Anchovies on Toast…

Anchovies swarming off Clacton and Walton who would believe it ! Our so often chilly North Sea waters make us all think twice about even taking a quick dip but the Anchovy has shown us the way. They have moved north out of their native waters of the Mediterranean so perhaps ‘Anchovies on Toast ‘ […]

A Rapacious Appetite

The pitcher plant has been a huge success with a consummate appetite for all flying insects – houseflies and bluebottles are a favourite delicacy. It has doubled in size since being purchased at Helmingham Hall in May and sent up new shoots to accommodate a feeding frenzy. It is amazing to believe just how many […]

Novak – the Joker Keeps his Cool

A wonderful 2014 final between Djokovic & Federer – a classic, with an absolutely brilliant first set of tennis. This match stands up against the memorable duel in 2008 when Nadal & Federer raised the bar and the 2009 Roddick & Federer debacle which Feds won 16-14 in the 5th ! On the first Saturday […]

A Strange Drug Indeed…

Away for the weekend, and as we arrived at a London hotel we noted a cavalcade of vehicles and a galley of actors in costume sitting on the pavement smoking and drinking, waiting to be called to set. Luckily enough a kind hearted steward allowed us access to view more closely the chosen location, a hidden […]

Reflektor Kicks On…

Just a note to say, what a show stopping performance on Friday night by Arcade Fire at Glastonbury. A brilliant set, combined with outlandish costumes and papier mâché  heads of their own persona was a very clever and fitting finale.   From the archive – February 2014… A Quixotic Masterpiece Arcade Fire – Reflektor. Released […]

Bossa No Chance

I guess it wasn’t meant to happen. Let’s drown our national sorrow in Brazils finest export… the unbridled psychedelic cut and paste avant art protest music car crash of Tropicália. This mind altering mix started life some time ago as a playlist for an old Art School co-pilot in response to a Tjuana Brass laced […]

Best Bar Snacks !

The British Larder just outside Woodbridge has been shortlisted for best bar snack in Britain for its salt beef Scotch egg which is cooked to order. The brisket is cured on site, flaked down and mixed with sausage meat and served with horseradish. Sounds very yummy – will have to check it out ! We […]

And all I ask is a Tall Ship
and a Star to Steer her by

It is amazing that the Cutty Sark has survived at all. Many clipper ships were wrecked or lost at sea and the vast majority had a career that lasted no more than 20 years.  And of course the Cutty Sark suffered a calamitous fire in 2007 while in dry dock that was very nearly the […]

A Deluge of Birds

Captains Log – Saturday 7th June. My Saturday morning ritual has just been thrown by the prediction of a months rainfall in a single hour. I generally like to go for an hours river bank wander while little miss Forté is off pony riding, it’s a habitual attempt to right the wrongs of the sedentary […]

Friday Frame