Overseas – sort of…

We drove down to catch the ferry across to the Isle of Wight where we were staying at the Silver Glades Caravan Park with friends Bill and Linda. The site is a remote and peaceful location near Yarmouth with only ten caravans and little else there, a perfect retreat in amongst mature gardens in an area designated of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

We arrived earlier than the others so had a visit to the pleasant little town of Yarmouth and had a look around and a bite of lunch. In the evening when Bill and Linda arrived with had a relaxing evening snack and a few drinks while we caught up.

The next day we drove out to the Needles and the National Trust’s Old and New Batteries home to the Victorian and modern coastal defences and secret rocket test site perched on the point of land next to the rocky outcrops that give the place its name. Later we drove down towards Ventnor stopping for a pub lunch and an ice cream before returning to our site and an evening meal in Yarmouth.

Sunday we had booked tickets for the IOW Festival (primarily so that big fans Linda and Sue could see the headliner, Rod Stewart). It was a lovely afternoon but out location opposite the main stage was in the middle a large space that become windier later on. Still we enjoyed several acts such as The Shires, Imelda May, George Ezra, and Bastille, before Rod Stewart came to the stage performing for several hours with a few costume changes and great supporting band and backing singers.

Bill and Linda had to leave before dawn to get back for work on Monday, but we had more time and so visited Cowes town and (via a chain ferry) Osborne House (holiday home for Queen Victoria), where we had a delightful afternoon tea before catching the ferry home.

Spanish Holiday…

We took a week out and travelled with Mum, Terry and Gill to central Spain for a week visiting several historic places and immersing ourselves in the Iberian culture.

We flew into Madrid on a week when a heat wave was sweeping this part of Europe. It was 41 degrees when we arrived but cooled down a bit as we drove up to our first stop in the southern part of the Castile and Leon region, Segovia.

The region has been exposed to many different cultures over time, each leaving an imprint on the architecture and culture of the place, and in Segovia you can see some of the early megalithic zoomorphic monuments commonly called verracos (for their boar like appearances), the famous Roman aqueduct, many mediaeval churches and grand buildings and evidence of the Spanish Civil War.

Our accommodation was the lovely Hotel Infant Isabel well situated in the heart of the old town on the Plaza Mayor opposite the towering cathedral. That evening we soaked in the atmosphere of the square which, as it was Saturday, was a busy with local families and tourists alike eating and drinking and socialising late into the night.

On our first full day we walked down towards the river where we had a great view of the Alcázar (rumoured to be the inspiration for Walt Disney’s fairy tale castle), through the tree lined park, up on some of the remaining city walls, and around to the amazing aqueduct.

We had two nights at Segovia before we travelled onto our next destination. On the way we stopped briefly at the lovely Our Lady of Soterraňa monastery at Santa Maria la Real de Nieva.

Then for a walk through the run down Arevalo with its grand castle (currently being restored) where Isabella grew up. We had lunch here before continuing.

Another brief stop was at Madrigal des las Atlas Torres – birthplace of Isabella the Infanta.

Then we arrived at the grand university city of Salamanca perched on high ground dominating the river Duero.

Our hotel was the NH Salamanca Palaciode Castellanos with a lovely atrium at its centre like an old cloisters, again well located in the middle of the historic old city.

We had three nights here and managed to see quite a lot, though there was so much more we didn’t get around to. We visited the old and new cathedrals side by side, the charming Convento de Las Duenas, the Convento de la Anunciacion policed by a small nun, the little circular church of San Marcos, the amazing hidden ceiling at the Monesterio de Santa Clara (along with its fascinating museum on early Spanish life), the Casa Lis museum of Art Nouveau / Art Deco, the Roman bridge, and the Plaza Mayor among many more.

In the main square was a sculpture by Miquel Barcelo of an elephant balancing on its trunk which would occasionally issue gas from its upended rear end. We also saw this artists other sculptures and his paintings on the subject of the Divine Comedy.

  

Our final destination was the lovely walled town of Avila.

We stayed a couple of nights at the attractive Palacio de los Velada, based on an old 16^th century palace located next to the cathedral.

It is the imposing walls that dominate the character of this town, with the cathedral integrated into them and with walks along a large portion of them you get a great view of the town and surrounding countryside as you are buzzed by screaming swifts as the flying close picking off insects as they fly. The best view of the town and its walls is from outside up on a nearby viewing area.

The cathedral is another impressive structure and the museum dedicated to Saint Teresa is informative.

We had an enjoyable evening listening to jazz just outside the walls with the band performing in the blocked off road to patrons in the roadside bars.

During our holiday we soon fell into the local custom of taking a siesta in the afternoon to retreat from the worst of the heat and to give us the stamina to continue on with the drinking and eating later in the evening. Something we could really appreciate.

Garden of Delights…

The Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden is a revelation with how sculpture and planting can be integrated into a coherent, stimulating whole whilst still maintaining a peaceful tranquillity. Some of the pieces are subtle and blend in with the landscape and planting, others are controversial and challenging and many are whimsical and playful, all are well executed.

Family Day…

There was a recent gathering of the clan at our place and the weather was warm allowing is to sit out in the bright sunshine on the deck enjoying good food and drink and catching up with each other in friendly bonhomie.  

Hankies, Sticks and Real Ale…

As part of the annual pilgrimage by the Aldbury Morris Men, now accompanied by the more youthful Hemlock Morris Dancers, the two sides descended on Norwich to dance and sing and cavort around the locality.

Sue and I took mum up a day earlier travelling through Essex and Suffolk visiting gardens on the way.

Our first stop was at the RHS Hyde Hall, currently showing the Surrey Sculpture Exhibition. This garden has changed a lot since we last visited many moons ago and it is clear they are continuing to expend and evolve as new buildings and gardens are being built. It is a large sprawling area with several different garden types and plenty of space to soak up people so that you never feel crowded out.

Our next stop was at Beth Chatto’sGarden, a smaller and more intimate place centred on several ponds, a woodland area and a large dry garden, a style of gardening pioneered by the celebrated horticulturist.

We then drove onto our hotel at Norwich where the Morris sides would join us the following evening.

The next day was spent wandering around the historic old city of Norwich visiting starting with the spectacular Romanesque cathedral (the other Gothic revival cathedral being just outside the old walls), and then we walked down to Pulls Ferry, along the river to Cow Tower and past the large mill and cut back into the old town up the cobbled Elm Hill towards the Lanes and Market Square (where there is a good view of the large Norman Castle and the lovely Victorian Royal Arcade). Outside the walls near the other cathedral is the peaceful and secluded Plantation Gardens, a hidden gem, ideal for a rest after a long day of being a tourist. In the evening we met up with the arriving Morris at a local pub for drinks, food and music and singing.

A bus was waiting for us in the morning to take us on our tour around the Broads. But first it was up to the cathedral for a few dances and then back on the bus to the Rising Sun beside the water for a dance (and a pint for those so inclined).

On to The Swan Inn near a busy little marina for a few more dances (and drinks).

And then to the peaceful The Pleasure Boat Inn near another marina where we danced some more (drank some more) and had lunch.

Revitalised we continued on to the Nelson Head, a remote and quirky public house full of strange paraphernalia for another dance or two (and a few more drinks).

There had been a plan to dance outside the pub we had been in the previous night, but as we arrived the Lord Mayor’s Parade was assembling and filled up the street with many spectators in attendance. Some of the Morris Men crashed a young group of dancers to much merriment but soon the floats moved off into the city and the rest of us returned to our hotel to freshen up for the evening meal and final ceilidh.

On Sunday the two sides headed off towards another venue (mum travelling with Terry and Gill), and Sue and I went home to some quiet and peace for a few days.  

Garden Fairies…

We have spent a few weekend helping out Uncle Tony in his garden with new planting and general maintenance and tidy up. We also spent Mother’s Day helping tidy up of Barbara’s garden which always seems to grow plants more vigorously than anybody else’s. 

Spring Sunshine…

April was a good month for weather and we took advantage of the sunshine be organising a couple of gatherings out on our patio with friends and family. 

Tying the knot…

The wedding of Nick and Sinead in Zante, Greece was a big affair and many of the Poynter clan descended on the island for the celebrations. I unfortunately could not take the time but it looked like everyone enjoyed themselves apart from the unseasonable cold weather that blew through. 

Veggie Garden…

We have made some changes to the planting in the veggie garden by reducing some of the beds (moving the raspberries to a larger plot), improving the composting area, and limiting what we grow. This is because we end up doing more other outdoors activities during summer (holidays and generally out and about) and so cannot devote time to maintaining the crops. A whole bed is given over to potatoes and another to courgettes/pumpkins/squash and cucumbers and the remaining one to onions, beans and various leafy crops. We have a few pots but we won’t plant these until later on in the year when we can manage them better. Hopefully it will be a more successful strategy. 

Zen Garden…

We have redesigned our front garden as we found that over several years the country cottage style we had previously created tended to get out of control with some plants dominating others and where most of the colour and interest was during the spring and early summer that ended up with it looking untidy later in the year. So now we removed a lot of the permanent planting and replaced it with stones and rocks and added plant pots that we can move and change depending on the season. We replaced the rustic fence for a more modern black one that contrasts and accentuates the planting and added a water but, homemade bench, a stone pagoda, and a bonsai tree that sits on a tree-stump stand hand carved by our friend Paul.

Local Charm…

As we were passing through we stopped at Newdigate for lunch at a pub and across the road was the charming church of St Peter with its wooden tower housing the bells well worth a visit if you are in the area.

New Game Smell…

I recently received another new Kickstarter game through the post, this time it was Family Plot by White Cherry Games which is a little like (un)happy families, where you collect your perfectly disturbing family whilst trying to prevent others from doing so. I have not yet got it to the table, but it looks like a bit of a laugh.

Cowpie Country Show...

Paul & Lorraine, Deb, Dave and the boys and Lynda & Mark joined Sue, Deb and I as we visited the Cowpie Country Show. There were a couple large fields surrounded by rural trades, food and drink stalls, craft tents, food halls, livestock on display and many forms of entertainment including a falconer on horseback and a car and bike stunt team. The weather was good and the company enjoyable and it was a very pleasant day

Eye, eye…

I had an operation on my right eyelid to remove a persistent cyst (chalazion) that had started as a stye in December and never went away. I am not a fan of hospitals at all, but at least our country hospital in Dorking has a nicer atmosphere. The whole procedure was quick and (relatively) painless (the most painful part being the anaesthetic injection), but I don’t think I breathed throughout it as I tried not to look at the knife stabbing at my eye. I had an impressive bruise afterwards and a patch for a few hours and garnered a great deal of sympathy from Sue who spoilt her ‘brave little soldier’ for the next few days. 

Fine Dining…

Went out for an evening meal with Jamie and Gia to the Emlyn restaurant at Box Hill after we had seen good reviews and had won awards in the Surrey Magazine. Initially we had hoped to have their taster menu but they had taken that off the menu. They food was good, tasty and well presented, however the experience was let down by poor services (lack of attention, ill-informed, and slow) and the restaurant lacked atmosphere with a couple of larger parties loudly enjoying themselves with a little lack of care for others. It kind of took the shine of the evening.

More of wot I have heard…

I have bought some more new music for my birthday and this batch included the following albums:

Sea Sew by Lisa Hannigan. This is the Irish singer, songwriter and musician’s debut album which was Mercury nominated and it is a pleasant indie folk collection of songs.

Life in the Dark by Felice Brothers. The latest album from this American folk rock / country rock band is a lively foot tapping affair. I particularly like the first track Aerosol Ball.

Home Again by Michael Kiwanuka. A British soul musician who won the BBC’s Sound of 2012 with this album. He has a great voice compared to many soul heroes.

Sea of Brass by British Sea Power. This indie rock band is from Brighton and they have been compared to The Cure, Joy Division, Pixies and Arcade Fire. This album takes the band’s songs and reworks them alongside bass bands, the result is interesting and sometimes challenging, but I think ultimately rewarding.

Sing to the Moon by Laura Mvula. This is the debut album from this English recording artist that was nominated for the 2013 Mercury Prize. She is a soul/R&B singer with a strong, well-controlled voice that can be haunting and powerful in turn.

Uptown Special by Mark Ronson. This is the fourth studio album from this English record producer that has been described as ‘pop-friendly, and undeniably sexy collection of funk and R&B’ which is pretty accurate to my ear.

KC Rules OK by King Creosote. This is a studio album from this Scottish singer-songwriter from back in 2005 that uses songs written over an extended period and has a distinctive sound based in the traditional folk genre.

Our New Life Above the Ground by Avalanche City. Based in New Zealand this folk musician has a delightful gentle sound that is easy on the ears.

Saint John Divine by SJD. Another New Zealand musician recommended to me by friends has released this quirky collection of electronic rock songs that I think have a noticable NZ sound to them. 

Brunch in Town…

We took Deb and Barbara to a lovely small gathering with Jamie and Gia first for brunch at Temple & Sons (a Jason Atherton establishment) in the city and afterwards at a nearby pub. It was great to catch up with them and for Gia to meet more of the family.

Games Day…

We hosted a now regular gathering with friends where we play table top games old and new. It was only with Martin and James this time but we did enjoy what we played, finding some more difficult than others.

Folk on the Farm…

A repeat event from where we first saw this Northumbrian band Assembly Lane play a collection of their songs/tunes. They are a very talented group of young artists and we are eager for them to produce their first album.

Wok-Off…

After some garden clearance, rubbish burning able assisted by ‘garden slave’ Deb, and planting of raspberry canes, we staged our first Wok-Off completion with our neighbour Howard. We prepared and cooked dim-sum starters and Howard provided various main dishes. The food was fabulous and everyone was happy to declare it a successful draw. 

More of wot I have seen…

We saw Logan at the Everyman in Reigate, a cinema that has the attraction of having a bar and fresh cooked food. Luckily we took the train as we had a few drinkies. We enjoyed the film but I think much of the attraction for Sue was to see Hugh Jackman with his clothes off.

Out in the Country…

Recently we visited friends Andy and Jodie who live near Ludlow in Shropshire and we caught up with them tacking time out to visit the delightful market town of Shrewsbury where we had lunch in the fabulous Henry Tudor House with ‘period’ pictures of past musicians and comedians. We enjoyed a few new card games, lovely home cooked food and a drink or two and were sad when the weekend was over and we had to return home.  

More of wot I have seen…

I have been out to the movies a couple of times this year. We went with Bed and Barbara to see Lion and we were very impressed with the acting in this somewhat sentimental working of a true story. Next I saw the Lego Batman film with Chris while the girls were at a baby shower and we enjoyed the silliness of it and loved the references put in for the grownups.

More of wot I have heard…

I have bought some new music for my birthday and the first batch included the following:

Vance Joy – Dream Your Life Away. An Australian act recommended by friends in NZ.

Lawrence Arabia – Absolute Truth. A kiwi act also recommended by friends. Reminded me of the old Flying Nun sound of old.

Bread – Best of Bread. This was a retro choice and I knew pretty much all of the tracks on the album.

Izzy Bizu – Talking to You. A digital download of the single as it is such a catchy track.

Rag’n’Bone Man – Human. A digital download as a result of seeing him perform on Hootenanny and hearing this track on the radio. Very soulful.

Ed Sheeran – Castle on the Hill. Another digital download and this single has a very nostalgic feel to it that is very appealing.

Rumer – This Girl’s in Love – A Bacharach and David Songbook. We just love the sound of her voice.

Van Morrison – Duets: Re-working the Catalogue. Bought for a cousin but an interesting paring with different artists.

Gin Festival…

As part of a gift to blonde Deb and Dave and to Chris and Carole, we bought tickets to the London Gin Festival. Sue and I travelled up earlier to have a wonder around Wapping on a lovely winter day and we met Chris and Carole for lunch at a pub on the river.

The festival was held in a large covered market and included a glass, guide book and few other giveaways with the drinks being provided in exchange for tokens purchased separately. There was a tasting area, talks, a cocktail bar and food hall, but the main event was in a large hall with the bars spread around the circumference. Live music was also provided and as the drink was consumed there developed a real party atmosphere. 

Cardiff Conference…

I spent a few days in Cardiff for a company sales conference and was pleasantly surprised with the lovely weather in this part of Wales. The hotel was located in the castle district opposite the rather impressive ramparts and near a few interesting old malls.

The highlight of the trips was meeting the New Zealand Silver Fern Netball team who were staying in the same hotel while they were over to play a couple of friendlies against the Wales national team. I managed to get a photo with them and I wasn’t the tallest there.

For the big evening out our company group went to the nearby Zero Degrees brewery where we enjoyed a few of the brews made on site.

Out and About in London…

This weekend started on the Thursday night with a folk-opera show called The Transports at the Cecil Sharp House. We saw this with Terry and Gill and were very inspired and moved with the story based on the true events surrounding the transportation of convicts to Australia.

Next morning we started with cocktails at the new Design Museum at Holland Park. It is a fabulous building of great architectural merit and the displays were very interesting and thought provoking. Afterwards we walked through the park and spent a little time at the Japanese gardens which were very peaceful.

We travelled to Soho to meet up with Jamie for lunch and a drink and spent an enjoyable few hours in his company.

That evening we saw the strangest puppet show every at Wilton’s Music Hall. It was called The Depraved Appetite ofTarrare the Freak, and freaky it was too. I loved it! After that we ended up at the Blues Kitchen where we were some of the oldest people there. It was a good evening.

Breakfast the next morning was back in Soho and refuelled we walked through Chinatown (picking up a couple of steamed buns on the way) and headed back home.

That evening was a more relaxed affair as we collapsed in front of the television and eat fish and chips from the local van. 

The Big 30…

The youngest of the nephews, Terry, had his 30^th birthday, with a family dinner at Deb’s. 

Rippered Off…

After a bit of email ping pong we arranged to visit London this time to join a Jack the Ripper Tour gifted to us for Christmas. We arrived earlier so that we could explore Old Spitalfields Market and have a snack, and a few drinks in Brick Lane, which we thoroughly enjoyed. Unfortunately the guide never turned up and left a group of us wondering what had happened. The money was refunded later. 

The End and Beginning…

The transition from the old year into the new start for us with a visit to London to see a matinée performance of the pantomime Mother Goose at the delightful Victorian shabby chic Wilton’s Music Hall. It was a joyful experience headed up by Roy Hood as Mother Goose.

Later we met up with Jamie and Gia for a few drinks and a chinwag before we headed home for an evening watching the Hootenanny.

On New Year’s Day walk we joined the local history group for a stroll that ended up at to the oldest house in the village where there were mince pies and mulled wine.

Later we played a few new board games and chilled out at home.

Winter Walk…

Was also at ours this year and we were blessed with a lovely winter’s day that allowed us out into the fields around Westcott before returning to celebrate the season with work friends old and new.

Boxing Day…

Was back at ours this year with Terry and Gill, our neighbour Howard and Debs. 

Christmas Dinner…

Was a more traditional affair held at Deb’s house with a full table groaning with food and happy guests with groaning bellies afterwards.

Christmas Eve Party…

The theme for this year’s celebrations at ours was Jamaican with jerk chicken and my ting-ting sauce, rice and peas, pineapple cake, patties and plenty of cocktails courtesy of our new shaker. It was an enjoyable time for all.

Another Year…

I surprised Sue with a couple of large paintings for our wedding anniversary. I had managed to paint the canvases up in the loft space over a couple of nights while she was out and had hung them before she came home from work. They were simple landscapes inspired by the colour scheme of the feature wallpaper on the opposite wall and included a few small elephants as she loves them. 

Birthday Girl…

We celebrated Deb’s birthday in Dorking this year with Chris and Carole and ending at the Star where they had a singer’s night with some very talented acts.

Christmas Carols…

The much anticipated gathering at Terry’s neighbours (Alistair and Brunie) where the guests bring a dish and their sing voice and we celebrate the season in style. 

Party Season Starts…

With a Xmas party at Deb’s. Plenty of old fogies, abundant alcohol and a selfie stick.

Games Day…

Recently I got together with a few friends as part of our semi-regular face-to-face gaming days. Here we played a few varied games including:

Fury of Dracula – In this I was Dracula vs the vampire hunters and I was doing quite well until I got cornered in England and a valiant self-sacrificing all-out attack from one of the hunters eventually put me down.

Sushi Go! – a sweet, easy to learn, easy to play game.

Machi Koro with Harbour expansion – the expansion turns it into a 5 player game and adds a different way of arranging the marketplace, it slowly progressed until a gamble by Martin and a series of doubles paid out big time enabling him to a win with a landslide.

Spartacus with Shadow of Death expansion – I have not usually succeded in this game before, but we played the quick version and I was able to capitalise when Martin bought an almost unbeatable gladiator by manipulating him into decimating our enemies.

Dead of Winter – a co-op survival game that soon had us overrun by the zombie horde.

Christmas is coming to Town…

Our late holiday had put us a little on the back foot for Christmas, but after a concerted effort in the shops and on-line we are mostly there, and with the help of Deb’s we have the house decorated and are now ready-ish for the big event.

Our festive celebrations have started with lunch at Chris and Carole’s where a generous spread was provided and much jolly fun was had by all.

Tasty Tasting Meal…

Uncle Tony arranged to take many of us out for a family dinner at Drakes near Wisley. Here we were treated like royalty and provided with a spectacular series of delicious masterpieces accompanied by perfectly matched wines. It was a culinary delight throughout. 

Late Season Sunshine…

This was a holiday just for Sue and I where we could please ourselves and enjoy each other’s company. It had been a while in the planning and took some time to come around, but we were ready for it when the date drew near.

We were going to take a driving holiday of the Florida Keys (though deliberately not driving every day), and we flew into Miami arriving in the early evening where we picked up our car from the airport (when the garage manager saw my height she asked if we wanted to free upgrade, secretly hoping for a Mustang convertible we ended up with a big black SUV). We drove into the busy traffic towards Miami Beach where we found our Art Deco hotel, the Albion and checked in (again were asked if we wanted a free upgrade, this time to the penthouse suite. A bit more impressive sounding than it actually was as the décor was in need a freshening up, however it was several rooms with its own sundeck on the roof overlooking the city).

Ignoring the fatigue of the flight we ventured out up to the nearby pedestrian area of town where we watched the world go by, had a beer and a bight to eat and then turned in for the night.

I knew there was a good chance the time difference would mean we were up before sunrise so I had planned for this and we walked the couple of blocks to Miami Beach where we witnessed the sunrise as it came up over the sea in a spectacular fashion. Then we walked along Ocean Drive to the 24hr News Café for a hearty breakfast.

After getting some provisions we drove out of the busy metropolis and off towards the Everglades. Near the entrance to the park is an interesting information centre and not far from that a lovely boardwalk around a couple of ponds where we saw crocodile, snapping turtle and plenty of birdlife. As we had time we drove down to the coast to hopefully see more. We packed up in the shade and walked across the grass towards the information centre there and immediately became engulfed in a cloud of voracious mosquitoes (in the centre there was a notice saying the insects were horrible today and recommending people stayed of the grass and remained in the sunshine – now they told us). This soured our experience and so we drove away towards our next accommodation  

Ocean Pointe Suites near to Key Largo which was a complex of apartment blocks on a secluded area with a pool, small marine, bar and café and a small beach. The apartments were reasonable appointed and had small balconies with views out over the sea. We had already planned to use the kitchen facilities to cook our own meal and relax for the evening.

The next day we ventured out to see the old African Queen boat at Key Largo, from the Humphrey Bogart movie Key Largo.

We visited the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and although we did not plan to dive or swim the waters we still enjoyed our journey out in the glass bottom boat that took us out  over the reef.

In the evening we had a pretty forgettable meal at a local establishment that had been recommended (we started to find that a lot of American meals were huge, bland and usually deep fried).

The following day we packed up and took a leisurely drive down towards Key West. We stopped at the Lazy Days South restaurant that was recommended to us and from the outside it did not look like much. The covered deck overlooking the harbour was more like it and the food was very good, in fact it was the best meal Sue had in our time there. We also had to discourage an iguana from joining our table, fobbing him off with a bit of tomato.

In the afternoon we arrived at Key West and our centrally located La Concha Hotel. After settling in we ventured off to see a bit of the town along the busy Duval Street towards the western shore.

As we perambulated along we came across the Hog’s Breath bar (hog’s breath is better than no breath at all) and we stopped for a refreshing drink and to listen to the music before moving on to settle for a while

at the Sunset Pier where we watched the sun go down with a drink in hand and live music in our ears.

Sue had found out about an intriguing place called the Little Room Jazz Club where we ventured to after dark. It was a fabulous little venue, eclectically decorated and cosy. It was virtually empty when we arrived and it didn’t sell hot food or spirits, but the wine menu was good and the beer was fine too. The place became a little busier later and when the

Hal Howland Trio took to the little stage there was a nice, relaxed atmosphere starting. We had a lovely evening listing to fine music.

The next day I had planned as a cultural one. We had learned from the concierge that the hotel had two sister hotels, one at either end of Duval St by the sea, and that there was a golf cart shuttle that travelled between them, so we bore this in mind. We walked out for breakfast and then took the shuttle from one coast to the other where we had a snoop around the lovely hotel on the eastern side. From there it was a short walk to the southernmost point (not actually the southernmost as that is nearby on Navy land), then up towards Hemingway’s house, and then onto Truman’s Little White House. The weather had turned a little damp so we ventured back into town via a small bar and tested out a couple of Hemmingway’s preferred watering holes. Capt Tony’s and Sloppy Joe’s (for a Sloppy Rita – margarita that is), both were understandably busy and loud with loads of people and enthusiastic live music.

A recommendation to us by friends who had visited Key West before was to take the ferry out to the Dry Tortugas and see Fort Jefferson. Unfortunately the weather was such that the sea was quite choppy which Sue was not best pleased about (not quite a repeat of the ferry trip from the Shetland Islands, but still). The place though was fabulous, a massive civil war fort, lovely beaches and some fabulous wildlife, but I think Sue was unable to relax too much as we still had to return on the boat (at least on the way back the bar was open and we found a more stable position in the sunshine).

We thought we would try a nice fish restaurant as a treat and although the food was lovely it did not feel welcoming and we did not feel encouraged to linger, an expensive mistake.

The next day we got the car out and went for a little drive to see a couple of gardens. First was the Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden, which was a grander title than it perhaps deserved, though we did see loads of smaller turtles, and some interesting birds and insects, the plants though were less dramatic and the garden was more naturalistic. The small Key West Garden Club in the remains of the West Martello Tower was more dramatic, partly because of its location amongst the tower’s ruins on the coast and partly because of the more exotic choice of planting.

In the evening we again ventured out to see the sunset, this time at the much vaunted Mallory Square, where we had a couple of Mojito’s to celebrate another fine day.

We then strolled through the lovely Memorial Sculpture Garden full of bronze bust to significant local peoples of the past.

This time we ate at a busy establishment right on the bustling Duval Street, capitalising on the happy hour to relax and watch the world go by.

We returned to the Little Room Jazz Club again, this time to see Larry Baeder and Bill Blue play some very accomplished blues while telling us amusing tales of their earlier careers.

On our final day we took it easy in the morning and drove leisurely back up the Keys having lunch at the beach at the other Lazy Days restaurant. The view was better but we didn’t have quite the same success with our choices of food.

We had a bit of a wait at the airport, which is not the most impressive of places, but we had our final indulgence of the holiday was a sturdy chocolate pudding and large margarita. 

More of wot I have seen…

Recently we saw the Lumineers supported by the Bahamas play at the Hammersmith Apollo. It was an enjoyable evening but the venue is quite large and you do lose some of the connection with the band that you get from performances in a more intimate place.

Fine Dining…

One of our favourite local eateries is Kinghams in Shere where we know the owner/chef Paul. We went with mutual friend Howard and Sue’s sister Deb and we were treated extra specially by Paul and his staff. It was a lovely meal and we enjoyed the wine with the meal, the spirits after wards, the beer at the nearby pub, and the cocktails when we got home. Needless to say the next morning was a slow start. 

Gaming Nirvana…

Once again I made the pilgrimage to Essen for one of the best analogue gaming conventions around.

This time I hitched a lift with Derek who was driving over and it certainly made a difference to not have to battle the various European public transport systems.

We went to our usual hotel and met up with many of the regulars including Marc who had flown in from Sweden.

The venue was busy and more areas were open to stalls which helped soak up some of the crowds. I didn’t go too mad while I was there and apart from I couple of gifts I got these for myself…

Escape from Colditz – a reissue of the original with both the old rules and a slightly modified new set and the production values are excellent. This is more of a nostalgia buy.

Karuba (with show expansion) – I good quick to learn, quick to play game that I had enjoyed playing last year and now decided to add to my collection.

Oh my Goods! – bought on the recommendation of a couple of respected gamers.

Kingdomino – new out this year and has good production values. Another easy to learn and play game for the family.

Goons of New York 1901 expansion – I really enjoy New York 1901 and this cute expansion along with the fancy painted figures adds to the game in a good way.

X-Wing miniatures – this was a birthday gift from Marc & Heather, thanks guys.

Istanbul coffee expansion – bought on a number of recommendations from friends and changes the game in an interesting way.

Snowblind, Race for the Pole – This is by Robert van Zyl, one of the guys I met at the convention who frequents some of the gaming sessions at the hotel. A nice guy and a good little game.

Thunderbirds: Tracy Island Expansion – the base game is a challenging co-op game and this adds a few more characters, vehicles, and cards to give more playability.

Local Music…

One of our local pubs, Bertram Bees (B&Bs) hosted Charlie Giles recently, a local singer, who made the most of being cooped up in the corner of a packed bar and sang his heart out. 

2000th 2000AD…

It was a milestone edition for a great British comic with the 2000^th issue of the cult 2000AD and I had to buy a copy. It was still as good as I remember back when I first started reading it when it came out in the 1970’s. 

Board games, Beer and Music...

Recently I got together with a few friends as part of our semi-regular face-to-face gaming days. Here we played a few varied games including:

Pandemic: The Cure

Table Tantrums

Zombicide: Black Plague

Istanbul

In the evening I went to catch up with Sue and Debs and found them in one of the pubs in Dorking’s West Street that were having their own Westival.

They were watching the talented Cellar Door play at the Old House. After this we wander across the road to watch Daytona Rocks at the King’s Arms, and then it was back to the Old House for a bite to eat while we listened to a Blues duo performing for the wedding guests in the garden. We strolled over to The Star to listen to Radio City and ended up back at the Old House grooving to the eclectic sounds of the fabulous Still Moving DJ’s.

Come fly with me…

It has been a year of celebrations for my 50^th birthday and recently I turned in a voucher given to me by my Uncle for a glider flight at the London Gliding Club located at Dunstable. It was delay some time due to the fog and low cloud, but eventually it cleared up enough for me to go up towed behind an aeroplane to a few thousand feet and then let loose. As a passenger of the dual control gliders you get the front seat with magnificent views for miles around. I was given a few basic lessons on the controls and allowed to make a couple of turns before the pilot took over and landed back on the field about 15 minutes later. It was a great experience but perhaps not something I really need to do again.

  

After this we went to a nearby pub where the Aldbury Morris were due to arrive as part of their annual bike ride event to perform and have lunch. By now the sun was out and we enjoyed the entertainment before returning home. 

WESTfest…

Our local village fete was postponed after bad weather earlier in the year and they ended up with a lovely day for the event when it happened recently out on the Cradhurst Recreation Ground with a good number of people enjoying the atmosphere. 

Magical music…

Folk at the Farm is the label for a series of ad hoc events put on at a farm in Surrey. Sometimes it can be music in the front room, sometimes a mini festival in a field. This was a couple of bands performing in a barn.

The first act was Laurie Gregory and her band, a strong, moving performance of C&W songs, all the more remarkable when I heard she had just recently returned to singing after losing her voice due to cancer.

But however impressive she was we were not prepared for the shear brilliant musicianship of the next band. Assembly Lane is a group of young men, many of who are studying music in Newcastle and they blew us away with their skill and professionalism and a fabulous set of tunes and songs. The two main singers have a very different sound and this brings an extra dimension to their music; one is American with a deep base accented voice; the other British with much higher pitch. This allowed them to get the best out of the American and British folk songs they each sang. 

Any excuse for a party…

we chose as an excuse to gather around at our place for a party. The weather was a bit miserable to start with but brightened up a bit during the afternoon as we enjoyed a meal prepared by Sue and I (mostly Sue of course) of mostly vegetarian dishes for Suniva using produce from our vegetable garden (I did a large chunk of beef on the BBQ to satisfy the committed carnivores amongst the group). The deck in the garden had a table and chairs for us laid out, a brolly alternatively for rain and sun protection, and in the centre of the table was a large ice bucket for the wine and beer that was replaced with a fire pit in the evening once it got a bit cooler. I think every enjoyed themselves and we now have to find a friendly neighbour to accommodate those bottles that couldn’t fit into our recycling bin. 

Island in the sun…

Our summer holiday this year was to join the Whittenburry’s for part of their stay at the Interlude Sunelia holiday camp on Ile de Re just off La Rochelle in France. The site was a relatively small arrangement of cabins and free camping with a couple of amenity blocks, and indoor and outdoor pool, bar, restaurant, café and shop and places for the kids to play, a performance stage, petanque (boules) pitches all backing onto the sand dunes the other side of a wonderful large sandy beach. We had a lovely little cabin within shouting distance of the family with a couple of bedrooms (so the boys could have sleep overs), a bathroom and separate toilet and a lounge/dinner that connected to the small but functional kitchen (that even included a half size dishwasher). Outside was a deck where we ate our breakfasts and evening meals.

During the day we explored the area, either staying within walking distance of the cabins at the pool, on the beach (swimming, flying Dave’s kite, rock pooling, and playing French cricket) or walking the sand dunes, or we went out further afield in the car to explore the villages nearby.

The larger of the villages is Sainte Martin de Re, the old town of which is built within the walls of a large star shaped fort and like most villages on the island has its own port. Here is where all the tourist activity is with shops and many different eating and drinking establishments. We came here a few times, to wander around, cycle through, and eat and to watch some music and to wonder at the donkeys dressed in pyjamas.

We also visited La Flotte, Arse en Re and Le Bois Plage en Re while we were there, wandering through the old streets, exploring the wonderful food and craft markets and generally have a good time. One of the highlight visits was to Phare des Beleines where the local Jazz at le Phare was being held in the shadow of the lighthouse.

We had family friendly fun at the markets (food and craft), getting bicycles and riding out to the oyster shack and to see the salt pans and playing on the beaches.

After the family left to drive home, Sue and I went across the bridge to La Rochelle where we had the day to explore the old town with its old port, towers, cathedral and many bars and restaurants.

We enjoyed the warm weather and when we did get a bit of rain we all joined in in a few card games together. All in all it was a very pleasant and enjoyable family holiday, the like of which sue and I rarely partake in these days.

Cows on Parade…

The 2016 Cow Parade was held in Surrey as part of the international charitable event that started in Switzerland and has spread to over 80 cities and towns worldwide. In the last few months there have been 64 cows dotted throughout Surrey in many different places, such as at Gatwick airport, vineyards, National Trust properties, or just by the side of the road in towns and villages nearby. As the craze for collecting Pokémon raged I found myself on a mission to collect pictures of cows and I managed quite a few, however I did not get to see them all as the herd was assembled at the Surrey Hills Food,Drink and Music Festival

On yer bike…

The Prudential Ride London cycle event has become a new tradition for us in Westcott and each year it gets better and better. Since the Olympics they have been making slight changes, to the route and to the facilities on the green. This year we were on part of the route that saw the professional riders loop through our village several times, and on the green was a large screen, impressive facilities for the riders to stop, rest, rehydrate, and fix their bikes with medical care on hand and the local physio also performing massages for those tense muscles. The spectators were also catered for with games to play and food to eat.

Some people don’t like the village being effectively closed for the day, but for us this one day of isolation was more than rewarded by the spectacle of the race. Especially when viewed from the local pub who put on music and food to accompany their beverages. Great fun, and long may it continue.

More of wot I have read…

The Shepherd’s Crown by Terry Pratchett

I have been a fan of Terry Pratchett’s gentle subversive style of writing and it is sad that this will be the final Discworld Novel. I have grown up over the years exploring this world that is a distorted reflection on our own and its myths and customs and even though the young adult level of this book may not provide deep stimulus there are still some important themes explored. Some too that I must admit moved me, though that may be my age as I find myself tearing up more and more as I get older. A good read for the fans of this world and its people.

‘Deep in the Chalk, something is stirring. The owls and foxes can sense it, and Tiffany Aching feels it in her boots. An old enemy is gathering strength.

This is a time of endings and beginnings, old friends and new, a blurring of edges and a shifting of power. Now Tiffany stands between the light and dark, the good and the bad.

As the fairy horde prepares for invasion, Tiffany must summon all the witches to stand with her. To protect the land. Her land.

There will be a reckoning…’

The Strange Affair of Spring-Heeled Jack by Mark Hodder

I was attracted to this book by its title, its cover and the Steampunk styled alternative world that it is set in. I loved the way the author twisted the nature of the world and provided an impetus for the change within the narrative. The over the top exotic twists and playfully irreverent treatment of historical heroes was exciting to behold and I thoroughly enjoyed what is billed as the start of the Burton & Swinburne Adventures.

“It is 1861, and Albertian Britain is in the grip of conflicting forces.

Engineers transform the landscape with bigger, faster, noisier and dirtier technological wonders; Eugenicists develop specialist animals to provide unpaid labour; Libertines oppose restrictive and unjust laws and flood the country with propaganda demanding a society based on beauty and creativity; while The Rakes push the boundaries of human behaviour to the limits with magic, sexuality, drugs and anarchy.

Returning from his failed expedition to find the source of the Nile, explorer, linguist, scholar and swordsman Sir Richard Francis Burton finds himself sucked into the perilous depths of this moral and ethical vacuum when the Prime Minster, Lord Palmerston, employs him as “King’s Spy”. His first mission: to investigate the sexual assaults committed by a weird apparition known as Spring Heeled Jack; to find out why chimney sweeps are being kidnapped by half-man, half-dog creatures; and to discover the whereabouts of his badly injured former friend, John Hanning Speke.”

Altered Plans…

We missed out visiting Andy and Jodie due to family issues, but we used the Friday afternoon we had booked off originally to travel to Shropshire, to visit the RHS Hampton Court Flower show instead. Even though it was an afternoon ticket and on a weekday it was still busy and we ambled around the many gardens, pausing at a few stalls, bars, and tents to take in the sights of the show.

We did manage to spend some time in our own garden on the weekend (planted the wasabi plant bought at Hampton Court). But the main plan was to visit Terry and Gill.

Muck & Bullets…

As a contrast to the refined and well-groomed wedding we have just attended the following day was more informal and messier. On our way home we saw signs for the Capel Military Vehicle Show and we thought we would give it a go. The rain we had had over the last few days and the number of vehicles and visitors had turned the site into a quagmire (putting us somewhat in mind of a battle ground). It is not an enormous show but there a few impressive tanks, trucks, guns and other military paraphernalia around. The highlight for me was a battle re-enactment actually using tanks, armoured cars and field guns along with assault troops with plenty of smoke, explosions and churning mud.