Life & Times

A New Allotment

We are very lucky to have taken over an allotment in our new village, just a few minutes walk from home.

photo of a scruffy allotment

As seen in the photos, it’s not been worked for a couple of years and is overgrown with weeds and grass.

photo of a scruffy allotment

We plan to renovate & plant half the beds this year & get the others ready for next season.

photo of an overgrown allotment

Check back for updates. 🌱


Please sign this petition to stop the body parts of lions killed in gruesome hunts from being bought and imported into the UK as hunting trophies.

photo of a shot lion

To hunt these beautiful animals for fun is inhumane and just wrong.

Read more and sign the petition

UPDATE 17/03/2023: Ban on imports of animal hunting trophies set to become law

The government has backed legislation which would stop hunters from bringing back body parts of thousands of species, including lions, rhinos, elephants and polar bears, killed abroad. Tory MP Henry Smith, who proposed the bill, said it would help conserve the world’s most endangered species. It was approved by MPs and will now face further scrutiny in the Lords. As it has the support of the government, the Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill is likely to become law.

Read more


My Album of the Week is And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow from Weyes Blood.

Read more on inews.co.uk. 🎢


Country and Coast - Two Dog Walks in One Day

We moved to South Devon a month ago, renting a renovated barn while looking for our new permanent home. We live a few miles from the coast, in the middle of farming country, which means that in the morning, we explore the local woods and footpaths.

Here’s a photo of Topsham Bridge, taken around 8am yesterday.

photo of a bridge over a river

iPhone 11, Lightroom app, processed in Lightroom Classic

Since moving, it’s compulsory to go to the coast at the weekend, and yesterday we went to the beach at Thurlestone just before sunset.

photo of Thurlestone beach

iPhone 11, Lightroom app, processed in Lightroom Classic πŸ“·


It’s the time of year when I set up a filter to send all emails with Black Friday in the subject line to the trash bin


Dodging the rain at Bantham Beach, Devon

Bantham beach, Devon Bantham Beach, Devon

iPhone 11, Lightroom app, processed in Lightroom iPad app πŸ“·


Microblogvember 2022: Day 2

I don’t think I’ll be making a feast with these beauties that are growing out of our doorstep.

photo of some funghi

iPhone 11, Lightroom app, processed in Lightroom Classic πŸ“·


Microblogvember 2022: Day 1

Figure - verb

  1. An awesome beast who figured in Egyptian legend: feature, appear, be featured/mentioned, be referred to; participate, play a part, play a role, be conspicuous, have prominence, have a place; star.

  2. A way to figure the values: calculate, work out, total, sum, reckon, compute, enumerate, determine, evaluate, quantify, assess, count, add up, put a figure on, tally, totalise, gauge; British tot up; rare cast.

  3. North American informal I figured that I didn’t have much of a chance: suppose, think, belief, fancy, consider, expect, take it, suspect, have a sneaking suspicion, sense; assume, dare say, conclude, take it as read, presume, be of the opinion, trust; deduce, infer, gather, glean, divine; North American guess.

  4. North American informal β€˜Rosemary’s away.’ β€˜That figures.’: make sense, be understandable, seem reasonable, stand to reason, be to be expected, be logical, follow, add up, stand up, hold up; ring true, be convincing; be likely/probable, go without saying.


Prog Magazine’s Halloween playlist will kickstart your trick and treating…πŸŽƒ

🎢

I think it may rain today …

photo of a country view

iPhone 11, Lightroom app, processed in Lightroom Classic πŸ“·


Sunday morning coffee and pastry at Bigbury-on-Sea, Devon.

view of Burgh Island, Bigbury-on-Sea, Devon view of the beach at Bigbury-on-Sea, Devon view of the beach at Bigbury-on-Sea, Devon view of the beach at Bigbury-on-Sea, Devon

Canon EOS M6 Mark II, EF-M 15-45mm, processed in ON1 Photo RAW 2023 πŸ“·


It’s our first weekend living in Devon so we had to go to the beach.

photo of a beach scene photo of a beach scene photo of a beach scene photo of a beach scene photo of a beach scene

iPhone 11, Lightroom app, processed in ON1 Photo RAW 2022 πŸ“·


First time in Kingsbridge, Devon as a resident and not a tourist. photo of Kingsbridge, Devon

iPhone 11, Lightroom app, processed in ON1 Photo RAW 2022 πŸ“·


A day in the life. All packed by 7:48pm on our last day living in Draycot Cerne, Wiltshire, UK after ten happy years. This time tomorrow we’ll be living in Devon. πŸ“·

photo of packing cases

This dahlia is always the star of our front garden #FridayPhoto πŸ“·πŸŒ±

phot of a red dahlia

Canon EOS M6 Mark II, EF-M 15-45mm, processed in ON1 Photo RAW 2022