Skellig

In our village every two years we have a Summer fair with a Scarecrow Competition and this was one of the Scarecrows about the main character ‘Skellig’ in a children’s novel by David Almond. A story about a boy who had a baby sister with a heart problem and he learned from his mother that […]

Swarm

Driving into a car park, noticed a beekeeper in his wellys trying to get a swarm of bees into a wicker basket. Someone had noticed the bees resting on the ground and had called him out. He said that probably the Queen had just got tired. He folded the hessian over the wicker pot, […]

Mohammad Ali

“Muhammad Ali, the eloquent, colorful, controversial and brilliant three-time heavyweight boxing champion who was known as much for his social conscience and staunch opposition to the Vietnam War as for his dazzling boxing skills” – no longer with us. I dont like boxing but Mohammed Ali was a Legend – with a twinkle in […]

Purple Alliums

Battle of Jutland

One of my dad’s relatives – a young cook (25) on the Queen Mary when it was hit May 31st in 1916 at 16.25 and exploded. 1,266 crewmen were lost and eighteen survivors were picked up. Found this out by accident, looking for my dad’s ancestors. He didn’t survive – they had no choice. My […]

Summer Fair Blues

Just home from summer fair which was interesting because of the dogs all shapes and sizes walking around on the village green waiting for last event of the day – and impressive collection of vintage cars and just cross section of people walking past my little stall. Not forgetting, a pretty good Elvis impersonator – […]

Sheep playing Possum

Early morning on the South Downs, not really sure what the two sheep in the middle are up to

Celandine

Plants that rabbits wont like

“Looking for some ideas for an area of our property where rabbits are living – are there some plants that they will avoid?” “Rabbit seem to hate mint, chives, thyme… most herbs… so interplanting them with your other flowers might make your garden less attractive. Also if you plant a patch of Clover, that rabbits […]

Learn to think differently about yourself

‘Medications are only a tool – Psychiatric medications are one tool among many other tools that you can use to recover. Physical exercise, eating well, avoiding alcohol and street drugs, love, solitude, art, nature, prayer, work, and a myriad of coping strategies are equally important to your recovery‘ ‘It takes a courageous human being to […]

Joe and Jake – You’re not Alone (United Kingdom) 2016

This is Joe and Jake – Europe please vote for them

Garden Fair – Cuckfield Park – Thursday 19th May

a mini Chelsea in the heart of West Sussex with over 30 specialist plant and local produce stalls at Cuckfield Park (not far from A23 in Cuckfield, Sussex) in aid of St Catherine’s Children’s Charity

Snowball Chicken and Cheep Cheep

Beneath the trees, fluttering and dancing in the breeze

Amir – J’ai cherché (France) 2016 Eurovision Song Contest

Eleys Pork Pies and the Iron Bridge

Standing on the very center of the Iron Bridge, feeling little scared looking down to the river below when Eleys Pork Pies, caught my eye.

Douwe Bob – Slow Down (The Netherlands) 2016 Eurovision Song Contest

A Midsummer’s Night Dream

I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows,Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine,With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

Springer Spaniel

This is one we just finished and because it was a Springer – we tried to make it extra bouncy, the back legs have little paw pads.

Traditional Finnish Log House Building Process