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6h – 13th April

Lockdown continues, but we’re lucky to have the “outdoorsy” space around us for regular walks. A couple of “exploratory walks” locally on some footpaths that are new to us such as Southleigh and Eastleigh Woods. Having that extra time in the local area has been interesting; watching the spring come to life in much more… Continue reading 6h – 13th April

5th April

A walk up Battlesbury Hill; early butterflies are on the wing (Peacock, Brimstone, Small White and Small Tortoiseshell), and heard the first Cuckoo of the year. A few images taken of a Peacock butterfly and our “mini re-wilding” project.

4th April

An early morning walk onto the edge of Salisbury Plain, birding highlights included Yellowhammer, Corn Bunting, Stonechat, Skylark and Lapwing.

24th March – 3rd April

Various “catch up work” such as sorting the “image pc” (a terrible mess!), website content and other things that never seem to happen in normal circumstances. Also, purchased a moth trap, some insect breeding cages and some “livestock” (Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell larvae) from Worldwide Butterflies, to rear and supplement the local populations. The livestock… Continue reading 24th March – 3rd April

24th March

Following a statement from the UK Prime Minister, the UK (along with many other countries) entered a “lockdown” due to the Covid-19 Coronavirus. It would change the dynamic of many things going forward. Basically, everything is cancelled until further notice. We’d have to find other things to do.

5th – 20th March

An excellent return to Cuba. We originally travelled there back in 1994, not long after the country began to open up for visitors – on that occasion, we stayed at Varadero and took day trips to Havana, Pinar Del Rio and the Vinales Valley, Trinidad, the Bay of Pigs and Santiago De Cuba. It was… Continue reading 5th – 20th March

2nd March

“Winter work” at Globe Cottage in Weymouth is completed including a new bath, shower and tiling, ready for the new season.

23rd February

Building our new Compost Box and scattering a few wildflower seed mixes for our small re-wilding project. The aim is to photographically document it (if time).

22nd – 23rd February

From Buckmore Park to Coventry – overnight near the Ricoh Arena and then a presentation by Jeremy at the “Go Diving” dive show covering Niihau, Montserrat and Ustica.

9th February

A few things; tidying up a few trips and plans, plus website items and purchasing some seed mixes for our new “set aside/back to nature” areas of the garden.

6th February

An evening visit to Bristol to see the excellent and original Anna Meredith, supported by the very good Grace Lightman.

24th – 26th January

A second visit to Globe Cottage in Weymouth. Some more time at the RSPB Radipole Lake reserve. This time the weather was dull and windy. Despite that, a single Bearded Tit was visible close to the visitor centre. I chatted with an interesting Bristol based photographer and learned some useful tips from him for bird… Continue reading 24th – 26th January

17th – 19th January

A weekend at Globe Cottage in Weymouth. The visit included some time at the RSPB Radipole Lake reserve. Good views of the Bearded Tits in bright sunshine, and a bit of use of the camera. Chatted with some fellow wildlife enthusiasts.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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,… Continue reading 20th – 29th September

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.

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… Continue reading 9th – 20th August

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.

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… Continue reading 11th – 28th June

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.

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… Continue reading 18th – 22nd April

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.

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.

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… Continue reading 29th – 31st March

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.

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.