Back at work...
The end of the first weekend back at work (night shifts) after a four week break that went too quickly...
During my spell off, one full day at home after the last spell at work, before heading into The Midlands and into a long weekend in Bristol.
Relaxed and sunny with musical interludes and fine food - I'm pretty sure I always leave Bristol heavier than when I arrive, despite lots of walking.
Nearly a week at home / Chester / Farndon tying up loose ends and more hedgerow conservation down at the field.
A few trees planted too, although lots still to do... down at the meadow.
Another Friday and off into Shropshire, after an hour or two in Wrexham for the first time in ages.
A relaxed weekend, but marred slightly by getting news Monday morning of having my workshop and shed burgled the previous night.
An order of 150 native trees collected on the drive back home, but only healed in rather than properly planted whilst I spent a bit of time making the property secure again.
The remainder of the week spent at home before setting off on the Thursday for The Whitby Goth Weekend.
Almost summer weather during each drive there and back over the scenic North Yorks Moors.
The weekend seemingly started quietly, but soon got going and great to catch up with folk I don't see so often these days.
Fine cakes and hospitality again from Becketts Cafe and a couple of evening meals in Red Chard. No Laughtons nightclub for the Sunday, but still a decent 80s night...
Back to Chester via Manchester on the Monday, a pleasant afternoon and evening sociably and a quick trip to the field.
By 11pm it was on the train then overnight sleeper to Aberdeen for a couple of days of meetings.
A couple of times the Crohns slowed me down. After a reasonable few months up to New Year, a few random regressions with it. A trip to the Doctors with some secondary symptoms / conditions - which the G.P. was dismissive of and suggested the less than ideal Ibruprofen... A trip to hospital that included tests and a sensible Doctor there looking at things as a whole and sorting a few things that made life more comfortable within a couple of days.
Another Thursday at home and Chester, then after another fine meal at JosephBenjamin - a dash towards Blackburn to pick up a 1753 copy of 'Millers Gardener's Dictionary (abridged)' a rather fine historic book with loads of stuff I'm interested in (and cheaper than the 4 volume 1800s edition at Salisbury on sale for £2500)!
On the Friday, a local machinery purchase for down at the field - a 2 metre landscape rake for behind the tractor.
Another weekend (my last one off). To Sheffield, 2 nights of Goth / Industrial music at Corporation for the Resistanz event - rather good and another social overlap including more southerly folks who didn't get to Whitby.
In all a rather successful event with another rumoured for next year.
I was hoping to get to see a film The Eagle - based on Rosemary Sutcliffe's novel The Eagle of the Ninth, the book is a well written story based on the mysterious disappearance of The Ninth Legion north of Hadrian's Wall and the discovery of a Roman Standard Eagle, now in Reading Museum.
Hopefully the film will still be on somewhere when I'm home.
Another Monday and the train home to Chester - fine weather again and a few jobs outdoors at home, then a couple of hours with the tractor and land rake down at the field (and nearly 2 tonnes of horse-muck collected locally for composting).
Everything packed away by nightfall and Tuesday morning at home with a visit from my folks, a couple of hours in the garden with everything bursting into life with springtime.
An afternoon into varied weather north through The Lake District and onwards to Northern Scotland for work...
During my spell off, one full day at home after the last spell at work, before heading into The Midlands and into a long weekend in Bristol.
Relaxed and sunny with musical interludes and fine food - I'm pretty sure I always leave Bristol heavier than when I arrive, despite lots of walking.
Nearly a week at home / Chester / Farndon tying up loose ends and more hedgerow conservation down at the field.
A few trees planted too, although lots still to do... down at the meadow.
Another Friday and off into Shropshire, after an hour or two in Wrexham for the first time in ages.
A relaxed weekend, but marred slightly by getting news Monday morning of having my workshop and shed burgled the previous night.
An order of 150 native trees collected on the drive back home, but only healed in rather than properly planted whilst I spent a bit of time making the property secure again.
The remainder of the week spent at home before setting off on the Thursday for The Whitby Goth Weekend.
Almost summer weather during each drive there and back over the scenic North Yorks Moors.
The weekend seemingly started quietly, but soon got going and great to catch up with folk I don't see so often these days.
Fine cakes and hospitality again from Becketts Cafe and a couple of evening meals in Red Chard. No Laughtons nightclub for the Sunday, but still a decent 80s night...
Back to Chester via Manchester on the Monday, a pleasant afternoon and evening sociably and a quick trip to the field.
By 11pm it was on the train then overnight sleeper to Aberdeen for a couple of days of meetings.
A couple of times the Crohns slowed me down. After a reasonable few months up to New Year, a few random regressions with it. A trip to the Doctors with some secondary symptoms / conditions - which the G.P. was dismissive of and suggested the less than ideal Ibruprofen... A trip to hospital that included tests and a sensible Doctor there looking at things as a whole and sorting a few things that made life more comfortable within a couple of days.
Another Thursday at home and Chester, then after another fine meal at JosephBenjamin - a dash towards Blackburn to pick up a 1753 copy of 'Millers Gardener's Dictionary (abridged)' a rather fine historic book with loads of stuff I'm interested in (and cheaper than the 4 volume 1800s edition at Salisbury on sale for £2500)!
On the Friday, a local machinery purchase for down at the field - a 2 metre landscape rake for behind the tractor.
Another weekend (my last one off). To Sheffield, 2 nights of Goth / Industrial music at Corporation for the Resistanz event - rather good and another social overlap including more southerly folks who didn't get to Whitby.
In all a rather successful event with another rumoured for next year.
I was hoping to get to see a film The Eagle - based on Rosemary Sutcliffe's novel The Eagle of the Ninth, the book is a well written story based on the mysterious disappearance of The Ninth Legion north of Hadrian's Wall and the discovery of a Roman Standard Eagle, now in Reading Museum.
Hopefully the film will still be on somewhere when I'm home.
Another Monday and the train home to Chester - fine weather again and a few jobs outdoors at home, then a couple of hours with the tractor and land rake down at the field (and nearly 2 tonnes of horse-muck collected locally for composting).
Everything packed away by nightfall and Tuesday morning at home with a visit from my folks, a couple of hours in the garden with everything bursting into life with springtime.
An afternoon into varied weather north through The Lake District and onwards to Northern Scotland for work...