Prune This Lot ...

Another sunny day and an ideal time to visit the Ritsurin Koen in Takayama. A leisurely walk through the covered shopping arcade allowed us to have morning coffee and, since part of the arcade is at least 1km long in the direction of the koen, kept us shaded while we walked. The koen, or garden, is extensive. In the blossom season it would be fantastic. We spent at least 3 hours wandering the paths. Lakes, thousands of immaculately pruned trees and bushes, herons and the inevitably carp.

Back in town we had traditional local noodles with some tasty pickles. Afternoon coffee and cake - the yellow ochre coloured one which could be pumpkin - it's tastes great so who cares ...

After a quick look at the Takamatsu Art Gallery we walked down to the Castle Park. The gardens are fine but, we were fortunate to catch a bonsai exhibition. The plants were flowering and nothing like any we had seen before.

Time for rest, washing and dinner ...

Taking Steps To Enjoy Yourself

A semi-sunny, well polluted day gave us the opportunity to see two very interesting sights.

The Kotoden local private rail service took us from Takamatsu to Kotohira. We were energetic enough to climb the 785 steps to the main sanctuary of the Kotohira gu shrine. However, after about the same effort again, we turned around to start the decent back to town - hunger always wins plus, there were a total of 1368 steps to get to the Inner Shrine at the top of the mountain.

After a delicious lunch we caught the JR train to Sanukishioya and walked to Nakazu Bansho-en. This is one of the best sea-side gardens in Japan. The garden was built for Takatoyo Kyogoku who was the second lord of the Marugame clan. Marugame is the 'main' town nearby. We recharged batteries with ices while walking back to the station where we boarded the JR train to Takamatsu.

I'll not comment further on the behaviour of the little kids and school kids on the train other than to say that you'd never see such displayed by our Oz and UK animals - I just don't understand why ...

Back at Takamatsu we stopped for coffee and then raided the supermarket. That's a 9-to-4 outing ... who needs a gym?

Shhhhinkansen to Takamatsu

The Hikari shinkansen took us from Tokyo to Okayama on time and at speed. As expected the train was clean and quiet - no mobile phone jabbering or raucous conversations. Even the coffee from the trolly was good. Where do we Ozers and Ukers go wrong? It's beyond my understanding ...

The Mariner Express completed the journey from Okayama to Takamatsu as planned - again no mobile phone jabber and quiet.

We were given excellent tourist information at the JR station by a delightful woman who said she only spoke a little English - she was totally fluent and couldn't have been more helpful. The Toyoko Inn Takamatsu hotel is excellent and the staff very helpful and they have a great sense of humour ... always a big plus when most of the conversation is more a mime.

As per, we located an excellent supermarket and stocked up on goodies for dinner, supper and any nibble-times that seem to occur frequently.

That's a good day's travel ....

Modern Art, Musical Instruments and Korean Food

A second visit to the Tokyo Met to see an exhibition called 'Best Selection 2012' was well worth the 300 yen ... half price for wrinklies. Some really excellent painting and sculpture - an inspiration to a jaded art palette.

Ueno was buzzing with packs of school kids who all behaved in a civilized way, unlike the feral offspring we usually see around Oz and UK cities. We were reduced to a visit to Starbucks for a coffee and cake simply because they had tables in the sunshine so that we could people-watch while we rested our aged limbs.

A delicious lunch in the market area opposite the JR station recharged energy banks. On to the Yamanote line and to Shinokubo where we, eventually, found a music instrument store which must be the largest we've ever seen. Nothing was bought ... this time. The Shinokubo area seems to be the Korean restaurant and shopping area.

Back on the Yamanote to Ueno and the hotel via the supermarket ended today's exercise.

Six Foot Hours In The Sun

The day was blessed with glorious sunshine. We decided to brave the hoards and visit the Sky Tree. The engineering is brilliant and the retail outlets gob smacking ... if it can be marketed and it's cute they have it! We will have to book a ticket to go up the 30 odd floors for later this year ... it's booked out until late June.

Asakusa was a hive of visitors but, we found a locals' cafe that was quiet so that we had an excellent lunch. A visit to the Sensoji temple rounded out the morning.


A walk through Ueno park took us to the Metropolitan Art Museum. The Citizens Exhibition was boggling ... room after room of paintings and some excellent sculpture and ceramics. Some of the painting were great but, as with all huge exhibitions, some were "not to my taste", (cough, cough).

That got us to five and a-half foot hours so we beat a retreat to the supermarket for more sashimi and other goodies.

Six Foot Hours ... enough for one day ...

Rain And Tiredness Needs Coffee

Rain soaked Tokyo and a desire to sleep sort of compliment a visit to a Doutor cafe. Not that we ever need an excuse to visit a cafe.

Wandering around the old shopping streets in Ueno only increased our desire to roam despite the rain. The Japanese marketing designs are compelling and the fact that you can read any of the print only serves to emphasize the colours and designs. The influence of Manga and traditional folk lore images adds to the visual feast.

An excellent meal at one of the cafes in Asakusa shopping arcade followed by a visit to the Kiwaya ukulele shop and another of the local temples rounded out the afternoon. Shopping time ... food ... gave us another pleasant surprise. There is an even better supermarket just around the corner from the Weekly mansions ... and so to a dinner with some delicious sashimi.

Tokyo - On Time

We took off from Sydney on time and landed and embarked on time - JAL what need I say. The Skyliner got us to Ueno on time, We were at the supermarket, after registering at the Weekly Holiday Mansion Higashi-Ueno, in time. And had our dinner at the flat at about time for bed. An excellent travelling day!

It always come as a bit of a shock when we first arrive in Tokyo and wander the streets in Asakusa in the early evening - main shops are shut, traffic is moving and the is an air of peace and quiet which is hard to believe. That's what's pleasant about the place ...

Watch, Wallet, Spectacles and ... An Early Start

Four fifteen am is not on e of my usual times to be non-comatose. Shuttle to KSF and a croissant and coffee roused a few brain cells which enables us to be coherent enough to check-in. Passports and security passed though lead to the cafe - again - for more liquid and a slow full re-boot of the thinking equipment. No, I do not like very early starts to my day.

All good - so far - next stop Tokyo.

Mad Dash To The Starting Line

Time to pack all the goodies away, unplug the electronics and kick the cat out. It's always a series of ,"Oh my God have we ..." moments that make you realize it's time go go.

Apartment Secured

The last Panicable (it's a noun in this case) has been conquered! Not by any of my efforts but, by the pleasant and efficient offices of Abbeydale Hall. Again we have a 2BLK&B+P flat in Sheffield ... excellent! There is a build up of planned arty activities at the Millennium and Porterbrook Studios, and the prospect of further forages into Darkest Derbyshire and Ancient Lincolnshire only delights expectations.

All that remains is to pack ....

Countdown 2012

Here we are again at the frontier of exportation ready to retrace the steps of  our convict brothers and sisters but, in reverse and without the floggings that cured their ills. Are we packed, planned and panicking? That's a: yes, yes and sort-of.

Stand-by Transport by Mr Oates

Excitement mixed with trepidation. Will all the planning actually work? So far one hiccup ... flight cancelled and re-booked ... phew ... thank G we are not using pigeon post and square-rigger at present!

Apart from the unseen random events we should be able to actually pack the cases later this week. I prefer Friday, the day before we leave, so that the stuff we do pack doesn't get worn out while packing and re-packing. The re-packing syndrome is evidenced by a state of mind that is obsessed by the notion of "just in case"; just in case we've packed too much, too little, the wrong things and forgotten the cat ... we don't have a cat ... You get the general idea I'm sure.

Have we had our shots? Don't even start that ball rolling ...

THEY CANCELLED THE *@#!ing FLIGHT!!! (ad alta voce)

Oh dear what a catastrophe! Not really ... "If you keep your head when all about you are loosing theirs," as Uncle Rudyard always said. Dear Old BMIBaby has gone to the dogs so the flight from CDG to EMA is no more.

On to the Interwebnettydodah. Plastic on standby, fingers limbered, eyeballs set on max resolution and brain switched to turbo. Will it be a plane, train, boat or ... Shank's Pony? Well, worry not readers. Magic always comes in threes ...

We still hope be flying out of CDG (fingers and all else crossed) but, to Manchester instead of EMA.  FlyBe came to the rescue and First TransPennine Express takes us from Manchester to Sheffield for the tiny sum of  16 GBP. (If you've been watching "Five Days" you'll maybe have noticed that the train is one of theirs.)

Bower Power!

We've been watching the Bower Birds doing their thing for some time, but this week the craziest antic was a bird who took a fancy to half of a red, plastic bucket which I was using as a camera cover. The short film is here: http://youtu.be/c_BB94WcLl0.

Low Flying Surprise

While sitting on the veranda munching on breakfast we were surprised to see a White Breasted Sea Eagle zooming down the road. A flock of Cockatoos drew our attention to the eagle which, after landing a a tree, was mobbed by the local Magpie Mafia.

  

Sunken Dreams

A few local boaties bought an old, wooden sailing boat; an ex-salt trader from Portugal ca. 1950. That was several year ago and, sadly, nothing was done by way of maintenance. Hence, the inevitable demise of what was an expensive hole-in-the-ocean. The only things left of their dream of operating a historic tourist sailing boat is the threat of diesel pollution and a massive bill for a heavy lift crane to pluck the corpse from it's watery grave.

Japan And Somewhere New - South Korea

Our good fortune takes us to Japan again; both going and coming. We decided to visit Shikoku which gives us another chance to experience Shinkansen travel again.

After deep deliberation, Zen style, I chose Takamatsu and Tokushima as our bases in Shikoku. Both places give easy access to splendid temples, parks and a further chance to use our JR passes.

On the way back to Ozerland we plan to fly to Seoul for a week of kimchi soaked kulture; QANTAS FF points making a JAL flight possible. If the information we have read so far is correct, wandering around Seoul will wear our soles down to the uppers ...

Bower Birds

We seem to have a few Satin Bower Birds (Ptilinorhynchus violaceus) in the garden. Hopefully one of them will build a bower ...

For a video of them doing their thing click here.

Decisions, Decisions ... Time To Pay ... Today

After much cud-chewing, hourly ear-bashing and finger-sore webbing, it's time to cough up the clams and choose an airline. I don't want you to think we're creatures of habit; mindless lemmings following a Disney migratory route to greener pastures where we engage in tribal ritual or mystic, predawn Masonic mumbo jumbo. No. No. No. Yes, we are choosing JAL - again ...

Korean Air came very close, but got the silver. After a great deal of Seoul searching we decided to to pay the extra small bucket of clams and continue to pander to our indulgent egos. So we're Tokyo bound in mid May - fingers crossed ...

English Summer Oz Style

What a strange summer - wet,windy and the odd sunny day. No. Not the UK. I'm talking about The Bay this year. Walking is a pleasant pastime in these temperate conditions - what a joy not to be fried to a crisp!

Our friends at The Bakehouse cafe are always a reliable source of coffee and cakes so that a brisk walk to town has both excellent estuarine views and the promise of tasty refreshment. The excuse is acceptable - it keeps us fit ...

Where? What? Who? When?

Those are good questions which the planning committee are trying to resolve. It's not really a question of dosh or  self-imposed time lines; cultural tastes seldom are.

Japan will be part of the jolly; Shikoku being the main area of interest to start with. A couple of nights in Tokyo and then the shinkansen down to Okayama followed by JR trains to Takamatsu and beyond. Swanning around the island for a week and then the reverse trip back to Tokyo and then, up-and-away on to Europe.

Europe probably means stopping in Paris for a few days and then taking a week or two to rail around Normandy, Picardy and Nord pas de Calais, taking a squiz at some of the many historic sites and galleries; cafes and patisseries are without number, so that we will have to exercise great constraint is we are to travel at all. The list of places, so far, includes: Caen and Bayeux, Rouen, Amiens, Laon or Lille; with day trips from Paris to the obvious Big V. Note: we will not be visiting any War Graves.

The Eurostar from Paris or Lille to London seems to be a good idea until you consider that the Olympics are in London this year. We may try to fly to a northern airport even if it means going to Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris to fly to the UK and avoid London.

Sheffield seems to beckon again for all the good reasons of last and other years. That depends upon the availability of an apartment; that we will find out about a month before we leave ...

When to leave ... May?

Coming back? The reverse flights are the favoured option, but the there may be a desire to visit Korea on the way ...

Summer? Nah, It Must Be Autumn.

Just to let you know that the summer here in Oz is really a late Oz autumn replay. Cold, wind, rain and the odd day of sunshine al la a British summer. To be honest, I like it! The over-sold, blistering summer normally touted for these shores is only good for producing Lobsters; that's over cooked tourists who have the desire to sear their flesh to get that reptilian molt effect which is so flattering.

Long may it remain so ....

Mower Mania!

One of the annoying things about living in Ozerland is the mania for mowing grass, lawn is too grand a notion. The act of mowing isn't the problem. Its the obsession with motor mowers and the chronic desire to cut the grass down to the roots. This activity must be done at some ungodly hour in the morning; probably due to a the misconception that the sun may rise to levels that sear the flesh down to the bone before 9am. The manic activity is not confined to those of retirement age who have noting better to do with their time. Better still if the mower is supercharged with designer, mega decibel exhaust and go-fast stripes.

I was woken this morning by some half-wit next door and, had I possessed the necessary equipment, would have been delighted to hasten her passage across the Styx and payed Charon handsomely.

It was a comfort to find out that a I was not the only crusty to object to such a rude incursion into my territory ...

Travel Videos - Done And Dusted

That really is a wrap. So drop into my Youtube site if you want to spend hours seeing what we've seen ...

Hope you enjoy what you see

Loading Up For The Season

Tis the time to

Deck the roofs with boughs of razor wire, 

Reindeer traps and Claymore mines. 

Tis the season for Santa hunting, 

Rudolf pie and mulled red wine. 

Fa la la la la, la la la la,

Happy hunting campers!

Cut, Cut, Cut and It's A Wrap ... Nearly ...

After a mammoth series of editing session I've come to the end of my tether ... sorry, that's tapes. Time to leave the computer to chew away for hours digesting the finished footage into DVDs. I don't have blue teeth and don't expect to change my dentition for some time ...

Horsetrailier wise all is same of the same ... except ... the summer goblins have gone on strike. Cold, windy and much downward trending water seems to dominate the meteorological soothsaying. It must be the new carbon tax ...

It'll soon be That Time again. Time to take the Humbug pills and board up the chimney; time to reflect of the behavior of the herd; time to say at home, doors bolted and curtains drawn. Need I say more?

Weeds, Wet and Windy

Back at the kennel the weeds are rife and the weather, on-again, off-again, rain and wind. Not to worry the 'fridge is full and there's plenty of film to edit.

Local fauna are a delight as usual; there is nothing as rowdy as Oz birds at daybreak. The lizards are up and about when the sun decides to show its more radiant face. Mr Blue Tongue came out to greet us which frightened the daylights out of the Memsahib. This especially since our friend down the road found a four foot python slithering its way around the wood-fire chimney pipe in her kitchen. The snake went on to the work bench top in the kitchen before the stalwarts from the local zoo turned up to remove the beast. Because the animals are territorial they only took it down the road to a small pond where they thought it had come from. The best part of the story was that the zoo stalwarts told our friend to, "Grab it by the tail and drag it outside". No chance!

Here is Mr Blue Tongue:

Back To The Colonies

After two splendid rest days in Narita we find ourselves back in the Colonies again - for a short while. We were greeted by a massive thunderstorm which meant that today was the wettest we've seen for six months ...

So time has come to ... set up all that needs to be set up so that life can go one as before ... that also includes:

Making the next set of travel plans and bookings ...

now where will that be?

Millers' Dale and Turkey Dinner

An afternoon walking and looking for fossils at an old quarry in Millers' Dale. The massive lime kilns added some interest; their size alone testament to industrial activity of the area - up to 1944. Remnants of the railway station still remain. The Victorians certainly didn't have any belief in OH&S or Green Industry.







Back at the cottage we feasted on a roast turkey dinner followed my mince pies; an early Christmas dinner with friends. Excellent ...

Mill Pond, Meadows, Streams and Cottage Teas

After a very dull start to the day the weather cleared and, despite a cool wind, provided just the right condition for a walk in North Lees Estate. Transport, as per, was the trusty 272 to Hathersage - don't you love regular public transport ...

After a more than ample lunch, we took a leisurely walk past the Mill Pond and on to a walled field. The field was surrounded by small woods. We sat against the wall and under the Oak and Birch trees. Such an peaceful setting always leads to the discussion of all manner of problems and this time was no exception. The world sorted, we returned to the Mill Pond, where we met the boys who, after a couple of hours working sheep, decided to demonstrate their diving and swimming ability ...

"Stand back they're going to shake themselves!"



Aquatics done, we walks across the Warren, site of an Romano-British settlement (not excavated yet ...), and down the tracks leading back to the cottage.

Tea, cake and conversation finished an excellent afternoon. Simple ...

Drawn Into The Gallery ... Again.

What a delight to be able to jump on a bus and attend a Life Drawing session at the Millennium Gallery every Friday. Tim Rose directed the session.

Lunch was at the New Deli in Tottley - no, it wasn't an Indian cafe no matter how punny it sounds.

Public transport is excellent in Sheffield - that adds to the pleasure of being here.

Lincoln By Train - Again

A few days in Lincolnshire were our last visit to the home county for another year. Say what you like, the presence of the university students has brought the breath of activity to the place. We now look at the city with different eyes to those of our youth. Lincoln is an excellent old city just as pleasant and interesting as any you would find in France.

Weather wise, we were treated to clear blue skies and bitter cold winds - Lincolnshire Autumn.

Rake and Tor in Derbyshire

After a dull start to the day we ventured out on the 272 to Hathersage. The walk across the fields to the cottage was delightful. After an excellent lunch, we went to Dirtlow Rake. I know that sounds like a character in Pilgim's Progress or one of the Bronte girls novels, but it's an historic mining area. The Romans use the workings which were still in use during the Medieval period. The area adjacent to workings of  the rake or vein is important because of the flora.

On to Mam Tor. This provided a spectacular view of Edale and Hope Valley; no howling gale this time ..

Back to the cottage for tea and trifle - yes, trifle. The Boys were quick to find the biscuits in my pocket - what's new?

A splendid, sunny afternoon wandering in lovely countryside - that's why we're here folks ...

Journey's End Or Beginning?

Just over two weeks before we board the Big Silver Bird again to be transported to the Colonies. The prospect of packing our stuff into the Big Yellow locker for another 6 months looms, but we'll ignore that for another week or so. There are still a few thing to do and see ... it'll never end.

Churches, Cathedral and Family History

What a week! What a beautiful farming landscape! We were fortunate to experience excellent, if cool, weather. The cold wind picked up later in the week so that we we reminded of our youthful excursions into the countryside where we complained of the Lazy Winds - they blow through you and not around you! Open fields allow excellent vistas, but the wind can be a cold companion.

Lincoln cathedral was as magnificent as ever. My childhood was spent under it's shadow and within the range of the bells' peel. No matter how many time we visit the cathedral, we always find the building a splendid place to be. A place of stillness and quiet.












From Horncastle we took the Roman road to Caistor - ‘Venta Icenorum’ (Market Place of the Iceni). This town is one of the key villages that are part of family history. The new Art Centre and Heritage Centre provided a tasty lunch. St Peter and Paul's church was open and proved to be well worth the visit.

The farmhouse which was the grandparents' home was also located - even the Yews and the gate evident in old photographs still stand.









We also visited the churches at: Hemingby, Goulceby, Digby and Rowston.

Some excellent pub lunches and dinners made sure we were well victualed - one of the delights of being in England.

Less pleasant - the road traffic ... Luck was with us: we avoided a fatal accident by no more than 2 minutes. The accident was near Digby; a 19 year old man was killed and his girlfriend badly injured. Such events certainly focus the mind ...

Can't Get Too Much Of Lincolnshire

We're off to Big Sky County again - just a week of poking about and wandering. There are so many places of interest and the countryside is always interesting no matter what the time of year.

On the black side: the reputation of the farming community is not exactly pristine. The incidence of migrant and illegal worker exploitation seems to be on the rise. Boston has earned the reputation of being the centre of unrest; a protest against the use of immigrant workers  has been organised. An interesting social and political situation when you consider the reasons and origins of some of The Great Imperialist's Founding Fathers. Boston has also become one of the centres for the manufacture of Moon Shine Vodka - it's the Poles you might say ...

As a friend said recently, "History isn't action at a given time. It's a continuum of human activity, We're living it."

Pass the bottle Grzegorz ...

Drawing On Old Haunts

Happily the Millennium Gallery has begun the Friday life drawing sessions again. That allowed me to meet up with Tim Rose and have a pleasant time daubing. I always apologize to the model after the session - my efforts are often so Baconesque that any likeness is hard to discern.

The journey to the gallery was made less mundane because some activity on London Road had produced a notable police presence. Sadly, the activity seems to be the possible murder of a young man - drugs and gang involvement seems to be likely. What a civilised place we live in ...

The Indian Summer persists - delightful!

Indian Summer - Walking In The Peak Park

What a week! We've come back to a week of splendid, sunny weather.

Thursday was a beautiful, sunny, almost windless day. Being creatures of habit, we caught the 272 to Castleton and dismounted at Fox House pub. A swift half and we set off along the paths that took us along the base of Burbage Edge towards Burbage Bridge.

Crossing the road we started the slow climb to Stanage Edge where we stopped for a quick snack. The view, though grand, was marred by the haze caused by the inversion. Wandering along Stanage Edge took us to the Pack-horse Track down to The Plantation. Walking down the track and through the trees brought us to the car park where we had an expresso from the little coffee van owned by Val and Nick.

Suitably caffeinated, we walk on towards and down Birley Lane. The highland cows and their calfs standing at the cattle grid payed us little attention, as did the massive bull sating his thirst at a little stream at the side of the lane. We passed our friends' cottages and turned along the track through the fields. Passing the near derelict cottage next to the stream took us past Sir Hugh's Brookfield Manor and on, over the hilled fields, to Hathersage Village.

The deli-cafe provided an excellent pot of tea and cakes which recharged our energies. A short wait and we were re-mounted on the 272 back to Sheffield.

A day out to remember ... about twelve km ignoring the ups and downs ...

Back To Nest No. 2

After a long day, spent mainly waiting for various forms of transport, we are now, unpacked and back at our Sheffield flat. All the travel arrangements worked perfectly (touch wood or iron if your Italian). Ferry, flight, hotel, coach and a couple of taxis got us home in scheduled time. All the food along the way was excellent - what more could a vagabond want?

Stay tuned for some more detailed reports ... it's time for a kip ...

Ferrara Cathedral and Castle

We took the train to Farrara and had an interesting journey. The train stopped a few kilometers from Ferrara for about half and hour. The reason? "crazy man" was sleeping on the track! The police can and removed the sleeping idiot. You have to admit that is an unusual reason for a delay ...

The cathedral is magnificant and probably the most trompe l'oeil ed interior we've seen. The facade is quite fantastic - romanesque gone mad plus.

The castle is simply gigantic! That's all I can say that makes any sense ..

No loonies on the track going back to Venice so the train arrived on time. Quite a long day for the aged legs; about 11 hours in all.

Hot, Over-Touristed, Rubbish Art, But Still A Great Place

We've done even more artificating. It's not any surprise that most of the exhibits are, to be generous, rubbish dressed up as art. Conceptual Art is all very well if you're doing a knowledge college project, but it does wear away any patience you may have had when you enterect the sacred portals of the "Exhibition". We've given up reading the expositions on the intellectual, moral, political, economic, religious, scientific, culinary, Play Doh shaping, finger painting, non-polluting, renewable, recylcable and boring intentions of the artist ...

The Bien is far from what its title implies: Illuminating ...

Venice is just a very special place to be ...

Ho Hum, Moan, Moan It's The Biennale!

We've spent two days trawling round the major venues of this year Venice B. Yes, you've guessed right, another exhibition of someone's C .. R .. A .. P. Thank God for the Italian Pavilion at the Arsenale - as per, it had a majority of good "Art". At least this year there was a pleasing lack of placarded, unintelligible, artists' drivel. Mind you, the Conceptual Art Camp still dominates so that we were left wondering what the piles of junk were supposed to mean ...

Interestingly, Anthony Gormley and partner seemed to follow us through the Giardini exhibition with the same lightening speed ... maybe we aren't the only ones to be other than wowed by what was on offer.

Good food and a diet of various "foreign" TV news in English round off the day.

Venice In The Sun And Rain

All the travel arrangements went like clockwork, only much faster ... The flight arrived 20 mins early which allowed us to catch an earlier ferry, which in turn allowed us to hit dreamland by midnight. A total of 11 hours travelling; this included a 5 hour wait at EMA.

Sunday was spent getting set up at the appartment and buying tickets for the vaporetto and Biennale. A hot day with far too many tour groups.

We managed to visit three of the art events. The Ukrainian exhibit was excellent. The idea, size and location of the huge installation, which uses 3640000 wooden eggs, is a great example of what an installation should be.

An exhibition of Franny Bacon's drawings was also worth the effort.

Monday seems to be blighted with rain, Sue's upset stomach and loads of Chinese tourist groups. We hope their pockets are emptied before they leave ... Monday is also a day when many of the exhibitions are closed.

Let's Hope The Transport Runs ...

We're all packed and ready to go off to Venice - again. Fingers and other extremities are cross. Taxi to the station, National Express coach to EMA,  Ryan Air to Venice Marco Polo airport and ferry to Venice Arsenale. It's exciting, but we still hold our breath ...

Goodbye Mr Flint

A sad yesterday, but it comes to us all. Mr Flint, our dear, sheep chasing, football chewing and biscuit munching friend, came to the end of his 20 year romp.

Goodbye Mr Flint.

On The Doorstep - History

We decided to spend a day wandering in an area near Sheffield, Rotherham and Worksop. There are so many places of historical importance to visit, we restricted ourselves to five during the the afternoon.

Roche Abbey is a English Heritage site. It was closed when we got there. Fortunately the path around the site still allowed us to appreciated the place. The abbey must have looked splendid in its day, situated as it is, in the valley at the base of a limestone cliff.

On to Tickhill for a coffee and cake. St Mary's church in Tickhill dates from the 12th C. The present building dates from late 14th and early 15 C. We were surprised by the size of the church.

At Blyth we bought some lunch at the PO. St Mary and Martin's church was locked. I managed to find the verger and, after a long chat about the history of the place, she gave us the key. The building is an amazing example of a Norman Benedicine Priory dating from 1088. Uncle Henry didn't destroy the place because part of the building, the south aisle, was used as the parish church. The remains of a 15th C fresco, Norman arches and the 15th C rood screen are some of the more important features.

Our visit to Worksop Priory was blighted because the place was closed. A huge building with some modern additions. We'll have to visit again to see the 15th C shrine and chapel. The town traffic directions are so bad, we ended up in a Tesco's car park! Eventually we found our way out of the town ,,,

More Norman delights at St Peter's church in Thorpe Salvin rounded off the day. The main part of the church dates from 1130. The chained bible was bought in 1641; I was surprised to see the bible just placed on a shelf with a loose glass cover. The font came from Normandy in the 12th C.

The ruins of Thorpe Hall is visible from the church, but we couldn't find a way to visit it.












Back to Sheffield in time for the rush hour; an excellent afternoon which emphasised the depth of our culture and it's history.

Well, Well, Well And Not So Well

A typical sunny day with showers added  to the beautiful, Derbyshire countryside. We 272ed to Hathersage where our tour of three village well dressings got off to a damp start.

Wormhill is a delightful, truly rural, village where we had excellent tea and cake before visiting the well dressing and church.

Foolow village looks like a calander picture. First impression is that there are some well healed in-comers taking care of the buildings. The village even has a duck pond which isn't filled with discarded shopping trollies. The little church is plain, but delightful; it dates from only about 1880.

Eyam, the plague village, made our final destination of the day. Two well dressings and a brass band; sadly out of tune and timing, but the large procession made up for that.

The drive around, to and from these villages took us through some of the loveliest of Derbyshire countryside. Bright purple heather, green fields, woods and forest, stone walls and cottages, all set in limestone, deep-rolling dales which are topped by grit-stone edges and moors. That alone was worth the effort of venturing out in the rain.

Back at The Cottage poor Mr Flint looked sadder than ever. He's reached a ripe old age and his health is failing. A sad counterpoint to the enjoyable day with good mates ... that's life Freddy Boy ...

A Formula 1 journey back to Sheffield, in what must have been a supercharged 272, got us home before the evening rain set in.

The Chicken Gets It's Revenge ...

I enjoyed the chicken salad, but the salmonella wasn't supposed to be part of the meal ... enough said ...

Touring The Fens Looking For Ancestors

Another bright, sunny day was cause to saddle up the pony and travel some of the many small lanes that crisscross the fens. Sunday sees less traffic so that the open vistas of Lincolnshire are more easily seen as you weave your way from village to village.

We stopped at Langtoft to look at the church of St Michael All Angels which was open. A surprisingly large building holding a brightly lit space almost free of stained glass. Building dates from the 13 C.

We reached Crowland in time for lunch and a quick half at a local hostelry. The Abbey is a monolithic building. The ruins of the old monastic buildings, that are attached to the what was the naive and aisles, were demolished in the mid 16 C. It was in the early 8 C that a religious community was started here. Interestingly, the original settlement was, in the 8 C, on a island in the fens.

Peterborough Cathedral beckoned. After a frustrating drive round-about roundabouts,  we got there. What a building! Founded in the Anglo-Saxon period and rebuilt in the 12 C, this magnificent Norman building is an startling example of such architecture. Arches upon arches, colourful ceilings, fan vaulting and the last resting place of Katherine of Aragon; what else could you ask for?


Back to the ranch via some very interesting byways. A good day in glorious sunshine ...

All Hail to the Bishop of Bardney

In brilliant sunshine we passed through the village of Great Hale, stopping when we saw the large, church of  St John the Baptist. The church predates the Norman conquest by 100 years. It was an abbey church in the mid 14 C. The clear glass windows allow the interior to be bright and the size of the building reflects it's previous history.

Two Quiet Villages on a Sunny, Lincolnshire Day

 St Peter and Paul's church at Osbournby turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The building seems much larger than expected when you enter. The lack of stained glass means that the church is bright and feels airy. Some of the pews have Medieval carved ends.  The village is a quiet place, reflecting it's Georgian rural architecture.



St Andrew's Scredington church at Scredington looks like it has been given a KKK hat! The church interior is bright, if plain. A truly rural village - no flash mobbing here - that England ...

Nottinghamshire Gems

A excellent drive around three villages in Nottinghamshire took us to three delightful churches.

Our Lady of Egmanton church which was restored by Ninian Comper in the late 19 C. The rood screen took our breath away. Decoration of the organ is equally stunning. The church is a gem. We had a pleasant conversation with several vicars who had just finished their meeting and then with the incumbent's wife.

Next, we visited Laxton which is one of the few places where traditional rotation farm practices are used. The church of St Michael the Archangel is an imposing building sited on a small hill. We were fortunate enough to arrive at the same time as the cleaner - otherwise it would have been locked. The village is part of the Royal Estate; the driving force which results in well kept buildings in keeping with a Georgian village atmosphere. The Dovecote Inn proved to be a very pleasant place to have an excellent beer and over-sized plowman's lunch.

Just down the road is Carlton on Trent. The church was open because the warden was at work. We had an long conversation with her about the state of the world, family problems and the price of tea inn China. St Mary's church is in excellent condition - it's Victorian. Plain, but pleasant and worth a visit.

We were tempted to buy a Lottery ticket; finding three open churches in a row ...

Time for dinner ...