Old Git

Wells Tide

2008-06-06T10:56:00.000-07:00

Patties birthday so as requested we had a day in Wells -next -the -Sea . Wells -some distance -from -the- sea it really ought to be known as. We had a picnic on the quayside by the harbourmasters office and admired the boats moored by the new pontoons some sitting on the bottom as the tide was low. The little hut on stilts is an Environment Agency tide recorderI do believe that the electrical installation for this site was carried out by a Woodbridge firm, East Anglian Electrical if my memory serves me right.The thing about Wells is that the sea is a long way off ,the lifeboat station can be seen in the distance See pics) and even that is not near the sea ,it is on the approach channel and the lifeboat seems unable to launch at this stage of the tide.Around the corner from the lifeboat station is the beach ...still no sea, but it does look as though there may be some action at high tide.

Stawberry Fields Forever

2007-07-13T11:47:00.000-07:00

Patty is always coming home with pounds of stawberries,can`t believe how much they cost and the taste is quite variable, from nice to no taste at all.Or sometimes that first suductive aroma then nothing:can`t think what that reminds me of.So to do something about it,I have grown the berry myself at times and with varying degrees of success.Strawberries suffer from loads of viral diseases such as botrtytis, verticcilium wilt, mildew grey mould etc. The plants generally produce less each year then give up altogether. The plan is to get some fresh stock from non other than the strawberry king himself Ken Muir aka Big Ron (see his catalouge portrait).
So after deliberating on his most excellent site I eventually succumed to the blurb and ordered a collection.Yes thats what I said a collection of strawberries they were on the catwalk comprising three different varieties early , late and perpetual. Now heres the thing,these plants have been in cold storage since early Feb.they were dug up as runners in the prime of life and plunged into suspended animation.They are to re-enter this world from their cryogenic slumber and get this: if Big Ken is to be believed they will forget that they are early, late or perpetual if planted before the end of July and produce over one whole pound of delicious strawberries per plant.This year!!That would be over 37 pounds.....Seems to good to be true.They would then forget performing this once only feat of soft fruit extravaganzing and revert to their alloted slot in the year ie late, early and perpetual.Now I know what you are thinking why would one require perpetual(the plant carries a premium if acquired outside of a collection)when one has early and late varieties anyway?
Well listen to Ken.
For anyone contemplating growing strawberries for the first time, one could do no better than include these remontant,or "perpetual "fruiting varieties as they are often refered to,continue to be grown for their seasonal appeal.Their quality and flavour leaves nothing to be desired and they are at their best when the mid season varieties have all but disappeared from the shops.And for the environmentalists among you we are talking food yards here not miles.
Now the economics of this seems to be quite sound.
Tescos Strawberries 37 pounds @ £1.85 per pound £68.45+ mileage.
Big Kens collection 3x12 plants+1 spare =37+pounds of strawberries. Well what a huge saving.
Thats what I thought.After placing the order an E-mail then informed me that the plants would be dispatched within 28 days , cutting it a bit fine I thought.But then to my delight a large box appeared with the UPS man a week later.He rang on the bell I answered and signed the thing he had with him.Now I could have sworn that he said " your strawberry plants sir"but unfortunatly he must have said "your Conqueror Paper delivery "I wish UPS men wouldn`t mumble."No plants then? I said"he just looked blank.Any way the box would have been much larger than that.
The days past by and I resolved to get my plants at the end of the month just in time to plant before the end of July.
On Wednesday I wandered up the road with Jessie for a nose behind the Melton Grange, yes they are getting on with the work quite well ,they could do without Jessie barking at them but thats how she is.
On the way back I saw our Postie, now he is not the worlds greatest conversationalist so I resisted the remark about the recent postal strike but said that I would relieve him of any of Her Majesty`s mail that may be destined for number seven.He handed me the usual rubbish and some legit post.He then went on his way.Oh he cried over his shoulder I have a small package for you in my saddle bag.Oh! I said what can it be?
He produced a small box about big enough for a baby`s pair of shoes,on the label it said LIVE PLANTS and stated that there were 36 strawberry plants inside.The penny slowly dropped.This could not be.Have I been done?Visions of 36 pounds of strawberries and pounds of delighting jam were coming to a sticky end.Ill` ave you for this Muir I am thinking.You will never work in Essex again.How in all that is horticultural can 37 pounds of strawberries come out of this box before christmas.The postman sensed my dissapointmentand had the look of a telegraph boy who had just delivered a telegram to Micheal Barrymores ` mother.NO reply.The best bit was the stern note that said that these plants must be dealt with at once,I had visions of them getting verticcillium wilt before the days end.
Ken being true to his word sent me a book entitled "Grow your own strawberries" containing all that one needs to know for the succesfull growing of the strawberry.The preparation of the site is quite onerous and must be weed free and can only follow certain crops.The spacing of the rows and distance apart were followed and so on. When finished the plants looked lost on the large plot given them.(They will have even more space when the onions are harvested)They are so small.The leaves are white not even green.The leap from their frozen world to the middle of summer must be a culture shock if nothing else.I have held back on buying the jam sugar for the time being.

OZ

2007-04-08T11:35:00.000-07:00

Captain Cooks` Endeavor and Captain Blighs`Bounty (kicking out diesel smoke)in Sydneys` Darling Harbour. The eyes have it. Lunar Park entrance on the south bank.

Dolphin watching at Nelson Bay

Not been posting lately as we have been on holiday for some time in Australia. The pictures are of the beach at Newcastle ,we stayed in an apartment in Merewether a few miles south . The animals were pictured in Blackbutt Reserve near Newcastle where you can wander among the gum trees and wildlife just out of town. We took a tour around the Hunter valley wine region with Barry and Best tours.We were the only passengers that day so we got a personalised trip Barry gave us a few diversions

so we saw a lot of Newcastle and then we went to Kurrie Kurrie .Kurrie Kurrie sounds Aboriginal I dont`t know what it means ,but usually if the word is repeated it means that whatever it is its` quick.Kurrie is quite famous recently for the appearance of murals being painted on walls all over town.The murals all have a Kookaburra in them somewhere, so spotting the bird is the game. There was a new mural on the day were there it depicted the convict revolt,the mural coverd a wall at least fifteen meters long and was surely a work of art.

There was also a picture with non other than Father Christmass wearing sandals this was the only one that we could not find the Kookaburra in may-be you can spot it?The wine tour was really good we visited a few vinyards and passed several others including a few famous labels.We also did some cheese tasting.

Windy Gussett

2007-01-21T11:57:00.000-08:00

Last week we Patty me and Jessie had a walk around a local seaside town any

guesses which one? , http://www.flickr.com/photos/22012135@N00/sets/72157594492350233/ Pretty easy really.Yesterday we braved the cold wind for a stroll at an old favorite Bawdsey.Today we had a nice lunch with Richard and Claire, Charlotte told us all about her first days at school and her new friends Oliver and Jacob,she really has taken to it very well so far. After lunch an afternoon at Felixstowe, another bracing walk, along the prom where we met Mike and Margaret .Then we tried the pier and the amusements to make our fortunes.

Walking and a visit to Santa

2006-12-23T12:48:00.000-08:00

Patty, Jessie and Myself have been out walking a bit lately mostly in the local woods and a near freezing day at Orford where we saw the Merman.Grumpy moaned about the wind ..Orford is quite an historic place with its` castle and the more recent cold war connections...Notice the little deer spotted on a walk near the Deben(funny it was there last year in the same spot)it is related to Bambi.We all went to the grotto at cwop

to see Santa; Charlotte told him that she would like a Thomas type station but I did not quite catch what Lauren said.After that we all adjourned to Castle hill and a nice time was had by all.

It will soon be Christmas and we are looking forward to seeing everyone over the next few days.

Stop Press

2006-09-23T14:43:00.000-07:00

I have noticed that my profile is now out of date.The reason can be seen here.

End of season

2006-09-23T13:29:00.000-07:00

We had a few more days on the water as can be seen the weather was not to good,managed to pick the bad week out of months of sunshine. We sailed up to Ipswich on the River Orwell mixing it with the big boys at Felixstowe docks,note the scale comparison with the small coaster slipping by the container ship it looks tiny but is a sea going vessel its` self.We had a good sail out from the Deben but the wind headed us up the Orwell so we did a combined tack cum motor sail as the wind dropped off up river.We managed to pick up a mooring just off Woolverstone (Jessie does like to go ashore at least a few times a day) and had a peacefull night .Next day we sailed up to Ipswich as far as the docks ,going under the road bridge to remind ourselves of the rat race.We came back to Woodbridge on Friday as the forcast for the weekend was strong winds 6-7,as it was it was a bit lumpy off felixstowe and not to Patties liking.

Bikes and more bikes

2006-08-27T12:55:00.000-07:00

Patty and I stayed over in Kenilworth for a week whilst Rich and Clare jetted off to the sun we had a chance to explore the area.Amongst other things we took a trip to the National Motorcycle Museum.I really enjoyed it, in fact it excelled my expectations.The machines here include the famous "Vincent,"a legend in its own time, the Scott Flying Squirrell ,Brough Superior, aTriumph Bonneville, a modern Triumph and the GPO Bantam used by the Telegraph service stop. I think Patty liked it all as well... Just look how sad she was when we had to leave. We also did some walking and had a look at the castle at Kenilworth.We are off sailing tommorrow so more later.By the way any of the bikes above would make a nice christmas gift ..ok maybe not just yet then, but the Vincent would be ..well just deaming.

Boats and stuff

2006-08-09T13:44:00.000-07:00

We had another day on the river this weekend with one ear on the phone as we are expecting a visitor,still not arrived though!I took a picture of Simons` latest project; the RAF patrol boat in the foreground Wychcraft can just be seen on her berth.We are in quite historic company as far as boats are concerned the vessel under wraps belonged to Charles Lindbergh no less,and is named Ginger Dot. This boat was allegedly involved in the notorious kidnapp case.http://www.charleslindbergh.com/kidnap/index.asp
There are other boats around here with history also I may get a picture and find a little more about them.
Talking of the RAF we had a friendly visit from the Air Sea rescue Sea King Helicopter, well not really a visit but it did come quite close.

Sun block and culinary delights

2006-07-19T09:49:00.001-07:00

We had a great few days with Clare Jessie caught up with Morris. Had a day doing a spot of gardening on Saturday and a little stroll on a hot Sunday. Clare provided some nice meals al fresco a la deck.

Secret Water

2006-06-26T13:24:00.000-07:00

We took Wychcraft to Hamford Water this weekend and anchored off Stone Point, it has all the facilities that Jessie requires. Arthur Ransom featured this in his books it was called Secret Water.Looks like the cat is out of the bag now.

Weekend on the Deben

2006-06-12T11:11:00.000-07:00

We had a nice weekend on the river,moored up at Ramsholt for the night,took at trip to Bawdsey on Sunday. The Shelducks cant` be very old at all.The drake obviously not heard of the c.s.a.Jessie was left for the dog-watch but as can be seen was caught sleeping on the job.For ex bt workers at home and abroad a shot of the research labs in the distance,best place for them some may say. Pity we missed the exciting footy on tv, but listened to the radio instead.Well at least they scraped through.

Thatched nest at Wren Corner

2006-06-05T16:58:00.000-07:00

The Great Tits have flown the nest,these wrens(you can just see them) are ready to go.

bank holiday weekend

2006-05-29T06:25:00.000-07:00

Well Mike Bell got married this week to Claire at the Royal Hospital School.It is a fabulous venue.http://www.flickr.com/photos/22012135@N00/sets/72157594147431144/Good fun was had by all.

2006-05-21T12:28:00.000-07:00

Not much doing this weekend managed a bit of gardening between the rain, went for a walk with Patty and Jessie.Got a bit bored so did a couple of bird pics in the garden. Well done to Watford winning the play offs, reminds us of Ipswich winning at Wembley(those WERE the days)Looking forward to next week-end and seeing all the family.Any special requests for the barby?

Felixstowe

2006-05-16T09:02:00.000-07:00

We met up with Richard, Claire,Charlotte and Lauren on Sunday for a lovely day out in Felixstowe.The weather held so we enjoyed a walk along the prom, oh yes and a little flutter in the amusments.We found a Peters` ice cream kiosk so we enjoyed a nice cone, after failing to have some at Orford. Lauren and Charlotte took their dollies for a walk.

2006-05-06T14:23:00.000-07:00

Wychcraft on her old mooring on the Hamble

wychcraft

2006-05-04T10:18:00.000-07:00

Hi
With high tide at around 5pm at Woodbridge Wychraft went back in the river today. No leaks apparent and all machinery working.She is back on her usual berth and looking good.Maybe my two crew will now come aboard and help with sorting out stuff .Patty says that she is really looking forward to a sail down river, Jessie cant` wait.

First Post

2006-04-30T13:51:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone
Welcome to this new blog. Not really sure what it may contain in the future or who we will be talking to but here goes.
We have had a plesant weekend so far Patty and I took Jessie for a walk in the forest at Chillesford this morning she managed to sniff out a few pheasants and put them up. The area is being cleared of trees so some parts were quite clear.
We went on to have a look at Orford and arrived at the car park to find a Peters ice cream van we do like Peters ice cream so looked for some cash but to no avail,but searching the van revealed my long lost car and house keys so very pleased about that .Thanks to Peters. Did some garden this pm planted some runner beans for Clare and myself also did some courgettes and butter nut squash.