Torr Giffard LSWR 1951-71

....your missus says that Rhyl is much more appropriate Andy Dave

Aft'noon all, Commiserations to those knowing anyone involved in the Sousse, Tunisian problems. A 'drop of the hat' half day out to the Welsh borders decided at the breakfast table today rewarded us with a stop at the organic bakery in Woore for fresh bread, coffee by the lake at Ellesmere, a nice picnic from the deli and some lovely scenic views in the Berwyn mountains west of Oswestry....a few visuals below.... Picnic stop before Glyn Ceiriog Llanrahan D.C. Driving is thirsty work and called for refreshments on the return leg too, this time at 'The Boat', Erbistock on the River Dee Feathered ones provided for Beers in the garden, with these lovely temperatures....enjoying 'the steel bonnets' Jock, great read. Church D.C.C. meeting later Enjoy what you do Dave

.....I'm sure that Renee in 'Allo Allo' was involved in this sketch, with the tasty waitress....we could always have a whipround and 'come to an arrangement'. Dave

....I'm just glad that he wasn't silaging and having issues with the chopper. Dave

....we heard it in Newark, if that counts.....the photographers along the River Trent had been confident of a picture, alas it didn't happen. A year or so back it actually flew over our house in The Moorlands...I had no prior knowledge and was test driving a real ale at the bottom of the garden at the time. It wasn't strong enough to mistake the wing shape or sound of a Vulcan though. Dave

....she ain't doing something right, if a lassie like that can't put a smile on his face. Dave

Evenin' all, Smashing fundraising coach trip to Newark today inc. a 90 min cruise along the River Trent towards Nottingham. A few visuals..... View towards Gainsborough along the tidal stretch of the Trent, past Newark castle Departing from Newark castle to enter the lock controlling the entrance to the non-tidal section of the Trent The new Staythorpe P.S. with ALE crane extended Enjoy what you do Dave

Mornin' all, Very best of health to everyone Contrary dawn in The Moorlands....an 06.15 promising start to the constitutional was met with raindrops starting to fall from a sky which seemed too bright to be capable....with this false hope I set off anyway and was rained on for the full hour of the short anticlockwise, however, as I arrived home again it stopped....#@&$ocks!! Now music by Lulu....The boat that I row The garden is in full flow with the various mock orange scents wafting around....this morning ....several weeks ago Good to see Mr & Mrs bullfinch on the feeders simultaneously followed by redpoll, goldfinch and greenfinch....a colourful start. Feathered ones provided for Enjoy what you do Dave

Mornin' all, Condolences to Geoff Dry, mild and overcast for the 6am short anticlockwise constitutional in The Moorlands. The foxgloves are out as the cow parsley fades and the scent of freshly mown or drying grass perpetually accompanies these Summer rides....a joy to be alive on such days. I was told that the only applicant for our vicar's post was lazy, smelly, of such proportions as to threaten the furniture and with a sick record to match....shouldn't be too difficult with the interview later. Thankfully he has withdrawn his application and we may be in line for a much more suitable candidate. Even with several 3/4 day holidays interspersed, the wait for the results of Is's last scans is difficult. Now music by Amy McDonald....This is the life Feathered ones provided for....another feeder stripped down for disinfecting/cleaning I've just edited the camcorder footage for the recent trip.....the Brecon Mountain Railway.....Brecon Beacons NP scenery, reservoir nr Talybont-on-Usk....Brecon & Montgomeryshire canal at Talybont....Llantony Priory, Offa's Dyke at this point is the ridge top beyond the Priory.....Border scenery above Hay-on-Wye....River Teme Ludlow I'm unable to speed up the wait for the final diagnosis for Is so I've settled for keeping her spirits up....here is evidence of her pub going tendencies....this time at the attractive bar at Llantony Priory Enjoy what you do Dave

Evenin' all, Just back from a 3 day stay with friends in Ludlow. Here are a few visuals...... Pembridge village Eardisland village....the River Arrow Brecon Mountain Railway trip....our loco at Pant During the ice cream stop at Pontsticill on the way back Pontsticill Ludlow across the Teme this morning Eardisley church Ornate font in Eardisley church Our host Neil in a 900 year old hollow oak Pembridge bell tower Feathered ones provided for Enjoy what you do Dave

....an egg laid by the oooo....arrr!! bird suspended from the nest. Dave

mmmmm....you didn't think this one through Ian. Dave

Mornin' all, Bright, warm and dry for the constitiutional in The Moorlands....up a little late so just a straightforward calorie burn around the short anticlockwise. Preparations for the next fundraising coach trip well in hand....this one to Newark inc. a cruise on the River Trent. Church duties later Now music by Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong.....Summertime Feathered ones provided for Enjoy what you do Dave

....I'm guessing that she was giving his hydraulics the once over. Dave

....I've ordered a copy of the book Jock...looking forward to having a read. Sorry to hear your news Roundhouse Rgds Dave

....unfortunately, the engine is me Richard....my emissions are usually more environmentally friendly. Dave

.....Hi Ed, The bike is mainly a Dawes 'Haarlem' town bike with 3 speed Sturmey Archer hub, purchased new a couple of years back for a very reasonable £250 via the internet. Being a bit hefty and regularly using the bike on some demanding routes through the scenery I soon did for the pedal and main crank bearings and had new sets of decent roller bearings fitted in both locations (inc. new pedals with spikes for gripping shoes)....the modifications have been excellent and the bike is now performing well again. It is the ideal set up to deal with Winter cycling in The Moorlands (road salt etc) and I would heartily recommend the Haarlem to those looking for a reliable bike on a budget. Dave

Aft'noon all, Good to hear then see whinchat in The Moorlands during this afternoon's constitutional....probably the first that I've seen in the area. Dave

Aft'noon all, Having been invited to spend a few days with friends in Ludlow next week it seemed rude not to take a few supplies along, so combining a trip to the Wincle brewery with an afternoon constitutional covered both objectives. I hoped that the 'Summer Lass' might be ready but alas not until next week...another tray of Old Oak didn't seem too much hardship.... An element of border raiding....crossing the county boundary back into Staffordshire with the booty. A better advert for Duck tape than the Old Oak Staffs Moorlands scenery along the route Enjoy what you do Dave

Aft'noon all, Having learned a little of the Border Reivers on our recent Solway trip I wondered whether this afternoon's trip over the county boundary to the Wincle brewery might be the 2015 equivalent. We've been invited to stay with friends in Ludlow for a few days next week and I thought it rude not to take a few supplies..... Gun hill nr Meerbrook is a little forbidding for a 3 speed town bike so taking it to the bottom of the hill in the back of the car, before pushing it up and then cycling from there seemed like a good way of ensuring a reasonable length of constitutional over some new routes A few views via Swythamley along the route to Wincle Swythamley chapel As border raids go actually paying for the beer then cycling back into Staffordshire doesn't really get the pulse racing A better advert for the Duck tape keeping the weighty tray of bottles on the rack From the top of Gun hill towards Tittesworth reservoir with Morridge as a backdrop Feathered ones provided for Enjoy what you do Dave

....many cyclists are also drivers....unfortunately, the behaviour that some can exhibit on a cycle does little to suggest qualified road user. Dave

....whilst away in Dumfries & Galloway recently we encountered two sizable groups of Sunday morning cyclists on a 'B' road cycling 3 abreast and partially blocking the other carriageway....a challenge to see past when overtaking and there was marginal space to do so....they even had the brass neck to call insults as we passed. The worst advert for fellow cyclists that I've seen in some time. Dave

....I choose the quietest routes, times of day and days of the week for a variety of constitutional rides (a benefit of living in the allegedly least desirable part of the UK).....6 vehicles passing me during the hour is usually on the high side....and thoroughly enjoy my cycling as a result. Dave

.....I combine the daily 1hr constitutional with a one sweet treat per day limit/alcohol when we go out only regime Mick. This 3 pronged approach produces heartening progress towards a flat stomach....we just have to avoid going out/away too often. Dave

Mornin' all, A few stragglers from last nights visuals..... Edward 1st died at Burgh by Sands...an event marked by this statue Kirkcudbright Kirby Lonsdale Back into the constitutional routine at 06.15 with a cloudy, dry and mild circuit of the short anticlockwise. Home for a taste of the Urr valley wildflower honey collected from Castle Douglas....lovely. Books on the Caledonian railway and the Carlisle Ship canal ordered so that a better understanding can be gained of what we've seen over the last few days. Feathered ones provided for Enjoy what you do Dave