Miscellaneous activities
Archived posts from this Category
Friday, 27th May 2011
Posted by Geoff on 28 May 2011 | Tagged as: Archery, Miscellaneous activities
Geoff writes: it was flyable for hang gliders all day at the Mynd, but this week, I wasn’t that motivated to go and do some ridge soaring. Instead, I did what was planned for Tuesday – went to Wroxeter Roman city. This was the fourth largest city in Roman Britain, and is, I think, the only one which has no modern city built over it, being entirely in green fields. The interpretation and museum were pretty good, but what surprised me is how small an area has been excavated – just some of the basilica, the baths, and a market area. This is primarily a money issue, with most archaeology being rescue archaeology – done in advance of building work which would destroy the remains for ever. Given that the Wroxeter remains are under fields, not going to be built on, there is no rush to excavate; also, recent geophysical surveys have given a good idea of the extent and layout of the city.
Nevertheless, it is a shame more has not been excavated, and it’s a least possible that excavating more would attract more visitors, and at least partly pay for the work, as well as providing a better educational experience for visitors.
Still, even so, well worth a visit.
After that, I went to Bowsports to buy a new bow. I’ve been meaning to do this for a while – something a bit more powerful than the bow I’m currently using, which I’m not that happy with. Cheaper to buy from them online than in person, but at least this way I could try it out there and then. So I came away with a nice new bow.
Driving back over the Mynd, some hang gliders were flying, but, as I said, I wasn’t that motivated.
In the evening, went to see Nikki Rous with Wayne and Andrew. She is a brilliant singer and writer, who we have seen before. Tonight, she was playing, free, at the Lowfield Inn. They have free music every Friday, but I don’t think they advertise it at all well, and the couple of times we have been, the audiences have been very small. Still, it was a great night. If you ever get the chance, go and see her!
Sunday, 22nd May 2011
Posted by Geoff on 22 May 2011 | Tagged as: Archery, Miscellaneous activities
Geoff writes: whilst yesterday was windy, today was howling (and tomorrow is forecast even stronger, with gales of 70 mph). It was also very thermic, which added to the strong winds. Way to windy to fly, of course, so we went to the Midland Gliding Club open day. Like all gliding clubs, in Europe at least, they are suffering declining (and ageing) membership, and hoped to get more members through this. Unfortunately, whilst it was well-attended, the wind was too strong for them to take up people on taster flights, but maybe they will be able to do that later on this week or next. Presumably numbers are declining because of a) cost, b) people just aren’t as physically active as they used to be, and c) people are more selfish, and gliding involves a lot of co-operation to get off the ground (unlike paragliding and hang gliding, which seem to attract a relatively high proportion of selfish people – though still, fortunately, a small minority).
We then went to the archery field, where it was OK to shoot, since in this wind direction it is quite protected. I badly need a new bow, more powerful, and spent most of the time chatting to people trying to work out what to buy. I’ve plenty of time to look around this week, since the winds are forecast strong for the rest of the week.
Saturday, 21st May 2011
Posted by Geoff on 22 May 2011 | Tagged as: Miscellaneous activities
Geoff writes: windy, definitely not flyable, but sunnier further to the south east – so a good day to visit my family near Cirencester. It was not a bad afternoon really, not least because we went to visit Bibury, a classic chocolate box English village in the Cotswolds – so classic, it was full of tourists even in mid-May, with Americans, Spanish, Japanese (on an Irish coach) and Germans – and those were just the accents we heard. But it really is a very pretty place, and you can understand why it is on the tourist trail.
The Cotswolds, of course, is a very, very rich area, and very patriotic. We passed one house in yet another classic chocolate box village which had a full size poster of William and Kate (the ones who just got married) stuck to their front door. Very bizarre. Unfortunately, we had no camera with us – a great photo opportunity missed.
Monday, 16th May 2011
Posted by Judith on 17 May 2011 | Tagged as: Miscellaneous activities, Work
The windy weather continues…
Since everything has been on hold for the party preparation, we’re really behind on work stuff. Today was the day to knuckle down and get some of the pile shifted. In the evening we went to karate. Our instructor seemed to think it was perfectly reasonable for us to remember this basic kata. Since this is only our second lesson we could barely remember how to bend down and touch our toes in the warm up, never mind 24 moves in sequence (and on the third round with our eyes closed!). Still, I’m really enjoying the excercise and definetly want to continue.
Sunday, 15th May 2011
Posted by Judith on 16 May 2011 | Tagged as: Miscellaneous activities
Since I was still up at dawn, I could already see the pre-frontal wave appearing and knew there was zero chance of a task at the Cup. Such a shame they didn’t write it off and let people let their hair down the night before. Apparently Nigel Lassiter was flying on the Mynd from 5.30am for an hour, but we didn’t see him.
Ellie, Lester, Viv and Phil helped us tidy up (the job was made easier, since Luke had been collecting bottles and cans the night before) and I then collapsed into bed at 11am to get some sleep. More helpers appeared (thanks Mick, Luke, Paul and Yaz) and by the time I got up again, you wouldn’t have thought we’d had a party at all – except for the gravel drive through the house. A quick hoover had that sorted too.
We spent the rest of the day doing what you do the day after a party… snoozing, eating curry and watching crap telly. I was in bed again at 8pm and slept a full 13 hours. I needed it!
Monday, 9th May 2011
Posted by Judith on 10 May 2011 | Tagged as: Miscellaneous activities
Another howling day. It didn’t really matter with it pouring from 10.30am. Work, work, work and then we went to Bishop’s Castle in the evening to have a karate lesson at the local sports centre. I picked up a leaflet for it a few weeks ago and I’ve always wanted to give it a go. I did judo as a child, but this was competely different and I really enjoyed it. We’re off for our second lesson on Thursday.
Friday, 29th April 2011
Posted by Geoff on 30 Apr 2011 | Tagged as: Miscellaneous activities
Geoff writes: at last, the long awaited day! We’ve been desperate for today to come for ages, really looking forward to it, and we’re thrilled it has finally arrived.
Yes, it was a day which was a clear write-off for flying. Windy, cloudy, possible rain. Absolutely no chance of flying, so we could spend the whole day usefully doing other things. Basically, this amounted to doing some accounts stuff, and then going shopping for garden furniture and other things. Whilst out, we had a call from old friends Tony and Sonia, who were in the area, and wanted to come to visit. Staunch republicans, of course, they made the mistake of visiting Powis Castle, not realising it was today housing what was claimed to be the biggest outdoor screen in Europe, to show the royal wedding. They came here in the evening, and we had a great time, Judith, for once, losing at cards, and where most of us – in fact, me mostly – drank far too much wine, and laid plans to make a lot of money very fast. Even in the light of day, seen through a hangover, they sound almost plausible….