Buonvino's Notes

Ulverscroft

2012-01-15T21:23:00.000Z

Altocumulus lenticularis

2012-01-05T20:47:00.003Z

The Balcon de Europa, Nerja, with altocumulus lenticularis cloud, formed in the turbulent air above the Sierra Aljimara, set on fire by the sunrise.

This picture was also taken in Nerja around 8 years ago, a smaller version of the altocumulus lenticularis cloud, taken at sunset when it looks more like a flying saucer. This was the first time I'd seen this type of cloud and I was really thrilled but as it turned out, they are a fairly common sight in these parts, slowly drifting out to sea where they dissipate a mile or two off shore.

10 Days on the Beautiful Island of Majorca

2011-10-09T21:40:00.001+01:00

The Boquer Valley

Early Evening, Puerto Pollensa

En Route to Cala San Vincente

Sunset in Puerto Pollensa

Stormy Sunset

2011-09-19T20:29:00.001+01:00

Last night's stormy sunset.

Blacksmiths Bank, Glenfield, Leicestershire

2011-09-08T22:19:00.000+01:00

I took these pictures of the old blacksmith's building a couple of years ago. It has now crumbled further, see Hazel's photo. As a small boy I can remember the blacksmith working here. The building was originally a cruck frame, the roof was more likely to have been slate, could have been thatch. I can remember the tin roof going on but can't remember what was there before, too young to have an interest.

The blacksmith lived in a cottage at the back, to the left, I think it was semi-detached, my gran was thinking of renting it at one time and we had a look round. Opposite the house the blacksmith had an outbuilding where he kept rabbits, all kinds of rabbits, in small cages. It was a big hobby among the men of Glenfield to keep and show rabbits.

After the demise of the blacksmith, the building was used as a store, a local builder used it for a number of years and it was he, I suppose, who in-filled the gable ends with brick. Not really the proper solution as the original woodwork would have tied the building together.

It's a wealthy society which allows it's heritage to crumble. Like Hazel, I would like to see a picture of the building as it originally was.
And, I'd be interested in any old pictures of Glenfield.

The school on Kirby Lane,

The terrace of cottages in the square which housed Stockley's Sweet Shop.

The slate and granite building which stood next to the butcher's and housed the Post Office and the village cobbler.A picture of The Square before it's first (1954) revamp.The list is endless.

Bagworth Heath Woods

2011-09-05T20:28:00.002+01:00

Bagworth Heath Woods, constructed on the site of the old Desford Colliery.

Thornton

2011-08-31T10:39:00.001+01:00

Dead Fox

2011-08-28T22:09:00.003+01:00

A dead fox lay at the side of the cycle track this morning, still warm, no sign of injury and ¼ mile from the nearest road. With no sign of distress, her eyes were open and she looked as if she would get up and run away.

Pictures with New Camera

2011-08-20T22:14:00.004+01:00

Scarecrow 1

Scarecrow 2

Thistle

Fallow Deer

Cricket Match, Newtown Linford, Leicestershire

Bike and Scarecrow

Ruins, Bradgate Park, Leicestershire

Heron on the Footbridge, Cropston Reservoir

All taken with new camera, Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS35

Guerciotti goes to.......

2011-08-04T21:13:00.007+01:00

Ratcliffe on the Wreake

Thrussington

Seagrave

Walton on the Wolds

Old Picture

2011-07-18T14:22:00.006+01:00

Sandra is bottom left with her ex-husband, Simon (Sam) behind her, in the centre is Roger Chapman and back right is Rick Grech

Drought

2011-07-16T22:30:00.002+01:00

Despite the rain, local reservoirs remain very low.

Guerciotti and the Poppy Field

2011-06-04T20:08:00.000+01:00

Poppy Field

Guerciotti at the poppy field, Newbold Heath, Leicestershire

You can vote for my Guerciotti Record on the Planet X website, the only other "Record" on the site belongs to the great Ian Cammish. Take a look at some of the other bikes and perhaps give them a vote too, but don't be too generous!

Picture on Wikipedia

2011-05-22T21:45:00.000+01:00

Not a classic by any means, Time Team dig at Groby Old Hall, April 2010. Four separate pics joined in Photoshop.

Link to picture on Flickr.
Link to picture on Wikipedia.

Swithland Wood

2011-05-20T20:19:00.000+01:00

Yesterday morning Swithland Wood.

A similar picture early this morning in Martinshaw Wood, en route to........

Thornton reservoir, before the fishermen are up and about.

Thornton and back through the woods

2011-05-18T13:27:00.001+01:00

I've been using the Felt bike for the past 10 days, the wind and threatening skies have made me cycle a more sheltered route, usually through woods, devoid of traffic, to Thornton Reservoir. This picture was taken in Martinshaw Wood only a few hundred yards from home, fairly early in the morning I have the woods to myself. Martinshaw is ancient woodland but early last century, was completely cleared of trees and replanted with a mix of conifers and deciduous. Since it's aquisition by the Woodland Trust some 25 years ago, many of the conifers have been removed, those remaining act as windbreaks. Martinshaw Wood forms part of the new National Forest.

Further along the route, part of Sustrans Cycle Route 63, the newly planted and named, Pear Tree Wood, also belonging to the Woodland Trust.

Thornton Reservoir (PDF) is drying up rapidly, this feeder pool has shrank to an all time low over the last few days. This morning, large fish were unable to submerge completely in the last puddle of water.

Now a moan.

The National Forest covers more than 200 sq miles. Why the do dog owners allow their pets to crap all over the footpaths and cycle tracks? In some places dog excrement lies on the ground like a carpet, impossible to avoid on a bike and I'm getting pee'd off with getting dog crap in my tyres everyday (3 times today). You know, some owners go to the trouble of picking up the crap in a bag only to drop the bag at the side of the path where it stays for perpetuity. If that's the best they can do then what chance have we got?

Thornton

2011-05-13T21:55:00.002+01:00

The reservoir is at the lowest level I've ever seen, even in the height of summer.

Some horses have foaled.

This pretty little thing appeared this week.

Bradgate Park this morning, 25th April.

2011-04-25T20:53:00.002+01:00

Guerciotti at the Wishing Stone in Bradgate Park

At the same time, in the opposite direction, a large herd of red deer crossed the stream and track, the two girls on bikes were so keen to get away they missed an amazing sight. Click on picture to enlarge.

Guerciotti goes to.........

2011-04-24T19:58:00.001+01:00

Red's together in Cossington, Leicestershire. The white house in the distance, obscured by the tree, was once the home of Lady Isobel Barnett. Along with many other properties in Cossington, the garden of Lady Isobel Barnett's former home is open to the public the first weekend in May on alternate years. Unfortunately, this is not a "Cossington Open Gardens" year, that was last year, or next year, depending on whether you're an pessimist or a optimist.

Incidentally, there isn't a phone in the phone box.

Memorial Gardens, Quorn. Appears as Quorndon on most maps but always known locally as Quorn.

Guerciotti in the Charnwood Forest

2011-04-10T22:33:00.000+01:00

Guerciotti at Polly Botts Lane, too many long steep hills just lately and so I gave this one a miss.

However, this is at the summit of another little beauty on Priory Lane, Ulverscroft. Downhill most of the way from here.

New Bike, Guerciotti Record

2011-03-28T22:37:00.001+01:00

The finished job, all silver components, the pedals need clips and straps, the saddle is a Brooks B17 Std. 'borrowed from my other bike, will eventually have a Brooks Swallow in brown, the stem is my old Milremo stem circa 1970, the handlebars are small touring bars from the 1950's, I've used them since I was 15, they are too small and I'm looking for something better. The seatpost is System Ex. The total bike weight, as it stands here, is just under 19lbs (around 8.5kg)

Campag. 10 speed drivechain, Record chain and cups, Centaur 12/25 cassette and chainset 53/39 - 170mm crank, Veloce front and rear derailleur, MKS Sylvan Road Pedals.

Dia Compe downtube levers which work beautifully, bought as a frameset with Dura Ace headset already fitted, the wheels are Fulcrum Racing 3, Continental inner tubes and Continental Ultrasport tyres.

The cables I found it cheaper to buy the parts separately, the outers are Clarks.

The brakes are Campag. Veloce, the levers are Dia Compe, Brooks leather bar tape, I used some red insulating tape on the ends.

The chain was joined using a KMC 10 speed Campag. link.

I tried to match as closely as possible the sizes of my old bike which I rebuilt in 1970. My old bike had a 23" frame, this one is 59cm and stands approx 5mm higher than the old bike, 58cm may have been a better size for me, I'm 6' 1½" and proportionally longer in the body. I retained my old Milremo stem because it's 4" (100mm) and is as good as anything else available today. The cranks I delibrately kept short to try and match the 165mm cranks of the old bike.

Did a 15 mile run both yesterday and today everything works fine.

Time Team

2011-03-10T20:43:00.000Z

Last April, over 3 days, Channel 4's Time Team came to Groby for a dig at Groby Old Hall. The programme of the dig is to be broadcast on Channel 4 on Sunday 20th March.

To mark the occasion, this Saturday morning, 12th March, at a coffee morning between 10.00am and 12.00 noon at Groby Village Hall, Groby Heritage Society will be exhibiting some of the pictures taken of the dig by local residents. Please come along and look in.

Some of the pictures will be those I took and showed on Flickr, nothing clever or arty, just views of the dig with glimpses of some of the watching public.

Market Bosworth and Newbold Verdon.

2011-02-12T22:28:00.001Z

A bike ride out to Bosworth Hall, now a hotel, once the home of the Dixie family. It was their American cotton plantations that made the Dixie name synonymous with the Southern States of the USA.

"The ornate filigree wrought iron gate hung between pillars surmounted by large stone spheres, at the edge of the moat, dates from the 18th century when Eleanor Frances Dixie was Lady of the Manor."

Sandra and I call the walled garden, "the secret garden", for many years the garden was completely overgrown still with the remains of the old greenhouses. In the early 1990's planning permission was granted for several bungalows to be built, but after the site was cleared, the company involved went bust and the garden was saved, some fruit trees still survive and the hotel keeps the grass mown. The water tower would make a fine house, extend the building to incorporate the arch and you still have more than an acre of walled garden.

The winter aconites and snowdrops at the back of the walled garden. Unfortunately the flowers had closed because it was overcast and spitting with rain otherwise they would have been much brighter.

The rain came a bit sharp and I sheltered for awhile in here, no-one around.

The western facade, the picnic tables are a recent addition.

The fountain is at the southern end of the moat, the buildings behind date from around the 1930's when the Hall became a hospital and these wings were added.

The old main entrance to the Hall, the new hotel entrance is to the left out of the picture.

The parish church of St James, Newbold Verdon, Leicestershire.

Knoll Hill, Markfield

2011-02-10T10:47:00.001Z

Panorama, NE to SW, from Knoll Hill, Markfield, Leicestershire.

From the left to right, two radio masts at Copt Oak, white clouds rising from Ratcliffe on Trent Power Station, The undulating hills, up to the bushes in the foreground, are known as the Chitterman Hills. The larger brown hill, just before the silver birch, is Old John in Bradgate Park, the 3rd highest summit in Leicestershire. (Bardon Hill being the highest, Beacon Hill second). To the right of the tree, the village of Markfield lies in the foreground and in the distance beyond, the City of Leicester.

The Information Board, click on the picture to make larger and more readable.

The toposcope and triangulation point, Bardon Hill is visible in the distance.

The Triangulation Point at the summit of Knoll Hill with the abandoned Hill Hole Quarry below.

Thornton

2011-01-17T19:59:00.000Z

Thornton Reservoir this afternoon 2 o'clockish, sun beginning to come through, fog lifting, very wet underfoot, or should that be underwheel? Bike and clothes needed a good wash when I got back home. It's a good ride to Thornton, about 10 miles round trip including around the reservoir, almost all is on a cycle track which keeps me off the road, no bad thing in the fog.

Cave Dwellers

2011-01-12T21:50:00.000Z

I'm not too sure whether or not this cave house is still lived in, it's still maintained and would make a good bolt hole. To the right of the blue doors is a small cave now boarded up, this was once home to the cave-dog.

This cave, higher up in the cliff, is definitely still occupied.

Norfolk Island Pine

2010-12-29T21:54:00.000Z

This is El Salvador Church in Nerja, finished in 1697. I tried to get a picture of the stained glass window but had to hold the camera, hence the slightly blurry image. The tree to the left (with lights around the trunk) is unusual, a Spanish gentleman (uno caballero) told me proudly, in Spanish, that the tree was (I wrote the name down back in the hotel room the way he'd pronounced it, I thought), 'Ara Canahua'.

I didn't think much else of it until I got home and, while catching up on the blogs I follow, I found this.

The correct name is Araucaria heterophylla or, the Norfolk Island Pine.

I found this picture of the church and tree, on the web.

Last year, we had a view of the tree from our room, several hundred starlings had chosen it as a roost.

Nerja Christmas 2010

2010-12-28T09:13:00.017Z

December 23rd, Nerja, view of the Balcon from El Nautico Restaurante at Hotel Balcon de Europa, as we sat having a lunchtime drink. A real suntrap, the air temperature was quite cool but it was wonderful sitting here enjoying the sun.

This is Dizzy the dog, she belongs to Pepe and lives with him at Bodega de Pepe in Frigiliana, where she eats all the leftovers. Poor Dizzy, her skin is so tight she looks as if she could explode, her collar is on the last hole.

This is Bodega de Pepe, Dizzy Dog's home, it's not a pretty place but the views from the terrace are superb.

A couple of views from the terrace, the sea is in the distance. Sometimes when it's cloudy on the coast the sun still shines in the foothills.

My Christmas pudding, Spanish style, the white igloo is clotted cream on a chocolate base (not visible), the inside contained pieces of soft fruit. The reat was fairly simple, chocolate ice cream with a squirt of custard and raspberry and some fruits but the cream was a bit of a heart stopper. Almost everything in the hotel carries the hotel logo, the plates are no exception and are always placed with the crest at the top, pity about the small chip.

We had our Christmas lunch mid afternoon, opting out of the evening party, our table was bathed in sunshine and only a few feet from the Mediterranean.

Fog

2010-11-20T14:31:00.000Z

Friday, Groby Pool, although the fog lifted in the afternoon at Fosse Park giving us some sunshine, Groby remained foggy all day

Saturday morning, Swithland Reservoir, a dirtier fog than yesterday.

As it cleared it rained for a short while, but the mirk stayed all day. November.

Human Statue

2010-11-16T19:51:00.000Z

After lunch today at the Britannia Hotel in Nottingham we saw this chap, a human statue, outside the Town Hall. He could stick his left leg out and put both arms backwards with no visible means of support. A large crowd, us included, was fascinated. Obviously there is some means of support under the woolly mat and in his right trouser leg but even that theory proved hard to believe when he stood upright on several occasions.

A good trick.

Cold Morning at Bradgate

2010-11-15T20:03:00.000Z

Bradgate Park and Cropston Reservoir pictured this morning.

I've been concerned for several weeks over what appears to be an over culling of the red deer in the Park, the fallow deer numbers seem unaffected. At first I thought it was only my opinion but now, I've heard others talking about the disappearance of the red deer. One lady was so concerned that she deliberately went looking for them with no luck. Perhaps the intention is to introduce some new stock to prevent too much inter-breeding.

Saturday 6th November 2010

2010-11-06T22:26:00.001Z

Sunrise this morning lighting up the trees in the wood

The leaves on the Philadelphus have fallen and revealed a wasps' nest (looking rather like a skull)

Rupert shows how he wipes his nose

Rupert sits at the side of 'His Dad' and surveys the garden, finally he seems to have rid himself of the tabby who made his life so miserable.

Sandra found out this week that at one time, some of her family lived in Thurcaston, Leicestershire. I called at the church to look at the headstones. No luck finding any of Sandra's family but there were some very old headstones.

Later in the morning, at Swithland Reservoir.

Henry Rogers

2010-11-06T21:48:00.000Z

Until his death, on 12th August 1838, Park House, the pretty, double-fronted house between the two chimneys, was the home of my great, great, great grandfather, Henry Rogers. The part of the building to the left, is a modern extension.
Henry Rogers was a tenant farmer of John Hensleigh Allen of Cresselly House and Park House formed part of the Cresselly Estate until it was sold, quite recently, by a descendent of JHA, with the proceeds going towards the upkeep of Cresselly House.

Although only a tenant farmer, Henry Rogers died a fairly wealthy man, in his Will, written only 5 days before his death, he leaves his estate divided 50/50 between his brother, George and his nephew, William Nash, the son of Henry's sister, Mary. It is likely that George and William were employed, as farmhands, by Henry. But, I can't help thinking that George and William coerced Henry into making his Will, fearing his belongings would be inherited by his children.

Henry never married but........
On the 13th November 1814, Henry was in church with Mary Owens, for the baptism of their son, my great, great, grandfather, Thomas Rogers.
However, some 6 weeks earlier, on 2nd October 1814, Henry had been at the same church with Mary Tucker for the baptism of their daughter, Elizabeth.

Then, five years after Thomas' baptism, Mary Owens was again at the church, this time with William Merryman, for the baptism of their son George.

Not to be outdone, Henry was back at the church again with Mary Owens, on 10th February 1824, for the baptism of their daughter, Damaris. Unfortunately Damaris died 6 years later on 2nd January 1832.

Mary Owens raised her two sons alone and later inherited a farm of her own.

Peace

2010-11-01T14:55:00.000Z

Finally, the half-term school holidays are over, GMT and sanity restored, 9.00am and an empty car park in Newtown Linford, familiar faces have returned to reclaim Bradgate Park.

Peace in Bradgate Park at 9.00am.

P.S. What's all this talk again about keeping British Summer Time all the year round? Or, changing to Central European Time.

Surely the correct time is GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). Why not keep GMT all the year round and just alter hours of work or whatever?

A Week in Puerto Pollensa, Majorca

2010-10-17T21:59:00.000+01:00

Puerto Pollensa, Sandra's favourite place, we were there last week and apart from a very bad storm, the weather was glorious.

The water in Pollensa Bay is usually very calm, during the week, a low pressure centred itself on Majorca causing the sea level to rise by 1½-2 feet. At least I think that is what caused the sea to rise, after the storm, the level returned gradually to the normal level.

The picture above was taken on the Pine Walk, our hotel was close by, we spent most of our time here.

We were fortunate to have a beautiful apartment on the top (3rd) floor, this is the view from our balcony.

A view of some of the villas on the Pine Walk

The grey light on the day before the storm

These 2 huge limestone columns form the entrance to the Boquer Valley

The valley leads to Cala Boquer, a small pebbly cove often littered with huge quantities of plastic bottles washed up by the sea.

This is the bar of the Illa D'Or Hotel, most days we had a lunchtime drink and snack here followed later in the afternoon by a pot of tea for two. If Sandra had to choose her all time favourite place, this would be it and it's been number 1 on her list since we first discovered the place, almost 20 years ago.

Bradgate to Ratby

2010-10-05T19:59:00.002+01:00

A misty morning in Bradgate Park, once the home of Lady Jane Grey, Queen of England for just 9 days.

Her home now stands in ruins but it was one of the earliest brick buildings in England. Previous to the house being built there was a small hamlet on the site, the dwellings were demolished and the people rehoused in Newtown Linford (New town on the Lin ford - the River Lin runs through the park. River is perhaps a misnomer as it's only a small stream) It was among the molehills in the foreground that I uncovered those fragments of glass and pottery shown in my earlier blog.

The road through the park was quite magical.

The Grey estate survived until the 20th Century, Bradgate Park was brought from the estate by Charles Bennion in 1928, "for the people of Leicestershire". I believe Charles Bennion was the owner of The British United Shoe Machinery Company. The Grey Estate itself was actually centred on Groby and the land on which our house now stands was bought from the Estate by Mr Ball, a Ratby farmer.

Groby was originally a hamlet in the parish of Ratby.

My old boss came to pick me up for a business trip one day, our route took us through Ratby.

"Gosh! I've never been to Ratby before. " said the boss. Hard to believe when he had lived only 5 miles away for 40 years. I think the 'rat' had put him off.

There is an 3,000 year old iron-age fort in Ratby where the Romans later had a camp/garrison and from where, it is said, they adminstered Leicester, known to the Romans as Ratae Corieltauvorum, it could be the reason Ratby took part of the same name.

The old, Ratby parish church of St Philip and St James stands at the highest part of the village.
After my father's retirement, he joined Ratby Parish Council, one day he said to me, "There's a problem with the church tower, there's a crack from top to bottom. The foundations are only two feet deep. They've had a go at repairing it once before and it hasn't worked."
I couldn't remember it being repaired before, "When was that?" I asked.
"About 300 years ago," said Dad, nonchalantly.
In the picture you can see the buttressing that was done 300 and odd years ago. I think it's been underpinned this time. The crack has gone at any rate.

Old Road

2010-10-01T20:57:00.000+01:00

These 3 pictures were taken last week at the Outwoods in Leicestershire. Not so many years ago, this was a single track road, quite a handy cut through to Woodhouse Eaves. It was somewhat dangerous with vehicles travelling too fast and walkers on the narrow road and it was closed to traffic some years ago. Nature has taken over and it's difficult now to imagine that I once drove along here. The bottom picture shows part of the road which still exists.

Molehills and Hidden "Treasure"

2010-10-01T20:39:00.001+01:00

Archaeological tip number 3253.
Most historical sites have a labour of moles, careful inspection of the molehill with the boot (or on a rainy day, a stick or umbrella - pointed end) can reveal hidden treasures of the past.
Rather like oysters, treasure doesn't often occur, this little lot has accumulated on the windowsill over several months, nothing of any value, a couple of bits of broken clay pipe and various bits of pottery and glass. No gold or silver..........yet.

Misty

2010-10-01T11:04:00.000+01:00

Misty Morning at Swithland Reservoir 30th Sept 2010

2010-09-23T21:07:00.000+01:00

Rupert has a sleep

Knarled Oak in Bradgate Park

Bike at Cropston Reservoir

Dutchman's Wall on Anthony Street, Rothley

Swithland Waterworks

Pump House, Swithland Reservoir

Red Deer Stag

2010-09-13T20:25:00.001+01:00

I took this picture of a red deer stag on Saturday.

Walking in the Park many years ago with my father, we came across a newly born fawn lying in the bracken, our presence had scared off the mother. As we looked down at the fawn we heard a noise and looked up to see a stag coming straight for us, we turned and ran, fortunately the stag didn't follow.

Slow-Worm

2010-09-13T20:17:00.000+01:00

One of the things I missed most in my non-cycling years was the chance of spotting what we tend to miss seeing when on foot. Today's more unusual sight was a slow-worm, he (or she) didn't look too well, when I picked it up, it barely moved. It was lying at the side of the road near Swithland Woods, I carried it to some nearby dry grass where the sun was shining a dappled light.
I read the slow-worm is the longest living lizard and can live for 30 years in the wild, one specimen in Copenhagen Zoo lived for 54 years.

The slow-worm after I'd picked it up but before I carried it over to the dry grass.

Steps

2010-09-04T21:14:00.001+01:00

These steps are at Mount St Bernard Abbey, both the left and right stairway go to the same place, and yet, everyone keeps to the left going up and uses the other stairway coming down.

Early Mist

2010-09-03T21:32:00.003+01:00

"Sailed off on a river of mist and light, into a sea of dew"

Thornton Reservoir and Beyond

2010-08-31T22:09:00.001+01:00

Another beautiful morning, I cycled to Thornton Reservoir and on to Bagworth Heath Woods.

The water is clear at this time of year and gives some great reflections.

2010-08-30T20:41:00.001+01:00

On a beautiful, sunny morning, a ride out to Mount Saint Bernard Abbey.

Autumn is a coming

2010-08-19T20:54:00.004+01:00

The first deer in Bradgate Park are already losing the velvet from their antlers as they get ready for the October rut.

More Sparky

2010-08-19T20:34:00.006+01:00

Sparky looking out for Rupert
Ah! here he is. Play?

No, I've told you, put those claws down and I'll think about it.

Snow in August

2010-08-19T20:05:00.002+01:00

Someone once remarked that they'd seen me out walking and wondered why I was looking at the ground as I walked. The answer is easy, you find very little if you look straight ahead. And of course, what you might step into, unless I'm in St Ives, then I need to look up as well as down. On second thoughts, best not to look up!
Actually I was walking under an M1 bridge at the time I was spotted and so there was even more reason to look at the ground.
Since I've had the bike, almost 6 months now, I've found some rather useful things lying at the side of the road, a very nice spanner, an old pair of pliers, a bike pump, a map, pens, pencils and several coins. With coins the problem is, when is it worth picking them up? For example, is it worth stopping when hurtling downhill to pick up a penny? 5p? 20p? £1?
When the coin lies at the bottom of a hill and I'm are travelling at speed to get up the next hill, the decision is made more difficult. That was my decision this morning, a £1 coin, I braked hard and walked back several yards, I'd been mistaken, it was a gold bottle top. I'm sure they'd have heard me swear in Countesthorpe. Must get my eyes tested again.......

Of course finding things of value isn't everything, sometimes it's seeing the more unusual, a muntjac deer, an adder.......but what I saw on a quiet country lane this morning took me by surprise. A pile of snow at the side of the road.....in August! I went over to check, yeah, sure enough, it was snow.
Someone must have de-iced their freezer but why dump it on a quiet country lane?

"Sparky"

2010-08-14T18:57:00.003+01:00

We have the task of looking after Olivia's kitten while the family are on holiday. Olivia calls her Bella but Sandra has renamed her Sparky because she's such a live wire.

Sparky helps arrange the spokes for the photographer

Sparky keeps her distance while Rupert has his dinner

The Wheels

2010-08-14T18:24:00.003+01:00

The wheels have arrived for the Guerciotti. I got Fulcrum Racing 3, hope I'm not too over ambitious with this project. For the picture I've put in my old Milremo stem, bought new c1970, it was very oxidised after many years in the garage, I've been polishing and have repainted the recesses. Originally the name recess wasn't painted but....well, time for a change. I only wish I wasn't so impatient waiting for the paint to dry.
The handlebars are ancient, I've had them over 40 years and they were very old then, I had to soak them in white spirit in an effort to remove years of adhesive. It was a filthy job and I'm not sure they look much better now.......and they're slightly buckled following a bad crash in 1965.
The only wording I can see on the handlebars is, "CONCORDE" and underneath, "TRADE MARK", it's not clear whether Concorde is a make or model and Googling hasn't revealed anything. I'd be pleased to hear if anyone knows anything about them.

Saturday 7th August

2010-08-08T22:09:00.001+01:00

On the bike

Deer in Bradgate Park

Geese flying under a threatening sky

Fallow Deer by the Lin

Anstey and Castle Hill Park

2010-08-08T21:48:00.002+01:00

It's perhaps a shameful thing to say but until last week, I hadn't heard of Castle Hill Country Park even though it's no more than 3 miles from home. Last week I saw a signpost and this morning took a look round.
I entered from Anstey down Sheepwash Lane, at the bottom of the lane is King William's Bridge, nicely restored since my last visit in 1967.
King William's Bridge is so named because when King William III planned to visit the Grey family at Bradgate in 1696, the packhorse bridge on the route of the original road from Leicester, was found to be too narrow for the Royal coach and so, a new bridge was constructed.

King William's Bridge

Pylon
A field of flax almost ripe

A field of wheat with Old John in the background

Thornton Reservoir

2010-08-03T21:31:00.003+01:00

A little ride out to, and around, Thornton Reservoir this morning. It's about 10miles there and back but what makes this trip special is, apart from the 1/4 mile down to the reservoir, I can virtually do the whole trip from home on cycle tracks.

It's just possible to see the church spire poking out through the trees.

Some years ago 'The Lodge' was built, I think it's a brilliant design, the roof looks like an upturned boat. Inside Severn Trent have a small exhibition at one end, while at the other, teas and snacks are available.
The start and finish of my ride, the track through Martinshaw Wood, we are fortunate to live only a couple of hundred yards from here.

Guerciotti Record Strada Frameset

2010-08-02T20:14:00.009+01:00

My new frame arrived last week, a Guerciotti Record Strada, made in Italy from Columbus Thron tubing. It's a 59cm frame which is slightly too big for me, my old frame was 23" which I think = 58.5cm. I was puzzled how, with shorter tubes, it could be bigger than my old bike?
The answer lies in the angles, the new frame is 3½ inches shorter axle to axle pushing the crossbar upwards.

The bike should be built using Campagnolo Record but I'm going to use Campag. Athena groupset, plain old Campag. Khamsin wheels and go from there.

The frameset came fitted with a Shimano Dura-Ace headset, not very aesthetic, almost blasphemous!

Italian threaded bottom bracket.

Deadly Nightshade

2010-07-31T19:41:00.003+01:00

Deadly Nightshade (Atropa belladonna) growing amongst the ruins in Bradgate Park. Deadly is self explanatory but nightshade may be more difficult to explain.

I inherited a lazy left eye from my father and as a lad I had to go to a clinic where an optometrist put belladonna cream in my eye. My vision became blurred, I guess my pupils had dilated (they've been too large ever since) and the optometrist then looked into my eyes.

Afterwards, I would have a plaster stuck over the right (good eye) lens of my glasses (which I didn't need) and that's how it went on for a couple of years.

Then they took the glasses away and the left eye was still lazy and has been ever since.

An Evening with Friends at the Red Lion

2010-07-30T19:59:00.007+01:00

Bob, me and Alan, no prizes for guessing who took this picture.

Jenny, Chrissie and Sandra

Arriving Home

2010-07-27T16:35:00.004+01:00

I received one of those circular emails yesterday, we all get them from time to time but I thought I'd publish this one, take a look and you'll see why.

Two planes landed in England the other day :

One carried a group of grotesquely over paid, immature, under achievers who complained they were tired and missed their families after two weeks in five star accommodation.

The other carried the coffins of 7 fallen soldiers who had spent months away from
loved ones living in tents in a war zone, they couldn't complain.

These soldiers earn £15k to £30k a year not a day.

If you believe that the England team should donate two weeks wages to Help the Hero's
then please forward this on.

Mountsorrel Castle

2010-07-25T17:16:00.004+01:00

Panorama from the top of Castle Hill Mountsorrel (Click on image to expand)

"Mountsorrel Castle is an 11th century earthwork motte and bailey fortress, founded by Hugh Lupus, earl of Chester. Evidence suggests that the castle was built on the site of ancient earthworks, with the northern part of a granite outcrop, scarped into a circular motte and the remaining platform becoming the now mutilated bailey. Abandoned in 1217, after King Henry II ordered it to be razed to the ground, the motte is now partly quarried away and crowned by a war memorial, with the remains of a wide bailey ditch, to the south."

Guerciotti Record Strada Frameset

2010-07-23T20:31:00.002+01:00

Since I saw this frameset last week I've been a troubled man.

It was the last one and I began to get eaten up with the fear that, were it to be sold I might regret not buying it for the rest of my days. So, last night I splashed the cash and it's on it's way to me.

Handmade in Italy from Columbus Thron steel tubing. It's a 59cm frame which purists will say is too big for me but I've measured it up against my old bike and the new frame is actually smaller. And at my age, I don't want the saddle so high that it crushes my nether regions.

Carrying on the retro theme, I thought I might use the stem and handlebars off my old bike which I built 1970/71. As I was sorting out the spanners, I thought, "I can't do this", the last time I took a spanner to that nut was almost 40 years ago. I've had to leave it.

Rupert and the Vet

2010-07-22T19:55:00.002+01:00

We finally had to take Rupert to the vet, Mr Matthews in Syston, he wasn't at all pleased that we'd left poor Rupert so long without treatment.
Sandra rang and made the appointment for 10.45am, I got the cat basket out of the garage, put it on the hall floor and Rupert got in of his own accord. It sounds unbelieveable, but I think he knew he was poorly and had to go to the vets.
I couldn't believe how much stuff Mr Matthews squeezed out of the abscess, poor Rupert, and he only made the faintest squeek. Then a big injection of antibiotic, I put the basket back on the vet's table and Rupert got back in, "ready to go home now" he was saying.
After all that, Mr Matthews only charged us £13 with instuctions to take Rupert back next week if he's still poorly.

So, if you have a poorly pet, live near Syston and need a vet, go and see Mr Matthews. Do not take your pet anywhere else.

Rothley and Swithland Woods

2010-07-21T22:25:00.007+01:00

Seen in Rothley this morning, Spotty Horse with flies.

Pegasus..........The Fly 'n' Horse

The morning sunshine in Swithland Woods

Jackdaws, Gates' and Rupert

2010-07-20T20:06:00.004+01:00

Jackdaws in Bradgate Park late this afternoon.

I took this picture only to remind me to mention to you that Jack Dawes was a plumber in Earl Shilton for many years. As I sat on a seat in the park thinking of this, I wondered whether Jack had a sister Margery (or Marjorie, as my mother) and did she have a see-saw?

Sunday afternoon, we drove over to Gates' Nursery at Cold Overton. It's worth the 40 odd mile round trip for the cream tea. The best scones in England and that includes Devon and Cornwall.

Rupert hadn't been too well again before we left, very lethargic, and that lump on his shoulder was back. We decided we would ring the vet Monday morning. However, by Monday there was a dramatic change, an abscess had opened up, it looked horrible but Rupert was better already. Sandra has cleaned and bathed the area 2 or 3 times yesterday and today. If it still looks infected later in the week we'll get him some antibiotics from the vet.

Out early to Bradgate

2010-07-17T11:01:00.003+01:00

Bike at Groby Pool

The notice reads "Private Keep Out" but just to be sure.......

.......the gate, at Cropston Reservoir, is secured by 5 padlocks.

Stormy Skies over Bradgate Park on the way home 9.30am. I've sent the picture to East Midlands Today, look out for it, you may just see it on BBC East Mids Weather tonight.

Bike

2010-07-15T17:13:00.004+01:00

I've always liked bikes and just lately I've begun to get even more interested. Have a look at these pictures of the most beautiful bike I've ever seen.

Surprisingly, I see most of the components are still available and with a bit of tweaking I think I could make a modern copy. I may just give it a try, anyone got any goldleaf?

16/7/09 Update.

I can't seem find a black frame in my size, it'll have to be red. It should look OK.

Rupert Update

2010-07-14T12:36:00.002+01:00

What a relief, for one moment I thought it was curtains for Rupert but he's 95% recovered already.
The problem began last Thursday when we returned from having lunch in Coventry. Rupert had been outside while we were away and came into the house with us on our return at about 3.30 in the afternoon. Almost as soon as he entered the house, Rupert began to slowly climb the stairs to his bed which we keep on the landing, normally he'd run up the stairs full pelt, but he struggled up each step this time.
Sandra and I were half amused, the recent heatwave had made life very uncomfortable for Rupert, not only does he wear a thick fur coat, he has a thick fur under vest (I told him to take it off in the hot weather but he won't listen) Nevertheless, he looked pretty well done for as he slowly climbed the stairs.
At 9.00 o'clock that evening, he was still in bed and honestly looked as if he was fading away, he seemed unable to move and was very hot, I thought he might not make it through the night.
Friday morning he got up about 9.30, still very poorly, we were thinking it was heat exhaustion, he slept most of the time the rest of that day and through the following night.
Saturday morning, I bent down to stroke him and discovered a huge lump on the top of his left shoulder. I couldn't believe I hadn't noticed it before.
I went and looked on the internet, we'd both been thinking heat exhaustion, kidney trouble occurred to me but he showed no symptoms of that and I discounted it. The internet showed 2 possible problems, an abcess or something far more sinister, we decided to leave him. Whatever the problem was, it was surely going to go one way or the other very quickly.
And that's how we left it, gradually the swelling went down and he became more active. I think it was most likely a sprain, perhaps he was attacked or ran away from another cat or the fox or, perhaps he landed badly after jumping over a wall. I don't think we'll ever know but since he was injured, he has become nervous and doesn't venture far, he'd always been such a brave little soul before.

Rupert

2010-07-11T22:54:00.002+01:00

Rupert's not well, he's very, very, poorly.

Rupert as a 'young man'

Old John Mk2

2010-07-06T22:00:00.003+01:00

In a leafy glade, by an old slate quarry, lies another 'Old John', more windows but a little smaller and without a handle. Old John 2 sleeps quietly, unseen.

The original Old John folly (right)

Chilton School Fete

2010-07-05T20:08:00.004+01:00

Olivia's School Fete, Chilton, Oxfordshire, Saturday July 3rd 2010.

Sandra with Derek The Donkey (The school is built on the site of a WWII airfield, you can see a gun emplacement at the back of the picture. I'm told that gliders left from this airfield to attack a bridge in Holland)

Dave the Donkey, Derek's brother

Olivia (left) in the maypole dancing (in July?)

Olivia in the skipping demonstration

Dan on the lookout for those pesky Taliban critters

Dan da Man (Who's that bloke at the back?)

Bagworth

2010-07-04T21:48:00.006+01:00

Out on the bike last Saturday morning, I came across a couple of interesting things in Bagworth. I went back there this morning armed with camera, the wind was awful, I was shattered by the time I got back home.

My first discovery last week was Bagworth Heath Woods. Well worth a visit, it has been created on a site once occupied by Bagworth Mine and slag (spoil) heaps, a large area with lakes, woodland, open heathland and a cycle track, part of The Ivanhoe Trail.

Last week I got into ' a bit of difficulty' on a hill. The literature calls it a tarmac path, that's a very loose term for a path which is mostly gravel.

Approaching the top of the hill too quickly, I couldn't stop and a couple of walkers were at the bottom. Wheels skidding, I turned onto the grass verge for a 'controlled' fall but it too bumpy. Back on the path, wheels were still skidding, the walkers turned and must have seen the look of horror on my face. They stepped aside, I released the brakes and shot past them.

"Morning", I said calmly, as I sped past.

The hill seen from the bottom

The other bit of interest I came across in Bagworth was The Bier House. I've been past it times and had never noticed it before. It houses a wooden bier for the villagers to use to carry the coffin to the grave. I can't see the bier through the window, looks like it's covered with a sheet.

The Bier House, Bagworth.

Garden Seat

2010-06-29T22:13:00.002+01:00

The garden seat has become overgrown, Sandra complains,"there's no room to sit".
I said, "there's plenty of room for me".
That didn't go down too well.

Call this a cycle track?

2010-06-28T20:30:00.002+01:00

Another little gem from the cycle track planners. In Groby again. It's pretty obvious here where to cycle without the need for paint.

However, 100 yards further along the road the cycle track suddenly ends and the unfortunate cyclist is left to negotiate the most difficult section of the road, two way traffic, bends and a mini roundabout.

Adder in Bradgate Park

2010-06-28T20:04:00.003+01:00

10.15 this morning, no-one around and on the road ahead of me, a stick? It moved, I was nearer, a slow-worm. Then I saw it was a young adder about 15 inches long. Seeing me, it moved quickly off the road into the grass. I had to get in front of it to bring it to a stop, it curled up in a clump of grass.

It's the first time I've seen an adder in Bradgate Park and only my second sighting ever, my first was of an adult male on the cliff below Pendennis Castle in Falmouth in July 1969. That first adder was quite a vivid blue, the youngster today was darker and less conspicuous.

The adder 'running' for cover this morning

After it had come to a halt in the clump of grass. Notice it's head raised (near to camera)

Noon at Billa Barra Hill on the longest day.

2010-06-21T22:43:00.002+01:00

Had to crop this shot. Bl**dy people in the way.
Managed to hide them behind the column for this shot.

And then there's the customary shot through the hole.

Crossing the A50 on a bike

2010-06-19T21:33:00.004+01:00

Some fathead at County Hall or wherever has created a cycle route from Groby to Anstey, all properly signposted etc. The only trouble is that the A50 runs right across it. It's a really dangerous crossing and it would be impossible to cross at this point on most weekdays. I made the crossing at 8.30 on Saturday morning, only to take the picture.

Can I suggest that the fathead who devised this route tries to cross at this point with a bike on a Monday morning at 8.30.

Summer Solstice

2010-06-19T16:10:00.003+01:00

It was while looking at some bikes on placid casual 's photostream that I came across his pictures of the Noon Columns. I knew nothing about these columns, it all sounded very interesting and so, Thursday morning I went to have a look at the nearest one to us, sited on Billa Barra Hill.

It was too early in the morning to see the column 'working', noon in Charnwood Forest occurs at 13.03 BST.

Monday 21st June 2010 will be the longest day this year and if the sun's shining, I'll be at Billa Barra Hill at 13.03, the time of 'true noon' in the Charnwood Forest.

Rupert has a trim

2010-04-24T21:53:00.007+01:00

We took Rupert to the vet on Thursday, his fur had become matted in several places and despite our best efforts, we couldn't clear them.

I read somewhere that 5 minutes a day is all it takes to keep a Persian cat free from matted fur. We gave Rupert more than 5 minutes grooming every day, we bought special combs with blades, proper brushes but we couldn't stop the matting. When he moulted in February, the loose, downy underfur got snagged on small twigs and I think that was the start.

Some of the looser clumps I snipped off but then, a couple of weeks ago, I caught Rupert's skin with the scissors. That frightened me off using scissors on him and we decided to book him in at the vet's.

Sandra rang our usual vet for a quote, £80 - £100, another vet , recommended by friends and neighbours quoted £35 - £40.

We took the cheaper quote of course, Rupert doesn't look so bad does he? He needed anaesthetic for the trim and wasn't allowed any food after Wednesday lunchtime. Now Rupert's no fool, he knew something was wrong. I'm sure he knew that starvation = operation so, when I let him out early on Thursday morning for his ablutions he disappeared for a couple of hours. We'd virtually given up hope of a speedy return when a face appeared under the fence. Even then he took a lot of convincing before he dared come forward.

At last, with a quick grab I got a hold on him and off to the vet he went.

He was gone for 6 hours and when we got him home he was quite wobbly but now....Well! He's a changed cat, he's not the same Rupert, he is much livelier, like a kitten again. That matted fur must have been hurting him.

A week in April

2010-04-16T20:07:00.008+01:00

Gosh! It's been quite a week this week.

It began with Channel 4's Time Team coming to Groby for a 3 day dig at The Old Hall. You can see some of the pictures I've taken on my Flickr site.

A cold wind blew from the north east for most of the week and blew away the sound of the M1 motorway.

Thursday a cloud of volcanic ash drifted over the UK and grounded all jet planes. It's been 2 days now of virtual silence. It was good to see a few old petrol engined planes still flying, fitted with air filters, they get the last laugh over their jet engined big brothers.

Last night (Thursday) also saw the first live TV debate between the three main party leaders. I had to show willing and sit through it, just don't ask me any questions about it.

I saw my first swallow of the summer today sitting resting on a telephone wire. I find it very emotional seeing these little birds for the first time after each winter. It seems so incredible that such a small creature can make such a tremendous journey.

On Swithland Reservoir, a mute swan has built a nest rather too close to the road, I hope she keeps safe. Today she sat incubating her eggs, she changed her position on them but I couldn't see how many she has.

40 Years of Prices

2010-04-12T20:00:00.006+01:00

There is a way I have of checking the change in price of various things over the years, based on the prices I remember from the years 1967-1970 and multipying by 20. The cost of living didn't increase significantly in those years, everyone felt 'comfortable', jobs were fairly easily come by and we all had aspirations in life.

Wages
In April 1968, aged 20, I moved to a new job paying me £12 for a 40 hour week, a little above the minimum union rate, with the promise that my wages would be reviewed after 3 months when I was to given a £1 a week increase. (Though I had to remind the boss.)
So, £12-£13pw x 20 = £240-£260pw.
The minimum wage for a 20yo at present is £4.83, for 40 hours this is £193.20.
Therefore, I would say, wages are roughly the same as they were 40 years ago.

Houses
In the spring of 1970, a workmate bought a dormer type semi-detached house from Wimpey Homes for £3,450. Built on a small estate in a better part of the county, the price was higher than average. Near to his new house was a standard semi, on sale for £3,250, I thought seriously about buying it, my life would certainly have been very different had I done so.
Sandra bought her first house late in 1968 for £2,750, it was on a large new estate and was a lower than average price.
So, £2,750 - £3,250 x 20 = £55,000 - £65,000.
A similar house for sale today locally is £164,950.
Roughly 2½ to 3 times the price of 40 years ago.

Petrol
When I bought my first car in January 1967, premium petrol was 5/5d a gallon. I particularly remember because soon after fuel duty was reduced by 2d a gallon. Garages failed to give the customer the full 2d and reduced premium petrol to 5/3½d a gallon.
So, 5/3½d - 5/5d x 20 = £5.30 - £5.40.
Roughly the same price as 40 years ago.

Beer
Calling into the pub on the way home from the youth club 1964/5, Everards 'Beacon Bitter' was 1/10d a pint, the price rose steadily and at the time of decimalisation 15th February 1971, 'Beacon Bitter' was 2/1d a pint.
So, taking an average of 2/= x 20 = £2.00 a pint.
The price of Beacon Bitter today is £2.50.
25% higher than 40 years ago.

There you have it, when compared to 40 years ago:-
Wages are the same.
House prices locally are 2½ - 3 times higher.
Petrol is the same.
Beer in pubs is 25% higher.

Politicians can manipulate their figures to suit themselves but what conclusions can we draw?

Despite the moaning, petrol is the same price (relatively) Do you know anyone who uses their car less because petrol is too expensive?

Beer 20% higher in price has caused many pubs to close, or has it? Is it really the fact that alcohol is now so widely available that would-be pub customers now buy cheaper supermarket alcohol and drink at home avoiding drinking and driving.
And will putting up the price of alcohol stop binge drinking? Of course not. Would a huge increase in the price of drugs put an addict off buying them?

I came across an unrelated article regarding the compulsory wearing of cycle helmets in Australia. Some time after the introduction of the law, the government published figures showing it's success in reducing head injuries among cyclists. How wrong they were. Have a read of this article.
Apply the same thinking to the upping of the price of alcohol.
Even fewer pubs, more people forced to buy cheaper alcohol from supermarkets.

Ah! Lastly the 250% increase in the price of houses is, I would say, totally down to the high immigrant population reducing the amount of available housing.

Bradgate Park and The Fox

2010-04-08T19:47:00.004+01:00

Bradgate Park this morning at 9.55am, such a wonderful place to have to yourself. Listen to the birds singing on the video, soon after I switched off the camera the church clock struck 9.00, another day I must try and capture the sound of the chimes.

I set off on the bike very slowly, on a very gentle downhill slope, there is a silence on a bike that you don't have even when walking.

Fox

Early this morning, a fox was drinking from a tray in the back garden, not an unusual sight but I was surprised to see it still there when I got home from Bradgate more than 3 hours later. It was a vixen and I could see now that all was not well, her rump and right hind quarters were blackened and in the centre was a 4" diameter graze which looked very sore. Sitting in a patch of sunshine, she was licking the wound almost obsessively. She must have caught a glimpse of me and moved into the undergrowth and lay down, a couple of hours later she had gone.

I could see that she had recently given birth to some cubs but they weren't with her, she will have abandoned them for a while to give herself a chance to recover from what must have been a collision with a car. Tonight I've put some food down for her although, since our last cat was attacked by a fox, I vowed not to do that again.

Rupert wasn't at all happy about having a fox in the garden, he was in a bad mood and ready to attack. I left him alone.

At The Wishing Stone

2010-04-03T20:08:00.005+01:00

My new bike with the Brooks saddle leaning against The Wishing Stone this morning.

Sunset 2nd April 2010

2010-04-02T20:23:00.002+01:00

Sunset seen tonight from an upstairs window.

Re-structuring the countryside

2010-03-29T21:15:00.004+01:00

Something dramatic has happened to the local landscape during the past 15 years. Those secret places that were once such a delight have gone. It's as if landscape gardeners have moved into my backyard and changed everything, for good. I can't say it's a bad job, in fact they have made a very good job but the countryside I once knew has gone and it has been replaced with something more organised, sanitised might be an apt word for it.

So what has happened?
Farmers, unable to make a decent living the traditional way, have been encouraged by central government to turn their land over to woodland, ponds, wildflower meadows and return the land to it's natural state. In return they are rewarded with a nice lot of dosh, the land goes to the Woodland Trust, the farm and outbuildings are sold to developers and everyone gets rich and happy.

The third world may starve, but they can now supply us with food and we are told it's good because we are helping their economy.

And now the countryside is more accessible because we all have cars, let's make the land accessible.

This week I went to an old green lane I remember from many years ago. It used to be so quiet and desolate there, a small stream ran alongside the path, in the winter months the path flooded and became impassible except in wellies. All that has now gone, a new golf course straddles the old green lane, the sometimes muddy path is now tarmac, to stop the stream flooding the new path it has been channelled away through a concrete culvert. As I said earlier, sanitising the landscape.

An information board at the side of the path informs us of a re-structuring of the landscape. Is it a joint effort by Leicestershire County Council, The National Forest and The Woodland Trust? I don't know, I only know that I feel completely lost in my own countryside.

Cleaning out the garage

2010-03-29T20:21:00.006+01:00

I've been cleaning out the garage, for 22 years it has been a dumping ground for all sorts of rubbish. Not only rubbish but those little bits and bobs we seem to acquire and can't quite find a use for.........at the moment.

After a trip to the Co-op recycling bins and the filling 2 wheely bins, at last..... I can't really see much difference.

One of the problems I have is finding stuff, usually I forget that I've got it in the first place. I feel like one of those hoarders we see on TV now that the clean-up has revealed 4 boxes of Miracle-Gro and what must be 3 dozen packets of various nails and screws and rawlplugs. I must get more organised...one day.

In the bottom of a rather smelly carton stuffed with plastic bags, string, wire, plant pots and Goodness knows what, a mouse had built a nest from a chewed up ball of string. It looked like it had been feeding on fertiliser pellets and old packets of seed. Look out for some giant mice.

A friend of mine once had a mouse in his car which caused considerable damage, he ended up having the car rewired after the mouse took a liking to the plastic coating on the wiring.

Under masses of cardboard was my old car. I didn't find it silly, I knew it was there, I may be getting old but I'm not wrapping my own Christmas presents just yet.

I bought the car, an Austin Allegro 1.1 in Snapdragon Yellow, new on 22nd August 1980. There are now 116,000+ miles on the clock. I drove it for the last time into the garage on 3rd August 1996 and it has never run since. It must go to give me some room but what memories it holds, 3 trips to France, on one holiday in 1985, I drove 400 miles from St Malo to the Lot valley in one day and made the return journey a week later.

The car always burnt too much oil and being prepared on that trip I took a gallon can with me. First stop, on arrival back in Portsmouth, was a garage for another gallon of oil.

The New Brooks Saddle

2010-03-26T09:30:00.002Z

My new Brooks saddle arrived yesterday evening. The Brooks B17 Standard saddle dates from 1898, I ordered mine from Halfords, the 'honey' colour was 'out of stock' and 'unavailable', I would have prefered honey but as the bike is black and white, I thought black would probably look better, so black it was. Halfords confirmed receipt of my order for a black saddle but sent me honey by mistake.

The presentation of the saddle was superb, I felt guilty unpacking it let alone attaching to the bike and using it. A 'newspaper' was included in the box, the Brooks Bugle. The whole experience of opening the box was magical and moving. Why aren't more British products made like this? Should I get a Pashley bike next I wonder?

This is the new saddle alongside my old 1950's model which I had second-hand in 1963, I've cycled thousands of miles on the old saddle. As I said earlier, it may have 'lasted a lifetime' had I had it from new. The new saddle is now attached to the Felt QX65 bike, I've taken it for a spin round the block, it feels as comfortable as the old saddle, what's all this about breaking it in? It does feel quite slippy, I'll need to hang on.

It didn't take Rupert long to find the small carton it had been packed in.

The Old Brooks Saddle

2010-03-18T20:36:00.007Z

Sorted out the gears, all works fine now.

The same can't be said for the saddle, years of neglect have taken their toll with the result, a small tear has now grown and patching up with wooden and tape is not going to be a long term solution.

60 year old saddle, left

New saddle on sale today, right

The saddle you remember from my earlier article, is around 60 years old and I thought nothing like it would exist today....but.....surprise, surprise. The same saddle is still being made today, in England, by Brooks, the same company. In fact they have been making the same saddle since the 1890's, still in veg. tanned leather. And, Mr Brooks, the originator, was a Leicestershire man.

The following section refers to the saddle and is copied from Brooks Saddles own website.

"Over almost a century and a half, Brooks England has grown from a small workshop to a byword in quality craftsmanship. Back in 1865, John Boultbee Brooks left his hometown of Hinckley in Leicestershire with just £20 in his pocket.
He headed for Birmingham, where in 1866 he established a business in horse harnesses and general leather goods in Great Charles Street under the name JB Brooks & Co.In 1878, the unfortunate death of Mr Brooks’ horse led to a stroke of inspiration. Unable to afford another horse, he borrowed a bicycle in order to commute to work. But he found the seat so uncomfortable that he vowed to do something about it. On 28 October 1882, Mr Brooks filed his first saddle patent.
Waddling cyclists everywhere threw their hats in the air and the new product was a roaring success. The company became known and respected for its beautiful leather handcrafted saddles, and soon started to make cycle and motorcycle bags and other accessories.
Traditional techniques in manufacturing leather saddles were passed down from generation to generation of craftsmen as the company grew under the guidance of the Brooks family until 1958.
In 1962 Brooks became part of Raleigh and moved to the current works in Smethwick in the West Midlands, just a few miles away from the original premises.
In the last decade, we have struck out on our own again as Brooks England, following a new course that honours the company’s heritage. Inspired by the timeless products designed by our predecessors, we have revived the original slogan ‘Saddles, Bags, Etc’ and introduced a range of cycle bags and other accessories.
Brooks England is steeped in history, a prestige brand that boasts almost 150 years of tradition and expertise. But quality and style never age. So come on in and take a seat."

New Bike

2010-03-14T20:33:00.004Z

I ordered the new bike, a Felt QX65, Tuesday evening from Wiggle, although out of stock at that time, it was still delivered 9.30am Friday. I must say that Wiggle are an excellent company to deal with and recommend them to anyone wanting a new bike.

It was Saturday morning before the roads were dry enough (no mudguards-yet) to take the bike out for a spin round the block. Gosh! that saddle is so uncomfortable, I changed it for my old saddle immediately. What a relief.

Saturday afternoon I took the bike for a run, 30 miles around Charnwood Forest. It's a very comfortable bike, a bit heavy at 28.4lb, but fine if I take it easy. I had a bit of trouble with the gears, there are 21 of them - now that's a gimmick - rather like the modern cars, we're told have 6 gears, "isn't that wonderful." Er, well no, actually 'less is best'. What was wrong with 4 gears?

I know, it's to do with higher revs and less torque, greater speed using less fuel. But then my old Triumph TR4A had a 2138cc engine and, many, many years ago, I travelled from London to Leicester, almost 100 miles, in 42 minutes, not dropping below 120mph and still managed almost 40mpg.

Still, I digress. My Dad had a racing bike for many years, his had 3 Sturmey Archer hub gears. Dad had been brought up in London and was, in his younger days, a Tottenham Hotspur supporter. After he married my mother, he settled in Leicester and became a Leicester City supporter, he went to all the home games and when City were playing away in Nottingham or Coventry and he wasn't working, he would travel there on his bike to watch the match. Once when City were playing Spurs, Dad left home early on the Saturday morning, cycled to White Hart Lane to see the game, stayed at his mother's that night and cycled back home on the Sunday morning.
He had already cycled to work every weekday, even going home for lunch, 17miles a day, every day for 20 years.
He took on my grandfather's old allotment when his health deteriorated and went there on his bike most evenings in the summer and every Sunday morning. The allotment was 7 miles from home, 3 miles from his work. Oh, and he'd cycle to Coalville for my parent's evenings when I was at school.
All this on a bike with 3 gears and I now have 21.

The gears are actually poor in design. For the rear wheel gear change, the lever comes towards the rider to change up (vice versa to change down). The chain wheel gear change works the opposite way. As a consequence I got mixed up the first time I changed gear, crashed the gears, with the result they've rattled ever since. Hopefully I can sort that out in the morning.

London

2010-03-10T20:25:00.002Z

Most people wouldn't remember but before the days of immigration, terrorism, profit paranoia and unspeakable greed, we were free to do more or less as we pleased.

My father was brought up in London where my grandmother lived until her death in 1980. During the school holidays, my sister and I would stay with our gran for a week or two, and gran, lumbered with two children, kept us interested with visits the the sights, museums, art galleries, zoo, on more than one occasion she took us to Southend.

And so, I was very familiar with London. My old school friend had never been and so one weekend, the last before Christmas in 1967, I took him to stay at Gran's, we were 19/20 at the time.

We travelled down on the Friday evening and the following day, Saturday, we travelled up to the West End on the tube.

Now, the reason I'm telling you this is because by today's standards, it seems incredible that we were allowed to go where we liked and do what we wanted, unhindered, unaccosted and for free.

Perhaps the most striking is that we went to the Houses of Parliament, just walked in. Into the House of Commons, I sat on the front bench exactly where George Brown, The Prime Minister sits today. In The House of Lords, we sat in the Speakers chair. We went through into Westminster Hall, the two thrones were at the top of the steps, one for the Queen, the other for the Duke of Edinburgh. For good measure, I sat on those as well.

Later we went to The National Gallery and St. Pauls Cathedral, where we climbed up to The Whispering Gallery, it was all free.

When I think about it, on later trips, I tended to park the car, Sundays and evenings, on Horse Guards Road. Next to Horse Guards Parade, you could always get a parking spot there.

Those were the days! On my last trip to London in 2002 with some work colleagues, we were pestered by beggars. We called into Garfunkles for lunch, the staff were very friendly but all foreign. "What country all you from?" asked the waiter, "Americans?"
"No, we're English," we replied. He looked at us incredulously, I suspect he had not seen any English before.

R.I.P. Old Bike

2010-03-08T20:37:00.005Z

Sadly, my trusty steed is to be laid to rest, it has served me well for almost 40 years and travelled many thousands of miles. Well some parts have, rather like 'the same brush', it's had 6 heads and 3 handles but, 'it's the same brush'.

I built the bike myself 1970/71. The 23" frame came from a Dawes Clansman made in the 1950's and given to me by Rod Clark, an old friend who's 6' 4", hence the large frame. The advantage was that the seat was fairly low which gave me a more upright position enabling me to have a good gander as I rode along.

The front wheel was given to me by Graham Barrows, another friend. The brakes are from the Clansman, the rest I bought new.

It's now painted Ford Imperial Maroon, the colour of my first car, a Ford Anglia.

The oldest feature of the bike is the Brookes saddle, I've sat on this for nigh on 50 years. It's so comfortable, what a pity modern saddles don't have this comfort. Leather as well! It came from my first 'proper' bike, a BSA Golden Wings (see pics on Flickr). It was blue, the pump was a later addition to the same bike.

I took the bathroom scales out earlier and weighed the bike, 22lbs, not bad for a steel frame.

The bike will be laid to rest in the garage loft and I expect that one day, when I'm gone, (What!) someone will come along, look at the old bike, think of it as rubbish and throw it in the skip.

The reason for me laying the bike to rest? Yesterday I wrote this to 'Keats'.

"This afternoon I took your advice, got my old bike out, wiped it down with a cloth, oiled it and pumped up the tyres. Surprisingly, the front tyre still had air in it, the back however, was dead flat and had been resting on the corner of a box which had creased the tyre. It didn't look good but it held the air I'd pumped in. I thought I'd risk giving it a run to Bradgate Park and if it's OK when I get there, I'll go through to the back of the Park and may even try for Swithland Woods.
All went well, I reached the Park gates within 15 minutes and as I entered the Park, the back tyre went flat. I tried to pump it up sufficiently to get home but it was having none of it. I had to walk home."

It's past repair, the tyres and inner tubes are little perishers and with spokes rusted through, the thing could collapse on me at anytime and so, I've ordered a new bike from Wiggle. I'd been thinking about it for some time and decided that a bike for both on and off road would be best. The roads these days are dangerous places for bikes. That said, I wouldn't mind a nice road racer like a Chris Boardman Team Carbon or what about a FeltAr1 Di2

I've actually bought a Felt QX65, not quite in the same league. I'll let you know how I get on.

Jolly, jolly, sixpence.

2010-02-16T19:29:00.004Z

Below are some coins I've unearthed recently with a metal detector. I thought they might be of some interest to you.

Top left is a George V sixpence(6d) dated 1916. It was buried 2"-3" deep and when found was in superb condition, as if it had only just been lost although it must have been lost many years ago. The silver content of the coin is 92.5%, the remaining 7.5% made up of other metals to harden the silver and prevent oxidisation.

Compare the sixpence to the 10p piece dated 1992, top centre, 75% copper, 25% nickel. The coin has been almost lost to corrosion. The £1 coin, top right, dated 1983, hasn't fared much better, 70% copper, 24.5% zinc, 5.5% nickel.

At the same time, the quality of our 'coppers' has deteriorated. Originally in bronze, see penny (1d) dated 1966 bottom left. Our 'coppers' are now copper plated steel and, guess what? They rust. The date of the penny (1p) bottom right, is completely illegible.

The old rhyme goes:-
I've got sixpence. Jolly, jolly sixpence.
I've got sixpence to last me all my life.
I've got twopence to spend and twopence to lend
And twopence to send home to my wife - poor wife.

Rather lucky then he had 6d and not 6p.

2010-02-15T20:35:00.002Z

Rupert watches the birds as they check out the nest box

He realises he's been rumbled

And so, he tries the appealing look

A Singer and a Photograph

2010-02-01T21:04:00.004Z

I was given this picture in 1967 by a workmate, he'd been asked to choose between a pop or a shoe design career. He chose the former and as he cleared out his drawer, he handed me this photograph. Life had been too difficult for him, working 8.00am to 5.00pm in Leicester then travelling down to London to appear on stage until the early hours then back to Leicester to start work again at 8.00am.
His band made it to Top of the Pops in 1968 but never made the big time. In later years he stood Leicester market scraping a living. Those early years must have taken their toll, he died just before his 40th birthday.

The picture is a puzzle, bodies on the ground, 2 German soldiers, one points a gun at a man in handcuffs. The bystanders look almost casual, one is taking a photograph. Is the man with the armband Jewish? Could be a filmset but the bodies look real enough.

Cat Nap

2010-02-01T20:43:00.002Z

Q. When is a cat like a fish?

A. When he's a kipper.

I can't make up my mind whether Rupert's fat because he's lazy or lazy because he's fat.

Dell Boy

2010-01-08T10:43:00.002Z

Was this the result of one of Derek Trotter's Spanish exploits?

The Hand of Fatima

2010-01-07T22:00:00.003Z

The Hand of Fatima is used for superstitious protection throughout the Middle East and in parts of Africa.
Curiously many Spanish are proud of their Moorish roots and one of the relics they cling to, is the Hand of Fatima which is used as a door knocker to protect the home and its inhabitants from the evil eye.
Fatima was the compassionate daughter of the Prophet Mohammed.

Red Pigeons

2010-01-03T11:04:00.005Z

Among a flock of feral pigeons on Burriana Beach in Nerja are 2 with red feathers. I haven't done anything to these pictures, no photoshop fiddling, the birds are as they appear in reality. Someone may have caught them earlier and dyed their feathers, you never know there are some cunning folk about, if they did they made a good job, the birds look very convincing.
The second bird is even more unusual with a yellow feather in the wing and tail.

A Weighty Problem

2009-11-13T19:46:00.003Z

The gold wire shown with my keys to give an impression of size.

In the 1960's I was given a piece of 24ct gold wire. With gold prices currently around £21 per gram, Sandra thinks I should sell it.

Having a quizzical sort of a brain, I wondered how to weigh the wire accurately myself and took a while to work out how to do it, I made it 5.8 grams.
Today I took it into Sykes Jewellers in Anstey and had it weighed very accurately on the scales. It weighed 5.85 grams. I was only 5/100th's of gram out.

How did I weigh it so accurately without any scales or proper equipment?
Have a think about it and I'll give you a few clues early next week on how to do it.

Monday 16th November

Sandra sold my gold wire to Lumbers the jewellers in Leicester on Saturday, we got £95 for it. Lumbers were rather generous with their weighing at 5.9 grams. So, even the professions can be 5/100th's of a gram out.

How did I weigh the gold?

I did it by balancing a 12" rule on a pencil and by using coins as weights, I could (and did) weigh the gold fairly accurately. The weights of the various coins can be found easily on the web.

Spain for Christmas

2009-11-11T20:52:00.005Z

The tickets have arrived, we're off to Spain for Christmas, it's our 8th successive year.

Spanish Christmas' should be made compulsory in the UK, no Father Christmas, no Christmas trees and no presents on Christmas Day. I don't think it would go down too well, in fact it's the reverse, the Spanish are now adopting our traditions but I feel it's more to satisfy the English than to acquire those traditions for themselves, the Spanish celebrate Christmas quite differently to ourselves.

This year, we're going a few days earlier and I tried to book a hire car from 8th December. Offices are closed for the Holiday, The Immaculate Conception.
The 24th December is La Noche Buena, The Good Night. We eat early at the hotel, the staff are given the evening off to spend time with their families, leaving Christmas Day as a near normal day with shops open (at bit like our multi-cultural UK).

January 6th, Epiphany, Twelfth Night, the arrival of The Three Kings when the Spanish exchange presents.
Three local men are chosen to play the Three Kings, one 'blacks up' to be Balthazar. I'm not sure whether the Spanish regard it as an honour or not to be chosen to play Balthazar (they should choose a black man).

A Nativity scene is in every house, business and public place, the large department stores, churches, airports, etc, have huge displays incorporating fields, villages and people performing everyday tasks.

Last Christmas, I was talking to Lawrence, a chap we met on holiday in Spain some years ago. I metioned the Nativity scenes and Lawrence said had I ever noticed the man 'doing his business'? The following day, I checked out the display in the local furniture store, sure enough, there was a man 'doing his business' (Lawrence's words).

With a schoolboy's enthusiasm for such matters, I began to look at all the displays. Lawrence was right, even the church had a squatting man. Well, it is an everyday task.

Such was my fascination, Lawrence bought me one as a present.

The Boiler Breakdown.

2009-11-11T20:19:00.003Z

I was talking with an old friend last week of the things we didn't have when we were young, no washing machine, no fridge, no TV, no carpets...... We forgot to mention central heating (and vacuum cleaners for that matter).

Well, Saturday morning the boiler packed up. At first it wasn't too bad, some heat must be stored in the furniture and cupboards, the house only cooled down slowly.
Our only other heating is an open gas 'coal effect' fire in the lounge, looks great but burns as much gas as the boiler and gives out no heat, it all goes up the chimney.

Saturday evening, stayed in the lounge, curtains drawn, fire on, not too bad.
Sunday morning, it's pretty cold but we were out most of the day and survived the evening.
Monday morning, it's very cold although, the thermometer in the hall reads 53 degrees. I begin to wonder about those days long ago when frost was regularly on the windows inside the house, how did we survive that? And, we had no heating upstairs in those days.

Perhaps that is why us old 'uns are such a tough lot, asthma was virtually unheard of when I was a lad and it's not us who are going down with swine 'flu.

Somehow, we managed to survive until the boiler was repaired yesterday afternoon.

Oakham, Some Photographs.

2009-11-09T20:45:00.004Z

The Buttercross in the Market Place was first recorded as early as 1612. The 5 hole stocks on the far side (not in pic) are one of 4 sets of stocks which still remain in Oakham, so behave yourself, you have been warned. The entrance to Oakham School is on the left of picture.

This fine building forms part of Oakham school.

The Entrance to Oakham Castle.

A nice, old door in the Market Place.

With an interesting frieze above.

A drain cover in the Market Place was made at Thomas Crapper's Marlborough Works in Chelsea. I thought I'd made a discovery some years ago with this little gem but I read on the internet there are others in the town. Amazing.