Sunday, June 30, 2013
OPEN WIDE
Candaa the vixen about to take a piece of raw meat from me early hours today. As can be seen, it's a risky business.
CANDAA THE VIXEN TAKING FOOD IN MY GARDEN EARLY HOURS TODAY
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
BATS IN ROCK HOUSE LANE - A LITTLE MAGIC IN THE AIR
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
SUMMER IN THE ORCHARD
That most important of insects - a bee - homes in on a Digitalis purpurea (common foxglove) now in full bloom in Maidencombe orchard.
Monday, June 24, 2013
PERIGEE FULL MOON O'ER MAIDENCOMBE (TO BE REVISED AS AUDIO OUT OF SYNC)
Sunday, June 23, 2013
WE GET IN CLOSE
Early hours Sunday June 23rd and there's plenty of close up action out on our Night Patrol around the cliff paths and combe. My nerves are tested as this vixen moves in to take food from my hand. Footage being prepared.
Saturday, June 22, 2013
PERIGEE FULL MOON RISING TONIGHT
Maidencombe Moon watchers may be disappointed this evening as cloud cover looks to be 100% over the combe as an unusually large full Moon rises.
Known as a 'Perigee Full Moon' it is so-named as the coinciding of a full Moon with the closest approach of the Moon to the Earth.
It is actually a bit of an optical illusion insofar as that the Moon only appears larger (about 14%) when it is low down on the horizon.
Much better viewing prospects for Maidencombe will be Sunday evening and I'll be out to record it on video with the powerful zoom qualities of my Canon Powershot SX40.
Known as a 'Perigee Full Moon' it is so-named as the coinciding of a full Moon with the closest approach of the Moon to the Earth.
It is actually a bit of an optical illusion insofar as that the Moon only appears larger (about 14%) when it is low down on the horizon.
Much better viewing prospects for Maidencombe will be Sunday evening and I'll be out to record it on video with the powerful zoom qualities of my Canon Powershot SX40.
PC PROBLEM
Ran into severe problems with my PC and opted for a re-install of Windows 8. Saved everything on external HD and got OS back a few minutes ago. Impulse power only at present but hopefully ready to post shortly.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
TIME CALLED FOR NOW
Flashback to December 2010 when Jim Campbell AKA Bluebird was duly elected head of the GOBRAS (Good Old Boys Real Ale Swiggers) seen above wearing the regalia of office.
Since then, illness and infirmity have taken their inevitable toll and a decision has, most reluctantly, been made to call time on alcohol consumption for now - sharp intake of breath from the Thatched Tavern and Orestone Manor!
The deciding factor was yesterday evening's jog to Watcombe and back via the coast path.
'I knew I hadn't run for a few weeks but I was appalled at my state of fitness and decided that enough was enough.'
To follow: 'The Fight for Fitness'
Since then, illness and infirmity have taken their inevitable toll and a decision has, most reluctantly, been made to call time on alcohol consumption for now - sharp intake of breath from the Thatched Tavern and Orestone Manor!
The deciding factor was yesterday evening's jog to Watcombe and back via the coast path.
'I knew I hadn't run for a few weeks but I was appalled at my state of fitness and decided that enough was enough.'
To follow: 'The Fight for Fitness'
Monday, June 17, 2013
SQUIRREL ON A POLE
Just saw this fellow looking accusingly at me from only two yards away outside my window - quite unnerving, stared fixedly at me for some time!
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Friday, June 14, 2013
DEER PHOTO SHOOT
After 'capturing' this female deer on a vid clip (below) I set off with my Canon Powershot SX40 to see if I could locate her and get some stills. It took about an hour to find her and this photo was the first indication of her position in the long grass. I managed to get her to raise her head by 'calling' and got a beautiful photo which will be posted here first.
OH DEER!
FLASHBACK TO 1971
Recently posted by my dear friend Trevor (far left front row) in the Herald Express. The photo of the World Record breaking relay team of Torbay athletes was taken inside the ancient clubhouse at Torre Valley North.
I have been stopped in the street by enthusiastic acquaintances and friends who still vividly recall the event to inform me that the photo had been republished. I am pictured in the back row, far right as a 22 year old track athlete and the author of the event. I can still hear the echoes of derisive laughter when I mooted the idea at a Torbay AC committee meeting convened to seek ideas for fund-raising.
I have been stopped in the street by enthusiastic acquaintances and friends who still vividly recall the event to inform me that the photo had been republished. I am pictured in the back row, far right as a 22 year old track athlete and the author of the event. I can still hear the echoes of derisive laughter when I mooted the idea at a Torbay AC committee meeting convened to seek ideas for fund-raising.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
OPEN SEASON FOR DEVELOPMENT IN MAIDENCOMBE?
Residents cannot fail to have noticed the recent development activity in Maidencombe and details are emerging. Warning signs of site activity have been placed on the Teignmouth Road below Solomon's Post and details of conversion and new build at Rock House have appeared in the Herald Express with accompanying notices put up last Saturday.
Concerned residents have watched these actions with dismay and have asked whether this is 'open season for development' in Maidencombe. Existing guidelines for new build in Maidencombe appear to fundamentally clash with the proposed submission by Maidencombe into the upcoming Neighbourhood Plan. This anomaly will be raised at forthcoming meetings.
I have details of the rationale behind both the instances listed above. For obvious reasons I am not prepared to comment further at this stage.
Concerned residents have watched these actions with dismay and have asked whether this is 'open season for development' in Maidencombe. Existing guidelines for new build in Maidencombe appear to fundamentally clash with the proposed submission by Maidencombe into the upcoming Neighbourhood Plan. This anomaly will be raised at forthcoming meetings.
I have details of the rationale behind both the instances listed above. For obvious reasons I am not prepared to comment further at this stage.
AGM of the Residents Association
The 21st Annual General Meeting of the Maidencombe Residents Association was held in the Chapel of Brunel Manor Wednesday evening.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
DEADLY ASH DIEBACK DISEASE SPREADING RAPIDLY
Healthy ash saplings outside my window |
Tell-tale signs are the shrivelling and blackening of new shoots and saplings have little chance of survival. Older trees have a fair chance of survival and a small percentage appear to have a natural immunity to the disease.
Andy Maltas, our resident tree expert will be on the lookout for the disease here in Maidencombe.
THE GAME'S AFOOT ...
A cryptic heading, but some will know what I am referring to as this day dawns. Lack of posting due to workload the past few days, but from Thursday onwards, the site will undergo radical change as submissions from various sources are invited.
Sunday, June 09, 2013
RETURN TO THE HOUSE THAT FELL DOWN THE HILL
Tuesday, June 04, 2013
MYSTERY SOLVED
I was puzzled at the rapid moving black image scudding low across the water behind the yacht (see 'A yacht came sailing by' vid clip two posts below) at about 31 seconds in. So fast was it travelling that it was with some difficulty I managed to isolate the single frame. The HD image above solves the mystery - in all probability it's a cormorant moving extremely quickly a few inches above the water.
Monday, June 03, 2013
BEE ON THE JUDAS TREE
A YACHT CAME SAILING BY
Sunday, June 02, 2013
A TRUE MAIDENCOMBER
It's come to my notice that a villager has been doing great service by daily walking the beach and roads in the village collecting litter. He's only taken residence near the beach car park in the past year but has already become a highly popular and respected member of the community. Our accolade goes to Arthur ... member or non-member - he's a true Maidencomber! And a few residents will know what I mean here.
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