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Some time on an ongoing writing project.

Continued time spent on an ongoing writing project.

More work on an ongoing writing project.

An excellent night at the Cheese & Grain venue at Frome, to see Gong and the Ozric Tentacles weave their magic. Both bands on great form, and a nice evening of escapism.

Another weekend stint of working on a writing project.

And another weekend’s toil working on a writing project.

More weekend work on a writing project, and other bits of website work.

An overnighter in London, to see Geddy Lee’s book tour at The Barbican.

Ongoing work on a writing project.

A short break based at a windswept Portland. An opportunity for some more writing.

A nice walk under clear blue skies out the back of where we live, which borders Salisbury Plain. Probably because it was in middle of the day, there was surprisingly few birds on the wing, though we did see (and hear) Skylarks, and also a lone Yellowhammer. In terms of butterflies, it was surprised not… Continue reading 1st March

A visit to London to see Maria Schneider and here Jazz Orchestra perform “Data Lords” at the Barbican in North East London.

More content filling to the website with Darren Haines.

A visit to the unique Trading Boundaries venue in East Sussex (South Downs), to catch Jazz Sabbath – a trio performing jazz interpretations of the music of Black Sabbath. An interesting and at times humorous performance by excellent musicians.

Basing out of the Griffin Inn pub at the village of Fletching (near the Trading Boundaries venue), we visited the pioneering Knepp Wildlands on both the 8th and the 9th on stunning Spring Days. The White Storks were very active.

An enjoyable improvisation jam session in Warminster with like-minded musicians.

A get-together with Darren Haines to continue working on adding website content.

An overnighter in London to catch Anthony Joseph perform with his excellent band at the Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in Soho.

A short and sunny (but cold) visit to the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust’s Langford Lakes Reserve in the Wylye Valley.

Another website session with Darren Haines, adding content.

A wet ride into Dorset for a weekend at Portland, based out of the spectacularly located Heights Hotel with views looking down over Portland Harbour and Chesil Beach. The reason visiting was for a spot of “birding” and to see what might be flying in on the Spring migration. Saturday was an excellent day with… Continue reading 21st – 23rd March

A weekly get together with Darren Haines working on adding website content.

An overnighter in London to catch guitarist John Scofield perform with his trio at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club. On the following lunchtime, we returned to “Ronnie’s” for a brunch event featuring a conversation/Q & A with John Scofield and fellow jazz guitarist John Etheridge.

A visit to Great Ridge Wood under clear blue skies with the Wiltshire Ornithological Society, the highlight being sightings of Goshawks flying high over the woods. Spring was in the air, with many Brimstones on the wing as birdsong filled the woods. Later, there was a bit of time working on an article for Scuba… Continue reading 30th March

Completing an article about diving with Tiger Sharks in the Bahamas.

A walk up through Longleat Woods to Cley Hill on an incredibly clear Spring day. Saw Spring butterflies on the wing (Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Orange Tip, Large White, Speckled Wood), and plenty of birds (including Chiff Chaff, Bullfinch, Mistle Thrush, Yellowhammer, Meadow Pipit and some arriving Swallows). Also, ordered some Comma and Small Tortoiseshell larvae… Continue reading 5th April

A visit to Stockbridge for breakfast, then to the RSPB Winterbourne Downs under clear blue skies. Sightings included Red Kite, Buzzard and Blackcap, and some Spring butterflies such as Brimstones, Peacocks and Orange Tips. Try tas we might, we couldn’t pick out any Stone Curlews. Later, a bit of web content work.

A website session with my friend Darren Haines, new content added.

A visit to London to catch Omarn Hakim & Rachel Z perform with their trio, which included interpretations of pieces by John Coltrane and Miles Davis. A good show.

A return from London via home en route for a week based at the stunning Sea Shanty at Branscombe on the South Devon Coast. We had a rather mixed week of weather, but made the most of it – visiting Beer, Lyme Regis, Sidmouth, Otterton, Budleigh Salterton, Exmouth, Topsham, Seaton and Colyton, plus some nature… Continue reading 11th – 18th April

We were supposed to be in Alderney, but thanks to the airline Aurigny, we were cancelled and therefore unable to get there in any reasonable time to make our visit worthwhile – it was very, very disappointing. We had no choice but to cancel, and instead spent the weekend at and around home sorting, doing… Continue reading 18th – 21st April

A fascinating visit to the Southbank Centre in London to see the pianist Igor Levit perform Erik Satie’s “Vexations” over a period of time lasting 16 or more hours – I stayed for 2 hours on a 1 hour slot. The performance was created in conjunction with Marina Abramovic, a globally renowned performance artist, who… Continue reading 24th April

A visit to the Knepp Wildlands in the South Downs, mostly in pursuit of birds. I enjoyed identifying the Garden Warbler, and saw (as well as heard) some excellent Cuckoo action.

A weekend of birding with the Wiltshire Ornithological Society based from a nice cabin in the South Downs near the village of West Chiltington. On the 26th, we visited the excellent RSB Pulborough Brooks reserve, seeing circa 60 species, and on the Sunday, we achieved a similar species count at the RSPB Pagham Harbour reserve.… Continue reading 25th – 27th April

A web content session with my friend Darren Haines.

An evening visit to the RSPB Winterbourne Downs reserve. We heard, and then seen a Stone Curlew, one of the UK’s most cryptic and secretive birds.

A visit to Wales on the R1200 GS Adventure, basing myself at Borth on the coast. The ride up on the Friday evening took me via Chepstow, the Wye Valley, Monmouth, Rockfield (past the recording studio), Abergavenny, Crickhowell, Builth Wells, Rhayader, the Elan Valley, Devils Bridge and Aberystwyth. Whilst there, I visited the RSPB Ynys-Hir… Continue reading 2nd – 5th May

A trip to Bahnstormer at Alton, to get a pre-trip service on the R1200 GS Adventure ahead of my trip to Spain, France, Andorra and Portugal (to include the Spanish F1 Grand Prix in Barcelona).

An overnighter in London to catch jazz drummer Steve Smith perform with his Vital Information project – a fabulous gig featuring mind-blowing musicianship.

An enjoyable evening at Bristol to catch guitarists Fred Frith and Adrian Utley perform experimental improvisations at The Lantern (part of the Bristol Beacon).

An evening visit to Longleat Woods, in the area of Shearwater Lake, searching for rumoured Nightjars in the open sections. I found them and had some fabulous sightings.

Another evening visit to Longleat Woods for Nightjar. Even better encounters than the previous night, I think.

An interesting and enjoyable “improv” jam with Al Summers and Simon Farr.

An overnighter at Silverstone (a treat for Zac) ahead of his Club 100 SP40 & SP60 kart series races at Whilton Mill. It was a good day, with his first podium in the SP40 class.

Generally packing and preparing for my ride in Spain, France, Andorra and Portugal. Later, another evening visit for some more Nightjar action in Longleat Woods.

A quick website update session with Darren Haines.

Time for some motorcycling in Europe. The journey started by heading Southwest to Plymouth, to catch the ferry to Santander in Northern Spain. From there, I headed inland into the mountains and hills, spending my first night in the hilltop town of Laguardia in the Rioja wine-making region. From there, I took a back roads… Continue reading 21st May – 13th June

A morning ride to the Knepp Wildlands with Fuzz to catch the beginning of the Purple Emperor season. We got the first sighting, and bumped into Matthew Oates.

Some evening website work with Darren Haines in Warminster.

An overnighter in London with Amanda to catch the excellent Marcus Machado perform interpretations of the music of Jimi Hendrix, plus other selected material at Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club.

A session with Darren Haines, continuing with website content.

Overnight near Alton, at work on my phone and laptop whilst my motorcycle is being serviced, and having brakes and tyres replaced, then a ride to the Cotswolds for Zac’s Club100 karting round at the Rissington Circuit.

An overnighter near Cirencester, then to Rissington for Zac’s Club100 karting round (some good driving from him, but a frustrating outcome), followed by a ride to Dragons Green in the South Downs, close to Knepp.

Overnight at Dragon’s Green in the South Downs, ahead of a day in the Knepp Wildlands for more Purple Emperors, in what is proving to be an excellent season. It was another really good day of sightings, including a couple of “groundings”, plus some activity around oak sap bleeds. Shame Fuzz wasn’t there…

A visit to Bournemouth (well, the Boscombe 02), for a show by St.Vincent.

A late afternoon ride to Fuzz’s place at Payhembury near Honition to see the Hairstreak action. The reward was a fresh early evening White Letter Hairstreak nectaring on thistle, and lots of evening action from the Purple Hairstreaks on one particular oak, and unusually, also an ash tree.

Our annual pilgrimage to the Formula One at Silverstone in Northamptonshire. The race day was mixed weather with a mostly wet track. It was disappointing to see Oscar Piastri received a penalty in race he almost certainly would have won, but the highlight was seeing Nico Hulkenberg get his first ever podium after nearly 240… Continue reading 3rd – 7th July

An evening website content catch-up with Darren Haines.

An overnighter in Harlow (Essex) ahead of Zac’s Club 100 karting race at the Rye House Circuit. Good driving on his part, but a frustrating outcome due to being flipped onto the top of another kart in a first lap melee.

An evening session working on website content with Darren Haines.

Attending an donor and sponsors event at Great Chalfield Manor near Corsham, hosted by the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.

An enjoyable improvisation session with musician friends Al Summers and Simon Farr.

A pleasant weekend with Amanda in Hay On Wye, the UK’s “town of books”.

An evening website catch-up with Darren Haines, working on content.

A weekend of sporadic working on a writing project.

A brief catch-up with Darren Haines, continuing to work on website content.

A visit to Frome to catch space-rock band Hawkwind perform at the Cheese & Grain. I hadn’t seen them since I was seventeen. A good night, with a bit of a hangover the following day.

Working on some writings.

A late afternoon visit to the Langford Lakes Nature Reserve in the Wylye Valley between Warminster and Salisbury.

A catch up with Darren Haines to work on website content.

A visit to Scotland, travelling up to Fort William on the Caledonian Sleeper train. For our first few days, we were based at Oban from where we visited the Glasdrum Wood National Nature Reserve, Appin, Easdale (for the spectacular Corryvreckan Whirlpool), Lochgilphead, Tarbert, Campbeltown, Southend and the Mull of Kintyre. Then, it was over to… Continue reading 21st August – 3rd September

Writing and collating website content.

A website session with Darren Haines.

A visit to the Langford Lakes Nature Reserve in the Wylye Valley, followed by a writing, web content and organising session.

A website update session with Darren Haines, and work on our new 2026 Calendars (Diving Dreams, and Driven To Abstraction)

A stay in London which included two consecutive nights at Ronnie Scott’s to see Shez Raja on the 17th, and Ida Nielsen & The Funkbots on the 18th.

A visit to the Langford Lakes Nature Reserve in the Wylye Valley.

Various web content and “admin”, plus completing final tweaks to our new 2026 “Diving Dreams” and “driven To Abstraction” calendars. In the evening, a performance by Al Summers on guitar, and clarinettist Danielle Giles.

An overnighter in London to catch Me’Shell NDege Ocello perform at Ronnie Scott’s.

A web update session with Darren Haines.

My BMW GS1250 GS Adventure was stolen in Bristol. Police completely useless.

A couple of nights away, based at Lee-On-The Solent between Southampton and Portsmouth. On the Saturday, working on website content and other similar writing related stuff. On the Sunday, I joined the Wiltshire Ornithological Society group, visiting nearby Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve. A productive weekend.

A website session with Darren Haines.

An excellent flying visit to London, to catch the Lovers of Invention perform their interpretations of Frank Zappa’s music at Ronnie Scott’s. Unbelievably tight band!

An overnight stay at Banbury with Zac ahead of his Club 100 SP40 & SP60 races at the Shenington Circuit.

Various writing & organising, including website content.

A productive website session with Darren Haines.

Collating website content.

A visit to the Langford Lakes Nature Reserve in the Wylye Valley, followed by an afternoon of working on website content.

A website session with Darren Haines. Continual progress being made.