I didn't vote in the referendum.

So it's over, it's done, the nation has spoken and we're out. I didn't vote, mind. That's right, I didn't vote in the EU referendum. Yes, I talk and comment on politics regularly (too much some would say), and I'm sure my reluctance to vote came as a surprise to some of my friends, it was a surprise to my family.  But what did I have to vote for? What was my choice? 

Vote out? Align myself with the far right, closet racists and the misinformed nationalists. Those who seek to remove our rights, relegate us to mere work drones living to work and working in poverty. No, I couldn't do that. Of course, that's not the whole picture at all. A huge number of Brexiteers were disenfranchised working class poor, abused and ignored by the establishment and marginalized to an existence in poverty.  I feel their pain and understand their anger, although not their view that immigrants have caused all their woes, they clearly haven't, it's the establishment who have. The same establishment, elements of whom, have pointed them towards the immigrants, and ironically the poor and sick, as their enemy. And, elements of whom have been actively directing the out campaign.  Voting out will not make the life of the poor and disenfranchised any better. On the contrary, out will mean more suffering, more pain, more disenfranchisement, more austerity and more hate and division. That will soon become apparent.

Or.

Vote in? Align myself with the far right, closet racists and the misinformed nationalists. Those who seek to remove our rights, relegate us to mere work drones living to work and working in poverty. Hang on! That all sounds a bit familiar.  I used to be a fan of the EU and understood the benefits it brought. One world, one people, and all that.  Although that was then. In recent years the EU has changed, embarking on a program of watering down employment rights and environmental protection to make us more competitive, embracing TTIP and as for what they did to Greece, well.  Many EU countries are moving to the right, some the far right. The EU continues to expand east, and with it NATO, purposely antagonizing Russia, in clear dereliction of the agreements and promises made at the time of Glasnost. Not to sound like an 'outer' the EU is becoming a monster, a powerful capitalist monster, at that.

Some not really much choice there. As a good friend of mine puts it, 'the opportunity to choose the least odious of two odious turds', again! I just can't participate in these charades, these illusions of choice, any more!

For 6 years those on benefits, those living in social housing, the sick, the disabled have been marginalized and scapegoated, blamed for the country's problems, pilloried and attacked by our government and the press. It was all us and the immigrants what done it. As I remember it, the EU didn't come to our  aid, the EU didn't step in to support us or hold the governments to account for said attacks. When you've been vilified by the government, the media and a population too wilfully ignorant and easily fooled to understand that it surely can't be the poorest in society that have taken all the money and brought the country to its knees, what stake do you have in society? Note, I'd say. No matter which side had won the referendum the attacks on the weak and vulnerable were guaranteed to continue; does it really matter who's kicking you, or how hard the kicks are? Not really, you just want it to stop. I wouldn't have voted out, but I couldn't vote in either, I had no reason or right to vote, I hold no stake in society, 6 years have made that clear.

Breather

A butterfly stops briefly for a breather on a Common Spotted Orchid before alighting once again to rejoin the aerial foray. 

Hedge pig

It's not common to see Mrs Tilly-Winkle out in the day, in fact it's not common to see Mrs Tilly-Winkle or her kin, full stop. They used to be a frequent sight when I was younger, scuttling about in the bushes under the moon. Then there was a not so cool period when you frequently saw their remains on the road side. No though, you see neither (clearly not seeing the latter is a good thing) with much frequency. So, I was surprised, and delighted, to see this one noisily rummaging through the thickets of the common.  They've funny little faces and their black pearl eyes clearly mark them out as nocturnal, hence my surprise at seeing one out in the day, I was also surprised at how nonchalantly it continued about its to my presence. At first I thought, being out in the day, that it might have been injured or sick, although it moved at speed when it did move and looked a good size and healthy. Maybe environmental changes are necessitating adaptations or maybe it was that I was walking off the path, whatever, it was nice to see. 

Solstice sunrise

I'd risen long before dawn, in order to drive through the night the 60 or so miles to Pilsdon on the Dorset Devon border to catch the solstice sunrise. It was an eventful drive, 2 deer, a fox and a badger all caused me to take evasive action, still, makes a difference from having to take evasive action on account of numerous nut-bars in cars. I'd not visited Pilsdon for over 20 years and was looking forward to the visit, even if I wasn't certain there'd be much of a sunrise to see.  Pilsdon is the one of the highest, if not the highest, hill in Dorset and site of an Iron Age hillfort. That said, a road winds past the fort quite near to the summit and on arrival it didn't take long to reach the ramparts of the hillfort. What a view, man!  And to boot, the sun did indeed rise and it was stunning. Well worth the trip.

Below, the brief description I posted on friend-face.

Looking north-east this morning from the lofty heights of Pilsdon Pen hillfort, across the beautifully undulous west Dorset landscape, as the summer Solstice Sun edged deftly above the distant horizon accompanied by the sweet song of the dawn chorus.

Happy Solstice y'all

Brian Jonetown Massacre

We ventured out to the Engine Rooms in Southampton this evening to see the Brian Jonestown Massacre.  I've listen to their music for years after a friend suggested them to me, although had never seen them perform live. Nor, as it happens, had I been to the Engine Rooms, so an evening of all new experiences.

Firstly the Engine Rooms. Located in an industrial estate, it looked just that, an industrial unit as we languished outside in the rain, whilst the security staff slowly admitted only very small groups of punters in at a time. Once inside, the Engine Rooms on the inside was what you'd expect from the outside....an industrial unit. That said, the space was well used and laid out.

There was no support this evening as a member of the support band had fallen and broken her leg, bummer. On the bright side, the Brian Jonestown Massacre were rumoured to be playing a longer set, which the crowd were obviously very much looking forward to. I understood the bands live performances can be chequered, patchy and disruptive, even violent at times with audience members trying to wind the band up (sad wankers, why would you do that?), although they'd levelled out in recent years. I hoping for something good. The band began to fill the stage and they were off. Every member of the band are proficient musicians with years of experience, and it showed. It's clear why the Brian Jonestown Massacre are such an influential band, a group of consummate musicians, man, were they tight! From the get go it was top shelf stuff, song after song nailed. It sounds like a cliché, but every track was a killer, and there was most definitely no filler. And what an astounding back catalogue, and they used that astounding back catalogue to great effect delivering a really fantastic set and a long set too, they played for a good two and a half hours. The Brian Jonestown Massacre gave us an outstanding performance tonight, they all oozed charisma too, particularly Joel the tambourine man, who has a real stage presence.  The whole gig, long as it was, obviously went too fast for the crowds liking, and when the band had left the stage, even the prolonged calls for 'more' from the crowd couldn't bring them back on.  

What a great night, not even the 2 mile walk home in the rain from the train station could dampen my spirit.  A top night all round, and lovely see people I'd not seen in years and years.

Hanging in there.

I see things like this so frequently out in the woods that you'd think I'd become blasé about it. But I don't. Every time I come across a tree like this, it amazes me. Near hollow, severely damaged and with its trunk decaying, this Ash tree continues (with a little help from its friends) to hang on in there. Stretching upwards towards the canopy and life sustaining light, the remaining upright bough uses the generous support of surrounding trees to achieve its goal, and the boughs end is thriving. How amazing is nature.

Broomrape

Broomrape (Orobanche). I'm not certain which of the Orobanche family this is, although I think it's Knapweed Broomrape (Orobanche elatior). Broomrapes are parasitic plants, and having no chlorophyll, and so no green leaves or the ability to photosynthesise, it takes all its nutrition from its host plant. Listed as 'widespread though not common' it is not too common a sight in the places I walk, although here on Martin Down is one place I usually see it. An interesting plant on several levels. It's always a pleasure to spot the unusual.

Burnt Tip Orchids

Burnt Tip Orchids (Neotinea ustulata) on Martin Down. A really beautiful and rare (ish) sight, I counted 14 this year.

Mutant Foxglove

A mutant Foxglove (Digitalis pupurea) with a terminal peloric flower (Digitalis purpurea monstrosa).

Moon Duo @ the Joiners

I've been blessed with some fine gigs of late, and tonight’s treat were Moon Duo. A friend, who knows his musical onions, had gifted me ticket, telling me it would be a rare opportunity to see Moon Duo in these parts. Moon Duo are Ripley Johnson of Wooden Shijps on vocals and guitar, Sanae Yamada on keyboards and John Jeffrey on drums, and, man, do they create a groovy sound, or what!  How'd I describe their sound? Well, I'd say (and this is just my opinion), they create a stream of pulsing psychedelic, electro tinged, drone rock, with trancey veins. Or something like that.

It would be an understatement to say Ripley Johnson is a not too shabby a guitarist (nor singer), he's bloody good. Ripley laid down some really splendid riffs interspersed with plenty of top shelf noodling. All delivered in a cool laid-back and understated style. Whilst Sanae Yamada brought some really nice electronic synthy sound-scapes to the party. Sanae looked like she was feeling the music she was producing and that it was flowing through her.  Keys must be intense, as keyboard players always tend to look so serious and Sanae was no exception, although She beamed smiles in-between tracks. Now, John Jeffrey, the drummer, fuck, man! That was some really far out drumming, the guy's a machine, drumming out a well paced beat like a mentalist, whilst shaking a tambourine or a morracker and looking un-phased by any of it. I reckon he's really an android sent from the future to fuck with our minds. It's the only explanation. Fantastic tracks of plenty, each a total joy, the crowd were loving it and I think the band were enjoying it too; which is always nice. All together they created a really nice sound vibe, I absolutely loved it, and I for one could have listened to much more of it. Though sadly, as is the nature of gigs, it was over far too soon. 

After the show the band mingled and I got a opportunity to thank them. Well, I spouted some gibberish at John Jeffrey (whilst thanking him) about keeping his android identity a secret, he looked suitably confused. And, I did get to briefly thank Sanae Yamada and Ripley Johnson for what was a memorable evening, both of whom came across as genuinely lovely people. They said they'd pass this way again, I do hope they do.

Trance!

Due to the transportive powers of trance I found myself actually dancing in the food fortress today.  Now, I do enjoy dance music, although find trance is not something I can listen to unless I'm active: cycling, cleaning, gardening or shopping or such. I was listening to Neelix's 2012 Sorry Hannes mix whilst waiting at the bread counter, I was enjoying it so much and was so absorbed that it wasn't until the bass dropped and I had to stifle the urge to throw some shapes, that I realized I was full on trance shuffling. I had a bit of a 'Tyres' moment as I became aware of what I was doing and proceeded to shuffle, grinning, off down the isles. Well, you've got to make your chores fun.

Badbury sundown

A Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) flowering on the uppermost hillfort rampart is silhouetted in front of the sinking Sun. It doesn't matter at which scale you look at nature, from the immense to the microscopic, it's saturated with beauty. 

Slow worm

Slow worm? I wonder how they got that name, as when they see you that can't half move. This time of year your senses are alert to signs of slithering, what with it being Adder season. This little fellow was an unusual find for me. I frequently come across Slow Worms, though usually they have bits missing, this little had a complete tail.

A carpet of orchids

As we spiralled upwards around the three ramparts on our evening walk around the ramparts of Badbury Rings, we walked between swathes of orchids which carpeted the steep banks. Common Spotted Orchids (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) are represented in huge numbers and many varied forms, each seemingly unique. Whilst this year the Greater Butterfly Orchids (Platanthera chlorantha) are far more abundant that they were last year. Lovely, nature in her finest attire. As we wandered, our course set by the rings themselves, we were afforded a carousel of panoramic views, before descending through a chest high meadow towards the car. What a fine walk, I congratulate myself on my decision to come this way. I think Badbury's going to be a walk of choice for a while.

The shape of things to come?

My mind engages in flights of fantasy whilst out walking, as I walked through the stands I looked out into a weird area of dead woodland, and I wondered if I could be looking from the forest of today into the forest of the future. A scary thought.

Quacky races

Quacky races

Appleless

Sadly nearly all the Apple trees over the common have failed to fruit this year. I think it's either 'fire blight' or 'Apple blossom weevils', although, I'm no expert, I just know it means no apples this year. Bummer, I had plans for them.