Isle of Wight in September

Another visit to the Isle of Wight (Mary has family there) in September this time rather than October. Normally, Mary would drive down and we would catch the Lymington - Yarmouth ferry. This time we decided to go by train (Hereford to Southampton Central) followed by a short bus ride to the Red Jet...

Great Green Bush Cricket (Mottistone, Isle of Wight)

 Photo 1: Great Green Bush Cricket (IOW, September 2024)On a recent trip to the Isle of Wight (IOW), the largest UK bush cricket was spotted at Mottistone, a National Trust property. This specimen was 2 - 3 inches long (5 - 7 centimetres) and was locally common (we spotted at least three of them).The...

Classic Vinyl #1 (Simon and Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water)

Nearly four years ago, I started a thread describing my collection of vinyl records and how I still enjoy taking time out to sit down, listen and enjoy. My LP collection is 40 to 50 years old now with one or two more recent additions. Despite a few of the records having a noticeable background crackle,...

Herefordshire Reuse and Recycling Organisation (HRRO)

 Today, Mary & I attended the official opening of the Herefordshire Reuse & Recycling Organisation at their new warehouse. Our invitation was through Hereford Open Door, a local charity supporting homeless people in Herefordshire for which we are both trustees (I am also the treasurer).This...

Cat & Mouse

 A few weeks ago, a field mouse (also known as a wood mouse or meadow vole) was spotted in the garden (h/t Ash who took the picture below).  It was only a few feet away from the bird feeder (Photo 1 and Photo 2) so there was plenty of food going spare thanks to our messy feathered friends. Photo...

Royal Welsh Show 2024

Alex Rowe of Gittisham Forge returned to stay with us while stewarding at the 2024 Royal Welsh Show. Alex is a fifth-generation blacksmith working alongside his father, Julian, at their forge just outside Honiton, Devon. He lodged with us while a student at the Holme Lacy Campus doing his blacksmithing...

Fruit/Vegetable Anomalies #6 Swiss Chard

 Photo 1: Swiss Chard 'Giant'Continuing this occasional series about odd looking fruit and vegetables grown in the kitchen garden, today's feature vegetable is Swiss Chard. Previous posts have featured strawberries, carrots, potatoes, garlic and courgettes/zucchinis.It is not unusual for my Swiss...

That's a bit cheeky!

 On our return from a short holiday, we found this business card slipped behind the rear windscreen wiper of our camper van. Mary was (mildly) offended though we both agreed the car looked far from pristine and clean. While I just chuckled at the cheekiness of it all, Mary went for a sponge and...