Latest News 2019
21st December – 4th January 2020
A Christmas visit to our beloved Bandos in the Maldives. It’ll probably be our last “big trip” with Zac who is heading towards 17, so the possible/probable end of an era where many good things have happened. It’s our sixth visit and a chance to see some familiar faces again and dive some of the excellent sites around the southern part of the North Male Atoll.
This time, we visited Male itself, one of the world’s most improbable cities.
18th December
A night out in nearby Frome, to see the Happy Mondays perform at the Cheese & Grain.
11th December
A night in Bristol, to see the Mark Lanegan Band.
7th – 8th December
Indulging in some trip planning for 2020.
29th November – 1st December
A London visit, this time staying Camden, to see the Ezra Collective perform at the Roundhouse.
22nd – 24th November
A weekend visit to Globe Cottage in Weymouth.
21st – 22nd
Another London visit, this time to see Iggy Pop at the Barbican Centre. Great gig
19th – 20th
A trip to London with Amanda to see Bjork at the O2.
15th – 17th November
A London visit to see Kurt Rosenwinkel (with Ozmosys) at the Southbank Centre, the Bridget Riley Exhibition (also at the Southbank Centre), and John Scofield at Pizza Express Jazz.
14th November
Sending out calendars to friends and contacts.
13th November
Calendar press releases done for another year.
12th November
A visit to the BUPG (Bristol Underwater Photographers Group) at Patchway.
10th November
Working on website content, mostly in the Links and Latest News sections.
8th – 9th November
A visit to Kent, with Zac racing in the Club 100 Karting series, this time at the well known Buckmore Park circuit, owned by the Surtees family.
A chance for a bit of photography, though I find it difficult to concentrate on it, as I prefer to watch Zac racing.
6th November
An overnighter in London, to catch Simon Philip’s Protocol at Ronnie Scott’s. A good chance also to catch up with an old mate (Steve Larder) for the evening. The ride down was through some torrential rain between Wylye and Basingstoke.
4th November
Our new calendars arrive – this time it’s two – our 2020 Diving Dreams Calendar and our Diving Dreams Infinity Calendar.
3rd November
A visit to the Langford Lakes reserve (run by the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust) and some work on website content.
2nd November
Ongoing work on website content.
24th October
Rob Stokes from Rascom Ltd visits to install and update our PC’s.
23rd October
The new Diving Dreams Calendars (2020 and “Infinity”) are approved and sent to print.
18th – 20th October
A visit to Bury St. Edmunds, for Zac’s third Club 100 meeting.
15th October
Scuba Diver Magazine publishes Jeremy’s feature on visiting and diving Montserrat in the Caribbean.
13th October
In London again, to see legendary electric bass player Stanley Clarke play at Ronnie Scott’s (making the most of the membership). In the afternoon, a chance to work on website content.
12th October
Playing at an improvisation evening hosted by Al Summers in Warminster.
11th October
Agreeing in principal our March 2020 trip to Cuba with Dive Worldwide – we’ll stay in Havana, then join the Avalon III liveaboard to dive the Gardens of The Queens marine reserve and afterwards visit the Zapata National Park area on a quest to see the Bee Hummingbird, the world’s smallest bird.
10th October
Scuba Diver Magazine publish Jeremy’s feature about our 2017 trip to Montserrat. Glad to see this one come out.
10th October
Making final tweaks and suggestions to our 2020 Diving Dreams Calendar and our new Diving Dreams Infinity Calendar.
3rd – 4th October
A visit to London with friend Simon Farr to see Oz Noy at Ronnie Scott’s. Turned into a late one!
2nd October
An evening visit to Bristol to see Quercus perform, featuring the incredible June Tabor on vocals.
20th – 29th September
A ride up through Wales, Shropshire and the Wirral to Liverpool, to meet Amanda, Zac and his girlfriend Hannah.
After Liverpool, I set off for an motorcycle exploration of the North West and the Pennines, taking in Southport, Preston, Lytham & Blackpool, Lancaster, Morecambe, Carnforth, Arnside, Silverdale, Grange Over Sands, Ulverston, Barrow, Seascale, St, Bees, Whitehaven, Workington, Silloth, Carlilse, Caldbeck, Mungrisdale, Keswick, Ambleside, Coniston, Windermere, Kendal, Sedbergh, Wensleydale, Masham, Ripon, Harrogate, Bradford, Huddersfield, Holmfirth, Wigtwizzle, Hatersage and Bakewell.
Stopovers were Silverdale for two nights, giving a day to visit the RSPB Leighton Moss Reserve, Keswick for two nights (my Skiddaw trek was abandoned die to heavy rain), Masham and Bakewell.
14th – 15th September
Was supposed to be in Boscombe (Bournemouth), to dive the pier, but aborted due to weather.
6th – 7th September
A visit to the Whilton Mill Circuit for Zac’s second Club 100 meeting.
30th August – 1st September
A trip to Penzance, that was originally supposed to be a Charles Hood Blue Shark trip, but the weather meant it was cancelled. I still went down and stayed at the Artist’s Residence. Got on top of a few projects.
23rd – 26th August
A Bank Holiday visit to The Mumbles in South Wales with Amanda. I had hoped to dive the pier, but the conditions made that an impossibility. Instead, we headed into the Gower and had a pleasant day at Oxwich Bay.
15th August
Scuba Diver Magazine publishes Jeremy’s Red Sea Overview feature.
9th – 20th August
Another European motorcycling foray, this time confined to France – to ride the entire “English Channel Coast” but on the French side.
Starting at Calais, the first night was at Le Touquet, then a long ride to Deauville. Next was St. Vaast La Hougue, then a stay in the walled town of St. Malo. From there a cross country ride to Quiberon on the west coast of Brittany, followed by a wet day’s riding to Brest. From Brest, the weather improved for the ride to Perros Guirec, followed by the last stint in France back to St. Malo. Places visited en route included the Somme, Dieppe, Le Havre, Honfleur, Arromanches, Bayeux (I saw the tapestry),Omaha Beach and war cemetery, Gold Beach, Utah Beach, Cherbourg, Granville, Monconteur, Pont Aven, Camaret Sur Mer, Meneham Beach, Roscoff and Dinard.
After an early start, it was the ferry to St.Helier in Jersey to meet Amanda and Zac. Whilst there, I rode around the island and also hooked up with Jersey based friend and fellow diver Kirk Truscott at Gorey.
After Jersey, it was a ferry ride to Guernsey, staying at the excellent Ziggurat Hotel with Amanda and Zac, having a ride around the island before returning home.
8th – 9th August
An excellent gig at Ronnie Scott’s with Amanda, this time Goldie
26th – 27th July
Zac’s first foray into a kart racing series – Club 100 at Rye House. We stayed overnight in Harlow.
19th – 20th July
An overnight in Bristol with Amanda, to see the iconic ska band, the Specials at Bristol Harbourside.
16th – 17th July
An overnight in London with Amanda, to see Macy Gray at Ronnie Scott’s.
15th July
Scuba Diver Magazine publishes Jeremy’s Caribbean Overview feature.
12th – 14th July
Our annual pilgrimage to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, staying in the campsite at Whittlebury.
11th – 12th July
An overnight in London with Amanda, and a first visit to the Barbican in London (a revelation, not sure how we’d somehow missed it before). Our purpose was to see the Kronos Quartet play against a visual backdrop created by an AI device interpreting and projecting onto a screen behind them. Very interesting.
6th – 7th July
Was supposed to be in Brighton, to dive the piers, but aborted due to weather.
3rd – 4th July
A solo overnighter in London, to see the composer Maria Schneider conduct an ensemble at Ronnie Scott’s. A rode the most direct routes to and from.
11th – 28th June
My much-anticipated solo motorcycle tour in Europe.
The route started with a ride through the South Downs and into Kent including Battle, Rye and Romney Marsh, overnight in Folkestone.
Then, an early Channel Tunnel to Calais and a long ride to Luxembourg taking into Lille, Valenciennes, the Ardenne in Belgium and Luxembourg.
Next was a foray into Germany, then back into France to overnight in Strasbourg.
From Strasbourg, into the Vosges Mountains, and later through the Jura to end my day in St. Claude.
From St.Claude, iit was a ride to Geneva, then all around the lake including Montreux, to stop at Amphion Les Bains for the night on the shores of lake Geneva, narrowly avoiding a huge thunderstorm that blew up seemingly out of nowhere.
From Amphion Les Bains, it was the first of four days riding the “Route Des Grande Alpes”, a superb and vertigo inducing route leading to Menton on the Mediterranean. Day one on “the route” was to Villaroger, not too far from Val D’Isere, staying at the excellent Mineral Lodge.
Next day included a stop at Val D’Isere for coffee, then the epic Col D’Iseran and Col Galibier passes and other great roads. The overnight was at Briancon.
More mountain passes followed including Col D’Izoard, Col Agnel and Col De Bonette. The detours and a thundery shower meant a later arrival into Barcellonette than originally thought.
The final day of “the route” was to Menton, which included a nice stop in the town of Sospel. From Menton (and though tired), I decided to take a foray into Italy – to San Remo and back.
The next day was probably the hardest – heatwave temperatures, lots of traffic lights, lot’s of traffic, stops and starts – the ride from Menton to Marseille on the coast roads to meet Amanda and Zac for the Grand Prix. Memorable stints included riding the “Grand Prix Circui” at Monaco, and stopping at Cannes and St. Tropez to see how the other half live. It was a relief to get to Marseille and not have to ride for a few days.
Marseille and the nearby Grand Prix was enjoyable (and hot) with Amanda and Zac.
On the Tuesday after the race, I headed off to Avignon, via the Camargue and they went back on the train. The temperatures were hovering around 40 degrees centigrade.
After Avignon, a long ride up through central France, taking in the Ardeche and other “off beat” areas and roads, finally arriving in the peaceful historic hilltop town of Vezelay (a great find), nearly 400 miles later.
After Vezelay, it was the long push to Calais, in hot but gradually reducing temperatures. On the road all day, I had a close shave with some idiot at Arras, tainting the final push to Calais. I was glad to get there.
Instead of going home, I had a convoluted ride to Northampton, where Zac would be competing in the BSKC Karting final. I chose a route that took in some new roads and places.
After the karting, it was a route home. I was keen to get home, tired from that endless motorcycling. A great trip.
8th – 9th June
A great night of psychedelia at the Shepherd’s Bush O2, with Steve Hillage. A good catch up with some old mates.
6th June
A bike service and health check at Alton, ready for my Alpine trip
31st May – 1st June
A “Jeremy and Amanda planning weekend” at Sandbanks.
24th – 26th May
A special “20th Wedding Anniversary” stay at the iconic Burgh Island Hotel in South Devon. Great weather, great weekend.
23rd May
An evening in Bristol, to see the excellent Kamasi Washington.
22nd – 23rd May
An overnighter in London to catch the Buddy Rich Big Band at Ronnie Scott’s. No detours this time with the riding.
12th – 14th May
Two consecutive nights at Ronnie Scott’s, seeing jazz greats Gilad Hekselman and Al Di Meola.
A chance to plan my summer motorcycle trips to Europe.
A different riding route home that took in north London before heading to Alton. After that, homeward bound.
12th May
Attending Zac;’s regional BSKC karting semi-final at Thruxton on the bike, then off to London.
5th – 6th May
In London, attending an excellent Dead Can Dance concert at the Hammersmith Apollo.
18th – 22nd April
A visit to Plymouth on the two wheels, staying at a great apartment at the Barbican.
A chance to unwind and write some features – Montserrat, Red Sea Overview and the Lembeh Strait.
On the “home” day, a ride into Cornwall and the west and southern fringes of Dartmoor. I also called into Totnes to surprise visit my friend Heidi.
11th – 15th April
A visit to Rome in Italy, to include a visit to the Formula E race.
Took in other things whilst in Rome, including a visit to the Vatican.
A chance for some photography.
9th – 10th April
A business trip to Valencia in Spain.
5th – 6th April
Return from Portugal, and then the train to Bournemouth for a night with Amanda (using a voucher a friend had bought us).
3rd – 5th April
An unexpected visit to the Algarve in Portugal after my brother was hospitalised there. I flew from Stansted to Faro and stayed in Portimao.
2nd – 3rd February
An overnighter in London with Amanda to see Nils Petter Molvaer perform “Nordub” with Sly & Robbie. We both enjoyed it.
29th – 31st March
A visit to Birmingham, for the Butterfly Recorders Annual Meeting.
I travelled up on two wheels, up the Fosseway to Birmingham. Saturday was the event, which I enjoyed and found interesting followed by a late afternoon walk around central Birmingham.
Sunday was a ride up into the Derbyshire Dales and across the Staffordshire Moors, reaching an old school friend for lunch, before heading back home via Shropshire, Monmouth and the Wye Valley.
22nd – 24th March
A great weekend at the Bristol Jazz & Blues festival.
I went there on two wheels, on what turned out to be a nice spring weekend.
Saw some interesting music – Soft Machine, Matthew Bourne & Kit Downes and Huw Warren.
The ride home was over the Clifton Suspension Bridge and over the Mendips.
15th – 17th March
A weekend in London, to celebrate our birthdays (including a significant one for Amanda) at Hutong on the Shard. The following night we enjoyed seeing Roy Harper perform at the Palladium.
6th March
A birthday visit to the Bath Spa. A nice interlude on a busy life!
24th February
A visit to the RSPB’s Greylake Reserve, on the Somerset Levels.
22nd – 23rd February
At the Ricoh Arena outside Coventry.
On the Saturday, Jeremy presented images centred around “Diving Off The Grid”
16th February
Completing my “Go Diving” presentation.
15th February
Scuba Diver Magazine publish Jeremy’s Ustica and Aggressor Fleet Family Week features
12th February
A visit to the Bristol Underwater Photography Group (BUPG) at Patchway, north Bristol.
9th – 10th February
Stayed in London, to see Lisa Fischer at Ronnie Scott’s. Stunning gig.
The riding route out of London was via Whitehall, Westminster, Victoria, Belgravia, Sloane Square, Chelsea over the bridge & along to Richmond, then Twickenham.
8th – 9th February
Met Amanda across London for a business event, held at the historic Tobacco Dock.
7th – 8th February
An overnighter in London to catch Jim Mullen at Ronnie Scott’s.
Rode into London the most direct way (A303/M3).
2nd – 3rd February
Working on my “Go Diving” presentation.
31st January
An evening visit to Bournemouth (well, Boscombe), to see The Streets perform at the 02.
26th – 27th January
Working sporadically on my “Go Diving” presentation.
19th – 20th January
Working sporadically on my “Go Diving” presentation.
15th January
Scuba Diver Magazine publish two of Jeremy’s features – the Socorro Islands and Bouley Bay (Jersey).
13th January
A blustery walk up the Caen Hill Locks on the Kennet & Avon Canal at Devizes.
Late afternoon doing a bit of image sorting.
12th January
Completing an Aggressor Fleet feature for Scuba Diver Magazine.
11th – 12th January
An early New Year visit to London to catch versatile drummer Jeremy Stacey’s Steely Dan Big Band Project, the Royal Scammers.
1st – 2nd January
New Year in Singapore, en route back from diving the Lembeh Strait in North Sulawesi. A great firework display but we were glad when it was over, knackered from our diving.