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
Thursday, 25 February 2010
Kick ass
Wednesday, 24 February 2010
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
Ober Dam
Monday, 22 February 2010
Castle Piece
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
Friday, 19 February 2010
Moley
Wednesday, 17 February 2010
Grand slam
Broomy
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
Pancakes
Monday, 15 February 2010
Sunday, 14 February 2010
Friday, 12 February 2010
Mill Lawn brook
Thursday, 11 February 2010
Monday, 8 February 2010
Sunday, 7 February 2010
Todd
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.