Down with the Hedge

As you've probably gathered by now, we have a lot of hedges - and the golden leylandii at the back of the garden was one we'd probably neglected a bit.

So a couple of months ago Martin decided he'd bring it back under control.  From this (mid-July) . . .















. . . to this (by the end of August) . . .















. . . and finally, to this (earlier today):

It's all looking much neater now - but it was a major job (the field next door is stacked with the debris, drying out ready for a bonfire in the future, and some of the larger branches will be turned into proper firewood).

Just need to make sure we keep on top of it in the future!

For Sitting in the Sun . . .

We'd been pondering garden furniture (at the end of summer naturally!) for the yard area outside the kitchen, as it's quite a sun-trap in the later afternoon / evening.

Having wanted something we could leave outside over winter, we fixed on cast aluminium, and eventually agreed on a bench rather than a chair and table set (since we've got a wooden one of those already - when we haul it out of the garage!).


So here it is - arrived today - and duly assembled - that'll do the job . . .

North to Scotland

Onwards to Scotland by way of the Lake District . . .

Had a couple of days in my old stomping ground of Keswick - arrived in beautiful sunshine, and had a good wander round the town and down to Friar's Crag.  Did find that the place had gotten even more touristy - when I first worked there it was a proper town, now it's all cafes, and kit / gift shops.

At least Buttermere hadn't changed that much - had a glorious day walking round the lake, and sitting in the sun outside The Fish.

From there it was on up to Scotland - first stop Kirkcudbright where we spent a couple of nights - nice enough little town, good fish and chips, and some interesting characters in the local pub.

Was particularly taken by their war memorial - can just imagine their chap cuddling up with the similarly unclothed lady that graces the Aberystwyth memorial!

From Kircudbright had trips out to Logan Botanic Gardens (well worth a visit), and the nearby Logan Fish Pool (charming but a tad expensive).

Finished our day out with a walk along Luce Bay in the sunshine (fantastic expanse of beach, although the peace was shattered occasionally by the MoD blowing things up somewhere inland!).

Further north then to Ayr, stopping at Culzean Castle (National Trust for Scotland, and the main reason for our trip, since we'd visited briefly years ago and had always promised ourselves a return visit).

Had a lovely day walking the grounds, gardens, and beach - the sun even came out and it turned into a really nice day.

Returned the next day (in the rain) to go round the Castle interior - and then when the weather cleared up more of the grounds.



On the way back to Ayr tried out the 'Electric Brae' (one of those optical illusion roads where cars appear to roll uphill), and called in at the ruins of Dunure Castle.

Didn't see that much of Ayr itself mind you - seemed ok - found a nice bar, and an excellent curry house! 

Headed back south after that - called in at Grasmere (which out-touristed Keswick by a country mile), before settling in for a couple of nights in Kendal.  Met up with some old friends, walking the limestone pavement at Holme Park Fell, having a burger by Kirby Lonsdales' Devil's Bridge, and visiting 'Sheepfest' in Sedbergh.















All in all, a lovely break - time to go home now . . .

Flying Visit

Holiday time - yay!

Started with a short visit to the folks 'out east' - nice catch-up, and a visit to nearby Wisbech, where I used to work, more years ago than I care to remember!  Must say the place has changed . . .

. . . the town seems to have really gone downhill, with some areas almost derelict - a real contrast to the local National Trust property by the river, Peckover House, with its Georgian facade, well-kept rooms, and beautiful gardens . . .






Lovely to see everyone, and a nice sunny day out - good start to the holiday!

First Trip to Dublin

Across the sea for this year's ARA conference (having missed last year in Newcastle).

My first visit to Dublin - took the train to Holyhead to catch the ferry (good deal on the 'Sail Rail' tickets).  Thankfully the crossing wasn't too choppy, even managed to get a rather dodgy picture of a passing helicopter through the ferry window!

Unfortunately we arrived in an extremely wet Dublin, which rather put paid to the pre-conference sight-seeing I had planned.


Much of the next two days were spent in the conference hotel - some excellent speakers mind you, and an opportunity to catch-up / 'network' with lots of people, plus the dinner / dancing on the 'gala' night.

Must admit I did sneak out a little early one afternoon for a brief wander round the streets of Dublin - took in the sights of Temple Bar, and Molly Malone - and we did made it to an Irish pub one evening too.

Journey home could have been smoother (in more ways than one) - a rather rough crossing, late arrival, and mad dash to catch the train home, which was itself late, leaving us with five minutes to make the Aberystwyth connection at Shrewsbury.  Relieved to get back!

Liked Dublin though - will have to return for a more leisurely visit in our own time in the none-to-distant future.

More Connections . . .

 . . .  of the telephonic variety.

This weekend (or more specifically 9.30am on the Sunday morning) also saw the replacement of the telegraph pole outside our house:

Out with the old - which seemed to involve disconnecting an awful lot of stuff (not least the lamp also attached to the post).









And in with the new - with all the consequent reconnecting . . .



Martin is hoping that this is all a sign of things to come (i.e. the arrival of fibre broadband!).

Old Friends and New

Visitors this weekend - old housemates / friends from my University days, and a new friend in the form of our first canine visitor, a border terrier called Wilf.

The sun shone for the most part, walked the prom, kicked the bar, nice lunch out, the returned home to Skype our missing housemate in America - Wilf kept wandering behind the tv trying to work out where she was!  Barbecue tea, lots of wine, more reminiscing, even a Buffy episode or two.

Great to see everyone - house seems empty now without the pitter patter of doggie paws . . .