We caved and we went

Caving or potholing creates all sorts of images in the minds of those who’ve never tried it with thoughts of tight and narrow spaces bringing on feelings of claustrophobia.  And so it was with our party last Sunday.  Most were apprehensive, even fearful, about what to expect, but Long Churn is an ideal beginners cave. Almost immediately, it was evident that the winding passages are roomy with beautiful, water smoothed walls and rock sculptures. And although there are some tighter spaces, deeper into the cave, they can be avoided or are exciting enough to allow people to forget their fears. 

Caving

We’re going caving tomorrow.  It’s a few years since we’ve been, despite once spending a lot of our time underground, but age, family life and a lack of time mean by necessity, hobbies have to change.  We’re only going to Long Churn as we’re taking colleagues from work, but it’s a nice easy beginners (or retirees) cave  and hopefully, the party will enjoy it.  I’m intending to take a small camera so all being well, I will be able to capture some photographic evidence of the adventure as I and others will inevitably fall into a plunge pool or two

Roses

Despite the wet spring we’ve had, the roses in the garden are absolutely glorious at the moment.  They’re my favourite flowers, especially the old fashioned, scented climbers and I particularly like them growing against a wall.  My mum loved roses too; perhaps because she was born in June, but whatever the reason, she passed that love onto me. I adore them so much that along with daisies, I carried white roses in my wedding bouquet.  Most of our garden roses are from David Austin and have lived upto all expectations; hardy, disease resistant, abundant, heavily fragranced and quite simply, glorious. 

Welcome to Wesley

Sadly, dear Daphne has gone to the great garage in the sky.  Because she needed a lot of work to keep her on the road, we decided to bite the bullet and get something a little smarter for Nerea.  So welcome to Wesley (don’t ask).  A silver and black Mini Cooper, it’s a lovely car with only 40 000 miles on the clock.  We’ve had to send photos to Nerea; needless to say she was excited, despite being a thousand miles away.  I’ve just had a little drive in it and was impressed, not a mysterious rattle to be heard!

Orangutan tendencies...

My colleagues were probably justified in looking bemused when I mentioned that Andy and I’d been tree climbing on Monday.  Naturally, it was a geocaching adventure and therefore completely normal for us but to an outsider, I suppose it was a little odd.  Well, a lot odd actually!  We’d teamed up with a caching friend who preferred to climb safely with a rope so we arrived at the scene “geared up”.  Inevitably, Mr Glis ignored the kit and was up the tree like a rat out of a drain pipe, I was equally reckless but at least Gerri acted responsibly!

Andy

Gerri

Le Tour 2013

“Le Tour” begins in just over a week.  We’re actually going to be in France during part of it as we drive to Spain to collect Nerea, but typically, the peloton will be pedalling on the other side of the country!  But as cycling is the national sport of France, no doubt the country will be alive with enthusiasm, even when the tour is many miles away.  However, we’ll have access to technology so we’ll still be able to follow the race.  One day we’ll get things right and will actually be in the right place at the right time!

Summer!

Sunny weather definitely improves the spirits of most people, if the happy smiles I’ve seen on the faces of passers-by in the street over the last few days are a measure of that.  For my own part, the intensity of the colours around me seems to increase, their vibrancy echoing my perceptible feeling of improved well-being. It isn’t difficult to be cheerful when gaudy pink roses showily toss their heads against the bright, blue backdrop of a cloudless sky. Or when children play and dance in the afternoon sunshine, their vivid clothes a carousel of colour, a kaleidoscope of summer.

A man's best friend

Although Molly has some affection for me, clearly it’s Mr Glis. who’s captured her heart. When he’s away, it’s evident she misses him and feels sad.  Generally it’s Mr Glis who feeds and walks her in a morning but I walk her at other times so it’s disappointing when she strains to go after him should he and I go in different directions.  To cap it all, there is no rapturous, squirming, yelping reception on my return from a stay away.  An extra tail wag is all that she bestows on me at best.  Mr Glis, on the other hand…..

Ralfland

The legend of Ralf and his life in the Wet Sleddle area is known to but a few inducted into the secret band of geocachers.  But the setting of his story; of his life and loves, is one that is worth exploring as it’s a remote and barren area with a strange, haunting beauty.  Ralfland, once a hunting ground of kings, receives very few visitors so those who venture there have every opportunity to listen beyond the call of the skylark and curlew in the hope of hearing the faint whispers of Ralf and his jilted lovers’ spirits calling out

Ettrick Marshes

Let it not be said that we are fair weather cachers. We proved our resilience earlier this month when we went to Ettrick Marshes on a wet Whit Bank Holiday,.  The title “marshes” was something of a clue as to the likely conditions underfoot, but the rain was particularly persistent, and very reminiscent of Irish soft rain of the “wetting” variety.  Walking routes took us high up the valley sides and down to the flooded valley floor where we spotted delightful clusters of delicate yellow primroses and carpets of pale pink wood anemones with scattered bluebells among the woodland debris

Peterborough

Two nights in Peterborough gave me ample time to explore this unfamiliar city via a couple of excellent geocaching trails.  Despite the weather being dull and overcast with intermittent showers,  I was surprised to see a lot of people making an evening promenade around the cathedral square, presumably a reflection of life in other countries, as it was evident from the different languages spoken, that the city is now populated with a rich mix of diverse cultures.  I left feeling satisfied that I’d discovered something about the history of another of our ancient cathedral cities...and found the odd geocache too

'Enery VIII

The Cloisters

How far?

What time is it?

The Guildhall

The Cathedral

Washed out at The Wash

Well it has to be said that my visit to The Wash was something of a damp squib.  Not in a disappointing way; it was just that it poured down. And it was so grey, heavy, gunmetal grey.  The rain inevitably had an impact on the views but it was still possible to experience the desolation, the sense of endless horizons, of being in a timeless landscape.  The salt marshes had limited accessibility but I spotted sea lavender and sea purslane, their green grey foliage evidence bathed by tidal waters as they struggle to exist in the hostile, saline environment