Torr Giffard LSWR 1951-71

....isn't 'Izal' still classed as luxurious in some parts? Dave

Mornin' all, All the best Dom & Elise Just about de-lurgyed now, although 2 Nurofen req. nightly to make leg muscles sufficiently comfortable to get to sleep....just glad that I didn't get the full on version. New use (to me) for Carrs weathering powders is to mix with Polyfilla from a tube to match the wall shade in church....obviously for small areas such as covering screw/Rawlbolt holes. Looking forward to getting back into constitutional mode Feathered ones provided for Enjoy what you do Dave

....I recall sitting on 'the deck' (outside patio) with Canadian relatives at their condo in Woodstock, Ontario in Sept 2007. There were several brightly coloured humming birds visiting a similar feeder to the one that you have in the picture. Dave

.....sunbathing behind railings will join the other dots/patches for you. Dave

Mornin' all, Dodging the showers start to the day in The Moorlands....an almost non-constitutional followed on from a heavy shower which ended at the right time but a weather eye was required to see just which part of the landscape the next one was sweeping across. In the event the short anticlockwise was a dry circuit. Another church task follows on from a successful car boot sale yesterday....this time we have permission to move a sun affected banner from one side of the church to the other....a trip to the builders merchants to source new Rawlbolts req. later. The showery forecast for this week means that more sign painting in school will be best done at a drier time. As for eating out, we make a point of seeking out varieties and standards at least as good as home....otherwise why bother....and aren't prepared to take others to/recommend anywhere that we haven't eaten at on several occasions as the memory of a poor meal lasts long after any thoughts of saving a shekel or two. Also, we regularly support good local businesses with our custom....why prop up a poor one? Now music by Lulu....The boat that I row Feathered ones provided for Enjoy what you do Dave

....maybe he upset Mrs SM and she is giving away his tipple! Dave

....I've heard a few horror stories from friends too....not a game that I'd want to be in, renting out properties. There are obviously many good tenants but you'd need a good vetting process to ensure that you could identify the problem ones. Dave

Mornin' all, Good to be alive lime green young leaf Swallows are here Summer is coming blue sky sunny start in The Moorlands. Bank hol lack of traffic opportunity for the short clockwise constitutional in search of juxtaposing pale green young leaves against a lovely blue sky, whilst direct early sunlight illustrates their translucence. Here are a few visuals..... Now music by Dana....All kinds of everything Feathered ones provided for Enjoy what you do Dave

Aft'noon all, Dramatic lashing rain and hail interspersed with hot sunny spells in The Moorlands today is adding to the bright colours/light effects in the garden Enjoy what you do Dave

Mornin' all, Nice weather for ducks on a non-constitutional May morn in The Moorlands. We just about got away with the weather (occasional light rain with bright spells) on the first fund raising coach trip of 2015 yesterday....this one to Ironbridge for the morning and Ledbury for the afternoon. The scenic views via Cleobury Mortimer, Bromyard and above Malvern were delightful. The Town Crier festival in Bromyard was colourful....full marks to those who made the huge figure of one which accompanies the parade. I assume that the bottle of Hobson's 'Town Crier' which I relaxed with once the coach had been put to bed had a connection to the festival. http://www.towncrierbromyard.co.uk/gallery.html?wppa-occur=1&wppa-slide&wppa-album=1 Now music by Hozier....Take me to church Church duties later Feathered ones provided for Enjoy what you do Dave

Mornin' all, I collected a bottle of Hobson's 'Town Crier' on an outing to Ledbury yesterday.....and very nice too! Dave

Mornin' all, Smashing birthday outing for mum & aunt yesterday on a day hire narrowboat on the Caldon canal (boat was Joshua, Denford £100 10am-6pm, max 10 people). The following clips tell the story.... Journey was Denford...Cheddleton....Consall (riverised section)....Froghall & rtn. The red & white height gauge on the last lock was an indicator as to whether the boat would pass through the tunnel at Froghall. 33102 passing with a driver experience train of Mk1 stock added to the interest. An Italian meal at Sera, Leek rounded off a superb day. Feathered ones provided for Enjoy what you do Dave

.....our local paper today is showing pictures of a Hoopoe in a garden just 10 miles from us....something tells me that I won't be managing anything like that in ours. Dave

....Old Peculiar at £1.65 per bottle in Morrisons earlier today...providing that you bought 4 bottles....is probably the best price that I've found on this ale. Dave

Mornin' all, Best of health wishes to everyone Mostly sunny, dry but cool start in The Moorlands. Head down calorie burn for much of the short anticlockwise route to tackle the recent excesses. Governor duties in school today, with more painting to do on the new school sign....old clothes mandatory as I'm bound to get splashed by the enthusiasm. Will be calling in town for a few bottled beers later ready for tomorrows canal cruise. Car taken away on a transporter yesterday after last weeks rear ending....at least it was only metal that was bent. Now music by Quarterflash....Harden my heart Feathered ones provided for Enjoy what you do Dave

....yes, spottedi Dicko! Dave

Evenin' all, A few clips from yesterdays outing to Bodnant Gardens and Conwy.....lunch beside the Dee at The Boat, Erbistock.....Bodnant via the Denbigh moors, view of the Snowdonian range.....in the gardens at Bodnant....the Conwy suspension bridge/estuary and view from The Horseshoe Pass Feathered ones provided for Enjoy what you do Dave

Evenin' all, Spontaneous Sunday today, we've hired a day barge/narrow boat for mums & aunties birthdays on Wednesday and a little checking out of just where to collect it from was needed. Hence, a diverted constitutional to find it.... Heading along the towpath of the Leek arm of the Caldon canal Almost time for the bluebell walk The towpath is currently being improved to provide for walkers and cyclists The Hollybush at Denford...good for a pint on a warm day Easy riding on the new towpath/cycleway along the Froghall arm of the Caldon canal The Flint Mill at Cheddleton is a great canalside attraction Arriving back home for breakfast at 9am I was greeted with "you can take me out for the day" from she who is sometimes obeyed. This morphed into a riverside lunch at The Boat, Erbistock....a couple of hours strolling around Bodnant gardens...fish & chips by the sea in Conwy....the scenic route over the Horseshoe Pass and dropping in on friends out narrowboating in Ellesmere, for a glass of wine. Feathered ones provided for Enjoy what you do Dave

....in Spean Bridge in the late 1980s I was with a friend on a photographic expedition trying to capture some loco hauled workings. In the evening we headed for the only pool table in the village....in the bar of the local hotel. As we entered the various workers in their work clothes stopped talking and stood and stared at us....we ordered drinks and attempted a game of pool but grit on the table made it difficult to play. When we had finished one of the workmen came and potted the rest of our balls....then the barman started to play an accordian and 3 of them climbed onto the pool table to dance in their boots. Needless to say we drank up and left. The following night in Fort William we had a pint in one of the pubs before heading to the cinema to see Good Morning Vietnam (Robin Williams) but the barman first advised us that he always played the winner. Unfortunately, I beat him too but didn't hang about to see what happened next.... Dave

Aft'noon all, The relatively light weekend traffic on the highways & byways closest to the route followed by the Ecton mine mule trains from Waterfall Cross to the copper smelter at Whiston suggested today as good for exploring the middle part of their journey. Starting at Waterfall Cross and turning left down Bentygrange lane I followed the route of the mules, laden with panniers of copper ore. Looking from Waterfall Cross towards Cauldon Lowe Looking back towards Waterfall Cross from the point at which Bentygrange lane meets the A523 Leek towards Ashbourne road....the mules would have gone straight ahead into Dukes Lane Looking along Dukes Lane from the A523 The mules would have forded the River Hamps at this point in the late 1700s Dukes Lane is only classed as a green lane now and is lightly used The mules would certainly not have needed to cross this much later bridge over the Leekbrook jnc to Waterhouses railway. The track on this Ipstones to Cauldon Lowe section of The Moorland & City/Churnet valley railway has been lifted and sold. When might we see track reinstated? The quarries at Cauldon Low have yielded large amounts of limestone over the years At one time Knotty then LMS trains ran to Waterhouses to connect with narrow gauge trains along the Manifold valley to Hulme end. Following the grey track diagonally across the image will lead the eye to the bridge hole used by the 'Knotty' trains at this point Looking down into the Churnet valley towards Whiston from close to Windy Arbour.....at this point the mule trains would have avoided the turnpike tolls by crossing fields to regain the route to the smelter Evidence of the former Whiston copper smelter are these former company offices built with blocks of slag....the iridescence of the blocks marks them out as distinctive The lane through Whiston village on which the converted offices stand From here the mules would have walked with empty panniers down to the canal basin at Froghall to backload with coal brought in by canal barge, destined for the copper mine at Ecton. Bottle of Old Oak from The Wincle brewery earned....cheers Dave

Mornin' all, Cool, overcast but dry in The Moorlands just now Just finished the last of a run of night shifts and have 8 days off now to get a little modelling done, once I've finished the general repairs around the house.....one of the neighbours decided to start tipping the dregs of his car wash bucket onto part of our lawn behind one of the shrubs, this killed the grass and damaged the shrub, causing it to need replacing...he was a little surprised when I handed him the bill and took payment when he reluctantly offered it. The work needed to put all back in order is taking time though. Then, just as I'd taken the last of the Manifold valley constitutional pics a couple of days back the rear inner tube blew in loud fashion, causing a hole that no patch would repair....this meant a 7 mile walk with the bike to round off the ride....it cost me another tube to discover that the first had forced its way through a small hard to spot gap in the side wall of the tyre....thus I returned to buy a tyre and another tube...bike roadworthy again now. Early birthday gift from the better half is a 4GB high res 12 inch digital picture frame which does an excellent job of displaying numerous digital images. Feathered ones remembered Enjoy what you do Dave

Aft'noon all, Another smashing warm Spring day in The Moorlands....ideal for a long afternoon constitutional. The stiff climbs around The Manifold valley are eased when a little historical research can be included to take ones mind off some of the hills. Ecton Copper Mines under the Dukes of Devonshire 1760-1790 by Lindsey Porter is an excellent local book which prompted me to investigate the early transport routes allowing pack mules with panniers to carry copper ore to the smelter at Whiston; walk unladen to the canal basin at Froghall to load with coal for power generation at the mine, before walking a similar route back on the return journey Once up onto Morridge an easterly ride along the ridge is needed to cut the former mule train routes at Waterfall Cross. Heading for Waterfall but looking back westerly along Morridge... The Peak District National Park boundary is a short way along the Onecote road The River Hamps near Waterfall Cross Muscovy duck anyone? Waterfall Cross with the suggested route for mules laden with copper ore going left here, whilst mules laden with coal apparently came straight up the hill towards the camera Heading for The Manifold valley and Ecton from Waterfall Cross Looking into The Manifold valley approaching Butterton The assumed mule train route was via this 'no through road' and across fields to reach Wetton Mill Missing out the walk over the fields with the bike I took the road route through Butterton, which includes this ford Approaching Wetton Mill The road from Butterton is to the right at Wetton Mill whilst the mule trains are said to have walked along these fields to the left to join with the route which we left above Butterton Standing on the route of the later Manifold Valley Railway and looking towards Hulme end. The mules would have crossed the River Manifold here on the bridge to the right maintained by the Dukes The bridge over the River Manifold at Wetton Mill Motor vehicles now use the former railway route along the valley but this was the road along the valley when the railway was operational Swainsley Hall and dovecote...looking towards Ecton The mine site at Ecton, now screened by trees. The former engine house is high on the hillside above the mine Feathered ones remembered Enjoy what you do Dave

.....why not advertise them on Ebay, with the rider that you'll be bringing them over on said dates. Dave

......whilst not doubting your estimation of the governors in this particular school Ian and having no experience of them at all, please be aware that as a Foundation governor for our church school I would not tolerate anything other than the selection of the best applicant for the job in any recruitment process associated with our school....gender considerations would play no part. Dave

Aft'noon all, A few clips from our visit to the 13th Century Beeston castle/canalside walk on the Shropshire Union yesterday (note the unique iron lock at Beeston), followed by a drink at The Shroppie Fly, Audlem.... Dave