28 February 2011

Fighting on arrival, fighting for survival - whilst rummaging around in a box of trinkets I came across what I had always believed to be my Grandfather's Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (RAOB) medals. Oddly in all the years I've had these I had never taken them out of their boxes and turned them over. If I had of done then I would of seen the names and dates on the reverse side. One of them is dated 1935 and is indeed my Granddad's, but the other one (above) is dated 1891 and belonged to a family member that I do not know, possibly an uncle of my Granddad.

27 February 2011

Just hang a light when I pass tonight - Ickham Engineering looks as though it has come straight out of a 1950's black and white Ealing comedy.

26 February 2011

Don't forget to wave to me darling  - another Saturday, another day of rain and another blocked drain. This has become a common site around Thanet over recent years. This particular blockage is helping to cause a large lake near the Winterstoke Gardens Pavilion.

25 February 2011

She used to be someone you could depend on - a very sad looking angel in St Peter's churchyard, Broadstairs.

24 February 2011

Didn't Go To Church On Sunday - along with the sunshine come the crocuses, spring must be here soon.

23 February 2011

When I die don't you bury me at all - Lin found this jaw bone from an unknown animal whilst working in a garden.

22 February 2011

Cool It Daddy, Can't You See - this weird fungus has just appeared on a log next to the pond on my allotment.

21 February 2011

One day we change from children into people - seagull playing in the air currents by the sea at Ramsgate.

20 February 2011

Why don't ya hear me cryin'? - I've known this chimney stack for as long as I can remember. It stands in Broadstairs, near where the old Grand Ballroom used to be. I've always wondered what it was used for, can anyone throw any light on it?

19 February 2011

I tell my blues they musn’t show - Rain stops play again, at least it's good for the gardens.

18 February 2011

Then I won't want you - On the allotment, if you don't keep on top of things Mother Nature soon takes over (this is not my plot!).

17 February 2011

It's hard enough to drink the wine - made a flying visit to Canterbury this afternoon and just had time to take this shot of the entrance to the cathedral. The Starbucks coffee shop on the right of the entrance was the shop where Bob Johnson (played by John Sweet) watches the parade from in the final scene of the 1944 Powell and Pressburger movie A Canterbury Tale.

16 February 2011

I see a bird, way up in the tree - I came across this runaway rocking horse in a back street in Ramsgate this morning. She really was like this, nothing was moved, I hope she got away.

15 February 2011

Hear the whistle blowin' 12 to the bar - as far back as I can remember I've always loved bridges and tunnels. This viaduct is at Bekesbourne near Canterbury and it always looks very impressive as I ride around the corner on my motorbike. The really interesting thing about it is that under one of the arches is an old WW2 pillbox. I didn't have time to check this out today, but will return to see if it is still there.

14 February 2011

One Potato, Two - It's time to start chitting your seed potatoes. Store your potatoes in a cool light place to encourage strong shoots to grow before you plant them.

13 February 2011

The kids and the neighbours can peep right through the wall - this is not a sight you see everyday, especially on the first floor of a seven story block of flats that people are still living in!

12 February 2011

Like a white wedding gown - snowdrops are one of my favourite flowers, they are always a sign that spring is just around the corner.

11 February 2011

Then why can't I paint you? - If, a very appropriate sign to have above the Royal Sands development on Ramsgate's seafront.

10 February 2011

Shake the stars right out of the sky - it seems to me that there's not a lot of things made in Great Britain these days. This mending cotton, made by Chadwick's dates back to a time when even the simplest things had some thought put into their design and packaging.

9 February 2011

Here’s my baggage, hand me my staff - close up shot of The Arx Ruochim folly on the cliffs at Kingsgate, near Broadstairs. Built by Lord Holland in the style of Henry VIII's castle at Deal.

8 February 2011

You took my hand and it felt so good - after being away in Cornwall for a week it was great to come home to Ramsgate as the sun was setting.

7 February 2011

She's out of her mind, like the wind in the storm - late afternoon tide at Godrevy Head, Cornwall

6 February 2011

Swingin' with my baby doin' a rock 'n' roll dance - today we climbed the (near vertical) old rusty ladder up to the 15th Century Chapel of St Michael which sits on the top of Roche Rock. This amazing place is just outside of the village of Roche near Bodmin. It's worth the climb to the top, but I would recommend doing it on a less windy and rainy day than today. You can find lots of information about Roche Rock and it's legends on the internet via Google. One of the most interesting pieces was published by The Fortean Times and can be read here.

5 Feburary 2011

If it wasn't for the lighthouse - another day in Cornwall and another lighthouse. This time it's Pendeen where my Dad was born. He went on to become a lighthouse keeper himself and was the keeper with the second longest service record in England.

4 February 2011

Hoppin' and a-boppin' and a-singin' the song - we spent the day at Trebah Gardens near Falmouth in Cornwall. It's an absolutely amazing garden and you can easily spend all day there, even this time of the year. Whilst in one area of the garden this little robin followed us around staying about a foot away most of the time. After lunch we passed through the same area and along he came again.

3 February 2011

How is your life and your Shangri-La - Lin and I spent all day walking around the cliffs at Tintagel and of course climbing the steps up to the castle which is the legendary birthplace of King Arthur. This is the view from the top.

2 February 2011

I was there when old Noah built the ark - 49 years ago, somewhere beneath the fourth chimney from the left I entered this world. Lin and I were lucky enough to be able to visit The Lizard lighthouse again today and I'd like to thank Don and Caroline for all the time they spent with us today talking about lighthouses and Trinity House. To see more details about the Heritage Centre please click here.

1 February 2011

And the music takes me back to Tennessee - Walking through the village of Roche in Cornwall looking for somewhere to get a glass of red wine I came across this building which for some strange reason put me right off the idea of wine, but only for a minute!