Pie and a Pint Continuing on from the Cookswood theme, Robert and Lauren came down for the weekend and we all gathered together for a BBQ at our house. Gary, completely at home amongst the flowers and Malberry tree, cooked a superb selection of meat to accompany the various salads and chips. We did try and make inroads into our vast selection of beers and, in all fairness, did have four cans, wine being the preferred drink of the evening. The evening was a celebration for Al

After an uneventful trip of 60-odd miles, we arrived at 3:45 pm at the Gated Village of Cookswood, 3 miles from Radstock, on the northern slope of the Mendip Hills. 29 The Beeches. Lovely house with 4 bedrooms and plenty of space for everyone to relax. It was a new build and one of those eco-homes. It was like an oven when we arrived. Yes, we have had a very hot spell for the last 3 weeks, and we are not used to 32 deg C and the warm nights that come with the hot days. Robert

Due to overwhelming demand, Susan is bringing back Gingerbread House building for the run-up to Christmas. This year promises more creative freedom than ever before. You are no longer restricted to traditional holiday designs. Instead, you can craft anything your imagination allows, from classic snowy cottages to spooky haunted houses. Butterflies It is a time to reflect and relax. 15 minutes every day for a month, sitting in the garden counting butterflies. I usually do my c

You know there is a lot of people you can live with, there is only a few you cannot live without. You can never forget those triggers that remind you of someone special. Every night as I start cooking, I get the onion and garlic out, and I think of my brother, the man, the myth and the legend. He showed me how to peel and chop garlic. I have moved on since then; I now top and tail the clove of garlic and then crush it, and the remaining skins drop off. But at that moment whe

Looking out the kitchen window, I saw a man who lives a couple of houses away from us, walking slowly past our house. He smiled at me, but I was a little concerned; he had aged significantly since the last time I saw him. I went out and asked him how he was doing, and he looked at me for a while and then said he was alright and went on. I think he wanted to say; Some days I feel broken and tired. I carried pain I don't always talk about, memories that still ache when I'm al

May Blog - Wines of Joy We had a very good Pinot Noir the other evening, a popular, light-to-medium-bodied red wine made from the Vitis vinifera grape variety. Tasting Notes: cherry, blackberry, raspberry, mushroom, forest floor, vanilla Renowned for its elegance and complexity, it typically features high acidity and low tannins. Originating in Burgundy, France, it is notoriously difficult to grow, often dubbed the "heartbreak grape". Well, I salute the winemaker, ours was su

I was going through my photographs and those shared with me, and discovered an interesting fact. Michael has shared 744 images over the years since he became an adult; well, 2013 was his first shared photo. The interesting fact is that since the 14th August 2025, he has shared 210 images, and there is only one image that does not have Sadie as the subject. Seems when humans have their first child, they see the world differently. Michael is seeing his daughter grow up by the d

St. Augustine's Well - Cerne Abbas Cerne Abbas The Middle Smiths accompanied us on a trip to Cerne Abbas. I was interested to see the Benedictine Abbey and the old church in the centre of this small Dorset village. Also has the famous Giant Chalk Figure with an emphasis placed on his erect manhood. It is said to be a symbol of fertility, and young couples will walk to the figure and touch it, in the hopes of having a child. Meaning and Origins Cerne: Thought to be derived fr

St Patrick’s Day I do not want to seize the day, I want to gently poke it with a stick and see if it moves 17th March and it is St Patrick’s Day; I have been told not to wear my orange t-shirt today. Green is the colour to wear, as the mythical leprechauns can’t see green. I have never seen a leprechaun; maybe you need to go to Ireland to see leprechauns. Taking of Ireland, there are no snakes on Ireland, well, that’s according to the Irish and some leprechaun academics. Sai

Saturday morning was looking promising, weather-wise, and we were inclined to take ourselves off for a pie and a pint at the Square and Compass, Worth Matravers, near Swanage. As in all plans, this was changed, and we decided to go to Wimborne St Giles, stopping at a ruin of Knowlton Church. I have driven past this ruin many times, not knowing it was an old church. I delivered Dried Fruit and Nuts to the local pub in Wimborne St Giles. Quite a gem. Compared to the great sto

Short Version Friday 5 hrs journey up. Stone-chipped window, rear tyre pressure low. Pizza for dinner Stayed at the Travel Lodge, basic but functional Saturday Breakfast at the Ruddington Arms. Good food, coffee not that great. Caught up with Wendy Bell-Brown, mother of Lauren. Coffee at ØKENDE, one of Robert and Laurens ' favourite haunts. Walked around West Bridgeford park and debated potholes. Nottingham city centre in the afternoon. St Peter’s church, rebuilt 5 times

Merry Christmas, I hope it is a good one, without any tears. Talking of tears, does Christmas come at the end of the year, or does it provide its turning point? Is it a moment when we close the door to all that has passed in the month that has preceded it, or is it a time when we open our arms and say, 'Come, we are ready, we will embrace it all'? Christmas begins with a baby, Christmas is all that is unknown, all is cherished and all we must shield from the winds of fortune

Firstly, I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a fantastic New Year. Where has the year gone? Well, it has, and we have to accept the inevitable. What happened in the last year? Well, Susan and I both put on a few pounds, which will no doubt carry on into the festive period. It is those mince pies, full of fat. Matilda was the winner; she steadily gained weight from January, getting quite chubby. Then she decided enough was enough and lost quite a bit of weight,

🍂 At Kingston Lacy This Autumn I felt the need to go out and get some photos of the colours of autumn. Kingston Lacy was the chosen venue. Two reasons: the colours are normally spectacular, and it has a good little coffee shop. The Middle Smiths joined us with Daniel and his girlfriend Ellie, who were down from Cardiff, Wales. I know, but some people do live there. Anyway, they joined us, great seeing the boys again. Kingston Lacy did not disappoint us. Autumn is when the wh

Swanage Challenge Events - Triathlon Sunday 29th June 2025 - (1500m swim, 38km bike, 10km run) Official welcome message on their website...

Worth Matravers is famous for the small pub, The Square and Compass (pie and a pint) pub. Lovely little pub where the pints are good and...

This blog was originally about Wi-Fi, but like all my blogs, which start in my head and when it comes the time to translate them from my...

Majorca and the incident of a Loose Screw The trip to Spain started out with the inevitable Ryan Air debacle. Boarded the aircraft in...

Joan Mitchell's painting called Iva The difference between our house and most other houses in England is that we have beach towels and...

Spring We have had a funny spring. Heavy clouds cover the sun, and the high winds from the north seem to try their best to dampen our...