skimpy diary and piffling poems

Feb2012,London

2012-01-17T14:50:00.004Z

W1 London,St Barnabas,Wed club
Th2 London
F3 London
Sa4 London,ASLAN,"Tree of Life",Terence Malick
Su5Feb2012Hinde Street
M6 ASLAN meal,West End Kitchen,Jonathan,Jackie,Mark
Tu7 Tom's group,Dave's
W8 art group,CaSM,St Barnabas,Wed club
Th9 nomads,BFI,Thursday tea-time,Mary and topology

843 aware
Life drawing always makes me more aware.
Aeneas, 'fore hound Cerb'rus, takes much care.
Keyword, aware - we can a bit more dare.
In ring, M25(twenty-five) - A12(twelve), cross road,
Behind a pillar, where the wind was slowed,
A pencilled sketch,trees,sky, - on pad, was stowed.
Ambrosi's Virgil's Trojan hero draws.
Here Cerberus,is threatening with his claws,
While Aeneas, with stick, with care, withdraws.

844 water
Baptises John his folk, in water flow.
This nook, Connection house, has water - no"!
So water, key word, is the greatest - yo!
This corner of the art room, water lacks.
But sketching out of rain, of wisdom smacks.
Life drawing here has water-factor, max.
Thus Jonhn the Baptist shows the lamb of God.
In desert, hair long,skins dust his feet, unshod.
To lamb in Revelation, gives a nod.

Su12Feb2012
Su19Feb2012
Su26Feb2012

Jan2012 Nederland,England

2012-01-05T15:49:00.021Z

Su1Jan2012Utrecht
M2 Utrecht
Tu3 Utrecht
W4 Utrecht
Th5 Utrecht naar Rotterdam

840 light
These abstract squares are something easy, light.
The nuns' two faces shine in candles, bright.
The key word "light", here, rests on punning, trite.
Some squares can make a happy sketch postcard.
To paint a set of squares, is not too hard.
To write some lines, you need not be a bard.
Two nuns light candles for Our Lady, Dear.
With piety 'n hope, they upward peer.
Hans Holbein's skill makes all those feelings clear.

845 field
Silenus, Polyphemus, pipes of Pan -
They dance in field with laughter, much elan.
While Brown turns empty fields, smart, into plan.
He's Lanc'lot Capabil'ty Brown,
Can make a lovely gard'n from any down.
Enlight'nment's gard'ner dares, comes into town.
So, Polyphemus tretanello dance.
Sex mad Silenus can us all entrance.
So Pan, the satyrs, atellana prance.

846 prickly
A gamm' ray burst is prickly - 't will us fry.
Erasmus says Duns' soul was never shy.
Two prickly things these are - you can't deny.
The Gamm' Ray Burst, or GRB, is short.
A few weeks when, by black hole, star is caught.
Just millisecs - two neutron stars play sport.
The soul of prickly Duns, Sorbonne, quick flies.
In fear, the goddess Folly shuts her eyes.
'N as he flies into her mouth, she sighs.

847 Brabanders
In Brabant, North, was Vincent, priestly, born.
Brabander, Holbein's sausage watched forlorn.
From Brabant province, heroes can't be torn.
He never owned one, but a love they sere.
The gardens in his short life, seem a blur.
Beneath his brush, fair Etten seems to purr.
Brabander calmly, at his sausage stares.
"The older, nutt'er", - this daily saying's theirs.
The Hollander, the way of life, glad shares.

848 He, Tintoretto, drew a holy cloth.
Erasmus folly, looked each morn with broth.
Together, matched well, make a holy froth.
In Venice, Tintoretto painted oil.
San Benedetto organ did much toil.
The panels, four, were later sliced to spoil.
The painting, holy, praying man adores.
Not die on day of looking, he implores.
Erasmus says of folly, many stores.

813 artist
An artist makes much work - but what is art?
For Warhol's fact'ry, it's consumer's mart.
For Greeks of old, it's painting from the heart.
Blond Andy Warhol's fact'ry, gave a lead.
The film of nine hour kiss, had little speed.
Tinned soup made art play with consumers' need.
Like Luke, who drew Our Lady, we have here
Apelles, Zeuxis, painting Venus dear.
So loving cheap art, folly, brings glad near.

Th6 R'dam
F7 R'dam
Sa8 R'dam
Su8Jan2012R'dam
M9 R'dam
Tu10 R'dam
W11 R'dam
Th12 R'dam
F13 R'dam
Sa14 R'dam
Su15Jan2012R'dam

841 winning
The abstract esses (S's) quick, bright, twist 'n spin.
St Bernard thought it right that he should win.
So winning, spinning, fills the key word in.
Don't need to worry 'bout my lack of skill.
The zig'zags wander brightly down the hill.
'N painting abstract, fun, gives me a thrill.
The holy psalms share dev'l 'n Bernard, Saint.
Great happiness from seven verses quaint.
Erasmus thinks that they trustworthy, ain't!

M16 R'dam
Tu17 R'dam
W18 R'dam
Th19 R'dam
F20 Hoek van Holland
Sa21 Harwich,A120
Su22Jan2012Colchester
M23 Colchester
Tu24 Kelvedon,Witham
W25 Chelmsford
Th26 Brentwood
F27 London

842 art
The keyword "art" fits "life drawn" to a tee.
The harpist's art gives all their list'ners glee.
Thus, key word "art" is good enough for me.
Main sketch is underneath a bridge once more.
By Colchester, A12 (twelve), the lorries roar.
To paint a sketch afar, 'n be more sure.
Ambros'us Holbein drew this donkey sketch.
The learned's speeches make Erasmus retch.
Like donkey with a lyre, leave much to fetch.

Sa28 London
Su29Jan2012Soper sermon
M30 St Martin's art group

December2011,Nederland

2011-12-04T12:27:00.015Z

Th1 Utrecht,Castellum Ultra Traiectum
F2 Utrecht
Sa3 Utrecht
Su4December2011Utrecht

Nederlands doorspekt met engelse foutjes
't Keurig alledaagse Nederlands
Te spreken, is mijn doel, heb ik de kans.
Dan gev'n ze mij, een mooie rosenkrans

Catherijne huis
Ik zit hier bij de Catharijne Steeg.
En als ik hier ben, word mijn maag nooit leeg.
Ook erwten soep, die ik van morgen kreeg.

M5 Utrecht
Tu6 Utrecht
W7 Utrecht
Th8 Utrecht
F9 Utrecht
Sa10 Utrecht
Su11December2011Utrecht
M12 Nieuwegein
Tu13 Lek
W14 Lek
Th15 Rotterdam
F16 Rotterdam,Dolf
Sa17 Rotterdam,Dolf
Su18December2011Rotterdam,Kerk van de Nazarener
M19 Rotterdam

833 mystic
The mystic theme neat runs through both these lives.
Eight hundred years great Rumi's verse still thrives.
To prove himself, walks sof'st on thorns like knives.
Islamic Sufi mystic Rumi sits.
The Dervish Shams has broke his world in bits.
Then from his learned life, he sadly quits.
The magic sofist walks on painless thorns.
His mind o'eromes the weakness of straight brawn.
The mystic dream from daily life is torn.

834 two planets
Here Merc'ry, Jupiter are planets, two.
With six years' flight is Mercury reached anew.
Minerva's birth means Jup'ter's skull cleft through.
Short year, long day, is Merc'ry, first from sun.
From sat'lite earthly, looping loops will shun.
But Mess'nger orbit long way still to run.
Erasmus talks just once, of Vulcan's axe.
Hans Holbein draws a show that nothing lacks.
Athena, fully armed, leaps out the cracks.

835 writing
For this card, writing's wholly at the heart.
Islam's calligraphy is lovely art.
Judea Jeremiah wrote his part.
Calligraphy, Greek word for writing good.
Jilali, Abdelqadar, message should,
This mystic reach - for skilful penman stood.
Old Jeremiah was a prophet great.
He lived to see Jerus'lem's dreadful fate.
And all his careful warnings led to hate.

836 food for needy
The food for bat 'n poor - giv'n without qualms.
The bat quick echoes supersonic 'larms.
True Christian gives the needy food 'n alms.
A climber's nectar, licks a tiny bat.
A hollow leaf clear shows just where it's at.
Bat's surpersonic radar, finds it pat.
A sturdy well-fed helpful Christi'n true.
Here stands before three poor folk in a queue,
Who keenly hope to gain some coppers few.

837 two princes
"Two Princes@ keywords neatly fit the plan.
Prins Willem's brother is a business man.
The Holy Roman Emp'ror Max - more than!
Prins Friso is new bus'ness CFO
Uranium enricher, Urenco.
These nuclear watts will green house gas, down slow.
It's Maximilian the first, we see.
Last knight, first gun - his name to you 'n me.
With Inntal silver, had more dough than we.

838 weakness
Some weaknesses we have, to pest us all.
The angel now brought low, has once stood tall.
Monk's human feelings strong, him hold in thrall.
Odilon Redon, painter French, well-known,
Drew sev'ral saddended fallen angels lone.
We do not know why God has them, out thrown.
A well-built monk counts dough 'n dosh with stick.
Too sinful's money, with right hand to flick.
With left, he strokes a woman's breast on quick.

839 higher thing
Abstract is taken out, from worldly things.
On this card, key word, higher thing, just swings.
The praying human to his folly clings.
These triangles are third in abstract row.
Before were lines 'n rings, in abstract show.
Perhaps some more to see where they will go.
St Christ'pher, praying man can death, off ward.
With cap of folly, Holbein, him, has floored.
But holy feeling, is his deathless sword.

Tu20 Rotterdam
W21 Rotterdam
Th22 Rotterdam
F23 Rotterdam naar Utrecht
Sa24 Utrecht
Su25December2011Utrecht
M26 Utrecht
Tu27 Utrecht
W28 Utrecht
Th29 Utrecht
F30 Utrecht
Sa31 Utrecht

Nov2011 - Nederland

2011-11-10T13:08:00.010Z

Tu1 Alkmaar
W2 Alkmaar
Th3 Castricum
F4 Beverwijk
Sa5 Sluizen
Su6Nov2011Haarlem
M7 Haarlem
Tu8 Haarlem
W9 Haarlem
Th10 Haarlem

831 heaven and earth
Together, bridge high brings the sky 'n earth
From heav'n, earth we need a little mirth.
'N Holbein's soldier , priest to "talk" give birth.
The foreground earth abounds with plants 'n flow'rs.
The heavenly sky them feeds with kindly showers.
Thus mother nature hides her awesome powers.
The priest is heav'n - the soldier earth is bound.
With little smile, the pike is on the ground.
The far-off eyes, with music high resound.

832 happiness
Gin palaces give sketch some pow'r extreme.
The sleeping is happy in his dream.
So "happiness" is here the greatest theme.
Life drawing here was under bridge, rain-free.
This sketch across free-time canal, I see.
A fresh air quick drawn look, makes glad for me.
Erasmus says, we all some folly need.
For happiness, to dream at slower speed.
Hans Holbein's sleeper clearly likes this creed.

F11 A4/A9 knooppunt,Badhoefedorp
Sa12 Schiphol
Su13Nov2011Amsterdam
M13 Amsterdam
Tu14 Amsterdam
W15 Amsterdam
Th16 Amsterdam
F17 Amsterdam
Sa18 Amsterdam
Su20Nov2011Amsterdam
M21 Amsterdam
Tu22 Amsterdam
W23 Amsterdam

beknopt Nederlands
't Keurig alleerdaagse Nederlands
Te spreken is mijn doel, heb ik de kans.
Dan gev'n ze mij een mooie rosenkrans.

Th24 Amsterdam
F25 Amsterdam
Sa26 Amsterdam-Rijn kanaal
Su27Nov2011Amsterdam-Rijn kanaal
M28 Amsterdam-Rijn kanaal
Tu29 Utrecht
W30 Zeist, Bilthoven

Oct2011,Nederland

2011-09-03T10:31:00.011+01:00

Sa1 Dokkum
Su2Oct2011Dokkumer Ee
M3 Leeuwaarden
Tu4 Leeuwaarden
W5 Leeuwaarden
Th6 Leeuwaarden
F7 Leeuwaarden
Sa8 Leeuwaarden
Su9Oct2011Heerenveen
M10 Heerenveen

onzin
In 't busstation van Heerenveen, zit ik.
Zie 't reisend mens, met onomwonden blik.
Wachtkamer geen - de wind doet zorgen, schrik.

Tu11 langs A7/E22
W12 under A7 bridge, rest day
Th13 Sneek
F14 Sneek
Sa15 Bolsward
Su16Oct2011Franeker
M17 Harlingen
Tu18 Harlingen
W19 Harlingen
Th20 Harlingen
F21 Afsluitdijk
Sa22 A7,Den Oever
Su23Oct2011N99,N250,Noord Hollands kanaal
M24 Den Helder
Tu25 Den Helder
W26 Den Helder
Th27 duinen
F28 duinen
Sa29 Alkmaar

828 lines
The theologian reads his lines with care.
Bright abstract lines are here for all to share.
Thus choice of keyword "lines" is more than fair.
This abstract's made of many coloured lines.
From centres six , the marks spread out like spines.
"All lines" is first for me - let's hope it shines.
The theologian quiet reads his book.
Duns Scotus, Paris, Scot, he ne'er forsook.
Hans Holbein's given him a wealthy look.

Su30Oct2011Alkmaar
M31 Alkmaar

829 nog een slecht gedicht
Eindelose kring is volmaakt oord.
Licht kring nu rond de vlam, is niet gestoord.
Dus cirkels, kringen, is het sleutel woord.
Gekleurde kringen vloeien van de kwast.
Ik hoop mijn kringen niemand zijn een last.
Voor't eerst voor mij, als abstrakt zijn gepast.
Een kaars wordt licht, voor Onze Lieve Vrouw.
De nonnen, twee, eerbiedig knielen gauw.
De Vrouw met Jezus vriendlijk neemt voortouw.

Sept2011,Nederland,Deutschland

2011-08-02T10:23:00.052+01:00

Th1 Cuxhaven
F2 L135
Sa3 Bremerhaven

819 wealth
Ms Taylor, Midas, both were rich as sin.
With Richard Burton, actors, great, will win.
His ass's ears, would Midas put in bin.
Ms Taylor, many years, bright shone as star.
'N Burton was her greatest love by far.
She lived her later yeyars in healthful spa.
Did Burton's drink 'n drugs her good health mar?
The intellectual, at passion jeers.
His folly shows like Midas' ass's ears.
But goddess Folly, says they are her dears.

Su4Sept2011Nordenham
M5 Varel
Tu6 L315
W7 Wilhelmshaven

820 bursting out
Both hope 'n fear burst out of dicer's heart.
Both light 'gas burst out of Turner's art.
So key words "bursting out" hit bull with dart.
St Vincent, Soufriere - the mountain blew.
So Turner colours, light 'n dark, thoughts drew.
Red clouds 'n shining water, hill top new.
Right topped up full with folly's dicers' game.
But not so bad a life,'s Erasmus' claim.
So often shout 'n scream,though - that's a shame.

821 walk
The key word's "walk" upon this new sketch card.
A little map to show some towns that starred.
The pilgrim has a road that's long and hard.
I forward look to each day new, with walk.
Through many towns 'n villages, I stalk.
At too much forward planning, best to balk.
Of pilgrims, many go to Holy Land.
Erasmus says they've nothing there got, planned.
With wife 'n kids, they leave a lonely band.

822 life drawing
For sketch card here, life drawing's good key word.
Outside life drawing - show what has occurred.
Of Zeuxis' painting, sadly nothing's heard.
A happy painter at his easel stands.
A drawing lively, skilled, flows through his hands.
And spreads his gladness great, through many lands.
On Rodenkirchen bridge's ledge, so dry.
'Neath thunder clouds, I watch the rain drops fly.
The restful lowing cows stand idly by.

823 earthquake
The earthquake's something we all have to know.
Christchurch earthquake near town, was deadly foe.
When Atlas shifts his foot, he brings us low.
Christchurch ENZED, had fearful earthquake near.
New Zealand, crust plates, two, athwart, must fear.
Some houses, schools 'n churches,folk, fell sheer.
But Atlas has the heavens on his back.
To balance them just right, is quite a knack.
He might just drop us, if he's feeling slack.

Th8 Jever
F9 Wittmund
Sa10 B210
Su11Sept2011Aurich
M12 Emden

824 lost in mist
Abstract 'n dicers - both are lost in mist.
The mistz abstact hopes zou get the gist.
The dicer hopes to, now, by fate be kissed.
Such squiggles put my brain in misty fog.
So many squiggles, I'm stuck in a bog.
But better quicker work - not such a slog.
Two dicers stare each other in the eye.
No trick or sleight of hand, quick, will get by.
And if one tries, beware the hue 'n cry!

825 leader
The key word "leader"'s clearly good for these.
Musharraf's Pakistan - 'n that's no breeze.
For Caesar's army forced Gauls on their knees.
Musharraf, gen'ral, Pakistan once led.
He wants to try again, as he has said.
He left democracy, so he has cred.
Hans Holvein, Caesar draws with two near friends.
To drunken Anthony, he happy bends.
But clever Brutus, Caesar's fear offends.

826 donkey
This card's word, is a donkey or an ass.
An abstract ghostly donkey, is a gas.
Thus Midas' ass's ears just made him crass.
A ghostly donkey peers out from the page.
All those who see her there, are clever, sage.
The rest of us give up in fear 'n rage.
Apollo's tunes were not as good as Pan's.
And Midas paid - upset Apollo's plans.
Hence Midas' ass's ears from our good Hans.

Tu13 Emden, Alte Liebe
W14 Emden, Alte Liebe
Th15 Emden, Alte Liebe
F16 Emden, Alte Liebe
Sa17 Leer,heim hinter Lidl
Su18Sept2011Leer,heim hinter Lidl
M19 Leer

827 long distance walk
A hand-drawn map with pen, marks where I`ve been.
When tired after walk, mirage is seen.
Long distance walk - key words - then set the scene.
Small sketch, Ostfriesland, Deutschland, shows the walk.
The Wattenmeer, "sea-snand" is worth some talk.
Three river deltas flat - "Ride bike!", they squawk.
Beware - al lot of walk can soften brain!
The truth is lost in mist - brain rots in rain.
Horatius´ chimaera then seems quite plain.

Tu20 B436
W21 Winschoten
Th22 N362
F23 Delfzijl

830 easel
My easel was the board that came with pad.
But Zeuxis', well-made wooden framework, had.
So Rembrandt's donkey made the English glad.
'Neath bridge, no rain - but wind makes mind beware.
Life drawing - bridge across the Ems at Leer (lair),
Where road deck - thick pad - can, on column, bear.
Dear Aphrodite - given by the foam.
With all that hair, perhaps she needs a comb.
Greek Zeuxis, painting her, looks quite at home.

Sa24 Eemshaven
Su25Sept2011Groningen
M26 Groningen
Tu27 Groningen
W28 Groningen
Th29 N355
F30 Dokkum

August2011,Nederland

2011-07-14T11:54:00.013+01:00

M1 Utrecht
Tu2 Amersfoort
Su7Aug2011Apeldoorn Ring
M8 Epe
Tu9 Zwolle
W10 Zwolle
Th11 Zwolle
F12 Meppel
Sa13 N371
Su14Aug2011N371 Smilde
M15 Assen

815 sausage
What's more abstractish than a sausage is?
Brabander sad feels sausage spirit's his.
His strength of mind is gonna make it fizz.
Brabander well-fed, gives his "worst" a look.
For abstract, "sausage" always be a "hook".
So key word "sausage" good enough, I took.
Some squiggles keep the eye a'looking round.
The colours bright 'n many all astound.

816 life
For this card, fun to sketch, is "life", key word.
Filos'pher, lively, wants his loins to gird.
Life sketching comes out best when I feel stirred.
In archway is wise man, keen, with woman, young.
He seems to look at her with much ho, gung.
She could perhaps, control him by ku, fung.

817 speaker
Ms Woolf, through writing, Folly, words, both speak.
This right key word, is then not far to seek.
Then hope for good sketch card is not too bleak.
She, Folly, speaks to all with hands 'n face.
Erasmus makes her talk, with lovely grace.
But frank 'n clear, she guilt does not efface.
Virginia Woolf, from blank 'n white shot, stares.
So I will try what colours right, she bears.
It is a well-known photo, with no airs.
With brushes four, our thoughts keep shifting ground.

818 jewel
The SKA is like a jewel on the earth.
The man bedecked with jewels is much worth.
So keyword "jewel" gives this poem birth.
The god like rich - weighed down with jew'ls 'n gold,
Prefer their folly glad, to wisdom cold.
The SKA - Square Kilometre Array - what's that?
A 'scope one KM wide - is where it's at.
The Aussies maz get most of it - oh drat!

Tu16 Gieten, N33
W17 Veendam
Th18 Winschoten
F19 Nieuwe Schans
Sa20 Leer
Su21Aug2011Leer
M22 Leer,B436
Tu23 Bagbank,mühle Strohhalt,B436,kirche
W24 Wiesmoor,Friedeburg,B436,B437
Th25 Varel
F26 B437,Schwei
Sa27 Nordenham,Bremerhaven
Su28Aug2011Bremerhaven,Deutsches Schiffsmuseum
M29 L135
Tu30 L135
W31 Cuxhaven

Jul2011,Nederland

2011-06-04T10:07:00.018+01:00

F1 Zierikzee
Sa2 niksen
Su3Jul2011Brouwersdam
M4 Haringvlietdam
Tu5 het trambaanpad
W6 onder Metro brug

821 - walk
The key word's "walk" upon this new sketch card.
A little map to show some towns that starred.
The pilgrim has a road that's long and hard.
I forward look to each day new, with walk.
At too much forward planning, best to balk.
Through many towns 'n villages, I stalk.
Of pilgrims, many to to Holy Land.
Erasmus says they've nothing there, got planned.
With wife 'n kids, they leave a lonely band.

818 jewel
The SKA is like a jewel on the earth.
The man bedecked with jewels is much worth.
So, keyword "jewel"gives this poem birth.
The SKA - Square Kilomet'r Array - what's that?
A 'scope one Km(KayEm) wide - is where it's at.
The Aussies may get most of it - oh drat!

819 wealth
Ms Taylor, Midas, both were rich as sin.
With Richard Burton, actors great will win.
His asses ears, would Midas put in bin.
Ms Taylor, many years, bright shone as star.
'N Burton was her greatest love by far.
Did Burton's drink 'n drugs her good health mar?
The intellectual at passion jeers.
This folly shows like Midas'asses ears.
But goddess folly says they are her dears.

820 bursting out
Both hope 'n fear burst out of dicers'heart.
Both light 'n gas burst out of Turner's art.
So key words, "bursting out", hit bull with dart.
St Vincent, Soufriere - the mountain blew.
So Turner, colours light 'n dark, thoughts drew.
Red clouds, 'n shining water, hill top new.
Right topped up full with folly,'s dicers' game.
But not so bad a life,'s Erasmus'claim.
So often shout 'n scream though - that's a shame.

Th7 Rotterdam
F8 Maas Boulevard,Dolf
Sa9 Corrie tenBoom,Haarlem kathedraal,Leiden Rijksoudheden
Su10Jul2011Dolf,Nazarene kerk
M11 Rotterdam
Tu12 Rotterdam
W13 Rotterdam, Delfse haven
Th14 Oud Krooswijk
F15 Museum Park,Schliemond,Lloyds kwartier,Dolf
Sa16 Dolf,Dordrecht,Vlaardingen
Su17Jul2011Nazarene Kerk
M18 Dolf's flat
Tu19 Blijdorp
W20 Delft
Th21 Delft
F22 Den Haag
Sa23 binnen ring,Den Haag
Su24Jul2011Centrum ring,Den Haag

wat Nederlandse onzin
Ik loop te voet, door vlakke Holland Zuid.
De Maasstad, Rotterdam, zich flink beduidt.
Met Amsterdam - geheel onwillig bruid.

M25 Wester Park, Zoetermeer
Tu26 A12,Sissel
W27 Gouda glazen
Th28 Oudewater, N228
F29 Utrecht
Sa30 Utrecht
Su31Jul2011Utrecht

Jun2011,Belgium,Holland

2011-05-03T13:38:00.018+01:00

w1 Kortrijk
do2 Kortrijk,OLH Hemelvaart
v3 Kortrijk
za4 Kortrijk,erfgoedwandelroute

804 beg
Abstract ´n monk in beg together sunk.
Erasmus folly finds in begging monk.
Abstract begs, please, not be seen as junk.
A monk sad begs, left hand on shoulder sack.
The other beggars ´re thrown right to the back.
Erasmus thinks these monks apostles lack.

805 magnet pull
On earth a girl exerts magnetic pull.
Attractive lady´s eyes can pull the wool.
The earth from axis poles, makes force in full.
Magnetic field wards off from sun, the wind.
Stops atmosphere round earth from being thinned.
And us with barren Mars from being twinned.
The lovely lady calls the jester near.
Magnetic pull works fast - she has no fear.
Erasmus writes this folly gives good cheer.

806 garden
Are Atten, heaven, gardens on this card.
This Atten, sad not owned, for Gogh it starred.
To tree is Adam led, through God`s back yard.
Gogh loved the garden, sadly never had.
At Atten, blues ´n greens the canvas clad.
Two women foreground, gard´ner make us glad.
Here God holds Adam´s hand ´n points up high.
The tree for knowing good from ill, is nigh.
Hans Holbein draws his Adam rather shy.

807 horse
The horse fly, ostler, both dear love the horse.
So with its meat, the horse fly likes some sauce.
The stable lad would gallop first the course.
Young photo student, digi cam´ra takes.
A super shot of insects, us awakes.
The horse fly sits with eyes of brown green strakes.
Sertorius could sway the folk with tales.
To make half-witted tales on horses´ tails.
Believe this folly - what the poor folk ails.

Su5May2011N50/N36
M6 Roeselare

wat Nederlandse onzin
Ja, gisteren was een regenachtig dag.
Na zo veel zon, de tuinier zegt "Dat mag!"
De boer blij, gilt "Hoera" en waait zijn vlag.

Vandaag de warme zon schijnt af en toe.
'Snachts viel de regen lang - wat een gedoe!
De plasjes hield mijn voeten koel - en hoe!

Tu7 Wijnendale
W8 M32
Th9 Brugge
F10 Brugge
Sa11 Brugge
Su12May2011N31
M13 Brugge

meer Nederlandse onzin
Dus, Brugge is een middelee'wse stad.
Robrecht de Fries de eerste gehad.
Zo veel fietspaden! 'T lopen's lekker plat.

Tu14 Damme
W15 Maldegem
Th16 Waerschoot
F17 Gent
Sa16 Gent,R40
Su19May2011Leie,Lieve,Schelde
M20 N9,Ringvaart brug

Nederduitse onzin
Mooi Vlaand'ren zit met oude steden vol.
Touristen vele lopen uit hun bol.
Door Gent en Brugge trekken voor do lol.

Tu21 Gent
W22 Dampoort
Th23 Gent,wandelroute
F24 Eeklo
Sa25 Breskens
Su26May2011het veer,Breskens tot Vlissingen
M27 Middelburg,binnen ring
Tu28 Middelburg,vesting singel

808 experimental
Exper'ment skilful tests a known unknown.
The doctor tests a basket on his own.
The X-crafts test how rockets, jets are flown.
Yank NASA built the X-craft, flying high.
Chuck Yeager's X-1 dared first sonic fly.
Now DARPA's thirty seven's secret - why?
He raises basket up, before his eyes.
The world glad sees a doctor skilled, as wise.
But is it here, a piss pot, he espies.

W29 Middelburg
Th30 Neeltje Jans

810 life
Can life be drawn and fed by nursing too?
The goddess Folly had wet nurses, true.
Life drawing will be something good and new.
The border Flanders, East 'n West, has wood.
For holly, oak, 'n chestnut sweet, it's good.
To draw from life, a twig of oak, I should.
Young baby sucks in life from nurses' breast.
Wise goddess Folly's 'tween her nurses, blessed.
Hans Holbein draws Erasmus' words with zest.

811 mount Olympus
Olympus mount, three thousand metres high.
Olympic flame, red flick'ring, burns the sky.
Mars, Venus, net, are trapped by Vulcan sly.
Left hand holds high, the Greek Olympic flame.
For London, life will never be the same.
No drugs or shooting, will be Seb Coe's aim.
The Romans loved their gods in human shape.
Forever young, they otherwise us ape.
At envy, love and lust, we only gape.

May2011,England,France,Belgium

2011-04-11T15:12:00.010+01:00

Su1May2011Dover
M2 Dover
Tu3 Dover
W4 Dover/Calais
Th5 Calais
F6 Canal/Waterway Calais to St Omer
Sa7 Canal de Calais
Su8May2011Canal de Calais
M9 Calais
Tu10 Gravelines
W11 Gravelines
Th12 Centrale Nucléaire
F13 Dunkerque,Loon,Synthe
Sa14 Dunkirk
Su15May2011Bergues
M16 Dunkerque
Tu17 Wormhout
W18 Cassel
Th19 Bailleul
F20 Armentières
Sa21 Lille
Su22May2011Lille,LOSC,Camp de Mars
M23 Lille/Rijsel

803 wise men
Two great wise men are in these sketches here.
Aurelius, Roman Emperor, made men fear.
Impress'nist founder, Monet, had no peer.
"Impression" painting gave the group its name.
Giverny garden - grow the style his aim.
French outdoors genius earned him world-wide fame.
Commodus, emp'ror's son was less than wise.
With too much wisdom, mother nature sighs.
Philos'pher's son can make more folly rise.

Tu24 Chapelle d´Armentières
W25 Armentières,Belgique/Belgie
Th26 Ieper
F27 Tyne Cot
Sa28 Ieper
Su29May2011Langemark,Duitse Kerkhof
M30 Ieper
T31 N8

photo to posterous

2011-03-25T10:21:00.002Z

F25Mar2011-10.00gmt,M'bone lby,lenovo,IBM,lenovo,IBM,hp

test to see what happens after my email was hacked

Apr2011 London and Kent

2011-03-15T09:47:00.011Z

F1 WLDC,M'bone lby
Sa2 Joe,ASLAN,Dave's
Sunday3Aprill2011Dave's,Rosary,Hinde St,Diane
M4 Diane,Northolt,WLDC,CaSM art,ASLAN,J&J,WEK
Tu5 WLDC,M'bone lby,CWC
W6 WLDC,CaSM,St Barnabas,Wed club
Th7 V&A,M'bone lby
F8 Boot's,WLDC downstairs
Sa9 M'bone lby,American church,Regent's Park,ASLAN clubhouse - Elliot's team,Dave's
Sunday10Aprill2011Dave's,Hinde Street,Dave's

een Nederlands gedicht(?)
Een mooi gedicht wordt als een rijm gedaan.
Dus dichter zijn, is wel een moeilijk baan.
De dichters woord dan vloeit als door een kraan.
Mijn woordenschat is echter veel te klein.
Het woorden zoeken schopt mijn arme brein.
Maar hopelijk maak ik gedichten rein.

M11 WLDC,CaSM art,M'bone lby
Tu12 WLDC,M'bone lby,HPH lecture,Cheryl Exum
W13 WLDC,CaSM art,St Barnabas,Wednesday club
Th14 WLDC,nomads,Eddy's and Michelle's beef stroganoff,Dave's
F15 WLDC downstairs, M'bone lby
Sa16 Joe's,Greenford, Leao's
Sunday17Aprill2011Dave's,Hinde St,Diane's
M18 Diane's,CaSM,ASLAN,WEK,Jackie and Elsie
Tu19 WLDC,Tom's group
W20 WLDC,CaSM,St Barnabas,Leao's leaving do at the Wednesday club

Leao's last day at Wednesday club,W20Apr2011
----------------------------
The We'n'sday club was run with Leao's aid.
Bonne Bouche or Pret, for sarnies Leao stayed.
For loved one's fun'ral far, a train was paid.
-----------------------------
I first met Leao, year two thousand one.
From comfy subway, sent a sketch I'd done.
He's going home to get a bit of sun.
------------------------------
He walks among the tables for a chat.
A calming word stops any noisy spat.
Without him here the club seems rather flat.
-------------------------------
He's built a team of friendly volunteers.
And when he goes, he'll leave them all in tears.
Cheer up! We'll have a coupla beers.

Th21 WLDC,nomads at Friends',Euston Road,fish and chips at Harry Ramsden's with Stewart
F22 All Souls',Zizzi with Gordon
Sa23 Regent's Park,ASLAN with Steve,Dave's
Sunday24Aprill2011Dave's,Hinde Street for Leao's leaving do,Dave's
M25 Dartford
Tu26 A2, Thorn
W27 Gravesend,Northfleet,Swanscombe
Th28 Bluewater
F29 lift to Dover
Sa30 Dover

sad new................ Robert Mitchell

2011-02-26T14:54:00.004Z

BEWARE - This is a scam! I don't want any money so don't send any.

Hello

I'm writing this message to you with sadness in my heart. I traveled to Malaysia for a short vacation and unfortunately for me, I was mugged at gun point last night a few blocks away from the hotel where i lodged and all cash, credit cards and cell phone were all taken away.

I have reported the robbery to the police but they are yet to find the muggers. My flight leaves in less than 72hrs from now and i am having problems paying my hotel bills. The hotel manager won't let me leave until i settle the bills. Please, I need a loan of £950 from you to return back home and i want you to get back to me if you can help.

Robert Mitchell

Matisse painting

2011-02-21T14:04:00.002Z

M21Feb2011-14.00gmt,Marylebone library,lenovo,Elonex,lenovo,IBM,hp

easel/ezel

sparkling water

2011-02-15T15:13:00.001Z

Download now or watch on posterous

MVI_0001.AVI (2460 KB)

Tu15Feb2011-14.50gmt,Marylebone library,lenovo,Elonex,Dell,lenovo,hp

posterous sends a 4 second video of sparkling water

Front Cover by Lucian Freud...

2011-02-10T17:20:00.005Z

Th10Feb2011-17.20gmt,Marylebone library,lenovo,IBM,lenovo,lenovo,hp

A delightful drawing of his daughter Esther Freud, by her father Lucian Freud is on the front cover of her book, "Hideous Kinky" brought out in 1993 and made into a film in 1999. She was also the great grandaughter of Sigmund Freud. After Hitler threw Freud out of Vienna at the "Anschluss" of Austria, Sigmund lived the last two years of his life in London.

I wish I could draw like this!

Sorry about the flash.

many site post

2011-02-08T10:03:00.002Z

Tu8Feb2011-10.10gmt,WLDC downstairs,hp,hp,hp,hp,Epson

post to new sites

Mar2011,London

2011-01-31T18:51:00.009Z

Tu1 WLDC Gordon and group,Derek at M'bone station,M'bone lby,CWC
W2 WLDC,CaSM art,St Barnabas Kensington,Wed club
Th3 WLDC,nomads,Th t-t,CWC
F4 WLDC,Friday forum,Capital A at Crisis Skylight,Thai resto
Sa5 Joe and "De Leeuw van Vlanderen",Hendrik Conscience,Hinde Street,ASLAN,Dave's
Sunday6March2011Dave's, Hinde Street,Diane
M7 CaSM,art,ASLAN,Jackie and Jonathan,West End Kitchen
Tu8 WLDC,Tom's group,HPH
W9 WLDC,CaSM,art,St Barnabas,Wednesday club,ash Wednesday
Th10 Boots,nomads,CAC,Thursday tea-time,CWC
F11,WLDC,art,CWC,M'bone lby
Sa12 Joe,Regent's Park,ASLAN,Dave's
Sunday13March2011Hinde Street,Dave's
M14 WLDC,CaSMart,CWC
Tu15 WLDC,M'bone lby,WLDC,Tom's group,CWC
W16 WLDC,CaSM,art,St Barnabas,Wednesday club
Th17 WLDC,nomads at Crisis Skylight,Thursday tea-time,Mary Hicks and Pascal,CWC

bird
The noble stands with falcon on the glove.
Aristocrat is born to be the guv.
Self knowledge, well is hidden by self love.
Picasso says Chagall's an angel head.
With colour magic skill, our eyes are fed.
The Russian genius painted on till dead.
Chagall's red bird flies high o'er flow'ring tree.
The nobleman flies hawk from hand with glee.
The key word "bird" brings them together free.

F18 WLDC,M'bone lby,dentist,CWC
Sa19 M'bone lby,Walton-on-Thames with Myra,Dave's
Sunday20March2011Rosary church,Hinde Street,Diane in Hendon
M21 CaSM,art,ASLAN at WEK,with Jackie and Jonathan
Tu22 WLDC downstairs,Tom's group,Boot's opticians,CWC
W23 WLDC,CaSM art,St Barnabas,Wed club
Th24 WLDC,Thursday tea-time,Gordon to Pizza Express
F25 WLDC,cmputer and art,M'bone lby,
Sa26 M'bone lby,American church,ASLAN,Dave's
Sunday27March2011Hinde Street,Dave's
M28 WLDC,CaSM art,CWC
Tu29 WLDC,M'bone lby
W30 WLDC,CaSN,art,St Barnabas,Wed club
Th31 V&A,Thursday tea-time,M'bone parish church

long trip
The "Voyager" craft 'n pilgrim - long trip.
To sun's bow-wave in space, far flies the ship.
The pilgrim sturdy walks with staff in grip.
In sev'nty seven probes by NASA sent.
By gassy planets, biggest four, they went.
More pow'r for years from isotopes is meant.
Erasmus - happiness some folly needs.
The pilgrim walks to where his whimsy leads.
But fam'ly wife 'n children he not heeds.

mystical
This "mystical" means not of normal life.
So mystical is abstract "like a wife".
The sophist's cut off clear, as with a knife.
A little hand's the only life-like thing.
Some colour mixing makes of blocks a string.
Along a river's flow the waters sing.
Erasmus as the sophist wants to play.
Hans Holbein makes him strong, on thorns to stray.
The sophist grimly walks, to pain give nay.

Feb2011,London

2011-01-05T12:37:00.007Z

Tu1 WLDC,Tom's group
W2 WLDC,CaSM,National Portrait Gallery,M'bone lby,Wednesday club
Th3 WLDC,nomad at BFI,Thursday tea-time at the manse,CWC
F4 WLDC downstairs,Friday forum at Capital Arts
Sa5 M'bone lby,American church,ASLAN,Dave's
Su6Feb2011Hinde St,Diane's
M7 CaSM,art,M'bone lby
Tu8 WLDC, Tom's group,Gordon meal at Zizzi,Hugh Price Hughes lecture,Chris Rowland
W9 WLDC,CaSMart,St Barnabas, Wed club
Th10 WLDC,nomads,CAC,Thursday Tea-time,M'bone lby,CWC
F11 WLDC downstairs,computer and art,M'bone lby
Sa12 M'bone lby,American church,Regent's Park,ASLAN,Dave's
Su13Feb2011Hinde St,Dave's
M14 WLDC,Gordon,Lesley and Mark at the West End Kitchen,
Tu15 WLDC,Tom,CWC
W16 WLDC,CaSM art,St Barnabas,Wesnesday club
Th17 WLDC,RNT nomads,Thursday tea-time with Dave,Pies
F18 WLDC,computers and art,M'bone lby
Sa19 M'bone lby,ASLAN

key word, "easel"
The English keyword, straight from Dutch was drawn.
Dutch ezel donkey carries weight unworn.
Matisse his "dahlias" paints on easel born.
Le Cateau born, Matisse in Nice sad died
From lawyer trained new painting styles he tried.
From breakthrough '19 fame was on his side.
Anbrosius Holbein singing donkey draws.
With unseen harp laughiing loud ee-ores.
Erasmus says - like talking, cut with flaws.

Su20Feb2011Hinde Street,Diane
M21 CaSM art,M'bone lby
Tu22 WLDC Tom's group, M'bone lby
W23 CaSM art,King's College Archives
Th24 WLDC,nomads at Wellcome building,Thursday tea-time,JonKurt,"O Filho do Brasil" about the young Lula,at Tricycle Cinema,Kilburn
F25 WLDC,M'bone lby
Sa26 M'bone lby,American church,Joe
Su27Feb2011Rosary church,Hinde St,Dave's
M28 WLDC,M'bone lby

January2011,London

2010-12-07T09:52:00.011Z

Sa1 ASLAN,Dave's

793 key word "east"
Land Anatolia East, by rising sun.
The Turk West, out of town the Greek could run.
For eastern plane in Spain the weather's won.
Manzikert sev'nty eight, the Turks spread west.
At Istanbul gained European zest.
As father, this is Holbein's little jest.
Planes "east" 'n "west" make up the London plane.
The bark peels off so dirt goes down the drain.
No fertile seedlings - city cleaners' bane.

Sunday2January2011Hinde Street
M3 Dave's
Tu4 WLDC,Tom's group,M'bone lby
W5 Bank,Angela Lee,Wednesday Club
Th6 WLDC,nomads CAC,M'bone lby
F7 M'bone lby,WLDC,Any Questions,Hinde Street,Michael Portillo,Matthew Parrish,Ken Livingstone,Dame Vivienne Westwood
Sa8 American church, ASLAN,Robin Hood,Dave's with Alan.
Sunday9January2011Dave's,Sister Marguerite and Rosary church,Hinde Street
M10 WLDC,CaSM art and Scrabble,Lesley and Mark,West End Kitchen
Tu11 WLDC downstairs and Tom's group,M'bone lby
W12 WLDC,CaSM art,L&M at WEK
Th13 WLDC,nomads CAC,Eddy's meal,Hinde St,Gordon,Leao,Dave,Eddy,Derek,Stewart
F14 Bank,WLDC,CWC,M'bone lby
Sa15 M'bone lby,American chuch,Regent's Park,ASLAN,Dave's
Sunday16January2011Hinde Street,Dave's
M17 WLDC,CaSM art,Westminster Reference lby,M'bon lby,CWC
Tu18 WLDC downstairs, Tom's group,CWC
W19 WLDC,CaSM art,St Barnabas,Wed club
Th20 WLDC,Hinde St talk on Wales,M'bone lby, CWC
F21 WLDC downstairs,computer art,M'bone lby

een Nederlands gedicht, blank vers, vijf-voetige jambe
't Rijmen kan mijn woorden schat miet aan.
De ritme kan ik wel uit oefenen
Emmaus gangers schilderij gemaakt,
door Caravaggio - met uit stekend kunst.
't Oogenblik toen Jezus werd herkend.
't Oogenblik - daarna Jezus verdween.

Sa22 M'bone lby,American church,Joe,ASLAN,Dave's
Sunday23January2011Hinde Street,Dave's
M24 WLDC,CaSM,art and Scrabble,Lesley and Mark
Tu25 WLDC downstairs,Tom's group,CWC
W26 WLDC,CaSM,M'bone lby
Th27 nomads,Thursday tea-time,M'bone lby,CWC
F28 WLDC,art and computer,M'bone lby
Sa29 M'bone lby,American church,ASLAN,Dave's
Sunday30January2011Hinde Street,Leipzig Kreuzkirche,church lunch,Dave's
M31 WLDC,CaSM,art,Westminster Reference Lby,CWC

robertmitchell,SPAMnewsletter Nov2010, 1 of 30,short, shortened and back in the smoke

2010-10-29T11:02:00.002+01:00

                                               attached photos
1   6 second video, 4MB - "Britain from the Air" - Needles from Isle of Wight to the top of Bath Abbey.
2
3
 
diary                  http://sdapp.blogspot.com/ 
flickr photos       http://www.flickr.com/photos/the-reindeer
 
Hello kind reader,
 
Sorry for the slow answers to emails, the lack of comments on flickr, and the lack of photos on flickr, blogger, and SPAMletters. I have had only a few hours each week on the computer. I mean to do all these things sooner or later - later is more likely. Sorry for the typing mistakes.
 
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
 
F15Oct10-11.20bst,Bath library,hp,hp,hp,hp,?
 
Sorry for the lack of a SPAMnewsletter in October. There it was, gone - a month's writing! Where it went I know not. The attached photos are still there. If I'm lucky it may still be floating on a yahoo server, but I'm not holding my breath.
 
In the early morning near Cat's Ash, ENE of Newport, I stopped to check the map under a street light. A small black cat with a red collar strolled up, looked at me and thought "What's he doing here?" "Hallo, there!" I whispered. It settled down crouched behind a bushy flower staring deep into the dark under the trees abut two yards away. I found my road, we wished each well and went our ways.
 
1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
 
Tu19Oct10-09.30bst,Devizes library,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,?
 
Last night I slept in Freddy's Wood which seems to be a wood planted by volunteers. It is now full and has lots of room for sleeping or walking the dog.
 
At Mathern W of Chepstow, I found some ripe roadside figs. I can't recall ever finding ripe figs in Britain and they were delicious. Round the Med, yes. They have a rough skin and I ate so many that my tongue and mouth were too raw and sore to eat any more.
 
I was amazed to find that the river Wye at Chepstow has the second highest tidal range in the world at 14m (46ft). The old cast iron bridge to England of about 1800 is still up with the sea surging round it every tide. I believe the highest tide is at the Bay of Fundy - 50ft - on the Atlantic shore of Canada.
 
Bath has an outdoor exhibition in the town centre "Britain from the Air" - of over 100 giant floodlit pictures with "Fascinating Facts and Data". I spent a couple of hours looking round.
 
222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222
 
M25Oct10-09.30bst,Reading library,hp,Compaq,Compaq,hp,?
 
The computer is wiping chunks of my writing. This was half an hour at Newbury library last Friday. Sorry about that.
 
33333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333
 
M25Oct10-09.30bst,Reading library,hp,Compaq,Compaq,hp,?
 
This morning I got up under a bright third quarter moon that was almost overhead. It felt like daylight.
 
4444444444444444444444444444444444444444444
 
Tu26Oct10-10.00bst,Maidenhead library,IBM,NEC,IBM,IBM,?
 
My sandals are on their last legs, or perhaps feet. The uppers are held together by string, the sole is thin and the heels down. If the whole sandal breaks at the same time, that is a good design, imho - made by Karrimor.
 
55555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555
 
W27Oct10-10.20bst,Slough library,neoware,hp,Chicony,Compaq,?
 
Last night I slept on the main roundabout of Maidenhead under a big fir - a good spot. This morning I walked to Slough along the A4 - by the big Slough Trading Estate to the North to the High Street which is a big new shopping centre. Then to the East end of the High Street, the Uxbridge Road to where it crosses the Slough Arm of the Grand Union Canal. Lastly along the canal back to the railway station and the town centre.
 
The Slough Arm built in 1882, was the last built on the canal system. I hope all being well, to walk along it to GUC and Uxbridge, followed by the Underground back to London. The Slough Arm first carried bricks, then sand and gravel. The boats carried rubbish from London, for landfill in the gravel pits. By 1950 lorries were doing all this work, but it is now navigable for leisure boats with a good towpath.
 
6666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666
 
Th28Oct10-09.30bst,Slough library,WYSE,hp,Chicony,Logitech,?
 
In the reference library of Llanelli I found a yellowing newspaper cutting from 1972 pinned to the wall.  Llanelli Rugby Union Club beat the New Zealand All Blacks 9 - 3. They were the fourth club ever to beat the All Blacks. Phil Bennett was the new Barry John. The only other name I knew was Derek Quinnell. I believe that was the only match the All Blacks lost on  that tour.
 
Some library computers are a bit slow in connecting to the internet. The fastest I came across was at Aberaeron, a small but charming harbour on the N of Wales, beloved by Dylan Thomas. The library was small and shared the town hall. The librarian told me that they also shared the town hall's internet connection!
 
77777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777
 
F29Oct10-10,40bst,Marylebone library,lenovo,NEC,lenovo,lenovo,hp
 
Last night I kipped in some trees near a roundabout between Slough and Eton. Big browny-yellow triangular leaves fell from some of the biggest black poplars I have ever seen - the trunks about 1.5 metres (5 feet) across. A dozen or maybe more had been planted in a row. I saw no black poplar saplings though, but many sycamore.
 
In Wales after the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor near Newport, I read in the South Wales Argus, that the organisation had been praised by newspapers across the US - NY Times, US Today. "Well run - but for the weather!"
 
This morning I was up early about 1 am, walked to the Slough basin of the Slough Arm canal, along the arm and the GUC (Grand Union Canal) , to Uxbridge. I was in time to get the first Metropolitan to Baker Street.
 
888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
 
Best wishes to all, Robert

December2010,London

2010-10-28T10:47:00.017+01:00

W1 WLDC,M'bone lby,Christmas dinner at Portman Square
Th2 WLDC,nomads CAC,Thursday tea-time,pies with Gordon
F3 dentist,WLDC downstairs
Sa4 M'bone lby,American church,Regent's Park,Christmas dinner,All Souls',Dave's flat
Sunday5December2010Sinter Klaas,Hinde Street,Dave's flat
M6 WLDC,CaSM art and Scrabble,CWC
Tu7 WLDC downstairs,Tom's group,CWC
W8 WLDC,CaSM,Wednesday club,Rebecca's class
Th9 WLDC,CAC,Th t-t,CWC
F10 WLDC,computer and art,M'bone lby

air
Duns Scotus' prickly soul flies through the air.
As theolog, can folly witness bear.
Duns' soul in, goddess "folly" now can dare.
Light Hydrogen burnt Hinderburg, flamed down.
Half blimp, half plane,new spies make West's foes frown.
To carry unmanned cheap, is future crown.
Mechanix Modern thirties, carries plane.
Joint Skyhook shifts big load for no road bane.
On planet's atmosphere, ground search would gain.
Sa11 Sainsbury's Cromwell Road,M'bone lby,American church Christmas party,Regent's Park,ASLAN entertainment,Dave's flat,MotD
Sunday12December2010Rosary church,Hinde St,Dave's
M13 WLDC,CaSM art and Scrabble,CWC
Tu14 WLDC,Tom's group,Marylebone liby,M'bone singing
W15 WLDC,CaSM art,M'bone lby,Wednesday club
Th16 WLDC,nomads CAC,Thursday tea-time Christmas party,meal with Gordon,Dave's flat
F17 WLDC downstairs
Sa18 Sainsbury's Whitechapel,ASLAN dinner
Sunday19December2010Hinde Street,Dave's flat
M20 WLDC,M'bone lby
Tu21 WLDC,Museum of Everything with Sam,book2
W22 WLDC downstairs.nomads,CAC,M'bone lby
Th23 WLDC,nomads,M'bone lby

een Nederlands gedicht, blank vers, vijf-voetige jambe
De wolken velden stromen langs me heen.
Met enk'le blaue plekkenuit het oosten.
Min een graad - koude dagen komen aan.

F24 WLDC Christmas lunch
Sa25 Hinde Street,Leao's for Christmas lunch
Sunday26December2010Hinde Street

JERUSALEM (from 'Milton')
by:William Blake (1757-1827)

And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?

And did the Countenance Divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among these dark Satanic Mills?

Bring me my bow of burning gold!
Bring me my arrows of desire!
Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!

I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land.

M27 CaSM
Tu28 CaSM
W29 WLDC,M'bone lby,Wednesday club

the key word, "black"
So black's a colour - no! - but good or bad?
For Jeremiah, black is only sad.
Black poplar catkins, seeds, me make quite glad.
Three-angled leaf, black poplar, flutters wild.
In marsh it dries out e'en by winds so mild.
Tall poplars dappled lilght, leave me beguiled.
Seer Jeremiah gives a black forecast.
Jerusalem will fall to foes at last.
He later looks at fallen walls aghast.

key word "book"
A book in print is like a mem'ry store.
So many tricks help mankind's mem'ry poor.
Today's web, internet hold me in awe.
She, Arundhati Roy won Booker Prize.
For me so sadly, unread it still it lies.
She looks at Kashmir - split - through clear eyes.
Hans Holbein's reading monk's a happy chap.
Erasmus says self love's the cause perhap.
For others, just monk's sight, puts in a flap.

Th30 WLDC,nomads,M'bone lby
F31 WLDC,M'bone lby,RFH

791, key word, "bright"
The Pope's a bright star - shines in Europe's life
Anemones from Renoir's pallette knife
Make bright the world with gorgeous flowers rife
Pope Leo Ten(X)sits on his pinewood throne.
Erasmus says the Pope's a worthless drone.
But I can't match his speech - it's all his own.
And Paris town-life's Renoir's stamping ground.
A lovely still-life's not so often found.
Great artist Renoir paints all genres sound.

F8Oct10, short video from the library of Cardiff

2010-10-08T11:17:00.002+01:00

Th7Oct video shows a short clip from the window of the library of Cardiff looking along Working Street

Nov2010,London

2010-10-07T10:01:00.012+01:00

M1 WLDC,CaSM
Tu2 WLDC,Tom group
W3 WLDC,CaSM,Wed club
Th4 WLDC,nomads atCAC(Camden Arts Centre),pie day withEddy andGordon,Jaime Bautista and exhibition at 7 Dials club
F5 WLDC downstairs,Capital A withJen at CrisisSkylight
Sa6 M'bone library,
Su7Nov2010Dave,Hinde Street
M8 CaSM,art and Scrabble
Tu9 WLDC,Tom's group

life drawing
biloba Ginkgo, Maid'nhair tree from fern,
with fan-like leaves split veins, its name can earn
No ov'ry wall like firs, gives naked kern.
Erasmus thinks the folk show folly much.
Hans Holbein draws a headed monster such.
They're swayed by skilful leader's simple touch.
Great Minos king of Knossos on the isle of Crete,
Who led his folk by nose with tales short neat.
We're nowt but herding sheep who helpless bleat.

W10 WLDC,CaSM,MoE,Wednesday club,Hinde Street class
Th11 nomads,Thursday tea-time,CWC
F12 WLDC, Birkstead Open Discussion Group,BODS
Sa13 M'bone lby,ASLAN
Su14Nov2010Rosary church,Hinde Street,President of Methodist Conference, Alison Tomlins
M15 WLDC,CaSM art and Scrabble,ASLAN Lesley and Mark,Dave's flat
Tu16 WLDC,Tom's group,CWC
W17 WLDC,CaSM,art,M'bone lby
Th18 WLDC,nomadsCAC,Thursday tea-time,HindeStreet

ecstasy
Jerome, knew five old tongues, the Vulgate wrote.
Erasmus reading much, on him could dote.
He sore, Jerome in ecstasy could float.
Erasmus ecstasy as folly saw.
For him, as near to heav'n as man can claw.
This hope the cardinal thus upward bore.
This abstract is a mixing colour tool.
With life long learning, now's the time for school.
With white 'n black, new shifts in shade can rule.

F19 WLDC downstairs,CWC

falcon
The Reaper like a falcon high up flies.
Its prey it searches with far-sightyed eyes.
A deadly stoop straight down from ground it pries.
Hans Holbein draws a falcon on the hand.
An aristo is looking rather grand.
Let loose - on high the falcon spies the land.
Afghanistan above, like falcon fast
The Reaper shadows close its foes aghast.
And stops a roadside bomber with a blast.

Sa20 M'bone lby,Americal church,200 years Hinde Street church,ASLAN,Dave's flat

space
Small comet hartley Two is belching gas.
From not far off is peanut shaped, the lass.
For start of sun a clue, this lowest mass.
Space station ten years old, but what comes now?
The end of NASA's shuttles furrows brow.
The lack of gear does science not allow.
Big science cosmic rays, is AMS*-02.
Columbus ESA** lab - clear space seen through.
Jap's biggest module Kibo - work 'n crew.
* Spectrometer - amms O-2
** European Space Agency - eesa

Su21Nov2010Hinde Street,Hooker and Young,Dave's flat
M22 SLC,WLDC,CaSM,art and Scrabble,CWC
Tu23 WLDC downstairs, Tom's group
W24 M'bone lby,CaSM show
Th25 WLDC,nomads,Th t-t,RachelCavill,StAnne's,Dean St
F26 WLDC downstairs
Sa27 M'bone library,Victoria MacDonald with Limey Pete,Portugese service at Hinde St
Su28Nov2010Rosary church,Hinde St church lunch and poetry,Siony's flat with Dave
M29 WLDC,dentist,CaSM art and Scrabble,Lesley and Mark at West End Kitchen
Tu30 WLDC computer downstairs and spirituality group with Tom,CWC

Oct2010 Wales to London

2010-10-06T09:35:00.014+01:00

F1 rain, Swansea
Sa2 A48, Port Talbot
Su3Oct2010A48/A473, Bridgend, Pen-y-Pont ar Ogwr
M4 A48, rain Cowbridge
Tu5 Cardiff,Caerdydd
W6 Cardiff, rain
Th7 Cardiff,Llandaff
F8 Newport with lift
Sa9 Caerleon,Newport
Su10Oct2010A48,Caerwent
M11 Chepstow

Above us
Above us floats the abstract - What's it mean?
The art investor rich cares not a bean.
The canvas brightens wall - by friends be seen.
The lawyer is above us all in skill.
He tells us what to do to meet law's will.
We may need quite a lot to pay his bill.
Much art today would show us how life feels.
With happy, sad,the colour that appeals.
The mood by line, design 'n shape that heals.

Apples
Ripe apples Cox's, Granny'sgreat to eat.
For Adam, Eve 'n serpent, quite a treat.
Today we know we have of clay, our feet.
Her "apfelbaum" puts Munter frame amid.
Her "gelbes Haus" behind - it's almost hid.
Bright green, red shade, she's off convention rid.
So simply made drawing's not a drag.
To struggle over sketching's not my bag.
Art modern light - do well in colour mag.

Tu12 A403,old Severn bridge,Junction 17,M5
W13 Bristol
Th14 Keynsham,A4
F15 Bath
Sa16 Bristol-Bath Railway Path

Earth
Atlas struggles universe to bear.
He should have had some help from PM Blair.
So grim, he sadly misses Tony's flair.
The wat'ry sky gives rain - much needed ware.
'Tween Mars 'n Venus shining Sol can glare.
Our nearest Luna night-time light can share.
Earth's solid core's at temp 'n pressure rare.
Needs di'mond, lase, X-rays to match what's there
The atoms' layout Nickel, Ir'n's laid bare.

Su17Oct2010Bath
M18 Kennet & Avon canal,Bradford,Dundas and Avoncliff aqueducts,Freddy's field
Tu19 Devizes
W20 Kennet & Avon canal
Th21 Kennet & Avon canal,Pewsey wharf
F22 Kennet & Avon canal,Newbury
Sa23 Newbury
Su24Oct2010Kennet & Avon canal,Aldermaston
M25 Reading,lovely sunshine
Tu26 Maidenhead,rain
W27 A4,Slough
Th28 Windsor,Eton,Slough
F29 Slough,Uxbridge,London
Sa30 London
Su31Oct2010Dave's flat

September photos

2010-10-01T09:32:00.002+01:00

1 Tu21Sep Monkstone Head N of Tenby

2 Th23Sep The Five Arches Gate through the walls of Tenby.

3 Su26Sep night shot of the quay side of Carmarthen

4 Su26Sep night shot of the prisoners' gate from the town into the castle.

5 Su26Sep Towy footbridge at Carmarthen

more sunrises

2010-09-30T11:54:00.002+01:00

1 Su11Jul Hay-on-Wye

2 Sa10Jul walking towards Brecon beacons

3 W7Jul walking into Hay-on-Wye

robertmitchell,low-light and night shots

2010-09-15T10:20:00.002+01:00

W15Sep10-10.00bst,Milford Haven library,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,?

1 Sa4Sep sunrise from A487

2 Th2Sep bottom station of the railway up Constitution Hill, Aberystwyth

3 Th2Sep Aberystwyth Town Hall

4 W1Sep Aberystwyth Promenade, north beach

5 M6Sep sunrise over Cardigan

robertmitchell,SPAMnewsletter Sep2010, 1 of 30, walking down the West side of Wales

2010-09-15T10:07:00.001+01:00

attached photos

1 F27Aug Harlech castle in the early morning.

2 Th26Aug the Ffestiniog steam railway about to reach its end of the line at Porthmadog

3 M23 Aug Night shot of Telford's suspension bridge, 1828, Menai Straits, Bangor A5. See also Conway and Brunel's Avon gorge.

4 W25Aug supermocro of lovely flower but what is it? Quite a few are around.

5 Sa28Aug looking across te river Mawddach toward Cadair Idris foothills from my camp on top of the cliffs by A496 near Barmouth

6 Su29Aug high cliffs near Cadair Idris from the top of the pass on the A487 - work was being on the parapets of the road

7 W1Sep Aberystwyth promenade at night

8 Th2Sep Camera Obscura on the top of Constitution Hill at the northern end of the promenade of Aberystwyth. It is said to be the biggest in the world.

9 Sa11Sep St Non's chapel, now in ruins, which was built was the house where St Non gave birth to St David, in 500?

10 F10Sep Tower of St David's cathedral taken from the cloisters. See the hefty buttress and flying buttress on the North side to stop the cathedral from sliding into the stream (?).

diary http://sdapp.blogspot.com/

flickr photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/the-reindeer

Hello kind reader,

Sorry for the slow answers to emails, the lack of comments on flickr, and the lack of photos on flickr, blogger, and SPAMletters. I have had only a few hours each week on the computer. I mean to do all these things sooner or later - later is more likely. Sorry for the typing mistakes.

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M23Aug10-11.50bst, Caernarfon library,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,?

Conway was a delight to walk round. Most of the wall can be walked and I took a snap from the highest tower. I followed the A55 to Bangor. The Cambrian mountains fall to the sea and the road has to find its way round high headlands around Penmaenmawr and Llanfechan. The road was busy and noisy but the mountans and the sea made it worthwhile - I saw a rainbow on the waves.

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Th26Aug10-10.30bst,Porthmadog library,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,?

Two days ago I walked over the Llanberis pass between Snowdon at 1085m and another at 999m. A lot of bare rock was to be seen, with grass for the sheep. I guess the pass as being at about 700 m. Llanberis is a former slate town with many quarrymen, who set up a union. Today it is an outdoor town for tourists with the railway to the top of Snowdon. When I was there, the railway was closed due to bad weather at the summit.

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Sa28Aug10-10.30bst,Barmouth library,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,iCAM

Today I walked to Barmouth/Abermaw which is a seaside resort with a working harbour - mostly small yachts. The train runs across a bridge and long viaduct across the estuary of the river Mawdd.

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W1Sep10-10.00bst, Aberystwyth library,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,?

I slept the night beside the A487 about few miles NE of Aberystwyth in a wood that was planted in the 50s, between two streams under a big alder and a sycamore sapling that was trying to grow under it. Today I walked into Aberystwyth which has a big university and a holiday resort. Edward I built a big castle but Cromwell knocked it down.

On Bank Holiday Monday well after dawn, on the road between Machynlleth and CAT (Centre of Alternative Technology) I saw peeping through the mist over a hill (about 1 degree) twinkling rising in the east, the dogstar, Sirius the brightest star in the sky. The last two clear nights have let me see the stars. The third quarter moon has gone by Jupiter and given me a lot of light in the early morning as it rose higher in the sky. Jupiter is in Pisces the moon now in Taurus, I think. Orion is also rising in the East.

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Th2Sep10-10.00bst,Aberystwyth library,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,hp

I'm still in Aberystwyth for the second day. Last night was on a warm bed of pine needles on Pen Dinas hill outside the town. This morning I had a look at the church in Llanbadarn, dating from the 12th century where in the 6th century St Padarn founded a monastery. I took a photo before dawn but the photo was still dark after a 10 sec exposure!

Then on to Constitution Hill which has the biggest Camera Obscura in the world - or so they say. The outlook over Aberystwyth was glorious.

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F3Sep10-10.20bst,Aberaeron library,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,hp

Today I'm in Aberaeron, a charming seaside port - mainly for holidaymakers with a harbour full of yachts, but also some fishing. It claims to have a Regency harbour.

Dylan Thomas liked to call in to see some friends. He lived nearby at Newquay. He also liked to go for walks around here, most of all if there was a good pint and good company at the end!

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M5Sep10-09.50bst,Cardigan library,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,?

In 1176, the Lord Rhys held the first Welsh eisteddfod in Cardigan castle. Cardigan is a long curving high street down to the bridge over the river Teifi. Abertiefi, mouth of the Teifi, is the Welsh name of Cardigan - though Cardigan sounds quite Welsh to me.

The 7th Earl of Cardigan led the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava.

Cardigan has about 6 or 7 WCs, some big some small, some old some new - but all clean and well looked after. I never found one locked so I think they must be open all night. Thankyou Cardigan! If they can do it, why can't everyone?

Did you know that at Pendregat, a village on the A487 between Aberaeron and Cardigan, you can go NW along the B4321?

I have four ways of carrying weight. The best is to throw it away but I try only to do that when I no longer need it. The second is to wear it as clothes. The third is to put it in my backpack as high up on my back as I can get it. The fourth is in my hand bags where I put stuff that is bulky but light.

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Tu7Sep10-09.50bst,Fishguard library,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,?

200 - 300 years ago, drovers would drive cattle, sheep and geese from Wales to London market. I saw some drovers' roads on Offa's Dyke Path. They were wide and grassy to let the animals graze. Cattle were shod by the blacksmith while sheep and geese had boots of tar. The drovers made a lot of noise so that the farmers could get their own cows out of the way. They were mostly honest since they did not get paid till the animals were sold in London. They evolved their own banking for handling their money. The railways put an end to their trade in the 1860s.

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F10Sep10-10.30bst,St David's library,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,hp

The last invasion of Britain was in 1797 near Fishguard by 1400 French. 200 years later in 1997, a tapestry designed by Elizabeth Cramp was unveiled to match the Bayeux Tapestry about 1066. I saw it in Fishguard library. A highlight is Jemima Nicholas, cobbler of Fishguard who arrested 12 soldiers and brought them in. Two days later they surrendered unconditionally.

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M13Sep10-10.00bst,Haverfordwest library,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,hp

St David's is the smallest city in Britain but the smallest cathedral is St Asaph near Denbigh. They were both first founded in the 500's.

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Tu14Sep10-09.50bst,Haverfordwest library,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,?

Haverfordwest is the county town is the Pembrokeshire. The High Street is overlooked by the high walls of the Norman castle, slighted by Cromwell. I had a look at the castle yesterday and it is still quite impressive. Only the shell of the walls were left. The town was founded here by Tancred the Fleming where the ford over the river met the ships from the sea. The town has done well ever since on trade. In 1120 Henry I let Tancred and some 100s of other Fleming refugees settle on the Western Cleddau river.

My new batch of sketchpostcards are at 10" x 7", twice as big as my last batch at 7" x 5". The sketches are therefore twice as big and the doggerel round the edge about 40% longer. But the writing is about 2-3 times as much since the address takes up the same space.

The most successful pirate ever Black Bart, true name John Roberts, was from Little Newcastle near here. Over 4 years, 1719-1722 he captured over 470 ships and earned £50 million. He was killed by grape shot from a British warship and his body dumped in the sea as he had always asked his crew to do.

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W15Sep10-10.00bst,Milford Haven library,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,?

Even with GPS and SAT-NAV, Trinity House are still running a lighthouse at Strumble Head between Fishguard and St David's. It has four beams, with about 1 sec between followed by a gap of about 5 sec, so that it goes round in about 8 sec. I have been watching it all the way from Fishguard to St David's and going SE from St David's.

Today I am in Milford Haven having walked the 6 miles from Haverfordwest. I took a night photo of the Texaco terminal and refinery on the other side of the sound. I guessed at 5 sec exposure and it looks roughly like what I saw. This is a new and modern library a little to the west of the town centre.

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Best wishes to all, Robert

August photos 2

2010-09-07T10:29:00.002+01:00

M23Aug10-11.50bst, Caernarfon library,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,?

1 M16Aug Henry Morton Stanley - "Dr Livingstone, I presume?" - was born John Rowlands in Denbigh, Wales before leaving for USA.

2 Tu17Aug Rhyl PO, where I posted a sketchpostcard

3 Th19Aug sunrise over Llandudno, from the carpark on the road to the West beach

4 F20Aug the smallest house in UK, Conway

5 F20Aug Conway quay,

robertmitchell,SPAMnewsletter Aug2010, 1 of 30, 'Nuffa Offa, I'm for Owain Glyndwr (Shaespeare's Owen Glendower)

2010-08-23T10:01:00.002+01:00

diary http://sdapp.blogspot.com/

flickr photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/the-reindeer

Hello kind reader,

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W21Jul10-10.40bst,Llanidloes library,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,?

btw, at the first "neutral" World Cup, the top three teams, Spain, Holland and Germany, were from Europe and the top South American team, Uruguay, was fourth.

Last night around 7 or 8, I was woken up by some of the heaviest rain I have known for about half an hour. My summer layout lets me get up quickly. It keeps me dry in heavy rain but my backpack and one of my bags are outside. I was wondering how they would be and was I outside my "safety envelope"? "No" is the answer but at the time I wasn't sure.

The national trails have bright metal gates that shut with a happy ringing clunk. I didn't know that I didn't know what was ringing. After 100 gates or more, I asked myself - "What's ringing?" Now I knew that I didn't know what was ringing. After a little messing about, I found that the gate is ringing, hung as it is, on two hinges and made of hollow section of galvanised(?) annealed(?) steel. The clunk comes from the gatepost which is damped by the earth. Now I know that I know what is ringing.

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Sa24Jul10-10.10bst,Machynlleth library,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,?

Sheep make a huge woolly blanket for Mid-Wales. I must have seen a thousand or more, for each person. Cows make a smaller leather jacket. When I walk up to a group the nearest is the first to run. The devil take the hindmost! When one starts running they all run. If one stands its ground staring hard, its lamb is nearby. But they don't warn it by bleating. AndI never challenge the mother.

I have seen a fair number of cows with calves which I see seldom elsewhere. Like the sheep a cow blocked my path and would not move. Cows are bigger than sheep and I gave her a wide berth!

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F30Jul2010-12.40bst,Welshpool library,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,?

Mid-Wales is mighty green, with much drizzle and light rain. At night I have seen the stars only once between clouds though I have seen Jupiter quite a few times. The main industry seems to be sheep. I have seen some crops, mainly hay and oats, I believe and also timber.

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M2Aug2010-09.40bst,Welshpool library,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,?

In Victorian times, Mid-Wales was wealthy from mining. The Van mine (shut 1921) not far from Llanidloes, was the biggest Lead mine in Britain. They also found quite a lot of Zinc. The second biggest I believe, was at Dylife (shut 1886). Smaller ones also tried to find big lodes of ore but none is still working.

In Mid-Wales are many buzzards with their falling whistle of a call. I saw a few and one perched on a gate post for 2 seconds. The raven and its croak is often heard. The tawny owl is often heard at night in the woods but seldom seen. The same goes for the wren in the daytime. I spotted one for 2 seconds as it hopped from one branch to another. The red kite is said to be common but I was not aware of any.

A family of 4 or 5 pheasants flew up 3 yards away as I walked along the path. Some grey wagtails walked on the stones in a shallow stream. A fledgling chaffinch (?) fluttered round my feet trying to get away. I haven't seen many pigeons - perhaps a few stock doves.

The oak seems to be mainly sessile round here, rather than pedunculate (?) as in London. The foxglove flowering brightly a few weeks ago is now going to seed. Blooming is the knapweed and rose bay willow herb. The small mammal I see most is the light grey common shrew, dead lying in the path.

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Tu3Aug2010-11.40bst,Ostwestry library,stone,LG,MS,MS,?

Flying low over Clywedog reservoir, was a Short Belfast on training for low level flying.

Welshpool at the end of the Glyndwr way, is a pleasant market town. It has the Powisland museum in an old warehouse of the Montgomery canal. The High Street has not yet been taken over by the national chains and has many local shops. They have however, some big supermarkets, Spar, Morrison, Sainsbury, Somerfield and Tesco is building! The TIC let me recharge my camera batteries for four hours while I sat in their nice little caff.

On Satuday I walked to Montergomery a small town that has given its name to a big shire. It has a big rocky outcrop which has a castle that guards the Severn valley. It gained its first charter from Henry III in 1227 and has more or less the same road layout as then. The Seigneure de
ontgomerie came over with the conqueror and gave his name.

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Sa7Jul10-10.50bst,Chester library,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,iCAM

A mum ewe and her three lambs were in the middle of the path. The three lambs leapt up a low 2 foot cliff to get away. Mum looked at me and thought "Do I need to do that for this bloke? - No - pull de udder one!" So she strolled a few yards down the path and climbed up a smoother slope to her lambs.

The other morning I got up too early to start my walk. To the NE I saw flat streaks of dawn through black clouds. Overhead was the old fourth quarter moon shining through the dark branches of a sycamore tree. Before me was the black outline of the strand of barbed wire and open mesh fence that keeps the sheep in their grazing field. Below in the valley were the yellow sodium street lights of Chirk and the big high white steam plume of the Cadbury chocolate factory.

Chester is an old Roman city where the 20th legion was stationed. This legion beat off the warring tribes of Boudicca and the Iceni. The middle ages walls still make a more or less whole ring round Chester. The second bridge over the Dee The Grosvenor bridge was when opened by Princess (later Queen) Victoria in 1832, the longest single span brick bridge in the world. This record is now held I believe, by the Brunel railway bridge over the Thames at Maidenhead from 1839. Chester still has only two bridges. The Roodee Chester racecourse - next meeting 21st August - is where the Roman harbour once was before the river silted up.

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Th12Aug2010-10.20bst,Holywell library,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,black

I have been eating raspberries for some weeks now, but my first ripe blackberry was in Welshpool on Su1Aug. On the grassy paths over the heaths, tasty bilberries go with heather, gorse and bracken. Longlasting and juicy also are cherry plums.

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F13Aug10-10.00bst,Flint library,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell laser 5100

Yesterday I was in Holywell and had a look at the leftovers of the Basingwerk Cistercian abbey, founded in 1132 and "dissolved" by Henry VIII. The holy well was where the head of St Winefrid fell when she was beheaded by an unhappy lover. She was put together again by her uncle St Beuno. The stream in the valley powered the early industrial revolution in the valley from 1766. Thomas Williams(?) made copper sheeting from Parys mountain for copper bottomed boats.

I am seldom overcharged but at a steady speed of about once in three months. It is only a few pennies and I have never said anything. "He won't come in here again so I might take a few pennies." I was overcharged by 30p a few weeks ago - about 10%, meaning the price on the till was 30p higher than the price on the label. I got no receipt so it went into the pocket. If I get a receipt it goes to the supermarket.

I was once undercharged. I only spotted that I had too much change after I had left the shop and it was only a few pennies. Great force was needed to wrench myself round through half a turn and drive my feet back. But I was wrong! It was in Norway where they have change machines. The shopper before me had left their change in the machine for me (or forgotten it). I am always grateful for a few pennies.

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M16Aug2010-10.00bst,Denbigh library,Compaq,Dell,Compaq,MS,iCAM

My last night on Offa's Dyke Path was near Bodfari on the A541. I was under some alders by Wheeler river in a restful spot. A wall of nettles was round the alders but I found a way through under a branch and nettles could not grow under the trunk. All night I listened to the quiet rippling of the water over a low waterfull. Did I hear an otter? A biggish animal walked round my camp, too big to be a vole or rat. Later as I was getting up, I heard a hiss like a cat followed by a smooth "plop" as it dived in.

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M23Aug10-10.00bst,Caernarfon library,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,?

Today I walked from a bridge near Bangor where I kipped overnight on a ledge, to Caernarfon (Castle on the river Arfon). I went to the suspension bridge built by Telford and took a night photo. The walk to Caernarfon was about 7 miles in the dark with little traffic but some light rain. Caernarfon castle and walled town was built by Edward I, 1280s, and is now a World Heritage Site.

Sorry that this SPAMnewsletter is a bit late but I have been short of computer time.

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Best wishes to all, Robert Mitchell

attached photos

1 Sa17Jul Greyhound pub in Llangunlo

2 M19Jul Fire warning in the woods above Abaty Cwm Hir

3 Tu20Jul cows gazing by the stones of Abaty Cwm Hir

4 Tu27Jul Seymour Art at Subway Gallery, 10th - 25th September, Mon - Sat, 11am - 7pm

5 F30Jul The Raven Inn at the end of the Glyndwr way by the Raven roundabout in Raven Street. At Raven Square is the station of the steam railway from Welshpool to Llanfair. Nearby is Raven bridge over a stream where I saw a dipper, shaped like a wren but as big as a blackbird.

6 Tu3Aug Borderland farmer by Ivor Roberts-Jones RA, Oswestry

7 Su1Aug Robert Owen the reformer, in Welshpool

8 Su8Aug Thomas Harrison's model of the Grosvenor bridge, Chester

9 Su15Aug St Asaph cathedral, said to be the smallest in UK. It was founded by St Kentigern/Mungo in 560 and handed over to his pupil, St Asaph when he went back to Scotland to become bishop of Glasgow in 576.

10 F13Aug The old terraces and the new tower blocks of Flint. Before the tower blocks were built, you could still see the road layout from the Middle Ages in 1277.

Sept2010, Wales

2010-08-14T11:12:00.009+01:00

W1 Aberystwyth
Th2 Aberystwyth
F3 Aberaeron

een Nederlands gedicht
Om de kanten heen is een gedicht.
Ten eerst had hij geen engels moeten zijn.
Maar eig'lijk moest hij op z'n ned'lands zijn.
En ik had graag een mooie rijm gedaan.
Mijn woordenschat is echter veel te klein.
De ritme kan in wel uit oefenen.

Sa4 A487

Abstractions
Erasmus' "Praise of Folly" loves to mock
The scientists whose pride he wants to knock.
Astronomer, astrologer the same,
As words they sound - but is it only name?
Abstractions can be painted into art.
Kandinsky's new field sells well in the mart.
From landscape, portrait, third way showed the feel
Of life - or shapes and colours to appeal.
A simple plan - or of it, make a meal?

Su5Sept2010Cardigan/Aberteifi
M6 Cardigan/Aberteifi
Tu7 Fishguard
W8 Fishguard/Abergwaun
Th9 A487
F10 St David's, much rain. St Non's Retreat
Sa11 St Non's Retreat
Su12Sept2010A487
M13 Haverfordwest
Tu14 Haverfordwest
W15 Milford Haven
Th16 Pembroke Dock
F17 Pembroke
Sa18 Tenby,Denbigh y Pysgod

flight
Hans Holbein's winged harsh devil, his own way -
A frightening beast to Middle Ages day.
With gloating crowns, to make the martyrs pay.
Big Sunderland on Coastal C'mand patrol,
Atlantic War was cutting U-boats' role.
Cut Churchill's fear of Britain in a hole.
In Pembroke Dock, the Centre Flying Boat
I saw a crashed propeller, netted float.
Brave wartimne airmen downed, who hist'ry wrote.

Su19Sept2010Tenby
M20 Saundersfoot, Dramway and Stapaside Ironworks
Tu21 Tenby

garden
'Tween Paris Rouen, Seine, Giverny lies.
His garden Monet often painted and plies
Into our minds delights, to ask us why's.
To Eden Garden, God leads Adam's hand.
Then civ'lisation - Cain grew crops on land.
Folk mem'ry time when picking fruit was banned.
First father of "Impression, rising sun".
Marmottan got it from Michel, his son.
Grand Palais Paris, claim that they've been done.

W22 Manorbier
Th23 Tenby
F24 A478/A477
Sa25 St Clears/SanCler A477/A40
Su26Sept2010Carmarthen/Caerfyrddin/Moridunum

water
Erasmus says that folly's loved by luck.
Luck rides a ball in water like a duck,
Pours in the lap of folly manya buck.
But woe betide the wise folk, in their work.
They struggle early morn till night time mirk.
Luck steals their sweat with not the smallest perk.
Claude Monet shows a rising sun, deep red.
Into the mind black boats red sky, are fed.
Reflects, wood ships blue wharves, impress instead.
M27 Carmarthen
Tu28 Pontiets/Pontyates B4309

Nederlands gedicht over blank vers
De ritme zonder rijmen - blank vers.
Vijf voet'ge jambe - Shakespeare mooi gedacht.
Die Multatuli, hij heeft veel gedaan.
Lang zitten voor die foto op de stoel.
Da's moelijk schitsen - foto wit en zwart.
Voor zo veel grijzen - een tekort aan kunst.

W29 Llanelli
Th30 Swansea

robertmitchell, fotos August 1

2010-08-14T11:03:00.001+01:00

1 Sa31Jul the rock on which Montgomery castle was built

2 F30JJul end of Glyndwr Way in Welshpool

3 Th30Jul cutting hay on Glyndwr Way

4 F13Aug looking out of the window of the cafe beside Basingwerk abbey. A steel butterfly is clipped onto tulips growing in a pot.

5 Th12Aug In the background is Basingwerk Cistercian abbey. In the foreground is a wooden sculpture outside the cafe, which is on the left.

July photos, 2 borders between Wales and England

2010-07-30T13:14:00.002+01:00

1 F9Jul This is the Brecon canal basin of the Brecon and Monmouthshire canal. A tramway to Hay-on-Wye and on to Kington about 38 miles, was the longest in its day - about 1800.

2 Th22Jul Clywedog dam built about 1962 from concrete

3 W21Jul The river Severn upstream of the Short bridge in Llanidloes. On the left is the river wall of the Bridgend flannel mill.

4 Tu20Jul "pea pods" of the broom

5 F30Jul Seymour Art at the Subway Gallery 10th - 25th,September, Mon - Sat, 11am - 7pm

robertmitchell,July photos1

2010-07-12T11:20:00.002+01:00

Sa3Jul10-12.10bst,Abergavenny library,Dell O755,hp,Dell,Dell,?

1 W30Jun St Michael and All Angels, Garway, Gloucestershire(?) This church was built on the foundations of a round church built by Temple Knights

2 Th1Jul10 Outside Monmouth town/shire hall are the statues of two of its great sons - Charles Rolls early flier and founder of Rolls-Royce, and Henry V of Agincourt, who was born here

3 Th6Jul sunrise walking into Hay-on-Wye

4 Su4Jul Usk bridge at Abergavenny

5 Su11Jul clowds clearing over the Brecon Beacons after a night of rain

Aug2010,Wales/England

2010-07-03T12:15:00.010+01:00

Su1Aug2010Welshpool/Trallwng

Kikuyu woman and middle ages lady - both graceful
Dane Karen Blixen loved her Afric farm.
She saw her fellows brown, came to no harm
An artist's learning Paris, joyed her lot.
To paint Kikuyu girl, gave all she'd got.
To coffee grow, from nothing something made.
So many friends built, gladly would her aid.
Low price, hard frost, sad forced her farm to shut.
Great writing skill, she rose high out of rut.

Hans Holbein and Auguste Renoir
Auguste Renoir, young girls by waterside
Perhaps they're reading - poetry they hide
Hans Holbein drew a poet, deep in thought.
Together poet theme for card, me caught.
Great artists both, creaqtive portraits, driv'n
To draw 'n paint, but not in spirit riv'n.
Erasmus brought Hans Holbein t'ward his pen.
Impression' sparked in Renoir paint, - the yen.

M2 Welshpool
Tu3 Oswestry
W4 ODP,Chirk castle
Th5 Llandegla
F6 Clwyd gate, A494
Sa7 Mold, Broughton,HS Airbus, Chester
Su8Aug2010Chester
M9 Clwyd Gate
Tu10 Clwydian hills
W11 Prestatyn
Th12 Holywell
F13 Flint
Sa14 Prestatyn
Su15Aug2010Rhuddlan, St Asaph
M16 Denbigh
Tu17 Rhyl
W18 A55,A547,A5115
Th19 Llandudno, Mostyn family
F20 Conway, A55
Sa21 A55
Su22Aug2010Bangor
M23 Caernarfon
Tu24 A4086, Llanberis pass
W25 Beddgelert
Th26 Porthmadog
F27 Harlech
Sa28 Barmouth,Abermaw
Su29Aug2010Dolgellau
M30 Machynlleth
Tu31 A487

robertmitchell,photos June2

2010-06-25T12:45:00.002+01:00

attached photos

1 St Mary's church, Devizes (castrum at divisas), Wiltshire first built as a Norman church by Bishop Roger and now with rebuildings

2 Yellow iris by the Kennet & Avon canal near Newbury

3 Thatched house in Horton village, not far East of Devizes

4 Venus, reflected in the Kennet & Avon canal

5 SS Great Britain from Brunel, and rather smaller, Matthew which carried John Cabot to North America in 1497. They say he found "America" as Columbus thought he was in India.

July2010, England Wales border country, skimpy diary

2010-06-22T10:41:00.014+01:00

Th1 Monmouth
F2 Garway,Skenfrith

"Max Havelaar",Eduard Douwes Dekker,Multatuli
"Max Havelaar" is Holland's greatest book.
From Indonesia, Multatuli took.
As Indian Civil Servant, saw first hand
The ruthless overlords he wanted banned.
He wrote his book 'gainst Dutch colonialism.
But found it seen through literary prism.
One-fifty years since bringing out, and now
A new abridged updated takes a bow.

Sa3 Abergavenny
Su4Jul2010Abergavenny
M5 Llanthony
Tu6 Hay-on-Wye
W7 A470
Th8 Brecon

Abstract on lawful graffiti wall under Waterloo Station
Kandinsky was to abstract, first of all.
Much thinking - what he meant was hard to call.
Some lines and shapes and shades make up the show.
All blended, mottled - looker thinks they glow.
Staight abstract art I like to paint and draw.
For figures landscape, I have too much awe.
I'd like to try a 3-D work of art.
Smooth plastic like the lawful wall, of which it's part.

F9 Brecon
Sa10 Brecon

Montmartre,Paris,France
To Romans Mount of Mars, it soon became
High Mount of Martyr, Denis' Martyr fame.
In eighteen thirty revolution, hill
Saw general spying for the king, a kill.
At top is Sacre Coeur with steps galore,
To tire the fittest walker even more.
Toulouse Lautrec, brown Baker, Josephine
Were at the Moulin rouge, for night-life scene.

Su11Jul2010Beacons,A470
M12 Hay-on-Wye
Tu13 Offa's Dyke Path,ODP
W14 Kington
Th15 Presteigne

Space jump suits
Baumgartner, Feix jumps throught speed of sound.
The Junk adrenaline his goal has found.
Outfitters Orbital his space suit made.
Perhaps from farther space be more afraid.
A sport extreme to fall from way up high.
The heat and G-force both could make him die.
A mock up suit is what we see drawn here,
To let the junkie try some extreme fear.

F16 Knighton

Crayons
From Paris Conte crayons Lesley gave.
And Derek gave me wax ones - now a fave.
French colours, bistre, sanguine, white 'n black.
Wax shades red, yellow, green, blue, nothing lack.

Sa17 Glyndwr way, rain
Su18Jul2010Felindre,Glyndwr's Way
M19 Llanbadarn Fynydd
Tu20 Trinnant, rain
W21 Llanidloes
Th22 Clywedog dam
F23 Glyndwr way
Sa24 Machynlleth
Su25Jul2010CAT,Centre of Alternative Technology

Homeless outsider art
Day Centre, London West in Seymour Street,
On Fridays down, for 'puters art, we meet.
With Stuart, Sam 'n Amy volunteer.
Sweet tea 'n biscuits keep us in good cheer.
Then Seymour Art, an artists' group was formed.
New drawing painting graphic, show brainstormed.
The Subway Gall'ry picked our second show.
So homeless art for freedom, strikes a blow.

M26 A487/470 Mallwyd
Tu27 Llangadfan
W28 Dolanog
Th29 Meifod
F30 Welshpool
Sa31 Montgomery canal, Montgomery

robertmitchell,SPAMnewsletterJun2010,1 of 29 good walking weather and a bit shorter since only half a month

2010-06-15T10:49:00.001+01:00

attached shots

1 11Jun The County lock on the Kennet & Avon canal at Reading

2 11Jun flower of the silver weed, which I seldom see, even though the silver weed is everywhere

3 10Jun the folly on Temple Island at the end of the races in the Henley Regatta

4 28May walking out of London on the way to Canterbury, by Tabard Street. If memory serves, Chaucer started from the Tabard inn in his "Canterbury Tales"

5 28May here is Justin from NZ who was also on his way to Canterbury, England. He took my photo.

diary http://sdapp.blogspot.com/

flickr photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/the-reindeer

Hello kind reader,

Over the last month, I have been getting ready in London

Next month, I hope all being well, God willing, nokkon wood, to walk to Canterbury and Wales

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1 M24May10-16.30bst,City of Westminster College,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,hp

Today, from WLDC, to the arts group at St Martin's, to Marylebone library and City of Westminster College. On Friday I hope to walk the first day of the St Martin's Pilgrimage to Swanley by the M25.

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2 W26May10-15.50bst,City of Westminster College,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,hp

Again at the arts group at Connection at St Martin's. Carried on doing the sketchpostcards. Wrote out a background paragraph about my sketches for the show on 21st June in the crypt at St Martin's.

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3 W2Jun10-15.00bst,M'bone lby,lenovo,IBM,lenovo,lenovo,hp

Walked from St Martin's to Canterbury over four days - Friday,Saturday,Sunday,Monday31May. Feel rather tired.

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4 F11Jun2010--09.30bst,Reading lby,hp,Trinitron,hp,hp,?

Today I walked into Reading along the Thames to Sonning with its lock. Then from Sonning to Reading along the A4 after getting lost in the dark in Sonning. Last night I was under a big white poplar, a little upstream from Henley where they are getting ready for the regatta.

The yellow iris is in flower along the Thames. I saw a common tern, the "sea swallow". I have seen a few around the canal and Thames. Also, which I have never seen before, are Egyptian geese and quite a few. It seems they can climb and nest in trees. I took a photo of a family of grey-lagged geese, the farmyard geese, and their goslings. I walked up to them behind a fence so they did not have time to run away.

I can't upload any photos from this computer.

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5 Sa12Jun2010--09.50bst,Reading lby,hp,Trinitron,hp,hp,?

Yesterday afternoon sitting behind a hawthorn bush I saw a young robin without red breast, looking around. A song rang out from an older one, saying "Get off my land!" After the first shock, the younger did, but in his own time.

On Thursday last week, the nomads photo group gethered at the Hollyhocks cafe on the Thames outside Richmond. After a couple of hours of tea, coffee and talk, I carefully picked my way down a steepish slope went through the subway under the road and started walking along the Thames towards Kingston.

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6 M14Jun10-10.00bst,Newbury library,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,?

Yesterday a dark brown mouse (?) crept through the ivy undergrowth before my eyes. I also saw a dead light grey shrew in the path. But I don't often see small mammals.

Birds are both seen and heard in great numbers. The dawn chorus starts about 4 in the morning though, to my eyes, dawn begins between 3 and 3.30. The dawn chorus seems to start about half an hour later in a wood than in an open field.

There was some rain last night with a short spell of heavy rain. My green poncho and one of my emergency thunderstorm bags were enough to keep out the rain. But my second thunderstorm bag, needed for a true thunderstorm, made me warmer - which was not foreseen.

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7 Tu15Jun10-10.00,Newbury,Berks, library,Dell GX520,Dell,Dell,Dell,hp

I have been having fun with camera batteries. I am now pretty sure now that the camera need alkaline batteries and not Zinc Chloride. I bought 6 Zinc Chloride batteries for £1! at ASDA, Swanley - I couldn't say no to that. The first two gave two photos, the second two lasted 20 seconds, and the third two switched off when I tried to take a shot. The hard way is the only way to learn!

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Best wishes to all, Robert

Jun photos to blogger

2010-06-15T09:50:00.003+01:00

M14Jun10-10.00bst,Newbury library,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,?

1 F28May at the start of the walk to Canterbury in Trafalgar Square.

2 S6Jun two guys carrying a roll of lino in Staines where lino was invented

3 Tu8Jun built by Brunel in 1839, this brick bridge still has the world recond, I believe, for the greatest span of 123 feet. This bridge crossed the Thames at Maidenhead carrying the Great Western Railway in two arches. As far as I can tell, it still carries the mainline services today.

4 Th3Jun three nomads in Hollyhocks cafe before Robert set out for his summer's walk

5 M31May this was the pilgrims fire outside the church door, taken in charming soft focus, aka low-light wobble (why didn't you use flash?)

June2010London skimpy diary

2010-05-27T17:25:00.010+01:00

Tu1 Canterbury cathedral tour, National Express back to London
W2 art group,CaSM, National Portrait Gallery
Th3 nomads at Hollohock cafe in Richmond. Start of walk
F4 Teddington, Kingston

Crayons
From Paris, Conte sketching crayons came.
On Indian hand-made paper, drawings claim.
Not long ago,some crayons wax, were got.
Red, yellow, blue, green colours made one lot.
Together make last sketchcard in my book.
To answer here the ask - how does it look?

Sa5 Shepperton

graffiti
Hid under Waterloo, graffiti's found.
On METRO's middle page, we look around.
White skulls a Chelsea tractor over-rides.
A 3-D abstract, other murals hides.
These unknown artists save on mobile phone.
Their work could be in shows paid, of their own.

Su6Jun2010Staines
M7 Datchet, Eton, Windsor
Tu8 Maidenhead
W9 Marlow
Th10 Henley

Seabour Sojours
Huge yacht is better called - cruise ship, six star.
Marina stern, two resto's, two deck spa.
Seabourn's got many cruise guests from UK.
In London lovely ship has its first day.
Two halves of hull, built in Ital'an field.
Then welded Czech, while fittings Genoa's yield.

F11 Sonning,Reading
Sa12 Reading

The European Herschel Space Observatory
The goal's to look at early stars in space,
With planets, galaxies put in their place.
Organic molecules can hint at life.
Orion cloud bright may have beings rife.
The Herschel mirror gathers spectrum light,
To search the stars and find space matter right.

Su13Jun2010Thatcham
M14 Newbury
Tu15 Newbury
W16 Crofton
Th17 Pewsey Wharf
F18 Devizes
Sa19 Devizes, Freddy's Wood
Su20Jun2010Trowbridge
M21 Bradford-on-Avon
Tu22 Bath
W23 Bristol
Th24 Bristol
F25 Bristol
Sa26 Avonmouth
Su27Jun2010Severn Bridge,Aust,Chepstow

Stone Altamira caves in Northern Spain
Unesco Site World Heritage has made
On wall, deer, bison, antelopes are laid.
In Spain is built near Santillan' del Mar
A copied cave all come to see from far.
Sight see-ers breath put mould on stone age art.
So scientists say we should keep apart.
Old Altamira caves, from stone age man.
Are open for a few, to fill cash can.

M28 Chepstow
Tu29 Tintern

Entartete Kunst/Musik - forbidden art/music
Before the war the Nazis had their list.
Jews, avant garde music would not be missed
"The Threep'ny Op'ra", Brecht 'n Weil - not man.
Forbidden music, eight CD's for sale.
Art holocaust burnt works beyond the pale.
Today with democratic freedom, we
Can listen look whate'er we wish to see.

W30 Monmouth

May2010photos2

2010-05-26T13:54:00.002+01:00

Su23May2010-16.50bst,M'bone lby,lenovo,IBM,lenovo,lenovo

attached photos

1 F21May10 looking across the Harrow Road towards a billboard/advertsising hoarding near the Hilton Hotel

2 F14May10 self, taken by Mary, looking across the Thames towards St Paul's from Tate Modern on the Museum of Everything weekend

3 F14May10 Mary, taken by self, while we were drinking tea upstairs as we waited for Museum of Everything.

4 Th13May10 Sports car AC (Auto Carriers) Aceca(?)

5 W26May10 HMS Victory in a bottle on the fourth plinth at Trafalgar Square

May2010photos

2010-05-17T18:35:00.003+01:00

Th6May10-12.10bst,CWC (City of Westminster College),Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,hp

attached photos

1 F7May Penn House, Lisson Grove Estate

2 M26Apr groundsel growing out of stone

3 W5May new floor and paint on the staircase at Hinde Street

4 Sa15May "Tug for Hire" - there are not many working boats on the canals nowadays

5 F14May this is me from Tate Modern looking across the Thames to St Paul's. I went there with Sam from WLDC for "Museum of everything"

APR2010, photos3

2010-04-27T16:48:00.003+01:00

F23Apr10-16.10bst,CWC (City of Westminster College),Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,hp

attached photos

1 F9Apr looking up through the branches of an ash tree after the flowers have bloomed but before the leaf buds have opened

2 Su11Apr the taxi repair centre under Westbourne Terrace railway bridge with the sun on the right, low in the West at dusk

3 Th8Apr Primroses at the Camden Arts Centre

4 Su25Apr in the hold of "Indus" for a good night's sleep

5 Sa24Apr my first bluebells of the spring, found in the churchyard of St Mary's, Paddington Green

MAY2010London skimpy diary

2010-04-23T16:34:00.017+01:00

Sa1 ASLAN

Arizona desert
Well, Arizona sounds like arid zone.
But in its borders much free life in known.
But get up early or it's much too hot.
Take water for no headaches - need big pot!
The lizard, tortoise, cacti, bees abound.
Jojoba tea with sunsets red, around.

sketchpostcard of Arizona desert
Small sketchcard, A5, you can something try.
If no good - next! - and there's no need to cry.
The shades of blue sky, purplish grey earth patch,
Sun's orange ring - hard watercolour match.

Su2May2010Hinde Street,Diane and Keith
M3 rest day
Tu4 spiritual group Tom, Lesley and Mark
W5 art group CaSM, National Portrait Gallery
Th6

Easter Sunday sunrise in Manchester Square

It's half past four - get up or you'll be late!
It's half past six - I missed the garden gate.
John put the altar table on North side.
The ring of worshippers saw sun still hide.
That windy candles stayed lit, was a fluke.
And Lucas read the Gospel of Saint Luke.
The silver cup and bread were passed around.
While birdsongs, fresh breeze, sky, trees us astound.
Then to the hall, hot breadfast for to eat -
A cheerful group of Christians glad to meet.

F7 WLDC downstairs, Capital Arts talk
Sa8 rest day
Su9May2010Leao, Southborough Methodist church
M10 art group CaSM,CWC
Tu11 Tom's group,CWC
W12 art group, CaSM,CWC

abstract
The squiggly pencil lines - no time to draw.
Then colour box fills in without a flaw.
Van Gogh's black borders hide the pencil marks.
The garish colour pattern loudly barks.
Wide patches need light shades - dark spot...
Are rules of sketch, but rules are followed - not!

Th13 nomads,Thursday tea-time,Edna and Bulgaria,CWC
F14 WLDC,Tate Modern - Museum of Everything
Sa15 Away day, St Mary's Loughton, ASLAN - won one Scrabble game of two against Mary
Su16May2010Hinde Street, Diane

Heads from kingdom of Ife, Nigeria,Africa
Museum British has a Copper head.
But did they steal? Or did they guard instead?
'Twas fed by Afric's diplomatic bag.
Now Afric's students can pull off the gag.
The Standard's Brian Sewell - little known.
They lived a while but lovely,now have flown.

M17 art group,CaSM,M'bone library,CWC
Tu18 Tom and talk group
W19 art group at CaSM, meal with Gordon at Pizza Express
Th20 nomads, Thursday tea-time with Dave and bingo

Bellamy and butterflies
Dave Bellamy my hero, years ago.
The World of Butterfly, Dave's eyes aglow.
From seven pupae at the insect park.
These lovely black and white 'flies make their mark.
They settle stiff on David Bell'my's nose.
The Newscast shot here makes a striking pose.

F21 CWC
Sa22 ASLAN trip to Valley Gardens, Virginia Waters, and Windsor Great Park
Su23May2010Hinde Street Radio 4,
M24 art group at CaSM, CWC
Tu25 Tom's spirituality group,Hinde Street meal,WLDC
W26 art group,CaSM,CWC
Th27 nomads at Garden Cafe,Regent's Park, Thursday tea-time,Leao and syncretism

PETM (Paleocene Eocene Thermal Maximum) when Greenland splits from Europe
'Bout sixty mill'on years ago, Norway ...
And Greenland earthquakes started drift away.
The red-hot magma split tectonic plates.
Gas methane sucked the heat in at high rates.
The run'way warmth gave rise of ten degrees.
The earth in eighty thousand years, self frees.

F28 St Martin's to Swanley
Sa29 Aylsford
Su30May2010Charing
M31 Canterbury

April2010photos2

2010-04-23T15:52:00.002+01:00

Sa10April2010-10.00bst,Marylebone lby,lenovo,IBM,lenovo,IBM,hp

attached photos

1 Su11Apr10 grid or work of art, off the Euston Road

2 Tu20Apr big bad Ford, parked behind WLDC in Walmer Street

3 M19Apr Albert Memorial taken when I called in at the Dutch embassy for a Dutch newspaper

4 Th8Apr10 primroses at the CAC (Camden Arts Centre)

5 Th8Apr10 a former petrol station in Park Road by Regent's Park, has become a flower station

April fotos,2010

2010-04-10T09:51:00.005+01:00

attached fotos

1 Su28Mar2010 The blackthorn is in blossom beside Westway,the Harrow Road, and a hanging basket

2 W3Apr10 Paddington Green, with daffodils, new City of Westminster College being built on the left, and the old Children's Hospital on the right.

3 M22Mar10 Charing Cross underground on the Northern line. A statue of Queen Eleanor standing on a wheeled trolley, is being pulled by stone masons.

4 Su28Mar10 new blackthorn blossom beside Westway

MAR2010 fotos

2010-03-26T15:33:00.002Z

M15Mar2010-09.50gmt,Marylebone lby,lenovo,IBM,lenovo,lenovo,?

1 Su1Mar2010 - Trafalgar Square, National Gallery,6 St Martin's Place and St Martin's in the Fields church.

2 Tu3Mar2010 - Reflection outside the National Gallery, Trafalgar Square

3 Su8Mar2010 - Air Marshal Keith Park on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square. He was in charge of the fighters in the Battle of Britain, 1940

4 Sa14Mar2010 - TS Eliot lived in Crawford Mansions.

5 M23Mar2010 - spring daffodils beside the Harrow Road

April2010London skimpydiary

2010-03-10T16:09:00.009Z

Th1 nomads,CAC
F2 All Souls' all age 10 o'clock service
Sa3 ASLAN,Ray
Su4Apr2010Easter Sunday at sunrise, Manchester Square, breakfast afterwards
M5 rest day
Tu6 Royal Academy, Vincent van Gogh and letters, and meal at West End Kitchen, with Mark and Sue, Lesley and mother
W7 art group at Connection at St Martin's
Th8 nomads,Swiss Cottage
F9 Swiss Cottage
Sa10 TV,
Su11Apr2010Hinde St
M12 art group,CaSM
Tu13 Tom and Spirituality Group
W14 art group,CaSM, Leao's class
Th15 nomads,CAC
F16 WLDC downstairs
Sa17 ASLAN Nick
Su18Apr2010Hinde Street
M19 art group at CaSM, Lesley and Mark, at West End Kitchen, Panton Street
Tu20 Tom and Spirituality Group, meal at Hinde Street
W21 rest day
Th22 nomads at Brew House caff, Kenwood House, and Thursday tea-time
F23 WLDC downstairs
Sa24 Hinde Street, Portugese service
Su25Apr2010Hinde Street meal,Liz and "Indus" narrow boat
M26 art group CaSM

The Foggy Fortress in Tokyo, Japan

Kasumigaseki - a foggy fort!
Japan's bureaucracy pulls all up short.
Last Samurai, Takeshima is 'fraid.
The PM Kondo - sword snipped - shorter made.
Japan's deflation can be brought to heel.
And once again can show its nerves of steel.

Tu27 Tom and Tuesday group
W28 art group,CaSM,Wednesday club
Th29 nomads,National Theatre, Thursday tea-time,Kent Baker and Aunt Alice
F30 WLDC downstairs

February fotos

2010-02-24T13:22:00.005Z

W24Feb2010-13.00gmt,Westminster Reference lby,lenovo,acer,lenovo,lenovo,?

1 rainy reflection in the back window of a people carrier, looking along Crawford Street(?) near Seymour Place

2 JFK (John Fitzgerald Kennedy) near Great Portland Street underground

3 Walking by Nicholas Hawksmoor's Christchurch(?) near Spitalfields, in Commercial Street

4 Bust of Lord Soper, under Hinde Street Methodist church

5 Reflections in the window overlooking the Lisson Grove Estate

March2010,London

2010-02-05T11:30:00.013Z

M1 art group,Connection at St Martin's
Tu2 Gordon's group,HPH lecture,Prof Morna Hooker
W3 art group,CaSM,Pilgrimage meeting,England against Egypt at Dave's

Chinese map,1602 by Matteo Ricci, Italian Jesuit, in the Library of Congress
Matteo Ricci, 'talian Jesuit,
Earth's Northern half - rice-paper printed hit.
As seen from pole, five continents stand out.
But sadly Chinese writing sows me doubt.
Sahara sands bear river Niger(Gambia)-Nile,
Flat Urals edge of Asia, make us smile

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory
New satellite is up in March, for sun.
Unlocking secrets - more than ever done.
It maps the sun in tenfold more detail,
the know of sun's magnetic field to nail.
The sunspot max for each eleven years,
Shows solar flares and upper atmospheres

Th4 nomads,BFI,Thursday tea-time,Hong Kong,Liv Lee
F5 WLDC downstairs,Friday Forum,Claudia and Van Gogh's letters
Sa6 ASLAN
Su7Mar2010Hinde St,Diane and Keith
M8 art group at Connection at St Martin's
Tu9 Gordon's group, "Far from the Madding Crowd",HPH lectures,Frances Young
W10 art group at CaSM, National Portrait Gallery
Th11 nomads at RFH, 5th floor. Thursday tea-time
F12 WLDC downstairs
Sa13 American church,ASLAN
Su14Mar2010Rosary church,All Souls' tea and 18.30service
M15 art group at CaSM
Tu16 Gordon;'s group, HPH, Frances Young
W17 art group at CaSM,Wednesday club,Dave's

Miep Gies, wartime helper '42-'44 of Frank family in Amsterdam

In war Miep Gies brought food for fam'ly Frank,
Who hid from Nazis, back their warehouse dank.
Police them caught and took them far away.
Miep found Anne's di'ry - drawer where it lay.
Anne died in Bergen Belsen, nearly free.
Miep lived to hundred - Anne's fame came to see.

Th18 nomads,Salvation Army,Cafe 101,Thursday tea-time,John Nyota
F19 WLDC downstairs,CWC
Sa20 Capital Arts show at Wallace Collection,ASLAN
Su21Mar2010Hinde St,Diane and Keith
M22 Diane and Keith,art group at St Martin's
Tu23 Last day for Gordon's group,HPH debate
W24 art group at St Martin's
Th25 nomads at Ray's Jazz Cafe,Paul Wayne on South Africa at Thursday tea-time
F26 WLDC downstairs

Supernovas refound
But how to find the miles to galaxy?
A standard candle bright would be the key.
The Type one supernova's ev'rywhere.
The NASA's Chandra moon looks through the glare.
Two white dwarves set off starburst when they hit.
The experts glad were, when they found the fit.

Sa27 Portugese service
Su28Mar2010Hinde Street,Church Council,AGM
M29 art group,St Martin's,CWC
Tu30 Tom and spirituality group,Dave's
W31 art group,StMartin's,CWC,Dave's - Arsenal-Barcelona,2-2

January photos

2010-01-16T10:22:00.002Z

Sa16Jan2010-10.00gmt,Marylebone lby,lenovo,IBM,lenovo,IBM,?

Feb2010,London

2010-01-08T11:53:00.011Z

M1 easy day
Tu2 film, "District 9"
W3 Wednesday club
Th4 nomads,Thursday tea-time
F5 WLDC downstairs
Sa6 Joe,ASLAN
Su7Feb2010HindeSt member
M8 art group,CaSM,Lesley atWestEndKitchen,PantonSt
Tu9 "The Piano",JaneCampion,Gordon's group,WLDC
W10 class,HindeSt,Santiago deCompostella,StOlaf
Th11 Hadrian'sWall talk,ThursdayTea-time
F12 WLDC downstairs
Sa13 ASLAN
Su14Feb2010HindeSt
M15 art group,CaSM
Tu16 Gordon's group,Richard's leaving meal at HindeSt
W17 art group,CaSM

Tang monk,Xuanzang (600-64) the devine Chinese adventurer
Tang dyn'sty monk, brave Buddhist, India went,
To find true scriptures, honour great, he meant.
At Lalantuo temple, abbot taught,
Gave widespread Buddhist knowledge, hardly bought.
Tang emp'ror Taizong, story wished to wrest.
So Xuanzang wrote his "Journey to the West".

Th18 nomads, Thursday tea-time, Kathy Slater,Rameses and Mozart
F19 Capital Arts at WallaceCollection,Poussin and the "Dance to the Music of Time"
Sa20 Joe
Su21Feb2010With Leao to RedhillMethodistChurch
M22 art group at Connection atStMartin's,Mark at West End Kitchen
Tu23 WLDC downstairs,Gordon's group
W24 art group at Connection at St Martin's,Mourinho against Ancelotti
Th25 nomads,Thursday tea-time,
F26 WLDC downstairs
Sa27 ASLAN

trip to Methodist church, Redhill on "Mission in Britain" Sunday
With Leao's fam'ly far to Redhill town.
Through empty Sunday streets without a frown.
"The Miss'n in Britain" was this Sunday's theme.
"West London Mission" made the watchers beam.
A friendly lunch next followed in the hall.
For questions after, quickly came the call.

Kepler satellite
Kepler trails the earth around the sun.
To find where earth-like planets have begun.
It's telescope can see the blip of light,
When other earth's in it's sun's line off sight.
It's early days though - only planets great
Like Jupiter are seen, with gassy weight.

Monet lillies
Claude Auguste Monet,1840-1926,set of 250 paintings of the Giverny lillies
Claude Monet was the first Impressionist.
"En plein air" painting gave his art a twist.
"Impression" - sun - was shown in sev'nty four (1874)
The whisper round the world became a roar.
Giverny, Seine - last thirty years were spent.
To him, his garden lillies light shades lent.
Su28Feb2010Sister Marguerite,Rosary church,Hinde Street

More December photos

2009-12-31T10:06:00.002Z

Th31Dec09-09.50gmt,Marylebone lby,lenovo,IBM,lenovo,lenovo,?

1 Trafalgar Square, South Africa House, mascot for the football world cup, 2010
2 Trafalgar Square, the melting ice bear with a bronze skeleton
3 Trafalgar Square, Nelson's column and the Christmas tree from Oslo, Norway againast a dark sky
4 the clock tower on St Mary's church, Paddington Green, seen through the winter branches of the two Indian bean trees by the main gate.
5 Jane Asher as the wicked Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, at Richmond Theatre whch I saw on Tuesday 29th December, with Mary Brown and Nick Bowen and Cathy from ASLAN.

Jan2010London

2009-12-24T10:02:00.008Z

F1 Royal Festival Hall
Sa2 Joe's,ASLAN
Su3Jan2010Marylebone library
M4 library.PatrickHeide gallery
Tu5 "It's a matter of life and death",Powell and Pressburger,first night at the gallery
W6 snow,Dave's
Th7 nomads,gallery at 11 ChurchStreet
F8 WLDC downstairs
Sa9 PatrickHeide gallery,ASLAN
Su10Jan2010HindeStreet
M11 art at StMartin's,Dave's
Tu12 "Moby Dick" GregoryPeck,OrsonWelles
W13 art at StMartin's,Dave's,Leao's class
Th14 nomads,Dave's
F15 WLDC downstairs
Sa16 ASLAN
Su17Jan2010Hinde Street
M18 art group St Martin's
Tu19 ManU-ManC at Dave's
W20 AstonVilla-Blackburn,6-4 at Dave's
Th21 nomads,Cilantro,KentBaker at Thursday tea-time
F22 WLDC downstairs,Libby
Sa23 ASLAN,Steve
Su24Jan2010Hinde Street,Dave's
M25 art at St Martin's
Tu26 Gordon's group,Lesley andMark atWestEndKitchen
W27 art atConnection atStMartin's,WednesdayClub
Th28 nomads,Thursday tea-time atGoldenHind
F29 WLDC downstairs
Sa30 early night
Su31Jan2010Hinde Street,Soper sermon

December photos

2009-12-22T10:23:00.002Z

Tu22Dec09-10.00gmt,Marylebone lby,lenovo,IBM,lenovo,IBM,?

1 Marylebone Road in the foreground at the side road, Old Marylebone Road with the spiral staircase on the corner.

2 Trafalgar Square at the camp demo about the climate change conference at Copenhagen

3 This shot was taken at South Africe house, Trafalgar Square and is the mascot for the football World Cup in 2010

4 the Camden Arts Centre Finchley Road and Arkwright Street, where the nomads photo group often meets

5 looking West across Little Venice in the late afternoon. To the left, the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal goes to Paddington Basin. Straight ahead the Paddington Arm goes to Bulls Bridge. To the right the Regents Canal goes through the Maida Tunnel towards Regent's Park.

November photos

2009-12-22T10:06:00.002Z

Tu22Dec09-10.00gmt,Marylebone lby,lenovo,IBM,lenovo,IBM,?

1 looking West along Western Avenue from the footbridge at Greenford

2 the Swedish church in Harford Street, off Seymour Place

3 the main entrance of Marylebone Station, built 1900, on the Bakerloo undergrouind line and the main line railway

4 night shot of the Grand Union Canal, Westway on the left and the Christmas decorations on the narrow boat.

photos,Oct2009

2009-11-27T14:45:00.003Z

F27Nov09-14.00gmt,WLDC downstairs,hp,hp,hp,hp,Epson

1 I went to some free lunch-time concerts and Newcastle cathedral-church

2 Plane Trees, a little East of the North Tyne, this is where the wide Hadrian's Wall becomes the narrow Hadrian's Wall, both on the wide wall foundations which had already been built.

3 Hexham abbey founded first in 674 seen from the grounds nearby

4 a model of Newcastle city centre near the railway station. The station is in the foreground and the Earl Grey monument at the top

photos,Sept2009

2009-11-27T14:17:00.002Z

F27Nov09-14.00gmt,WLDC downstairs,hp,hp,hp,hp,Epson

1 sunrise from the A189 between Blyth and Amble

2 Newcastle city centre from the New Bridge in the morning

3 the old Townhall of Gateshead. The work of art in the foreground is called "Acceleration"

4 the main gate of Tynemouth priory

photos,August2009

2009-11-27T14:01:00.002Z

F27Nov09-13.30gmt,WLDC downstairs,hp,hp,hp,hp,Epson

1 Castlerigg stone circle outside Keswick, in Lakeland

2 Hadrian's wall, near the Irthing river

3 St Cuthbert's church in Bellingham

4 swans at the Civic Centre of Newcastle

photos,July2009

2009-11-27T13:32:00.002Z

F27Nov09-12.20gmt,WLDC downstairs,hp,hp,hp,hp,Epson

1 ferry and fishing port of Fleetwood

2 Castletown Castle in the south of the Isle of Man

3 sunrise across Lake Windermere

4 this statue is of Emlyn Hughes who was born in Barrow in Furness, to a father who was a Welsh rugby league player

photos,June2009

2009-11-27T12:18:00.002Z

F27Nov09-12.00gmt,WLDC downstairs,hp,hp,hp,hp,Epson

1 early morning sun near Wrenbury, Llangollen/Ellesmere canal

2 sculpture with graffiti on the canal North of, and near Chester

3 looking across the Mersey from Seacombe ferry terminal towards Liverpool

4 Garstand between Preston and Lancaster on the Lancaster canal - Wesley's cafe

photos,May2009

2009-11-27T11:49:00.004Z

F27Nov09-11.30gmt,WLDC downstairs,hp,hp,hp,hp,Epson

1 James Brindley looking at his drawings at the Coventry basin

2 the canal near Stoke on Trent

3 sculpture of a horse pulling a narrow boat, near Shropshire Union canal

4 the wrought iron gates of Chirk castle

fotos for April,2009

2009-11-21T10:11:00.002Z

Sa21Nov09-10.00gmt,Marylebone lby,lenovo,IBM,lenovo,lenovo,?

Dec2009,London

2009-11-06T10:06:00.008Z

Tu1 Gordon's group
W2 Wednesday club
Th3 nomads,Thursday tea-time,"Atonement"
F4 WLDC downstairs
Sa5 American church,ASLAN
Su6Dec2009Hinde St
M7 art at the Connection at St Martin's
Tu8 art at the Connection at St Martin's
W9 St Jude's,Wednesday club,Leao and Rebecca's class
Th10 nomads at CamdenArtsCentre, Thursday tea-time,Jane Read and the London Christian Mission,"It takes some time", documentary about Bob Marley,45-81,Dave's flat
F11 WLDC downstairs
Sa12 American church,ASLAN
Su13Dec2009Hinde St,BurchellWhiteman
M14 art atStMartin's,Lesley atWestEndKitchen
Tu15 CrownHotel/DoubleTree meal,Gordon's group
W16 StJude's,Wednesday club
Th17 nomads atCAC,Christmas atThursday tea-time,"HiFidelity",NickHornby,StephenFrears,atStMartin's
F18 WLDC downstairs,Christmas party, Oubliette,Curzon Street
Sa19 ASLAN
Su20Dec2009Rosary church,AllSouls'CarolService
M21
Tu22Gordon's group,meal at King's Cross - steak and chips
W23 Christmas party at WednesdayClub
Th24 WLDC Christmas party
F5 HindeSt,Mary andJohnHicks
Sa26 Dave's,ASLAN
Su27Dec2009Dave's,AllSouls'CarolService
M28 Dave's
Tu29 Gordon's group,"SnowWhite and7Dwarfs",RichmondTheatre
W30 WednesdayClub
Th31 Hinde Street,watchnight,Moravians

Nov2009,London

2009-11-02T17:10:00.011Z

Su1Nov2009Rosary church,Hinde street
M2 WLDC,CaSM,St Jude's
Tu3 Hinde Street, with Gordon's group, Dave's flat
W4 Dave's flat,Lyon-Liverpool,1-1
Th5 nomads,Thursday tea-time
F6 Friday forum and little talk
Sa7 Joe's
Su8Nov2009Sister Margaret and Rosary,18.30,DavidGamble,President ofConference
M9 Art at theConnection atStMartin's,StJude's
Tu10 CDatGordon's group,ofSalvador,Brazil
W11 StJude's,Wed club
Th12 StMartin's service for the homeless,Thursday tea-time,KentBaker(NormanEvans),film Jim Cliff
F13 WLDC,downstairs
Sa14 ASLAN
Su15Nov2009Rosary church,AllSouls'
M16 Lesley andMark,WestEndKitchen,PantonStreet
Tu17 Zizzi meal withGordon
W18
Art Group at theConnection atStMartin's
Connection at St Martin's, Ben 'n Wyn,
Give drive to painting, stops me sleeping in.
The volunteers give help 'n cups of tea.
With room on desks 'n water pots for me.
Two shows each year mean finding worthwhile art,
To fire buyers, taken by the heart.
Th19 nomads,CAC,Thursday tea-time,SallySwindells'mother,"Anvil"StMartin's
F20 WLDC downstairs
Sa21 American church,ASLAN
Su22Nov2009HindeStreet,church lunch,VicePresident ofConference,RichardVautrey on euthanasia/assisted suicide
M23 KathShaljean/Lloyd memorial service
Tu24 CapitalArts toTateModern withMichell
W25 dentist
Th26 nomads,CAC,Thursday tea-time,ImperialRussia,"Man onWire"atStMartin's
F27 WLDC,downstairs
Sa28 American church,SimonCommunity atStGiles church,ASLAN
Su29Nov2009All Souls'
M30 art at theConnection atStMartin's

Fw: robertmitchell,SPAMnewsletter,Oct2009-1of29-back in "the smoke" - car smoke, not house smoke

2009-10-30T09:51:00.003Z

--- On Sun, 18/10/09, Robert Mitchell <imaginerobmitch@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Robert Mitchell <imaginerobmitch@yahoo.com>
Subject: robertmitchell,SPAMnewsletter,Oct2009-1of29-back in "the smoke" - car smoke, not house smoke
To: "Robert Mitchell" <imaginerobmitch@yahoo.com>
Date: Sunday, 18 October, 2009, 5:33 PM

attached shots

1   Th17Sep The Georgian redundant church, St Willibrord and All Saints, taken from Akenside hill

2   Su20Sep The flood in Morpeth last year, reached this level.

3   Tu22Sep Slightly blurred - sorry - shot of Peoples Kitchen where they do a great deal for the homeless and poor.

4   Th24Sep Newcastle library is like any open plan office so this is a snap through the window from the fourth floor of the library, of the cupola on top of the Laing Art Gallery next door

5   Su27Sep sunrise looking along the Team valley from the Gateshead Road near the A1

6   F2Oct organ recitals at St Nicholas cathedral church on Mondays at 1.00 pm

7   Th8Oct the 100 metre stretch of Hadrian's Wall at Heddon-on-the-wall

8   Th8Oct by luck the sun was at the right angle to show where the broad wall on the east side,becomes the narrow wall on the west side, both on the earlier built broad foundations.

9   Th8Oct Hexham Abbey east end on the right, founded 674 by St Wilfrid, seen from the park in its grounds. I sat here for about an hour waiting for the library to open.

10 Su11Oct Nowadays the "Waggonways" are foot-,cycle- and bridle-paths. Before, they carried coal in wagons pulled by steam locomotives, from the mines to the staiths at the mouth of the river Tyne.

11   Su11Oct This is a schematic model of Newcastle on three levels, across the road from the Central Railway Station. In the foreground on the lowest level is the railway. On the top level is the Grey monument.

12   Tu13Oct St Nicholas cathedral church, looking along the south aisle towards the altar, with the nave on the right. The caff is straight ahead

diary                  http://sdapp.blogspot.com/

flickr photos       http://www..flickr.com/photos/the-reindeer

Hello kind reader,

Sorry for the slow answers to emails, the lack of comments on flickr, and the lack of photos on flickr, blogger, and SPAMletters. I have had only a few hours each week on the computer. I mean to do all these things sooner or later - later is more likely. Sorry for the typing mistakes.

Over the last month, I have walked to Medomsley, walked to Chollerford along the military road, but mostly stayed in Newcastle.

Next month, I hope all being well, God willing, nokkon wood, to have Christmas in London, or maybe two months.

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Th17Sep09-10.40bst,Newcastle lby,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,Oce

A little east of Newcastle city centre is the redundant church, St Willibrord and All Saints,which I snapped yesterday morning. St Willibrord English saint, was the first bishop of Utrecht and brought Christianity to what is now Holland. The church was built about 1780 with an elliptical nave/auditorium. Betjeman called it "one of the finest Georgian churches in the country". It's Grade I listed and looked after by the city council(?).

The hill beside it going down to the Tyne, is called Akenside hill, after a poet and medical doctor, Mark Akenside, who was born there (1721-70). He was eclected Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 1753. Before, the hill was called Shambles after the butchers who had shops there. The stream that ran through the Shambles was renamed Lort stream - Dirty stream - after all the offal that the butchers dumped in it. Before it was called Dean stream, and today runs in a culvert under Dean Street at the bottom of Grey Street.

Lort stream rises in Leazes Park, next to Royal Victoria Infirmary, where I paid £1 for a restful cuppa in their caff. Leazes Park is also beside St James Park where they are fairly happy with the Magpies start to the season in the Championship. Thirdly, Leazes was the first Newcastle public park, opened in 1873. Fourth, Lort stream was dammed to make a lovely lake beloved by anglers.

This morning I walked 4 miles to Segedunum - strong fort in Latin - Roman fort at the eastern end of Hadrian's wall, in Wallsend. Being there about 6 in the morning I did not pay the fiver they asked to go into the museum. I made a snap and had a look through the fence at the fort, the most thoroughly dug fort on Hadrian's wall. The road runs between where the fort and the wall were. So on the other side of the road are the 2000 year old foundations of the wall - before your very eyes! A reconstruction of the wall - 15 foot high, 20 foot over the parapet and 10 yards inside the true wall - was my second snap.

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Sa20Sep09-12.10bst,Newcastle lby,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,Oce

I have walked through two towns which have had bad floods, namely Carlisle in 2005 and Morpeth last year in 2008. In Carlisle the river burst its banks, and in Morpeth it was the Wansbeck. In Carlisle they are already building new and higher sea walls and widening the drains and sewers. In Morpeth, a year after the flood, they had a meeting to see what should be done.

Four free museums in Newcastle

Years seventy five ago, "Discovery"'s there.

Turbinia, Parsons' ship in Blandford Square.

Northumberland! "Great North" is right for you.

The coal with Romans, Angles, Armstrong too.

The "Laing" for Art, Laing's cash from making ships.

The watercolours good for handy tips.

But "Bessie Surtees house" is not yet seen.

John Scott - Lord Eldon, his eloping queen.

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Tu22Sep09-08.50bst,Newcastle lby,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,Oce

Found a dead stoat by the road, with a black tip to its tail, for the first time. I believe I have seen a couple of live stoats running across the road ahead of me, but they might have been small cats. A small mammal ran throught the undergrowth by my feet - perhaps a shrew.

Last week I walked to the east end of Hadrian's wall. The fort there is Segedunum, "stronghold" in Roman/Latin. It was shut in the early morning but I could see the layout of the fort in the field beside the museum through the chicken wire fence. The kind museum has not grown a high hedge which has scuppered me before - Epidauros, Greece and Knosson,Crete spring to mind. Today's road A187, runs between the fort and the wall. Across the road are the foundations of the wall and a few yards of rebuilt wall at full height, about 10 metres from the true wall. You can feel how the barbarians must have felt when they saw the wall.

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W23Sep09-08.50bst,Newcastle lby,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,Oce

I've had my Stormlite waterproof jacket for five or six years now. But the tape on some of the seams has come off and rain gets through. I bought some stuff called Seamgrip which is messy and poisonous - isocyanates - but seems to seal the seam. It takes 12 hours to cure so I try to do a stretch in the morning, let it set overday and wear it in the evening. The sole of my left shoe is peeling off at the front so I tried Seamgrip. Needless to say, needing a 12 hour cure, the Seamgrip let the sole and upper spring away straightaway. Some tape is doing it better now.

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Th24Sep09-08.50bst,Newcastle lby,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,Oce

Newcastle library is brand new and only a few months old. Last year when I was here, it was still behind scaffolding. It looks like an open-plan office when you go in and the staff walk round dressed in casual black clothes. To join the library you only have to say "yes". There are six floors and open lifts without boxing, like Richard Rogers' "Lloyds" building in the City of London.

The computer suite is on the fourth floor with about 60 computers. On the second floor are the 15 minute computers. You can have up to 2 hours and the 15 minutes do not add on. I found this out when my computer shut down after about a minute, to my sorrow. On the ground floor are the magazines and newspapers, with the magazines in racks while the daily papers are scattered around on tables. Many tables and cubby holes are scattered around for those who wish to work. These are the sections I need myself.

I have not borrowed any books. They are mainly on the ground floor but can be found on all the floors. A caff on the ground floor opens at 8, before the library at 8.30. The caff looks good though I have not eaten there.

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F25Sep09-09.40bst,Morpeth lby,Northumberland,Fujitsu-Siemens,F-J,F-J,F-J,hp

Red squirrels are still found in Northumberland but the greys are moving in. They could have gone from Northumberland in 10 years if worst fears come true. The main reason why reds are dying, seems to be red squirrel pox which does no harm to the greys, but the greys are carriers. Also greys are bigger, stronger and heavier and take the food and shelter that is going. Red seem to do better in coniferous plantations as greys do not eat the food found there. Thus Kielder forest is a stronghold of the reds.

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Su27Sep09-11.30bst,Newcastle lby,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,Oce

I walked into a lovely sunrise going into Gateshead and took a snap along the valley of the river Team. The clouds were spread out across the sky so that the rosy pink from the sunrise, could be seen from east to west. I could not get all of that in my snap so I pointed the camera towards the sunrise.

I have taken to shifting dead rabbits from the road to the grass by the hind legs. I think it's better for road safety - not least my own! The rabbits don't get squashed by the cars and the cars don't have to make sudden swerves round the rabbit.

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M5Oct09-10.40bst,Hexham lby,Hexhamshire,Fujitsu-Siemens,F-J,F-J,F-J,?

I've had another look at Hadrian's Wall, from the east end - mainly because I missed some bits of wall by walking along the wrong North side of the A69 walking into Newcastle. First I found Denton turret, which is South of the A69 - a small shelter for the Roman soldiers while they were on the wall. Then near Heddon-on-Wall, the military road makes a turn and we have today 100 metres of broad wall. There is no longer stretch of wall east of Heddon. Farther west near the North Tyne river, I found "Plane trees" I found the spot where the broad wall - 3 metres wide - becomes the narrow wall - 2 metres wide. I believe even experts are still guessing why the wall suddenly becomes narrower.

A few days ago I caught the first Metro train at about 5.30 to Tynemouth at the mouth of the Tyne (!!). The station is as it was first built in Victorian times 1868(?), with a brick building in the middle and 200 yards of glass along the platforms. I think this is following Joseph Paxton's Crystal Palace at the Great Exhibition of 1851. And Paxton learnt his trade building greenhouses at Chatsworth(?) in Derbyshire(?)

Then I strolled along the beach to Tynemouth fortified Priory which looks big even in ruins. Then through the foot tunnel under the Tyne river - built 1951 through morraines left from the Ice Age. And on to St Paul's church, Jarrow where the east end, choir, is one of the two churches that St Bede/Baeda would have known when he was working - 720AD(?)

There is much history round Newcastle!

Today I'm in Hexham where the cathedral was first founded by St Wilfrid, 674AD.

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Th8Oct09-09.00bst,Newcastle lby,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,Oce

Since last Friday I have walked along the Military Road from Newcastle to Chollerford, which is now a bridge and not a ford where Hadrian's Wall crosses the North Tyne by Chesters fort. The Military Road was built, so I read, by General Wade, in 1745 to take an army across the North of England from Newcastle to Carlisle. Sadly, the foundations of Hadrian's Wall were what he needed for his road so he knocked down 15 to 20 miles of the wall. I missed this stretch when I walked into Newcastle a few weeks ago by going the quick way along the A69.

The longest bit, over 100 metres, is in Heddon where the road makes a bend to the right. For reasons still not clear, the Romans changed the wall from broad - 3 metres wide - to narrow - 2 metres wide. Photo 8 at Plane Trees near the North Tyne, shows where this happened.

I met Terry on his bike on my way out of Newcastle by the few yards of Hadrian's Wall in Denton. He kindly fed me and let me sleep on his couch. He and his family, did the same again when I walked back to Newcastle on Tuesday. I showed them my sketchpostcards and some of the photos. He had a DVD player with a USB port linked to his thin screen TV, while I have a USB card reader with my card from the digital camera. It all worked a treat!

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Su11Oct09-11.50bst,Newcastle lby,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,Oce

Yesterday I went to the Stephenson Railway Museum. It's seems well advertised but is rather out of the way and only open at weekends. It turns out to be quite small but packed to the rafters with old steam engines and a workshop where volunteers are getting more ready. A small caff and learning area is for mums and kids and quite a few had turned up. They had some "interactive" exhibits and maps to show you why the railways were invented in South Northumberland. The only grumble was that I could not make their audio with headphones chats, work. They do events throughout the year and the highlight is the "Santa Special" at Christmas. A steam train full of kids goes for a run with Santa handing out presents.

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Tu13Oct09-09.50bst,Newcastle lby,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,Oce

Yesterday I went to the cathedral church of Newcastle, St Nicholas. First I had a pot of tea in the cafe, which is a happy caff in beige and run by volunteers. I bought a postcard at the shop next to the caff, and wrote it out while I drank the tea. At 1pm, Michael Stoddart, the inhouse organist and director of music, gave a free recital. The music was by Bruhns, Pachelbel, Messiaen, Jongen, Bridge, Alain. I closed my eyes and listened for about an hour. It's the third I have gone to.

A bit of doggerel about coal from Newcastle

Coal

It's "Coals to Newcastle" - no need for that!

When said to you, it leaves you feeling flat.

For hundreds years, black coal rolled down to Tyne.

On trucks on waggonways, to staith from mine.

For thousands, pits and rails meant daily bread.

Drift coal from Poland - now the pits are dead.

Railways

Coal trucks on rails, wood, iron, cast then wrought.

Steam engines station'ry or locos bought.

Coal trucks were pulled downhill on waggonway.

First horse, then engine steam would make rope play.

George Stephenson built loco - flatter run.

Then steam 'n diesel gave the whole world fun.

On Sunday night 8.30, near the Discovery museum, I went to a handout run by "Helpline". A vegetable pie was followed by rice pudding, with tea coffee, scones and cakes. Fresh veg is plentiful at this time of year and the hot rice pudding was welcome on a cold evening.

I met a keen walker who belongs to the Ramblers. He walked from Winchester to Eastbourne, the South Downs Way, about 100 miles in 48 hours without sleeping!

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W14Oct09-09.00bst,Newcastle lby,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,Oce

I have been skippering in some trees near Newcastle town centre. While I was away walking along the Military Road, someone dumped a load of empty bottles and cans. Some of the bags were broken so I had some trouble

Some doggerel about the Peoples Kitchen

Alison Kay's Peoples Kitchen

Kay's Peoples Kitchen, near St James's Park.

Queen's OBE, great leader made her mark.

Kitchen, bricked in wood frame, at Bath Lane.

Three courses soup main sweet, is belly's gain.

Those with habits can get lots of food.

Then courts and NHS, put in good mood.

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Su18Oct09-17.20bst,internet caff,Praed St,?,Hanns.G,?,HiPoint,MS Office

Last month, in Newcastle library, on a day of wonders, I read that England had beaten Sri Lanka and South Africa, and that Essex had won promotion to the first division by one point from Northants. I could not help feeling that one of the fates had made a mistake as she span the thread of life. Perhaps she pricked her finger or her foot slipped off the pedal.

In the last few days, Mars has gone past the twins Castor and Pollux in Gemini, going eastwards.

In Newcastle I went to a free lecture about Parkinson's disease, the first in a series called "Well Brain" and sponsored by Durham University. It seems that the illness begins low in the brain stem and spreads up. Thus a loss of the sense of smell is one of the early symptoms, whereas trembling is one of the later symptoms.

Today I caught the train from Newcastle to King's Cross. We lost an hour through engineering works south of York. We went through fields, trees, hedges, towns and a power station - Drax? - but mostly fields.

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Best wishes to all, Robert

MISTAKE new photo - robertmitchell,SPAMnewsletter,Oct2009-1of29-back in "the smoke" - car smoke, not house smoke

2009-10-22T17:06:00.003+01:00

Th22Oct09-16.50bst,Marylebone lby,lenovo,IBM,lenovo,lenovo,?

MISTAKE with photo number 1, in the October SPAMnewsletter.

For some reason I uploaded the sound memo, instead of the photo, of All Saints church.

So here is the photo.

1 Th17Sep The Georgian redundant church, St Willibrord and All Saints, taken from Akenside hill

Best wishes to all, Robert Mitchell

Oct2009,England

2009-09-16T09:05:00.012+01:00

Th1 Newcastle
F2 Newcastle

Stormlite and SeamGrip
Five years ago I bought a Stormlite coat.
'Twas only worn when rain could make ducks float.
In time the seam "tapeseals" began to peel.
The rain got through to give a bad wet feel.
I bought SeamGrip - the glue takes hours to cure.
But now, I hope my rainproofness is sure.

Sa3 Heddon-on-the-wall,windy, bright big, 180degrees, rainbow

Winds and gales
The weather girl says we are having gales.
So I will need a few Newcastle Ales.
Three times the wind has stripped my bags away.
When found downwind they're round a tree asplay.
At night there could be rain - some risks at play.
Three bags give me the winter setup strong.
Then I'm OK if winds keep going long.

Su04Oct2009B6318m military road
M5 Hexham
Tu6 A69, Terry
W7 Newcastle, Peoples Kitchen

The military road and Hadrian's Wall
To Chollerford along the mil'try road.
Old Wade was jabbed by Bonnie Prince's goad.
At Denton gladly found the turret, wall.
Some weeks ago, 'twas missed with eyesight small.
At Heddon more than hundred metres wide.
It's thanks to road here, turned aside

Th8 Newcastle
F9 A193

Alison Kay's Peoples Kitchen
Kay's Peoples Kitchen, near St James's Park.
Queen's OBE great leader made her mark.
The Kitchen, bricked in wood frame, at Bath Lane.
Three courses, soup, main, sweet is belly's gain.
Those with habits can get lots of food.
Then courts and NHS put in good mood.

Sa10 Stephinson Railway Museum

Stephenson Railway Museum, Silverlink and Middle Engine lane
Our railway's heart is South Northumberland.
From mine to staith, coal's waggonways were planned.
Museum's land was middle engine house.
Monkwearmouth's roof had led to heavy grouse.
The METRO test house sheltered from the rain,
The volunteers who mend the steam with pain.

Su11Oct2009A193, Newcastle

METRO
Well-liked 'n busy, METRO's '84 (eighty-four)
Three zones, three pounds, it's also good for poor.
Extension first, was North to airport grand.
Then second, out to Wear and Sunderland.
Last month I went three zones to Whitley Bay.
Then Tybnemouth Pri'ry early in the day.

M12 Newcastle

Coal
It's "Coals to Newcastle" - no need for that!
When said to you, it leaves you feeling flat.
For hundreds years, black coal rolled down to Tyne.
On trucks on waggonways, to staith from mine.
For thousands, pits and rails meant daily bread.
Drift coal from Poland - now the pits are dead.

Railways
Coal trucks on rails, wood, iron, cast then wrought.
Steam engines station'ry or locos bought.
Coal trucks were pulled downhill on waggonway.
First horse, then engine steam would make rope play.
George Stephenson built loco - flatter run.
Then steam 'n diesel gave the whole world fun.

Tu13 Newcastle
W14 Newcastle
Th15 Newcastle, lecture on Parkinson's Disease
F16 Newcastle, Ron Eager house
Sa17 Newcastle
Su18Oct2009Newcastle to King's Cross, London
M19 London
Tu20 London, Gordon's group
W21 Wednesday club
Th22 nomads and Thursday tea-time
F23 WLDC downstairs
Sa24 American church,Simon community,St Giles,ASLAN
Su25Oct2009Sister Margaret
M26 Art at St Martin's,St Jude's,Earl Court
Tu27 TateModern,"Black hole",Baldessari
W28 StJude's,Wednesday club
Th29 nomads,CamdenArtsCentre,Thursday tea-time,HowardIsenberg and3-D photography
F30 Footsteps,Joe's house

robertmitchell,SPAMnewsletter,Sep09,1 of 29, three great Tyne bridges, new,swing,high level

2009-09-16T08:54:00.001+01:00

W16Sep09-08.50bst,Newcastle lby,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,Oce

diary http://sdapp.blogspot.com/

flickr photos http://www..flickr.com/photos/the-reindeer

Hello kind reader,

Over the last month, I have walked the rest of Hadrian's Wall, looked round Hexham, been to Kielder water, Newcastle, and Northumberland up to Bamburgh castle.

Next month, I hope to stay near Newcastle and make trips out - Morpeth, Consett, Segedunum, Arbeia, Jarrow, Tynemouth priory,...

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F21Aug09-11.20bst,Hexham lby,Northumberland,Fujitsu-Siemens,F-S,F-S,F-S,w2k3v

Hadrian's Wall and Kielder Water are in the Northumberland National Park, which has fewest indwellers of all the parks. Light pollution -mostly street lights but also houses - is pretty low. With the help of the new moon I have been looking at the Milky Way between clouds.

I found my first tree full of cherry plums a couple of days ago. It was on the old road from Corbridge to Hexham that runs alongside the new A69 north of the Tyne. I stopped for a rest and a feed while I read two old Times and a Women's Weekly I picked up - the weekly quote was from Mae West, "To err is human but it feels divine". 3 or 4 ripe plums fell off the tree while I sat there.

The Tyne runs through Newcastle and I spotted a fighter in the Toon Army, way upstream. A little West of Bellingham in Tynedale, a black and white magpie shirt was seen on the driver of a small tractor in a field.

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Sa22Aug09-09.50bst,Hexham lby,Northumberland,Fujitsu-Siemens,F-S,F-S,F-S,w2k3v

Yesterday I looked at Brunton turret, what is said to be the best turret on Hadrian's Wall. It was about 6 courses of stones high, and about 2 metres square, on the road between Wall and Acomb, not far from Chester fort.

Today I found my first bush full of ripe blackberries, of this summer. Scrumptious! Clearing a stone the other day to make a flat spot - as well as woodlice, I found a thick white web nest of spiders. They were light brown, about 3 mm across with short legs - quite big for under a stone I thought.

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Tu25Aug09-09.00bst,Newcastle lby,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,?

I reached Newcastle yesterday and found the People's Kitchen in Bath Lane. About 30 years ago, a woman of Newcastle on her own set up a soup kitchen for the homeless. She went on to become famous, meet the Queen for an MBE(?) and found the People's Kitchen which is still going today. Last night they had a handout - vegetable soup, pasty and pasta, bread, tea/coffee, clothes from a new van which is a mobile kitchen.

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Th27Aug09-17.00bst,Newcastle lby,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,Oce

I skippered on the A69 roundabout near Wylam and getting up was easy under all the street lights - about 20. Some nights before I was in a fir plantation North of Wark where the North Tyne meets the road. Those needles let no light through and no streetlights helped.

My bright white bags could barely be seen and I nearly got lost walking 20 yards to the road. The only things I can see are big trees.

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Sa29Aug09-08.50bst,Newcastle lby,John Dobson street,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,Oce

John Dobson was the architect who, with John Grainger, built the new town centre of Newcastle, North of the old town centre round St Nicholas cathedral, in the 1830s. At the heart of the new town centre is the monument, like Nelson's column, with Earl Grey at the top. A Newcastle man, Earl Grey was prime minister when the great reform bill of 1832 was passed. He is perhaps better known for his Earl Grey tea.

Yesterday I went to the free Laing Art Gallery. They have an exhibition of watercolours from their own stores, paid for by the Friends of Laing. I like to see watercolours in the hope some of their genius will rub off on me. Laing was a Scot who made money on Tyneside from shipbuilding and funded the gallery.

The rabbits on the grass round the Civic Centre are tame and do not mind being seen by passers by. Out in the countryside they run on the sight of me. I saw a dead rabbit near Hexham lying flat under a tree. Some flies were flying round it, laying eggs I believe. About a week later the rabbit had shrunk to a furry bag of skin and bones - quicker than I would have thought could be done.

Earlier this week, I went to the free Discovery Museum. The first thing you see is the "Turbinia", built by Charles Parsons in 1894 and the first ship powered by a steam turbine.

Turbinia was the fastest ship of its day at 35 knots, 40mph, 65kph. I recall the story of how

it ran rings round the British fleet at the Spithead review. Parsons was knighted and given the Order of Merit.

Parsons first made the steam turbine for generating electricity and I believe that all big power stations nuclear and fossil fuel, have steam turbines to turn the generators. For ships however, I think big diesels have taken over. The QE II cruise liner had steam turbines.

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Th3Sep09-09.40bst,Alnwick lby,Fujitsu-Siemens,F-S,F-S,F-S,hp

The kind Geordies of Newcastle have been giving me their loose change - £13 - £14. It's about the same, male and female and they walk up and say "Buy yourself a coffee". One guy saw me in Penrith a month ago, and he gave me a handful of change - about a fiver.

Yesterday I strolled through Amble, a small harbour at the mouth of the river Coquet. First it was a fishing harbour. Then coal was found but the last shipment went out in 1969. The old West jetty is now a marina and they are back to fishing, but with a lot of tourism. They have have a big new town square by the harbour with a sun dial with one of the biggest gnomons in Europe. Walking on the tidal mud of the Coquet, was my first curlew, small, light dappled grey back with long down curved beak.

In a bend of the Coquet is Warkworth castle, stronghold of the Percy family. I took a shot of the gatehouse but some of the walls have fallen or been robbed of stone. Most of the keep is still there. I think English Heritage are looking after it.

On Wednesday morning I was lucky to wake up, shortly before the nearly full moon set (full moon on the 4th), when it was about 5 degrees above the skyline. I was in a hedgerow with no street lights. I like roundabouts because they often have street lights.

The night was clear and the stars bright after the moon had set. The winter stars are rising in the east. Orion strides over the skyline and Gemini is flat to the east. Procyon, Canis Minor, the small dog, was below and between them. Procyon being "before the dog" as cynics will know, the dog star Sirius had not yet risen. Mars (I think) was below the twins Castor and Pollux, on the skyline and slowly twinkling, about once or twice a second, if I am not mistaken.

In the south are Capricorn and Aquarius with a lot of faint stars which I must learn some day. The only bright star was Fomalhaut, "the lonely one" in Arabic, in Piscis Austrinus, southern fish.

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M7Sep09-09.30bst,Alnwick lby,Northumberland,Fujitsu-Siemens,F-S,F-S,F-S,?

I often here the tawny owl in the woods at night - often heard, seldom seen. At dawn few birds sings now, but a group of jackdaws were singing. They stopped when they heard me, but started again straightaway. A sycamore by Bamburgh castle was leaning heavily eastwards under the west winds. In its shelter two other sycamores grew straight up. Is this perhaps why the sycamore is not a native tree?

I thought lighthouses had been overtaken by GPS and radar. But I have spotten two on the Northumberland shore - Blyth and Bamburgh. The St Mary's lighthouse near Whitley Bay is not working.

I quite often see a small mirage on a longish stretch of road - looking like a pool of water in the road - but it is never there when I get to it. I feel fairly sure that it is light from the sky bouncing off the steep temperature gradient, just above the tarmac. Now and then I can see the dark trees in the mirage. The light is only ever turned through a small angle.

I have seen some satellites slowly going between the stars, mostly for 5 or 10 minutes and perhaps across half the sky. Going away from the sun they suddenly are lost when they go into the earth's shadow. Going towards the sun they fade like the moon, as the sunlit side slowly turns away. Could it be the international space station?

I also see shooting stars - a streak of light for about half a second stretching maybe 10 - 15 degrees across the sky. I don't see many - about 1 a week.

Perhaps I should say there is no message in the SPAMnewsletters, nor teaching. "Bare underholdning","only entertainment" as Lise Myre(?), Norwegian cartoonist of "Nemi", each day in the METRO, said in an interview I read in Oslo last year. I do acknowledge that I am sometimes trying to teach myself!

This morning under the A1/A1068 bridge near Alnwick, with no streetlights nearby, I got up by the light of the third quarter moon. In the fall, the 3rd quarter moon moves from the spring stars to the summer stars and can be good for up to 10 days.

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M11Sep09-09.20bst,Newcastle lby,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,Oce

Trees of the rose family are setting seed now - berries,haws,hips. I have taken two snaps of rowan and Swedish whitebeam with bright red berries and dark green leaves. As a wild-life photographer I could do better. Most animals, herons, ducks, sheep, cows, even bullocks, take one look at me and turn tail. So I have been snapping those that can't run away - at least not fast enough - caterpillars and slugs.

Near the Cheviot hills a few days ago, I walked by a field of bullocks in the dark. I could tell by the thunder of hooves that they wanted to know what this flip-flop of sandals meant, in the road by their field. Some weeks ago, I saw another herd of frisky bullocks and this time the old man the pedigree bull, was running with them. He could not keep up but felt he had to try. I know the feeling!

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Su13Aug09-11.20bst,Newcastle lby,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,Oce

I have heard the short squawk of the heron at night, and once saw one fly a ring round me. The robin sings under the street lights. I've also seen a few caterpillars - a couple big at aboiut 3 cm and long furry, and another bright green thin looper.

Between Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the south and Berwick-on-Tweed are perhaps 4 bigger rivers and many smaller ones. Blyth and the Port of Blyth are on the river Blyth.

Then, going north is river Wansbeck which flows through Morpeth farther upstream.

In the tidal flats of Coquet I saw a curlew near Amble. A km upstream is Warkworth with its castle, a stronghold of the Percy family. But the capital of the Coquet is Rothbury reached after a steep climb - I speak from experience - and Cragside, the home of Lord Armstrong, "Geordie genius".

The fourth is the Aln, with Alnmouth, where I did not go, and Alnwick, where I did, with Alnwick castle, the family of the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland.

North of Blyth is Seaton Sluice which had a port in Victorian times, thanks to investment by the Delaval family. But by 1890 the wharves had been left to the wind and the waves as trade had been lost to Blyth.

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M14Sep09-12.40bst,Newcastle lby,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,Oce

I found a big bank of rose bay willow herb, all gone to seed. They also make a great show when in flower.

Over the last two weeks, I have looked at some of the castles in Northumberland. Bamburgh is said to be the "iconic" castle of Britain. I walked by in 1993 when I walked from London to Edinburgh - I am always walking by things I want to see. It was a castle in the dark ages for the kingdoms of the celts and angles. The Normans dug a well through the Whin sill basalt, 45m(?) down to get water from the sandstone, into which the Whin sill was forced about 300 million years ago

Warkworth castle is in a bend of the Coquet river near the sea at Amble. The keep and the gatehouse were quite good but some of the walls have gone. There is also a hermitage which I could not find.

Alnwick has a barbican outside the main gate and is the family home of the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland. Most barbicans seem to have been knocked down as they go before the gate itself - London Barbican! Some of the Newcastle barbican is still there - called the Black Gate after its owner in the 1700s, although its North gate is almost all gone.

Dunstanburgh is said to be the biggest but is in ruins. On the other hand, Morpeth castle is small but has a whole ring of walls. I walked right round!

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Tu15Sep09-11.10bst,Newcastle lby,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,Oce

Last Friday, 11th, I walked back to Newcastle from Morpeth through the coal fields of North Tyne. At the 6 mile bridge, 6 miles North of Newcastle, I was at the spot where the Great North Road is crossed by a historic "waggonway". Coal was first shipped out of Newcastle in about the 1400s, I believe. It was loaded into wagons on wooden rails and run down a steady slope called a "waggonway", which can still be traced to this day. The coal was loaded onto ships on the North bank of the Tyne.

The waggonway at Killingworth is where George Stephenson learnt about railways and the steam engines that pulled the wagons down to the Tyne. His rails were 4ft 8.5 inches apart and this guage has spread across the world.. By remarkable coincidence, the cart tracks on the Roman roads are also 4ft 8 1/2 inches apart, so says my book on Hadrian's Wall. Did we get the gauge from the Romans? Where did the Romans get it? Greeks? Minoan Crete? Perhaps the need for all carts to run in the same grooves, has kept the gauge so steady over the years.

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W16Sep09-08.50bst,Newcastle lby,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,Oce

Last night I went to the People's Kitchen for a welcome meal - pasta, potatoes,cabbage and rice, with as much tea as I could drink.

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Best wishes to all, Robert

attached shots

1 F21Aug the outlet on the dry side of the Kielder dam, from which flows the North Tyne

2 Sa22Aug a bright show of flowers on an old wooden rail in Hexham, between Hexham Tyne bridge and the railway bridge.

3 Tu25Aug flying geese/swans and flowers at the Newcastle Civic Centre

4 Th27Aug turret on Hadrian's Wall

5 Sa29Aug Newcastle Civic Centre, seen from Dobson Street

6 M11Sep Alnwick castle in the early morning

7 M11Sep Bamburgh castle on Whin sill, owned by Lord Armstrong

8 M11Sep This plaque is by Wakenshaw VC junction/cross roads a little to the West of Newcastle Town Centre

9 Sa12Sep From the Tyne bridge looking over Newcastle city centre

the Norman castle keep, 1080 - hence 'Newcastle' instead the Angles' 'Munkcaster' - but this keep was put up by Henry II about 1160, the crown steeple/lantern tower of St Nicholas Cathedral, Armstrong's swing bridge, Robert Stephenson's high bridge,...

10 Sa12Sep Four big names with links to Morpeth, 15 miles North of Newcastle

11 M14Sep Bamburgh (from old English Betanburgh, burg of Queen Betta) castle

robertmitchellSPAMnewsletterAug2009 1of29, no summer this year! straight from spring to fall

2009-08-17T11:03:00.002+01:00

M17Aug09-11.00bst,Hexham lby, Northumberland,Fujitsu-Siemens,F-J,F-J,F-J,w2k3v

diary http://sdapp.blogspot.com/

flickr photos http://flickr.com/photos/the-reindeer

Hello kind reader,

Over the last month, I have walked round Lakeland and Furness, and some of Hadrian's Wall and nearby sights.

Next month, I hope to walk the rest of the wall, go to Kielder water, go to Bambrugh castle, and swim the Atlantic.

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Th16Jul09-10.10bst,Morecambe lby,stone,Belnea,cherry,ms,NMORefBW1

My first raspberries of this summer this morning - delicious! Blackberries are on their way.

I went to Heysham this morning. Heysham has s Peter's and St Patrick's chapel. Both seem to date from about the same time - the 700s. There are also some rock cut tombs which are thought to have been cut around the grave of a holy but unknown man. They are all too late to be linked to St Patrick!

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Su19Jul09-12.30bst,Kendal lby,Dell,LG,Dell,Dell,iCAM

I have seen a few dead birds, mostly nestlings, sometimes after rain. They are bald with no feathers so I can't guess what they are - balckbird? One with feathers was heron I think. Nestlings that have grown too big for the nest are fed by the parents while they hide on the ground, I believe. On the promenade at Douglas, Isle of Man, I saw a herring gull nestling, almost full-size but with mottled brown feathers and not flying. In the grass by the road a fluttering showed me a small goldfinch, I think

Today I walked into Kendal, Westmorland. Their motto is "Pannus mihi panis" meaning so they say, "Cloth is bread for me". Kendal did well from sheep and wool as can be seen from the parish church, St Mary's(?). It seems to have three naves rather than nave and two aisles and is the second widest in England. It seems that leather and shoes have taken over from textiles as the main industry.

All hump-backed bridges are canal bridges - Brindley bridges. Almost, but no! In Morecambe I saw my first hump-backed over a railway. The Lancaster canal goes Tewitfield wharf, but there I lost it in the dark and carried on along the A6070. The road crossed the canal farther on and I saw that the canal was full of water but overgrown and not dredged. The towpath had been mowed and was good walking.

In Kendal, where the canal ends I found two roads, Canal Head North and Canal Head South, on the two sides of the wharf at the last basin. Sadly however the canal was filled in 1947, having lost its trade to the Kendal railway of 1847.They are talking of making the waterway to Kendal again but not yet! I think they would have good cruising business to the Lakes, as they have to Llangollen in Wales.

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M20Jul09-10.00bst,Windermere lby,Top-Tec,Dell,Logitech,Logitech,iCAM printer

Sir William Hillary of Douglas Isle of Man, set up the Royal National Lifeboat Institution is 1824. This sculpture is on the Promenade of Douglas showing the famous rescue of 1830 of the stricken St George on the Conister rock, in Douglas harbour. Michael Sandle is a well known Isle of Man artist who has become known world-wide.

Fuchsia are self seeded round the S of the Isle of Man and many garages are Total.

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W22Jul09-11.10bst,Ulverston lby,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,iCAM printer

Yesterday I slept in Rayrigg wood near Windermere, a cathedral of tall beech trees with a high green roof. It was pitch dark when I got up, but the night was clear and near the new moon. I saw the Milky Way overhead from Altair through Deneb to Cassiopeia. Arcturus is low in the NW. Over the last 3 months I have watched Regulus, Spica and Saturn sink in the West.

In the morning it started to cloud over as forecast. I was in Newby Bridge at the S end of Windermere and had the good luck to find old pig sties, empty but dry. I was glad to watch the rain through the door, open to clear out any condensation.

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Th23Jul09-10.20bst,Barrow-in-Furness library,Cumbria,Dell,Dell,Dell,MS,iCAM printer

The spreading thistle is spreading - something to think about for those wearing sandals.

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F24Jul09-10.00bst,Barrow-in-Furness lby,Cumbria,Dell,Dell,Dell,MS,iCAM

Today and yesterday, I've been looking round Barrow-in-Furness with its big docks where they build nuclear subs though well out of sight as far as I can tell. I first had a look at Furness abbey the second richest Cistercian abbey in England and looted by Henry VIII.

There is a dock museum and a statue of Emlyn Hughes who was born here. I always wondered why he played for England and not Wales! It seems his father was a Welsh rugby league player.

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M27Jul09-10.00bst,Ulverstone lby,Cumbria,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,iCAM

Yesterday, Sunday, I walked the scenic coastal route from Barrow to Ulverstone, along Morecambe Bay. Across the bay I could see the two nuclear power stations at Heysham.

Then the rain came in from the West and I put on my three waterproof jackets and trousers. A kindly couple gave me a lift for the last few kilometres into Ulverstone.

Today, I had a look at Conishead Priory, which looks quite impressive. I was a little taken aback to find it is now a Buddhist temple and they are having their summer festival for which you need a pass. So I went on to the Ulverstone canal which was busy for about 50 years till the railways came in 1850. At 65 foot wide, 15 foot deep and a mile long, it was called the deepest, widest and shortest canal in England.

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F31Jul09-11.00bst,Keswick lby,Cumbria,Dell,CTX,Dell,Dell,iCAM

Canada geese and sheep live happily together in the flooded fields after the heavy rain. Sheep run away when I show them my camera! I saw a big weeping hawthorn. The lower half had been taken over by ivy, and the twigs and branches from the upper half were hanging down before the ivy, like a weeping willow.

I slept the night by the A66 outside Keswick - no rain for the first time for a few days. Keswick has an old town, with Moot hall, market place, Main street and many old buildings. I walked down to the "lake", which is Derwent water and a wonderful outlook towards the fells around. I bought two-for-one survival bags at one of the many outdoor shops in Keswick and all the Lakes towns. The Keswick convention seems to be still going.

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Sa1Aug09-10.30bst,Keswick lby,Cumbria,Dell,CTX,Dell,Logitech,iCAM

Yesterday afternoon, Friday, I found the Keswick Convention site on the map, and there I met Tim of All Souls'/ASLAN, who kindly fed me a tasty lunch. Friday is the last day of the 3-week convention, so he took me to the last hour of the tent city by Rawnsley Hall. In the evening I went to the last session of the convention at 7.30. We heard about the 250 youngsters doing Hebrews 11, a talk about David and Goliath, and much singing with a 6-piece band.

This morning it was raining as forecast, so I went to Castlerigg ring of stones, up on the top of a hill with a sou'wester blowing. About 40 Borrowdale volcanic stones, brought here by the glaciers, make an outer ring about 30 metres across. On the east is a "unique" oblong of 10 stones calle a sanctuary. It seems these stones circles in Britain, were put up between 3500 and 1600 BC/BCE, in the new stone age and bronze ages. Stone tools say this could be new stone age ring. It's looked after by the National Trust, who have a stone collecting box saying "Please support the National Trust". I put £1 in.

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M3Aug09-11.00bst,Penrith lby,Cumbria,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,iCAM

Sadly I read no Beatrix Potter books as a child and grown up, I said "They are for children!"

I walked by her farm, Yew Tree Farm, between Coniston and Ambleside, where her "beloved Herdwick sheep" are still being farmed. All I know about her, I have picked up over the years (63 next month).

As a young woman she looked at lichens, showed they were made of a mould and an alga living together, but her paper was turned down because she was a woman. She took to writing children's books which became world renowned. She then married to live on Yew Tree Farm and I believe did not write another book. I am now thinking of reading them!

Penrith is a pleasant market town with St Andrew's church. The West tower dates to 1397 but the nave and aisles to 1720 in Georgian classic style. Inside, columns hold up the gallery and roof. Penrith was burned to the ground in 1346(?) in a Scotish raid and backed the English Duke of Portland in 1745 against the Young Pretender.

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F7Aug09-11.40bst,Carlisle lby,Cumbria,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,iCAM

A flock of 20 swallows gathered on power lines above me. Some days ago, I saw about 30 screeching swifts fairly high, perhaps 100 metres, and lower, some twittering swallows about 10 metres up, all hunting flying insects, flies, beetles, bees, wasps, hover flies, ... Unheard bats hunt at dusk or dawn almost at ground level, though none has hit me yet.

What is sin? - or greed? I wondered as I plodded along the A66 towards Penrith. Then I saw some bushes by the road over about 10 yards full of ripe raspberries. So that is greed!

In the morning a few days ago at the Somerfield near Penrith Market Square, I found a leaflet about Hadrian's Wall. I was not surprised to find that the Wall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But the site is the frontier of the Roman Empire, and stretches about 150 miles from Wallsend in Newcastle to Ravensglass on the seashore of the Western Lakes.

The wall is about 73 miles - 80 Roman miles - of those 150 miles. The World Heritage Site also has the German Limes which go from the Rhine to the Danube, I believe.

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Su9Aug09-14.00bst,internet caff,acer,acer.?,ms,?

Carlisle has three bridges. The Eden bridge over the river Eden, is said to be 40 yards upstream of the Roman bridge carrying the Wall. Bridge Street runs towards the Caldew bridge. I walked over the Petterill river on my way to my skipper. On 8 January, 2005, high tide and heavy rain made the Eden and Caldew burst their banks and flood the town centre. A new flood scheme of walls and earth banks is being built. Warwick Road, the main road east and A69, is shut for 6 weeks while they build a bigger sewer.

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F14Aug09-11.20bst,Hexham library,Fujitsu-Siemens,hp,F-S,F-S,w2k3v print

Yesterday I walked to Hexham from near Hadrian's wall, about 20km but thanks to an early start, I was at the TIC before it opened. Hexham abbey was founded by St Wilfrid, about 674 AD/CE. The crypt of his abbey is still there but above ground was burnt by the Vikings.

The first purpose-built gaol in England was put up in 1330 by the Archbishop of York and Lord of the Manor. It was mighty sturdy and is still there.

Today I went to Corbridge for their Roman fort, which was closed at 6 in the morning (!). I could have climbed a gate but threat of patrolling security and prosecution for trespass made me change my mind. St Andrew's church is 7th century. The Vicar's Peal tower, which is a small keep, 1200s, helped in the border wars and during raids by the reivers or cattle rustlers.

Garlic mustard has gone to seed, is drying out, leaves deep red with green edges.

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M17Aug09-10.30bst,Hexham library,Fujitsu-Siemens,F-J,F-J,F-J,w2k3v

Outside Hexham, I found a skipper between two middling sycamores and a 5 foot dry-stone wall. In the middle the nettle and bramble cannot grow for lack of light and it's a comfy spot. I found a like spot between two tall limes outside Ellesmere. It's always worth checking out.

Yesterday I had a quick look at Housesteads fort, the main tourist trap on Hadrian's Wall. Today I walked about 20 km back to Hexham. Well into the fourth quarter moon and with not much light pollution round here, I could see the Milky Way between the clouds.

I could see nothing under the street lights of the village Four Stones. Back in the darkness, the stars had all gone, 8/8 cloud, and a light rain was falling! The rain became heavy and I had to walk two hours into Hexham. I treated myself to a £3 breakfast in the Tesco cafe.

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Best wishes to all, Robert

attached shots

1 Sa18Jul St Peter's parish church of Heysham and very old, it seems - 700s?

2 Su19Jul West tower from the North of Kendal parish church

3 M20Jul On the Promenade of Douglas

4 W22Jul comfy dry pig sty in Newby Bridge

5 M27Jul looking towards Ulverstone and the railway bridge along the Ulverstone canal

6 Sa1Aug Castlerigg stone ring, 10-stone "sanctuary" in the foreground, taken with my back to the sou'wester.

7 M3Aug Herdwick Inn, Penruddock, showing Beatrix Potter's "beloved Herdwick sheep"

8 F14Aug Sunrise seen from the scenic route along Morecambe bay, from Barrow to Ulverstone. "Red morning, shepherds warning" - it rained later and I got a lift from a kind lady to Ulverstone.

9 F14Aug United Utilities say sorry for blocking the A69 out of Carlisle to put in bigger sewers.

10 M17Aug looking NE, overlooking the cliff below Hadrian's Wall on Whin Sill, near Sewingshields and not far from Housesteads fort.

Sep2009 England

2009-08-08T10:23:00.013+01:00

Tu1 A189/1086
W2 Amble,Warkworth
Th3 Alnwick
F4 A1,rain,Warenford
Sa5 Bamburgh,Seahouses
Su6Sep2009B1340,A697
M7 Alnwick
Tu8 Cragside
W9 B6344,A697
Th10 Morpeth
F11 Newcastle
Sa12 Newcastle
Su13Sep2009Newcastle
M14 Newcastle
Tu15 Newcastle
W16 Newcastle,St Ann's church,3 bridges
Th17 PK,Segedunum fort
F18 Medomsley
Sa19 A692,Newcastle

four free museums in Newcastle
Years sev'nty five ago, "Discov'ry"'s there.
Turbinia, Parsons' ship in Blandford Square.
Northumberland! "Great North"'s the show for you.
The coal with Romans, Angles, Armstrong too.
The "Laing" for Art - Laing's cash came from making ships.
The watercolours good for handy tips.
The "Bessie Surtees" house is not yet seen.
John Scott - Lord Eldon, his elop'd dear queen.

Su20Sep2009PK,Newcastle
M21 Newcastle, PK Outreach, kipped under railway arch

Monday,21stSeptember,2009
Ron Eager Centre, fearsome DVD
All murders, beatings, tortures you could see.
They have a shelf of books that we can pick.
Sue Townsend's son Ade Mole, will do the trick.
Of chuckles belly laughs, a steady string.
Give me a funny book without a sting.

Tu22 Newcastle
W23 Newcastle

Peoples Kitchen founded by Alison Kay
I sit here waiting for Kay's Peoples Kitch.
Those nasty drops of rain fair make me twitch.
Was sitting reading happy 'neath the sun.
Bad West wind blew in dark clouds one by one.
We had a dry East wind some days ago.
It veered to West and now I've lost my glow.

Th24 Newcastle

Newcastle
A Celtic(?) old town, Roman bridge and fort.
Monkchester Anglo-Saxon name, we're taught.
The Normans built "Newcastle" on same spot.
Then coal was found. That brought in wealth - a lot!
George Stephenson brought running steam to rail.
With wharves and shipyards, many ships at sail.

F25 Morpeth
Sa26 Newcastle

What happened today, Sa26Oct2009
The sun is shining from a clear blue sky.
The West wind blows quite hard so we won't fry.
Sri Lanka lost to England in SA.
The England middle order could make hay.
Was in Newcastle lib'ry for hours.
Computer, sketching, reading, dodging showers.

Su27Sep2009
Newcastle

Sunrise over Gateshead
The rose sunrise means snapping finter's hot!
To gateshead east, along the Team - snapshot.
The clouds should be too thick to block the light.
So thick to bounce it back into your sight.
The pinks clouds stretched so bold from east to west.
For minutes few, a lucky world seemed blessed.

M28 Newcastle, organ recital at St Nicholas
Tu29 MetroTynemouthPriory,StPaul's,Jarrow rain
W30 walk back to Newcastle,A193

Tuesday, 29th September, 2009
Five thirty Metro, fast to Tynemouth town.
The castle Pri'ry, kings three, on high moun'.
Foot tunnel, next, beneath the river Tyne.
St Paul's, old church with Bede monk's writing, fine.
It's raining now - I want to my find my spot.
The ledge beneath the bridge - warm, dry - the lot!

Aug2009,West of Engand

2009-07-19T12:47:00.006+01:00

Sa1Keswick
Su2Aug2009A66,Penruddock foto
M3 Penrith
Tu4 Penrith
W5 Brougham,Penrith
Th6 A6,Hutton-in-the-forest
F7 Carlisle
Sa8 Carlisle,Caerluel,Luguvallium
Su9Aug2009Carlisle
M10 Brampton
Tu11 A69,Hasdrian's Wall,Birdoswald fort
W12 Hadrian's Wall,turret41A,Milecastle,Vindolanda,OnceBrewed
Th13 Hexham
F14 Corbridge
Sa15 Chesters,Brocolitia,rain,Carrawburgh
Su16Aug2009Housesteads fort
M17 Hexham
Tu18 Wark,Bellingham
W19 Kielder water
Th20 NorthTyne
F21 Hexham
Sa22Hexham
Su23Aug2009A69,Wylam
M24 A69,Newcastle
Tu25 Newcastle
W26 Newcastle
Th27 RonEagerHouse,PeoplesKitchen,Newcastle
F28 Newcastle
Sa29 Newcastle
Su30Aug2009Whitley Bay
M31 Blyth

robertmitchell,SPAMnewsletter,Jul09,1of27,IoMan big names,NormanWisdom(95),GeoffDukes(70s),BeeGees(50s),MarkCavendish(23)

2009-07-15T16:00:00.003+01:00

W15Jul09-15.20bst,Morecombe lby,hp,Belnea,Cherry,stoneMS,NMore

Hello kind reader,

Over the last month I have walked through Preston, Blackpool, Lancaster and round the S of the Isle of Man

Over the next month I hope to go to the Lake Districk and Furness.

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Th18Jun09-10.50bst,HaroldTomlinsCentre,Chester,hp,hp,hp,hp,hpOfficeJet

I saw what I believe was a water vole, swimming for about 5 seconds across the canal. It seems that minks hunt voles but do not like towns. So vole "hotspots" are found in town waters, such as the Coventry canal or Whitchurch on the Llangollen canal.

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Friday26Jun09-10.00bst,Harris lby,Preston,Stone,Belinea,Cherry,ms,?

Today I walked along a wide metalled footpath along the A59 from the Rufford Branch of the Liverpool & Leeds canal and the Douglas river, to Preston the county town of Lancashire. At about 2 this morning the tide was flowing fast upstream along the Douglas river. About 30 yards away on the canal, the was a slow but steady downstream flow of about 1 yard a minute, towards tidal lock no. 8, where the two meet.

Last Friday I walked out of Chester to the "devil's triangle" of the M56, M53 and the Wirral line of the Shropshire Union Canal. Given the nightime hiss and the daytime roar, the hedgerow wasn't too bad in truth. I slept there 3 times in all. Between the 2nd and 3rd time were about 10 days. In that time, the cleavers/goose grass grew so fast and scrambled over so much, that it took me a few minutes to find my spot.

Walking into Birkenhead on Sunday, I met another homeless guy, Ian on his bike. He stopped for a chat and said that divorce and drink had left him on the streets for two years.

He had been to the deserts of Kazakhstan where the Kazakhs were poor and hardy but friendly and generous. That reminded me of the South of Italy, Il Mezzogiorno, where the Italians would drop a 1000 lira note (50p) as they walked by. Ian said that he found the winters tough but that he could go to his sister's for a wash and a shower and get fed.

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Saturday27Jun09-10.00bst,Harris lby,Preston,Stone,Belinea,Cherry,Trust,?

At the North end of Preston is Preston North End football club. The "Sir Tom Finney" Way is between the Deepdale ground and Moor Park, where Preston holds its big fests. To the North of PNE is the National Museum of Football, which claims to be the best in the world. There is an exhibition called Local Hero about Tom Finney and behind the museum are the floodlights of the ground. Before the museum is a statue of him with fountains.

Last Saturday I walked to Ellesmere Port, formerly Netherpool, to Pooltown and on to Overpool. This is the kind of thing you do when you have lots of time and not much money! The name Netherpool lives on in the Netherpool Estate, and the Netherpool Road which I followed from Overpool to the M53. Carrying on to Eastham I saw over a hedge, the big Eastham lock at the start of the Manchester Ship Canal before finding a handy hedgerow to rest in.

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Tu30Jun09-09.50bst,Blackpool Central lby,hp,acer,matias,hp,ICAM

Today, I plodded from a comfy spot in a hedge between Warton and Lytham to Blackpool. I took two shots of the tower, though I don't normally take "picture post card" photos as I reckon they do it better! There are two piers, the Northern is by the town centre here. The townhall was built in 1900.

The warmer weather means I have to put clothes in the backpack. I wait till the last so that I am always over dressed. My heavy black T-shirt with a hood was given to me by some Poles. It's made for the Polish winter so it's pretty good in winter. I met the Poles in 2004 in Norway by the Glomma river between Oslo and Halden on the border with Sweden. They were cruising bikers doing Europe, not long after Poland became a member of EU. They let me stay a night in their tent and gave me the T-shirt when they left. The Glomma is the biggest river in Norway, draining the East of Norway and the West of Sweden. Under the Poles' campsite, perhaps 10 metres down, were some beavers on the river.

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F3Jul09-10.00bst,Garstang lby,Lancashire,hp,hp,hp,hp,NLPRINT4

Today I walked from Great Eccleston to Garstang. I found a couple of beeches amid about 6 hollies against a high fence and a comfy few square yards covered with soft leaf litter. Behind the fence some noisy games of croquet (I think) were being played.

At the outlet into the sea, the river Wyre is wide and tidal, Fleetwood on the left, S bank and Knott End on the right bank. A busy foot ferry sails between the banks. About 10(?) miles upstream, the Garstang road, A586 crosses the Wyre at St Michael's on Wyre on a small stone bridge, with a foot bridge built alongside for busy times. Here the Wyre in midsummer is a narrow stream.

St Michael's is a "typical late Medieval North Country church" - Pevsner the Great, aka baldypevsner. Tradition says a church was built here in 640 AD/CE by Paulinus, Christian and missionary, but nothing has been found. A church is also named in the Domesday book. The church being on a main road, is the most seen Medieval church in Lancashire. It has a nave and S aisle, with square W tower. The stairs up the tower are on the S side. I walked round the church this morning, twice, once clockwise and once anticlockwise, which I think is the best you can do in a few minutes.

Over the last 50 years new motorways have taken a lot of traffic off the 'A' -roads that I have been walking over the last few days - leaving good roads with not much traffic. The powers that be, have taken the chance to add new cycle lanes, footpaths and sometimes to close one of the lanes of the dual carriageways. One good thing (I think) is more safety markings, where the middle of a road may be painted out of bounds to cut down the crashes. Sometimes new islands are put in the middle of roads.

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Sa4Jul09-09.50bst,Garstang lby,Lancashire,hp,hp,hp,hp,NLPRINT4

Last night I kipped in a wood between the railway and the M6 by bridge 51 on the Lancaster canal, among hundreds of bluebell stalks gone to seed. I saw no leaves at all as I believe they are taken up into the bulb. A couple of months ago, near the junction between the Trent & Mersey and Macclesfield canals, I slept among bluebells, likewise going to seed but with the leaves all lying flat on the ground while the flower stalk was upright. And the bluebell flowers in a wood make a wonderful sight in April and May. Near Llangollen I also slept on a bed of Ransoms, also going to seed with their leaves flat on the ground. I believe all bulb flowers, one seed leaf, (monocotyledons - monocots) are like this.

Fleetwood North of Blackpool, was fun to look around. It was founded from scratch by Sir Peter Hesketh-Fleetwood about 1840. He started wealthy and ended with big debts. Queen Victoria called at Fleetwood in 1847 before catching the train to London. At London she was met by Sir Peter living in London in "much reduced circumstances".

He took up a market charter given to the owners of Rossall Hall nearby in around 1250 but never taken up. He got architect Decimus Burton to build the North Euston hotel and a set of three lighthouses for ships. One lighthouse is at sea, and the second two on land, one tall and the second short. The ships sail along the line laid out by the two on land. It seems this was the first time such a system had been built and it spread round the world - Ostend, Belgium springs to mind.

As we all know, Fleetwood went on to have a big market, deep sea fishing fleet, sadly no more, and ferries. Stena still run the ferry to Dublin and the foot ferry across the estuary of the Wyre runs every hour but for low tide. The life boat RNLI, is still going strong.

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M7Jul09-10.10bst,Lancaster lby,hp,hp,hp,hp,hp

On Friday I stopped by bridge 79 on Lancaster canal, scrambled up a low stone retaining wall, up a bank, to a flat wood fenced by cow grazing. At 4 o'clock above the trees the sky got dark. Waterproof jackets, trousers and two thunder shelters, former survival bags, kept me dry. Heavy rain fell for an hour, then a gap followed by fairly heavy rain for another dry. I got up in the morning when the first bird thrush?, sang and the trees were still dripping under light rain/drizzle.

Sir Richard Owen was born in Lancaster and thought up the word "dinosaur". He was good with bones and became an expert. He was on the committee that looked at the living conditions of the working class made by the industrial revolution and brought clean water. He got on well with Queen Victoria and taught science to her children. But he came down against evolution and came a cropper in 1859, when Darwin brought out "The Origin of Species". I think it is fair to say that his name as a scientist, was mud. From 1856 he was the curator of the Natural History department at the British Museum. He had friends in high places - Queen Victoria! He lived to see the new Natural History Museum opened in 1881 before retiring in 1883.

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Tu7Jul09-10.40bst,Lancaster lby,hp,hp,hp,hp,hp

Barack Obama knows how to swat flies or was he hinting about the Swat valley in Pakistan? But the midges and gnats I meet, are far too many for swatting. I have to cover all my bare skin. But are not flies at the bottom of the food chain/pyramid? No flies means no food for us. So what about bot flies? I have been bitten by two over the last few days. They are quick, painful and leave a big blob of blood. But I did not swat either of them!

Lancaster is an old town with a city centre that is small enough to walk around. The castle is owned by the Queen twice. She owns it as the Duke of Lancaster which she can thank Henry IV for, I believe. It is also the prison of Lancaster. Today I walked past the cathedral, St Peter's, and the Lancaster canal steeply uphill, under the M6 towards the Trough of Bowland. I turned back after 2 hours but not before seeing the Ward Stone, 500+ metres high hidden by cloud and the cow/horse/sheep grazing on the moors.

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Th9Jul09-09.40bst,Douglas lby,Isle of Man,hp,hp,hp,hp,KonicaMinolta

Yesterday I walked to Heysham with its two nuclear power stations and ferry to the Isle of Man. I got there at about 6 in the morning as I had walked some way from Lancaster the day before. Unwisely I had not checked at the TIC about sailing times. In July there will be lots of sailings! At 9 there was still no sign of life so I strolled to Heysham village and back by the quick way. Heysham has an old church St Peter's from the Middle Ages. The ferry left at 2.15 in the afternoon. Being a bit late setting out, the ferry reached Douglas at 6.15. But the TIC was in the ferry buildings which was handy for a tourist map of Douglas.

I always pick up food I drop. I think that in Ethiopia there is a row of babies and a line between those who die and those who live to become grandparents. If I eat up maybe I can shift that line along a bit. But it's not that simple. Small animals and insects/spiders are at the bottom of the food pyramid and we are at the top. If I drop food it is not wasted. I have seen dunnocks and blackbirds picking over whatever is lying on the ground. If the birds don't get it the voles or mice/rats will. Or ants or moulds or bacteria ...

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W15Jul09-15.20bst,Morecombe lby,hp,Belnea,Cherry,stoneMS,NMore

I kipped last night behind a hedge under beech and ash trees. Some heavy rain followed by lighter rain, made me unkeen to poke my nose out of my waterproof bags.In the end the dawn screams of herring gulls woke me up for the ferry across back to Heysham. I watched Sky News all the way across as I never see TV. Sad to hear that Freddy Flintoff is retiring from test cricket after the ashes. He will be missed.

A few days ago outside Douglas on the Peel road at 2 in the morning, I met a policeman who knew the WLDC. He had been getting fit at the Seymour Leisure Centre while at Marylebone Police Station and later Belgravia. He was delighted to meet someone who knew where he'd been in London as none of his new colleagues knew London.

On the Isle of Man I walked to Castletown in the S, which was the capital until the Victorians built so much in Douglas that it became the new capital in 1874. The market square is charming, with Castle Rushen, the old parliament, House of Keys, 13th century chapel/grammar school and a handy Co-op, food - all within a few yards.

The next morning I walked on to Rushen Abbey. Now only a shell, it was founded in 1139 by Savnidian(?), later Cistercian monks from Furness Abbey at the behest of Olaf II, one of the Viking kings who ruled the Isle of Man for 2 hundred years (1079 - 1265). I was there on Sunday after some rain before dawn when everything was locked up - even the car park. Well, what do you think it will be?

Best wishes to all, Robert

diary http://sdapp.blogspot.com/

flickr photos http://flickr.com/photos/the-reindeer

attached shots

1 Preston North End football club

2 Arkwright house, housing Age Concern in Preston, is where Joseph Arkwight is said to have developed his cotton spinning frame. It seems he was a weaver born in Preston. Arkwright Road is alongside the Camden Arts Centre.

3 F3Jul This sunrise was taken today with the sunset setting on my camera.

4 F3Jul This fairtrade caff is beside the Methodist church in Garstang. Hard to read on the green sign on the left is "Mustard seed" - or "big oaks from little acorns grow" as Jesus might have put it, if he had been born in Britain.

5 F3Jul The "North Euston" hotel, first, 1840?, in Fleetwood, architect Decimus Burton who did all the early work in Fleetwood for Sir Peter Hesketh-Fleetwood.

6 Tu7Jul Looking towards Lancaster from the highest spot I reached today on the moors

7 Th9Jul With his grin and uke, this must be a flash of George Formby leaning on a lampost. But why is he wearing motorcycle leathers and goggles in Douglas, IoM?

8 Th9Jul looking across Douglas harbour with the "Tower of Refuge" on the right.

9 W15Jul Norman Wisdom sitting outside a sea front hotel (I forget which)