The sun sets on the tall trees:
The path enhanced by new gravel:
Sun setting on the tower and resplendent magnolia:
The sky flowers so abundant:
Photos
Around Brockwood Today
Here are some images taken today around the grounds, on a sunny spring afternoon
Daffodils still glowing:
The delightful orange ones:
Blossoms blossoming:
The magnolia. Magnolia paint: boring. Magnolia tree: stunning
The first of the big tree leaves, the horse chestnut:
Scrap Book: Mexico Weekend Surf Trip 2006
While staying in California three of us took a weekend surf trip down to Mexico. The first night we stayed in the crappiest campsite, a car park basically, just somewhere to sleep before heading further south:
We drove all the next morning in the intrepid VW. The sign says ‘What have you got to risk?’
After a crazy bumpy track we arrived at the crazy bumpy Campo 4 Casas hostel, right on the cliff over the surf spot:
We surfed that afternoon and next morning we headed back north, looking for a sweet spot:
With armed checkpoints:
We piled back over the border late on Sunday all Mexico’d up
Scrap Book: Trevor, Arne and I: The Old Men of Coniston
In January 2006, at the summit of the Old Man of Coniston, having hiked up through the ice and snow. I have a yearning to climb more mountains. In the late 90s I lived at the foot of these fells, at the youth hostel in Coniston village. This photo was taken by Virginia, the fourth member of our party, the others that year having opted for a valley walk.
110323 Daffodils
It felt like summer, it really did. Relishing the sun at lunchtime, relaxing on the south lawn, students playing rounders, us talking crap. A beauty of a day. It not really being summer, the daffodils are in full-on flower, so many.
If an extended summer is an Indian Summer, what’s an early one called?
Sunny steps: 3936
110319 New Pond Walk
After yesterday’s rain, a bright, sunny day. We took a walk in the local area, out towards Hinton Ampner, turning back at New Pond Cottages. The daffodils were bowing to the frost as we left.
Gloves in a pot:
Brockwood Park School in the March sun:
Some of the Rhododendron in the Grove are in flower:
Through the woods on the ridge above Bramdean:
Red and black pollen pods:
The sap is rising, spring is almost here:
Going outside now to see if the Supermoon is up. The largest full moon in 18 years, I’m told.
Steps: 12,120
Scrap Book: Cornwall
There’s really no place like it.
110227 Yogi/Surfer’s Path
Back to the yoga with a delicious Sivananda session first thing. That routine really ticks all the boxes for me. This morning I was really feeling the sickness of the last couple of weeks and breathing with it. I felt energised and relaxed through the day, even though health hasn’t fully returned. Spending an hour or more on the mat is different from any other activity. Changes happen, things are learnt, just by gently watching and stretching.
…
Surfer’s Path magazine is full of wonderful images. Here are a few from the March/April edition that just arrived, as two surfer friends come to Europe for a visit from California:
110212 Durford Walk
I really enjoyed this TED video of Benjamin Zander that my friend Seppo put me on to. Zander’s measure of success is not wealth or fame but how many shining eyes there are around him. He speaks with real passion about his notion that classical music is for everyone. I know next to nothing about classical music but his descriptions and playing makes me want to understand more. What a character!
We went for a walk this morning over to the Rother the other side of Petersfield at Durford Mill. We started at the old bridge:
The east along the old Petersfield Midhurst branch line, a large sandpit to the south on West Heath Common. Get off my land, warn the children:
Not just lava, but boiling lava.
We went south to Down Park Farm where there were many dead rusting vehicles, including a couple of Fordson Majors:
Then back west to the Rother, enjoying the sun as we trekked across open fields, glad of the non-sticky sandy soil, passing some friends:
And to Durford Abbey Farm:
With the usual happy hostages:
Another varied walk not far from home. There was a feeling of spring in the sunshine with the birdsong reflecting the change of mood.
This afternoon we got the flat together, with the desk and drawers now in the bedroom by the window and the large bookcase in the living room. I am really happy to live in such surrounds, internally and the countryside.
Steps stepped: 9477
Scrapbook: South West Coast Path
This picture is taken from near Boscastle, looking north east up the coast towards Bude. I walked sections of the path down to Tintagel and up to Hartland Point. One day I will complete the entire route, so beautiful is it.
Scrapbook – Cornish Sunsets
A couple of the many truly awesome sunsets seen from the cottage where I lived in Cornwall. There were 360 degree views from my little hilltop, and to the west the ocean over Widemouth.
This is why my Facebook ‘Religious Views’ status says: Sunset
Scrap Book: David Blaine in Box
13 October 2003 I was in London and went along to see David in his box. Nothing much was happening. Occasionally he would wave. I imagined he was waving at me. No pelting with eggs that day, or that hour.
The Times reported that eggs, lemons, sausages, bacon, water bottles, beer cans, paint-filled balloons and golf balls had all been thrown at the box.
Sausages?
Blaine emerged on schedule on October 19, murmuring “I love you all!” and was quickly hospitalized.
George W Bush said: “The last noted American to visit London stayed in a glass box dangling over the Thames. A few might have been happy to provide similar arrangements for me.”
Random Photo – Devon School of Yoga Foundation Course – Pool
Long before the teacher training I undertook at Kripalu in the States, there were two yoga foundation courses I took in the south west. One was with The British Wheel of Yoga in Bideford and the other with the independent Devon School of Yoga. The Devon school is founded and run by another Duncan – Duncan Hulin. What a great teacher Duncan is! He’s really found his own style of teaching and a non-dogmatic approach to postures and sequencing. In 2003, part of the foundation course was a trip to Orgiva in southern Spain. The classes and meals were up in the hills at a small studio with mountain views. Also this gorgeous pool right outside the studio:
The studio is no longer a studio and as far as I know the foundation course is held in the UK, near Dartmoor. Duncan continues to teach in the Exeter area. While I was considering living there I didn’t know how it would be for there to be two teachers called Duncan in town…
Random Photo – Custard Point Mini Mal
So I am missing posting a daily photo already, so I’m going to select one from iPhoto most days.
The first random photo is my very first surfboard, a Custard Point Mini Mal bought in 2002. Back then, Custard Point boards were made by hand in Newquay, but now, like many, are Made In China. I really liked the colours of this board, and it was a great size and shape for my introduction to surfing. I sold it when I moved back to Hampshire and thought I was quitting surfing. I don’t think you can ever quit surfing once you have enjoyed the thrill of a wave. I rode this mainly at Widemouth Bay, my old local spot.
21 Jan 2011
The plan was to drive to Selborne, bus to Alton and walk part of the Hangers Way back to Selborne for 10 miles or so. It was so cold, grey, misty when we were waiting for the bus that we quickly decided not to do a long walk, instead scooting up the 250 year old Zig Zag Path to Selborne Common. It’s always a little spooky up there with the old trees, mosses, twisting parasite plants and enclosed feeling, and the mist only heightened that. Still, it was pleasant to walk for an hour, remembering our very first walk together in Rishikesh, nearly twelve years ago. That time and this, C got a thorn in her foot.
Scenes on Selbourne Common:
Two Tone Tree
Fallen Tree
View from the Zig Zag Path
Misty Selborne Common
Then we piled down the A3 to good old Pompey for some shopping and cinema. The big sports shop is closing down. We picked up a couple of camping mattresses for £7, a foot pump for £3. A solar pedometer for £5 and some camping cutlery for a quid.
Saw a film: The Kings Speech. It’s a good one, especially for anyone who, like me, is afraid of public speaking. Poor guy, muddling along as a mere Lord and next minute he’s the bloody King thanks to his love-stricken brother (who due to odd casting is way to young to be his older brother). The speech therapist comes across well, a healthy dose of irreverence to position and tradition within a kind heart, with real ability to help. The overall feeling is that despite privilege and power, these people are just like the rest of us. I also enjoyed seeing Helena in a non-weirded-out rol.
This was a great scene, where Lionel the therapist has been found out not to be an actual doctor, and due to appearances the King is dismissing him:
King George VI: [Logue is sitting on the coronation throne] Get up! Y-you can’t sit there! GET UP!
Lionel Logue: Why not? It’s a chair.
King George VI: T-that… that is Saint Edward’s chair.
Lionel Logue: People have carved their names on it.
King George VI: L-listen to me… listen to me!
Lionel Logue: Why should I waste my time listening to you?
King George VI: Because I have a voice!
Lionel Logue: …yes, you do.
and this:
Lionel Logue: [as George “Bertie” is lighting up a cigarette] Please don’t do that.
King George VI: I’m sorry?
Lionel Logue: I believe sucking smoke into your lungs will kill you.
King George VI: My physicians say it relaxes the throat.
Lionel Logue: They’re idiots.
King George VI: They’ve all been knighted.
Lionel Logue: Makes it official then.
(See clip below)
But my favourite thing dear old Lionel said was:
“You don’t need to be afraid of the things you were afraid of when you were five years old.” How very true, yet here we are, children in adult’s bodies.
We left Portsmouth at sunset:
Wish Tree
Near Colwith Force was a fallen tree with coins driven into it. At first I thought the coins were fungus, but each is a coin pressed most of the way into the wood. I don’t know if individuals have placed each coin, or whether it is more of a work of art by one person, but it seems like it is the former.
9 Jan 2011
Each year during the staff week we have a day for hiking then go out for a meal in the evening. After some thought, Gary decided it was too dangerous to take us up the the snow and ice, as we don’t have the safety equipment and experience. Instead we walked on the lower fells and valleys, from 0930 until 1600, with occasional breaks and a lunch sheltering from the wind on the low fells. The sun came out:
I’m not exactly sure of the route we took, for once happy to be guided and not be consulting the map to choose directions. We started directly from Yewfield because of black ice, James and I enjoyed slides on the driveway while people got ready. Do groups ever manage to leave on time? I don’t think I have ever experienced it. This time people coming down at the leaving time then fussing over laces and gaiters. From Tarn Hows we headed to Holme Fell (I think it was):
Fine views to Weatherlam and The Langdales and east towards Hellvelyn where someone died this week:
We passed by these camouflaged hairy friends:
And Colwith Force:
Then back over High Arnside and to Yewfield before dusk:
Here are all the hikers, near the start of the walk. About two thirds of the staff who came to Yewfield hiked:
This evening we went to Zeffirellis in Ambleside – for me mushrooms then vegetarian rissoles. Why do restaurants feel the need to put sugar in almost everything? The bread with the mushrooms was too sweet and so was the tomato sauce with the rissoles. Sugar is good for no one. But the company was good, sitting with Christine, Adrian, Mark, Mo and Fran.
Falling Awake 