Peace perfect peace until......
On posterous
Saturday, 31 July 2010
Wednesday, 28 July 2010
Cracking Sky
Hello
No need to be alarmed this is not a story about some cataclysmic meteorological event. Or an alien spacecraft appearing as they have a habit of doing -peeking through a cracking sky, wrapped in thunder.
No the use of cracking or indeed more colloquially crackin' is a positive thing, an affirmative descriptor. I could have used my favourite word to express good feelings that very localised word to me of "Barry" meaning splendid, good, wonderful but decided against Barry Sky as a blog title.
Barry Sky sounds like an entertainer who tours the clubs and holiday camps of the UK with perhaps the odd gig on a cruise liner. " An Evening With Barrie Sky" some songs, some dancing and a little repartee all against the back drop of emptying glasses.
Back to the great above I ventured out for the evening constitutional and was faced by this
Now I know nothing of sights like this my meteorological understanding extends no further than " red sky at night, shepherds delight .....". This little collective though was very pretty bathed as it was by the setting sun.
It really was a barry sky.
Night, night!
p.s. I audioboo'd this too
-- Post From My iPhone
No need to be alarmed this is not a story about some cataclysmic meteorological event. Or an alien spacecraft appearing as they have a habit of doing -peeking through a cracking sky, wrapped in thunder.
No the use of cracking or indeed more colloquially crackin' is a positive thing, an affirmative descriptor. I could have used my favourite word to express good feelings that very localised word to me of "Barry" meaning splendid, good, wonderful but decided against Barry Sky as a blog title.
Barry Sky sounds like an entertainer who tours the clubs and holiday camps of the UK with perhaps the odd gig on a cruise liner. " An Evening With Barrie Sky" some songs, some dancing and a little repartee all against the back drop of emptying glasses.
Back to the great above I ventured out for the evening constitutional and was faced by this
Now I know nothing of sights like this my meteorological understanding extends no further than " red sky at night, shepherds delight .....". This little collective though was very pretty bathed as it was by the setting sun.
It really was a barry sky.
Night, night!
p.s. I audioboo'd this too
-- Post From My iPhone
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
Do wolves eat berries?
Hello
The sun has shone, the rain has fallen and some of the fruit in the Castle Fegrig kitchen garden has prospered. No doubt that this has occurred as a result of the rigorous cultivation and nurturing regime called neglect.
This year the blackberry bush I think has become a victim of hard living as it's growth has stunted, nothing there this year. Perhaps it's been having a fly smoke behind the garden shed?
The strawberries - new kids on the block have grudgingly given something back (although the birds have git a share) for the weeding and watering that was dispensed. The plants are generally healthy so fingers crossed for next summer.
The gooseberries look like they've been on some new fasting regime - the gooseberry diet? However we think that the reason for the stripped bare presentation is a wee beast infestation. We plan to deal with this by treatment after the summer.
Listen to me treatment, recognition of wee beasties, weeding, watering! The nearest thing I've previously got to having green fingers was picking my nose as a toddler!
The success though have been that archetypal Scottish fruit the raspberry. Now we're never going to challenge the major producers up there in the fruit basket of Scotland in the Tay valley but it's getting there. Over a kilo of rasps so far and more to come.
The canes have sprouted lots of new runners (more technical stuff, whooo!) this year so the promise is good. Luckily we have a good set of neighbours who god love 'em never take the fruit that hangs from the canes that have bolted like tunnelling escapees under the fence to next door. Territorial disputes over raspberries? I'm sure it happens somewhere and makes a change from rampant shade encouraging trees. Perhaps it's the regular gift of free range Castle Fegrig eggs that keeps them on side?
It's a good job that we still care and want to eat the raspberries but never fear they would not have gone to waste. Boris (dog no1) a few years back discovered that those red things hanging from that green things (I know dogs are colour blind, but stay with me please) are quite tasty things. Like some ruminant he denuded the fruit right back to the twig. An appetite was formed and since then we are more aware of his liking.
This made me think of a question is it just that we have a Labrador who's reputation to eat anything and all things is fully justified or is it more primal.
Do wolves eat berries?
-- Post From My iPhone
The sun has shone, the rain has fallen and some of the fruit in the Castle Fegrig kitchen garden has prospered. No doubt that this has occurred as a result of the rigorous cultivation and nurturing regime called neglect.
This year the blackberry bush I think has become a victim of hard living as it's growth has stunted, nothing there this year. Perhaps it's been having a fly smoke behind the garden shed?
The strawberries - new kids on the block have grudgingly given something back (although the birds have git a share) for the weeding and watering that was dispensed. The plants are generally healthy so fingers crossed for next summer.
The gooseberries look like they've been on some new fasting regime - the gooseberry diet? However we think that the reason for the stripped bare presentation is a wee beast infestation. We plan to deal with this by treatment after the summer.
Listen to me treatment, recognition of wee beasties, weeding, watering! The nearest thing I've previously got to having green fingers was picking my nose as a toddler!
The success though have been that archetypal Scottish fruit the raspberry. Now we're never going to challenge the major producers up there in the fruit basket of Scotland in the Tay valley but it's getting there. Over a kilo of rasps so far and more to come.
The canes have sprouted lots of new runners (more technical stuff, whooo!) this year so the promise is good. Luckily we have a good set of neighbours who god love 'em never take the fruit that hangs from the canes that have bolted like tunnelling escapees under the fence to next door. Territorial disputes over raspberries? I'm sure it happens somewhere and makes a change from rampant shade encouraging trees. Perhaps it's the regular gift of free range Castle Fegrig eggs that keeps them on side?
It's a good job that we still care and want to eat the raspberries but never fear they would not have gone to waste. Boris (dog no1) a few years back discovered that those red things hanging from that green things (I know dogs are colour blind, but stay with me please) are quite tasty things. Like some ruminant he denuded the fruit right back to the twig. An appetite was formed and since then we are more aware of his liking.
This made me think of a question is it just that we have a Labrador who's reputation to eat anything and all things is fully justified or is it more primal.
Do wolves eat berries?
-- Post From My iPhone
Monday, 26 July 2010
Wednesday, 21 July 2010
Cats and dogs
Today the heavens opened and it rained and rained and rained and then rained some more. Our neighbour's had arranged to have their roof tiles cleaned of moss and accumulated grot first thing. It does look rather clean and fresh now that it has been completed but I did wonder how much of the improvement was due to today's driving rain.
The two blokes who had been employed to carry out the work had on the required heavy duty waterproofs to protect them from the jet washing but with the heavy rain they looked like a couple of proverbial drowned rats or indeed a sodden cat and dog?
Yours from a dry place
The two blokes who had been employed to carry out the work had on the required heavy duty waterproofs to protect them from the jet washing but with the heavy rain they looked like a couple of proverbial drowned rats or indeed a sodden cat and dog?
Yours from a dry place
Tuesday, 20 July 2010
Terminal discharge?
There are some who will say "well done" these people being those who have attempted every remedy to preserve their well tended vegetable and flower beds. There are some who will say "saute with herbs and butter, serves them right". Others will break out the black arm bands and say a small prayer for those left behind.
What am I on about?
Snails!
It's wet due to the constant drizzle, it's dark so easy for them to slither about and the grass is probably longer than is required to keep the snails at bay.
So I step out to take the bin to the side of the road for collection in the morning and the path there is like some assault course. Do you storm on through and hope to bash through the obstacles or do you side step and bound over the snaily barriers? There is a light but it's there to illuminate those standing at the door waiting to come in and as this light is now behind me as I traverse the snail trail my bulk blocks out the light.
I try not to deliberately adopt the bash and crush approach and attempt a more snail friendly route to the pavement, large wheeled bin in tow but it's difficult, with everything now further compromised by shadows. The dark and the camouflaged invertebrates do not do well and just when you think you're home and dry Crunch!!
Bin 1 Snail 0
I don't enjoy the squashy dead snail thing and to be honest it gives me a bit of a shudder that runs the length of me. Perhaps it's the final act of revenge for the snail? Do they have a terminal discharge of electrical energy that would kill or stun lesser animals but for me it's just a shudder.
What am I on about?
Snails!
It's wet due to the constant drizzle, it's dark so easy for them to slither about and the grass is probably longer than is required to keep the snails at bay.
So I step out to take the bin to the side of the road for collection in the morning and the path there is like some assault course. Do you storm on through and hope to bash through the obstacles or do you side step and bound over the snaily barriers? There is a light but it's there to illuminate those standing at the door waiting to come in and as this light is now behind me as I traverse the snail trail my bulk blocks out the light.
I try not to deliberately adopt the bash and crush approach and attempt a more snail friendly route to the pavement, large wheeled bin in tow but it's difficult, with everything now further compromised by shadows. The dark and the camouflaged invertebrates do not do well and just when you think you're home and dry Crunch!!
Bin 1 Snail 0
I don't enjoy the squashy dead snail thing and to be honest it gives me a bit of a shudder that runs the length of me. Perhaps it's the final act of revenge for the snail? Do they have a terminal discharge of electrical energy that would kill or stun lesser animals but for me it's just a shudder.
Monday, 19 July 2010
Predictable?
Tonight I ventured out to the "pictures" once again this time to see a movie that was rebooting a franchise. The original from 23? years ago was interesting and new and through it's spin offs gave many people a reason to get out of bed as it provided many secondary jobs. The games sector, comics and of course the movies sequels, some of which should have not got past the gaming stage, comical they were.
The original had President Arnie of California in the starring role supported by more beef than you would find in a cowboy movie. All the leading actors in his "unit" I'm sure pumped the iron between takes, even the token lady looked a bit beefy.
With the main man now suited and booted in a political style who to fill the lead muscle role in this new caper? Many actors spring to mind and I would bet Adrian Brody would not be one of them, a good actor he is but an action type?
But no fear due to the magic of movie budgets and an accommodating diary the boy did good passing obligatory topless scene with some style. I doubt if his acting skills were too taxed though and if his memory of the original is good he could have just walked through that in his mind and bingo there was Predators. So close they are that old friends make a reappearance even down to the body mask mud therapy combo styled by Arnie.
There were bangs, thuds and grunts a plenty and whilst the baddies may have been hidden the plot was not with enough warning and signs to take you in the right direction. So there you go a boyish romp 6/10 for Predictables ...... Sorry Predators.
-- Post From My iPhone
The original had President Arnie of California in the starring role supported by more beef than you would find in a cowboy movie. All the leading actors in his "unit" I'm sure pumped the iron between takes, even the token lady looked a bit beefy.
With the main man now suited and booted in a political style who to fill the lead muscle role in this new caper? Many actors spring to mind and I would bet Adrian Brody would not be one of them, a good actor he is but an action type?
But no fear due to the magic of movie budgets and an accommodating diary the boy did good passing obligatory topless scene with some style. I doubt if his acting skills were too taxed though and if his memory of the original is good he could have just walked through that in his mind and bingo there was Predators. So close they are that old friends make a reappearance even down to the body mask mud therapy combo styled by Arnie.
There were bangs, thuds and grunts a plenty and whilst the baddies may have been hidden the plot was not with enough warning and signs to take you in the right direction. So there you go a boyish romp 6/10 for Predictables ...... Sorry Predators.
-- Post From My iPhone
Saturday, 3 July 2010
A walk in New York
Hello
A few months back I was fortunate enough to have a short break in New York. Having been there before I was keen to do some old as well as new things as I munched my way through the Big Apple.
One such day did involve some new places along with some old but as the photos taken when the old was new have been lost to the tide of time I did some of the old again, got that? Good!
I set off from Manhattan one of the five boroughs of New York, although I'm sure few tourists visit any of the other four through a combination of fear/ignorance/lack of interest/time/only want to stick to the bits I see on TV. The walk albeit fleetingly allowed me to set foot in three of these zones and lasted about five hours but of course could be done over a longer time. The bonus being that apart from sucking in the atmosphere you can pass by many of the iconic images of this unique city.
From Manhattan I travelled on the subway heading towards Brooklyn
After a few stops I headed up to street level and walked towards the Brooklyn Bridge to take me across to Southern Manhattan. I really like this bridge its angles, its cabling, its solidity.
It's also a stunning view point as it offers great views of the east side of Manhattan Island. This is the view shooting through the upstream Manhattan Bridge.
Once over the bridge having taken care to stay on the correct side of the wooden walkway due to the ubiquitous runners and those on two wheels who zoom across taking no excuses. You then find yourself in lower Manhattan with a choice of right to China town and the judicial district or my choice left into the tighter streets of the financial district.
From here down to the southern tip of the island that is Manhattan to catch the ferry to Staten Island. This must be the bargain of the whole city a free ferry in all its orange glory,
that gives you views of the surrounding city
and of course the iconic view of
The Statue of Liberty
You land at Staten Island and it's everybody off and a quick run through the exit way to join those joining the same ferry for the return. This was one of the old memories as the last time I was on this spot being a cold evening in March 1995. Then the ferry terminal was a large concrete shed with little to offer for those waiting on the next boat. Now however someone has splashed the cash and the chrome.
Being an out and back trip the images you missed the first time you can try and capture them again on your return before landing again back at Manhattan. From there a turn to the left ignoring those who want to sell you a helicopter trip and along a series of adjoining walkways that skirt the edge of the lower west side.
There are of course plenty of places to stop along this walk for you to slake your thirst or fill that empty space in your stomach. Being lunch time many New Yorkers had taken their lunch break and their brown bags with vittals to enjoy on the walkway.
I'm not sure if ultimately the city has plans to join these boardwalks with the new park that has been resurrected from the high train line that runs north from 12th street.
That would be a quite a walk for some on what was covered thus far but that's the great thing about New York there are so many things to see and do especially if you are prepared to just go around that next corner.
So many views and you don't even need to be a bird.
A few months back I was fortunate enough to have a short break in New York. Having been there before I was keen to do some old as well as new things as I munched my way through the Big Apple.
One such day did involve some new places along with some old but as the photos taken when the old was new have been lost to the tide of time I did some of the old again, got that? Good!
I set off from Manhattan one of the five boroughs of New York, although I'm sure few tourists visit any of the other four through a combination of fear/ignorance/lack of interest/time/only want to stick to the bits I see on TV. The walk albeit fleetingly allowed me to set foot in three of these zones and lasted about five hours but of course could be done over a longer time. The bonus being that apart from sucking in the atmosphere you can pass by many of the iconic images of this unique city.
From Manhattan I travelled on the subway heading towards Brooklyn
After a few stops I headed up to street level and walked towards the Brooklyn Bridge to take me across to Southern Manhattan. I really like this bridge its angles, its cabling, its solidity.
It's also a stunning view point as it offers great views of the east side of Manhattan Island. This is the view shooting through the upstream Manhattan Bridge.
Once over the bridge having taken care to stay on the correct side of the wooden walkway due to the ubiquitous runners and those on two wheels who zoom across taking no excuses. You then find yourself in lower Manhattan with a choice of right to China town and the judicial district or my choice left into the tighter streets of the financial district.
From here down to the southern tip of the island that is Manhattan to catch the ferry to Staten Island. This must be the bargain of the whole city a free ferry in all its orange glory,
that gives you views of the surrounding city
and of course the iconic view of
The Statue of Liberty
You land at Staten Island and it's everybody off and a quick run through the exit way to join those joining the same ferry for the return. This was one of the old memories as the last time I was on this spot being a cold evening in March 1995. Then the ferry terminal was a large concrete shed with little to offer for those waiting on the next boat. Now however someone has splashed the cash and the chrome.
Being an out and back trip the images you missed the first time you can try and capture them again on your return before landing again back at Manhattan. From there a turn to the left ignoring those who want to sell you a helicopter trip and along a series of adjoining walkways that skirt the edge of the lower west side.
There are of course plenty of places to stop along this walk for you to slake your thirst or fill that empty space in your stomach. Being lunch time many New Yorkers had taken their lunch break and their brown bags with vittals to enjoy on the walkway.
I'm not sure if ultimately the city has plans to join these boardwalks with the new park that has been resurrected from the high train line that runs north from 12th street.
That would be a quite a walk for some on what was covered thus far but that's the great thing about New York there are so many things to see and do especially if you are prepared to just go around that next corner.
So many views and you don't even need to be a bird.
Friday, 2 July 2010
Freedom
Hello
Tonight I did something that I've not bothered with for a while I watched Jonathon Ross. Recently going to bed has been more inviting than falling asleep in front of the telly. However I stayed up tonight to see his main guest Mr Robin Williams someone who I think is very funny. So with Mr Ross saying goodnight I channel surfed before I bade farewell to Friday.
Channel surfing is one of those pre-bedtime rituals that many I'm sure secretly do, just in case there is a showing of that programme or movie. Tonight it was a movie namely "Braveheart" starring that well known Scotsman - Mel McGibson.
Its a strange old film all blood and guts with a soupcon of humour (not the accents) and romance. All washed down with a glug of historical tinkering. It's as Scottish as Indian Whisky but taken in the right spirit its a good way to while away a couple of hours.
I remember when it first came out and we went along to a local cinema to view it. The cinema was fairly quiet of customers but one chap in particular had perhaps decided to watch it after having consumed the right spirit. Throughout the movie to my right came the occasional stifled cheer as another Englishman was sliced and diced. The odd guffaw as the dialogue took a humorous turn. It was not obtrusive and provided an interesting dimension.
As the end of the movie drew near - if you have not seen it I'll not spoil it for you - a new sound came from our fellow movie watcher. It was sniffs and sobs, our emotional commentator was sad SPOILER ALERT at our hero's demise as he yelled out
FREEDOM!!!
Perhaps that's why we channel surf at the end of the day when we should just press the red button and go to bed it all to do with freedom the freedom to channel surf.
'They make take our remotes, but they will never take our freedom" ?
Tonight I did something that I've not bothered with for a while I watched Jonathon Ross. Recently going to bed has been more inviting than falling asleep in front of the telly. However I stayed up tonight to see his main guest Mr Robin Williams someone who I think is very funny. So with Mr Ross saying goodnight I channel surfed before I bade farewell to Friday.
Channel surfing is one of those pre-bedtime rituals that many I'm sure secretly do, just in case there is a showing of that programme or movie. Tonight it was a movie namely "Braveheart" starring that well known Scotsman - Mel McGibson.
Its a strange old film all blood and guts with a soupcon of humour (not the accents) and romance. All washed down with a glug of historical tinkering. It's as Scottish as Indian Whisky but taken in the right spirit its a good way to while away a couple of hours.
I remember when it first came out and we went along to a local cinema to view it. The cinema was fairly quiet of customers but one chap in particular had perhaps decided to watch it after having consumed the right spirit. Throughout the movie to my right came the occasional stifled cheer as another Englishman was sliced and diced. The odd guffaw as the dialogue took a humorous turn. It was not obtrusive and provided an interesting dimension.
As the end of the movie drew near - if you have not seen it I'll not spoil it for you - a new sound came from our fellow movie watcher. It was sniffs and sobs, our emotional commentator was sad SPOILER ALERT at our hero's demise as he yelled out
FREEDOM!!!
Perhaps that's why we channel surf at the end of the day when we should just press the red button and go to bed it all to do with freedom the freedom to channel surf.
'They make take our remotes, but they will never take our freedom" ?
Thursday, 1 July 2010
Lamping
Hello
With the hot weather late night walks are the order for the dogs evening stroll, the hope being that with the sun having set the sting of the heat will have diminished. Although the whole thing is undermined by the dog who lies in front of the range on return from the walk.
For a few nights now I've gone out to see a 4 x 4 in the distance sitting in the field bright light shining and then a crack of what I have surmised is an air rifle. The bloke then gets out of the car and picks up the dispatched rabbit.
I think it's what can be called lamping. Illuminating rabbits, frozen in the bright light they are then shot. I've not caught up with the person but I wonder what he does with the rabbits he puts into the back of his car - butcher, own pot, dog food?
What I do know is that when we walk around to that part of the field the dogs become more agitated with their olfactory senses all a twitch. Does death have a smell? The fantastic thing is of course that whatever the smell it is detected and all without the assistance of a bright lamp.
-- Post From My iPhone
With the hot weather late night walks are the order for the dogs evening stroll, the hope being that with the sun having set the sting of the heat will have diminished. Although the whole thing is undermined by the dog who lies in front of the range on return from the walk.
For a few nights now I've gone out to see a 4 x 4 in the distance sitting in the field bright light shining and then a crack of what I have surmised is an air rifle. The bloke then gets out of the car and picks up the dispatched rabbit.
I think it's what can be called lamping. Illuminating rabbits, frozen in the bright light they are then shot. I've not caught up with the person but I wonder what he does with the rabbits he puts into the back of his car - butcher, own pot, dog food?
What I do know is that when we walk around to that part of the field the dogs become more agitated with their olfactory senses all a twitch. Does death have a smell? The fantastic thing is of course that whatever the smell it is detected and all without the assistance of a bright lamp.
-- Post From My iPhone
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