuff in the newspaper was a fairly common activity. The real reason I took this photo is my parents settee is going to the big scrapheap, as it's too difficult to get out of for the horizontally challenged. It's a real shame as it's going to change the landscape at home.

Anyhow I like the vibe here, which I've tried  to keep as naturalistic as possible; the Arne Jacobsen Egg chair, assorted general clutter, and the cat looking out of the window!

The stories that settee could tell...

Great gig at the Shooting Star in the evening, the last in the SMJC series which is a shame as I like that venue. Leo Appleyard on guitar, Matt Findlay on bass, Duncan Eagles on tenor. Didn't catch the drummers name but he was great too. I especially love acoustic live music, with the sound of beer drinkers permeating through, the occasional chink of bottles. Top stuff... new season is at the Talking Heads, and the gigs are definitely worth supporting...#jazz

Bluebell Woods in Abernant

Visited my parents over the weekend, and this is Mum and Rena in the Bluebell Woods near the farm where I spent many happy weekends with the Convery family in my teenage years.

Miranda and Friends

Turner Sims

Gig at the Turner Sims with Tim Garland on sax Jason Rebello piano, Asaf Sirkis drums,  and Ant Law on guitar. The first half was quite folk influenced and the second half more of a fusion influence. There's a new album out shortly, so we'll see how it compares with The Breeze!

Megaday

Today has been a lovely day - superb weather; gloriously hot and a day spent with Popsie as she had an inset day. It was a bit of a rubbish start as Lewis had managed to loose his wallet with bank card, buss pass and all the work on his college memory stick... but things improved from the point of dropping him off in Southampton to speed his journey to PSC.

Our day involved cycling from Tuckton; first stop Hengistbury Head. We had the place almost to ourselves, sunshine and a gentle breeze. We did our education bit at the Iron Age discovery centre and had a walk around the wildlife garden.

Lots of cycling has been done, as we made it down to Poole stopping for a swim along the way at Sandbanks. Lunch on the beach was delicious.

The photo below which I found on the side of a van, shows the route we have taken. Very impressive pic, and it was so enjoyable.

Loaded, and ready to roll...

Popsie has an inset day again on Thursday, so it's coincidental that I should find this picture as I am clearing up a folder on my desktop. Our bikes loaded on top of the car, reflected in the adjacent vehicle.

Maybe we'll go do some off road...! And have a picnic... and have some QT

I'm listening to the awesome Frankie Beverley with Maze - Joy and Pain.

Social Media

Round about lunchtime I was talking to my Dad on the phone, chatting about things in common. As usual I was using social media as a reminder of things that had happened recently to prompt me. I mentioned a lovely photo of Mel and Ann at Blaen Bowi that I'd seen on Facebook, and naturally my Dad observed that he'd not seen it.

Two minutes later who should turn up at Penyrallt but my brother Christian. Stories were told, clues were laid, and then this evening this turns up in my email... the very essence of social media.

Cooking the books

My brother Christian is often responsible for digging out interesting memories, and this photograph combines two things.

The first is my Mum's old staple cookbook by Bee Nilson, which he wanted to photograph to show an aspect of personal history that we all have shared over many years. Indeed I have a Bee Nilson Cookery Book myself that she gave me when I went off to Art College in 1982.

I'm guessing the THF payslip must have been used as a bookmark, and it tells an interesting story. The hotel in Carmarthen was called The Ivy Bush Royal Hotel, and in 1979 by Week 33 I had earned £580 from my part time job when still at school. Running this through an online converter it equates with about £5000 in current money.

Interesting that he should choose the meat pages, as I was still a carnivore at that point. 1983 and it all changed!