08 Boxing Day 2013

Boxing Day.  Dark mornings up north you know!  I set my camera on time lapse so it didn't miss dawn, once it finally decided to show... 

You should see the sun rise and start to head on it's slow journey across the sky....


Cracking view from the conservatory.  Think we'll take advantage of the good forecast today and wander out for a walk somewhere. 



Yesterday the weather wasn't great and we weren't out long before the heavens opened.


Off out then to walk off a few Christmas calories.  We parked up next to a tanker that was next to the track we would head up.  So what's special about a tanker you might wonder? 


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Well, when you look at what it carries (clue on the side), it's a malt whisky from Bruichladdich,











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....and if there's any doubt just look at the hazchem label on the side...!  lets see, wonder if any one's watching... where's my water bottle....







Off on the track then,  This is where we went.

half way along, just look at the peace and quiet.

 

 

I know what you're thinking, I'm not really there at all, but look... I'm in Al's rucksack!







On the way back I catch sight of some wildlife.  Horses and highland coos...  They all seemed to want me to pose with them.

Back home and hunker down as the wind and the rain strike again.  Woken up at midnight by the howling wind.  The chimney balloon (Al says this is a balloon to stop the wind coming down the chimney when the fire's not on) went bang and shot up the chimney.  The waves outside are spraying over the garden wall.  The sea has turned into angry foaming froth.  The foam looks like what you'd expect if you put fairy into your washing machine, it's all over the place!  It was even on the road at the front of the house.  Al took me out to see it and take some photos but it was very dark...

It looks like snow but that's the foam off the sea at the front of the house omg!

Hardly slept a wink for the rest of the night!

07 December 2013 - Christmas in Bonnie Scotland

Al's sister Claire was very kind and let me go to Scotland and stay in her cottage on the Isle of Islay.   Al had let Claire see this blog and she seems taken with me, and thinks we're a bit mad!   Al and Sandy said they'd like to come too, so I relented and said yes.

The forecast said it was going to be a bit rough, with snow and winds expected so I insisted we set off early.  We stayed The Argyll Hotel in Inveraray on the way up having got over the main altitude passes (snow and sleat, but no real issues)

We arrived later the next day after a rough crossing.  We were okay but a few passengers didn't look so good and some paper sacks were evident....

Over to the village on the edge of the Loch.  The wind is high, the sea sounds busy, but it's too dark now to see what's what really.

Woke up to this view!  Conservatory overlooking (read almost in)  Loch Indaal. 

 

 

Thought I'd better get on with some work,  I needed to get this blog up to date, what a cracking view!  - this would make a great office if you could just make yourself work, talk about window gazing!

 

But the weather then just closed in.  Glad we were warm as toast inside :)

The next morning the sea was very rough outside.  Here's an early morning video...



And later here's the view from the back door...

Soon the weather cleared and we wandered out into the gales.

 

 

OK Rock, almost covered!  Al says this bit of rock is famous fro being painted like this, goes back since the olden days or something... anyway he says to put this link in so you know what it's about !
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/193885










Anyway, a bit further down the village is the pier.  It was supposed to be fixed years ago and made longer.  Al's sister raised some money for this to be fixed, a few pounds anyway, must still be in a fund somewhere!

So back to the cottage just as the rain started again.  The RAYBURN is going well so I'd thought I'd make some scones and flapjacks.  Al said "this takes me back.... "

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

06 December 2013 VULCAN!

Al's got a thing about the Vulcan, I know, I've told him he's an anorak but he won't have it, keeps going on about what a fantastic and unique piece of engineering it is.... yawn... wake me up when we get there!

Anyway, off to Doncaster it is then.  That's where you'll find 'Robin Hood Airport'  mmm yes I though that it would have been at Nottingham, or Sherwood Forest too!  It was origianly called RAF Finingley before it became Doncaster Airport and now Robin Hood.

Anyway, in the hanger is the last flying Avro Vulcan, (you know the type that bombed the Falklands?)  here it is;

I got to sit on the wing too.  In fact after sweet talking some of the ground crew I was able to get to other places that even Al wasn't allowed to go to!



Here's me on the wing...  It's a bit dark.  Al said something about me stealing all the light from the flash, prima donna or something - outrageous!






Anyway I got my own back when I met one of the engineers.  He asked me if I'd like to see some puppies, or at least that's what I thought he said... but anyway, he took me up into the cockpit.

 Seems that this is a very restricted place as the ejection seats have explosives in them so only specially trained people are allowed up there.  He must have liked me as he broke the rules and took me up.  When I asked him about special requests he said, with a twinkle in his eyes, 'you'd not believe what we get asked to do up here...' okay, time to step off your knee now!  Anyway, a couple of shots of me at the top of the entry ladder into the cockpit.

One last shot before we go..

It was only as we left that Al admitted he'd gone to see Concorde last week at Manchester Airport, but had forgotten to take me...

Like I say, total anorak!

05 November 2013 back to work!!!

Al and I travelled back to his old work for a short visit...  Didn't think too much of the room but Al says we'd have to get used to it seeing as we're only visitors here now : (

I went into the office and who did I see, but Di, my MUM!  You can see her in the photo, with her friend Caz on my left.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

04 - October 2013 'Loo does The Railway Children'

One of those favourite films is 'The Railway Children' 1970.  Al and Sandy thought it was about time we went to see where it was all filmed, near Haworth, Keighley in West Yorkshire, eh up!

So off early in the car to Keighley and onto
the train to Oxenhope.  But first let's have a cup of tea ...

 

 ...and a warm next to the fire.   er.what's that smell? acrylic?  where's that coming from?  Oh, we're off!

And then we're off to the childrens' home.  'Three Chimneys' 

 

Quick there's a train coming... WAVE!!

 

Six mile walk round

the loop and I had to take a

short sit-down rest ... hidden in full view eh?

03 October 2013 North Yorkshire Moors

Hi guys, well it's been a month of quiet at the new home.  Al and Sandy went off to Gran Canaria for a week and left me here, still working that one out!

Al said today he'd need to go and do some 'Green Lanes' and got a bike out.  Couldn't make that out as we've got a green lane in front of the house!

But soon we're off and within 10  minutes we're up on the moors.  It's so quiet and for over an hour we didn't see another soul.  Just shows when the kids are at school, it's a week day and the weather's been grotty for the last few days, no one but us ventures out! 

I've not been out for a while, the weather's been poor you see and given my constitution I can't handle too much water/vapour etc  - if you know what I mean!

But it was so quiet up there, not a sole in sight for over an hour.  Okay, it's a weekday and a bit overcast so I guess that's the reason.

Al shows how to go through a small puddle oooooh!

02 September 2013. Newcastle and then south to St Quentin, France

 

North..

Well I'd not been home long, (my new home that is) when Al was talking about taking me on a day out.  I'd never seen the sea, having come from the midlands you see. 

I've just realised too, that you haven't seen a picture of me yet!  Well here I am, looking out of the flat over the River Tyne, towards the open sea.  All these people going past, lot's of movement, so exiting!






South.

Soon home again but it's not long before I hear Al chatting to Sandy about another adventure.  Sandy can't come on this one, so just me and Al.  This one is about water, too.  Strange I've often heard the water flowing past in my life...

Not in the car this time either! 

I seem to remember my Mum, Di, saying she'd go out on her bike, or was it her fella's (?).  I think it was a 'Hardly Davidson' or something, but this the real thing a BMW.  Think one of my ancestors had one too. 

I know I know, I've not got my helmet on, but won't a bonnet do instead?  Sandy says she'll make one for me!

Just down the lane from the house, it's about to chuck it down.  mmmm last throw of the summer weather I think!  Sandy does the photo and heads back into the warmth,  good idea I think!

I'm tucked away in the warmth for the journey and the next stop is in Folkestone for an overnight in a local B&B.  Not too wet actually on the way down either.  Warmer too darn sarf (what ever that means?).  That said, going over the Dartford Bridge was miserable.  Cold wet and getting dark.  Cars nose-to-tail.  People drive like this down here every day it seems...

B&B not bad at all £29 inc full English in the morning.  Owner had even designed the gate onto his front paved garden, so it hinges in the middle to allow bikes to park nice and safely off the road.

Next morning and we're off.  Leisurely start as we're going on the train at about 11am.  What about the bike then Al?

We stopped at the station, big place it was too and parked with other bikers.  Then we're off to the train, but on bikes.....!  Al followed a few others and we all rode onto the train, then along it, carriage after carriage                    

 'Just park there sir,  against the kerb, it first gear, no need for straps'. 

 

They all know each other so Al introduces himself and me too.  We have Richard ('Wapping'), Andy ('Brenchlyhibs'), ('Wilbert') Kev ('KevB') and Paula (who has no nickname!).  Nice people, accepted me straight away, no probs or dramas, a normal event for these guys!

Off on the other side and away.  Weather looking good and stays that way, getting better and better.  Yes!




We pass through the outskirts of Albert and stop in the centre for a brew.  In the square is the Town Hall (La Mairie).  Looked like there was a wedding on as the wedding 'car' was waiting outside....

It's got a pair of dummies on top as bride and groom,  The car is painted and decorated like a friesian cow but the greatest surprise was what was inside...

In the back was a bed of straw along with a live rabbit, a hen and a cock bird!  All sat there looking at us as though we were the odd ones!  Al did video it, but his phone was to blow up a couple of weeks later,  hah, that'll teach him to back his phone up!

On to St Quentin for the night then in the 'La Florence' hotel and a great night out in a local 'American bar'  - when in Rome and all that!

Route to St Quentin











Up sharpish in the morning and we're off.  We're heading west to hit the coast and then up, back towards Calais for the Chunnel back again.  We're with a great bunch of guys.  They're fun, laid back and ride well, quietly disciplined and without attitude.  Chance to squirt on a bit and have fun when you want to, but steady away is fine too.  No dramas, just fun and scenery.  Only downside is you just can't stop without notice when you see something you really want to photograph.  A moped with strings of onions hanging from it, surely the stripy-topped rider would be back in a minute? oh well.
















Lunch stop in St Valery on the coast before the final run in to the Chunnel.  Here's a better shot of the guys, but missing me and AL,  AL!!!

01 My early years... 2009-2013

The life and times of Loouise Bo'Groll

(pronounced 'beau-graal' in deference to her franco-german heritage)

 

My name is Loouise, but please just call me Loo.  I'm not sure when I was born; though my first hazy memories were from when I found myself in a new home in 152 Cannock Block.  I had a brief glimpse out of the window, before ending up in my new room. 

 

I'm not sure who my mum is but I think her name is Di.  She used to look after the room but after a while a few other ladies did this, it was never the same.  I don't know who my dad is.  Al is the guy who lives in this room.

 

I'd heard a rumour that I ended up in the room when my mum couldn't clean there for a few days and someone else did.  Al mentioned to Mum that he'd become used to his toilet roll being folded over, just like in posh hotels.  Mum brought me to the bathroom soon afterwards.  They said it was a joke, but no one would think I'm a joke, surely? - though I did hear laughter....

 

After a long time, about 4 years, it was clear that Al was about to move out.  Al talked about me and what would happen and said it was about time I saw some of the wider world.  Mum agreed and said that was fine; glad I was going, but didn't want to lose touch - so I thought I'd write a bit of a diary in this blog.

 

I saw daylight for the first time in years, just as I moved out and headed north to a new home in Yorkshire.  I was relieved that Al had never ruffled my skirts, because I was now introduced to his wife Sandy!  I miss Di but Al promises to send photos or a card or something.