Sunday 28 February 2010

Saturday 27 February 2010

Spawn

Red Shoot wood is dank and sodden, it sticks in my mind as one of the dampest places in the forest, not all of the wood, just the area beyond White Hill; here every aspect of the wood is dank, the ground yields easily underfoot, the trees are dark and appear to ooze moisture, even the ponies have a particularly bedraggled appearance.  I'm tiring now of the dampness, essential to the verdant beauty of the forest as it is; the season appears to be moving slowly, more slowly than usual; either that or I'm tiring of getting wet faster.  That said, the forest is still beautiful and a joy to walk through. 

Through Linford bottom runs  Linford Brook, a small waterway, often almost dry during the summer; now though it rushes by.  At one point, where to tributaries join, there are two natural ponds.  The larger of these ponds is filled with frog spawn, more than I've ever seen before.  If only half the frogs survive there'll still be thousands; I'll keep an eye out for that spectacle. 

Friday 26 February 2010

Ultimatum

Well, what a read, the ultimates universe has been well and truly rocked.  Jeph Loebs writing is first class as is the beautiful artwork by David Finch.  The catalyst for the events that unfolded was the death of the Scarlet Witch by Doom, but not even Doom could have foreseen the consequences of his actions.  Sure, Doom wanted a war, he wanted the chaos and destruction as he wanted to have dominion over the remains, but this.  A jolly good read all round, with plenty of shocks, plenty of action and a very unexpected finale.

Thursday 25 February 2010

Kick ass

Just finished reading 'Kick Ass', another Millar triumph; really great story, funny, full of beautifully crafted comic references with insight and humor, lovely artwork by Romita Jr, an all round top shelf read.  The movie is due out in April and I'm soooo excited; if what I've seen in the trailer is anything to go by, the film hold quite true to the comic.  Can't wait :o)

Wednesday 24 February 2010

Tuesday 23 February 2010

Ober Dam

The Ober was formally Red Rise Brook, itself formally Mill Lawn Brook; by the time known as Ober Water it has widened in places and contains deep holes.  Today the water reflected the colours of the adjacent wet heathland; it was orange, turning brown where the waters deepened.  Along one bank, the edge of Aldridge Hill enclosure, one of the oldest enclosures dating from 1681, originally it was coppiced then re planted in 1809 at the time of the Napoleonic Wars when a lot of oak trees were being cut down to build warships. Along the other bank is wetland heath, dank and overflowing with water at this time of year; in some areas the ground although looking firm is in fact barely solid and crossing them is like walking on custard skin, a scary exercise. 

Monday 22 February 2010

Castle Piece

Castle Piece is a moderately sized Hillfort in Roe Enclosure; or is it?  It is a banked enclosure with possibly a very shallow outer ditch, although its defencive capacity is doubtful. I know its been weathered and I know that later plantation works have been carried out; but still, taking that into account, the banks are slight as is the ditch, hardly defencive.  I wonder if the banks are more defining boundaries for a small settlement, with some defencive capabilities  although more to do with land tenure? I need to read up what I can on the site and take a longer more detailed look at the remains and their place in the landscape.

Gypsy Rose Tea

On my journeys through the forest I have regularly encountered discarded cook ware; tea pots, pans as well as the remains of leather shoes (usually the degenerated soles).  These finds are often off today's beaten tracks, the pots are usually crushed and appear to be 50 or so years old.  These finds have fascinated me; trying to workout what they represent.  Recently I found an answer; as often happens, several paths converged to illuminate the past.  It would appear that these apparently random finds represent a way of life once common place in the forest, now sadly marginalised, corrupted and outlawed.....Gypsies.  The forest was once well known for Gypsies, who frequently camped within its bounds.  Usually the pans or tea tops are crushed; why the pots are so frequently crushed is a mystery, maybe it was tradition or cultural.

Gypsies are a definable travelling group, first appearing in Britain during the reign of Henry the 8th as opposed to other groups such as, Irish travellers, New travellers, Eastern European Gypsies and other itinerants who appeared later.  Their name is derived from 'Egyptians' as that is where the Medieval Britons wrongly thought they came from.

Sunday 21 February 2010

Saturday 20 February 2010

Backley Bottom

Today was one of those surprising walks, filled with the unexpected, unexpected because we were in an area visited regularly, but still managing to tread ground I've never trodden before, seeing aspects of the familiar anew and experiencing woodland I'd only known from a far. At Bratley Arch where the Black Water, here known as Bratley Water, leaves the uplands of its birth for the dense and diverse woodlands of the Central forest; up hill through Bratley enclosure (1829), it's maturing Oaks standing proud.  I'm beginning to be able to gauge the age of the enclosures and the trees much better now.  On a ridge overlooking Backley Bottom I think I may have found a World War 2 site; a group of trench features amongst the ferns, several oval depressions banked on one side and a standard slit trench; this site requires further investigation.   Now on Bratley plain, I visit an mound rising from the regular flat heathland, it's a Bronze Age burial mound, its heart robbed out by the antiquity hunters of the 18th and 19th centuries leaving a roughly cross shaped depression in the center.  We enter Slufter enclosure, slightly younger than Bratley, dating from 1862; I've never walked in this part of Slufters and it differs greatly from the major part, which had been replanted with Pine at some point, here the woods were mixed, Oak and Beech with the occasional Douglas rising majestically, gnarly Holly and Yew.  I will come this way again.

Friday 19 February 2010

Moley

We passed the small yet tall stand of Eucalyptus trees at the site of Holm Hill cottage.  A mole or moles has been at work, tunnelling furiously they have left an abundance of earthy mounds; on one mound a long piece of clay pipe stem stands out, white against the earthy hues.  This got my attention and soon I was poking about through the protruding soil. There were the red fragments of housing brick and sandy slices of mortar both expected from a dwelling site; looking beyond them there is pottery sherds, bone fragments and  rusty nails.  All familiar on any post med to modern site.  I wonder how long there had been occupation on this site.  The woods are warm today.  Highland water sings as it travels, happily chattering as it flows over gravels and obstacles; it's joined by a myriad of birds all competing to be heard. Continuing through an area of young, oaks in the direction of Acre Down, it begins to snow!  Now, this snow was not fluffy flaked, rather tiny soft ball, like not properly formed hail; coming down quite fearously for a while, it began to cover the ground, before stopping abruptly.  By my return to Highland water the weather had turned full circle and a warm sun filled the sky.  I lay some small logs against a trunk build for comfort, gather a heap of ferns and create a comfy seat, from where I can see and hear the stream as well as being afforded a wide view of the surrounding woodland, a patchwork of blocks of coniferous and deciduous trees of varying ages.  I sit for a while, taking the air and tranquility. Nice.  

Wednesday 17 February 2010

Grand slam

Near Ashley Cross a large mound raises out of the flat heathers, covered in gorse and shrubs, it is both impressive and yet unimposing; the buried remains of re-enforced concrete submarine pens built in World War Two. The pens were constructed to mimic the u boat bases along the Atlantic wall. The body of water in the foreground of the photo is a historic site itself; the first test drop of the 2200lb 'Grand Slam' bombs. The 2200lb 'Grand Slam' bombs were designed to target sites such as the pens, Ruhr valley sites and important rail bridges; the bombs were designed to bury themselves before exploding 'earthquake bombs'.

Broomy

The sun beamed through the 200 year old maturing Oaks of Broomy enclosure (1809), the bright rays are warming on the the skin, more used recently to an icy scouring. One could be forgiven for thinking spring had sprung; an illusion, regularly the sun disappeared, obscured by clouds, and the season was brought back in to stark focus. Winter still has dominion, waning, yes, but still has it all locked down. Above the tall Oaks, twisting and spreading the mass of crowns was alive with the furtive sounding song of birds enjoys the joys of the day. There's a mist hanging over the forest, giving an ethereal feel to the landscape. Approaching 'the churchyard', site of a medieval hunting lodge, the piercing cry of a bird of prey fills the air as it circles the ancient tree covered ridge, adding to the air of mystery.

Tuesday 16 February 2010

Pancakes

Since I was a child, whenever I was suffering with a cold or such like I was given a hot whiskey with lemon and honey. Whilst enjoying my pancakes earlier, with a bit of lemon and sugar, followed by some honey covered ones, a plan dawned on me. So, mixing a little 12 year malt with the lemon juice and spreading honey on the pancake, I created the whiskey, lemon and honey pancake....and it was mighty fine.

Change is on the wind

Monday 15 February 2010

Sunday 14 February 2010

Friday 12 February 2010

Mill Lawn brook

We ventured out into the cold winter world, biting winds, which raced through and amongst the valleys and the hills carried on icy gusts, nipped at any exposed skin. Tramping the wet boggy valley bottoms which separate Ridley and Berry woods, the sun burst through the clouds to temporarily illuminate the oranges and browns of the heaters and last years ferns, all topped with crowns of skeletal trees which hug the hill tops, forming the ancient woods; the focus of the days ambling. We crossed Mill Lawn brook, not long after its formation in the damp fold of Ridley Bottom high on Ridley Plain. Ponies in their woolly winter cloths basked in the fleeting episodes of soft warm sunshine; the warmth only noticeable out of the wind, sheltered by woodland stands.

Thursday 11 February 2010

Monday 8 February 2010

Sunday 7 February 2010

Todd

A Wizard, A True Star.


I've never been to the Hammersmith Apollo, venue of legend, of famed performances; it's old and the atmosphere feels intimate, compared to modern faceless venues, more people hangers than places to enjoy performances. I took my place, nice seat, great view and I waited; who was 'Todds Johnson' the support and would the show live up to my expectations; what was there to doubt! Todd was his own support; playing tunes by Robert Johnson, legendary R&B fellow; the set rocked and a few mishaps made it feel real and intimate.

Then the main event, Todds 'A Wizard, A True Star', in full, never toured before! The band, all bedecked in white tuxedos, Kasim Sulton, Prairie Prince and Jesse Gress were augmented by two keyboard players and a saxophonist; Todd appeared in a spacesuit for the opening number, it was to be one of several costume changes. What a buzz, I never imagined I'd ever witness the spectacle unfolding in front of me, one of my favourite albums,  released in 1973, my favourite artist, top shelf.  The band and Todd performed beyond anything I could have hoped for, lavishing us with musical gold; each member excelling, the sax player, the drums, the keyboards, bass and guitar, all giving a sublime rendition of well crafted tracks, and appearing to enjoy it.  All to soon it was nearing the end.  The band returned to the stage for the last track, 'just one victory', a track I have frequently drawn strength from; out of this world and to top it off, to top it off.....I ended up with Todds plectrum, thrown into the crowd.  Top night, special night; still smiling.

Wizard, what!

British Museum

A place I really should have visited before, the British museum.  Having been interested in archaeology for 25 years or more, you'd have thought I'd have been a regular visitor; but the city is not a natural habitat for me and I shy away from journeying there, although I really should visit more often.  The museum was filled with objects I'd seen a thousand times in books, on programmes; but in the real, in the real they shone.  We only had a couple of hours, after shopping in the mind blowing large Forbidden planet and HMV along with a plethora of smaller groovy record stores, all I managed to see were the British prehistory, Romano British and some of the Middle East.  Still, to see some of those beautifully crafted artifacts was inspiring, the detail, the quality of craftsmanship; outstanding.  I'm beginning to really sense that the past is calling to me to find it, at every turn I look about and there's archaeology giving me a hearty wave.

Tuesday 2 February 2010

Monday 1 February 2010