Derbybuye

This upcoming film from Al Gore looks interesting

2006-08-12T21:06:00.000+01:00

I can't believe there are still people out there ( like a certain Gerge W. Bush) - who think that Global warming isn't a problem. They guy who got the most votes in the USA 2000 election has something to say on the matter...

Click Here to put this video in your profile!

2006-07-15T11:20:00.000+01:00

So anyway - off to work in the new job - makes a bit of a difference having a haircut and wearing a suit and tie - the last time I regularly did that it was school uniform. Still the change from chainsaw gear and wellies is actually quite good fun - and it's not forever.

So off to the office ( no not there - but I couldn't resist getting a photo for my mum).

The view from the office is pretty good actually - a good spot for keeping an eye on things.
- actually this isn't exactly my regular place of work - but it is pretty cool, and makes a change from being on a windy hill in a mid-winter gale.

- of course life is all play acting and dressing-up - looking after the environment can be done in all sorts of costumes - I'm still the same old me underneath of course...

2006-06-21T01:18:00.000+01:00

The thing that's made me the most happy..

2006-06-21T00:42:00.001+01:00

.... for the last year at least has been working to get an environmental project together at Castledown primary school in Hastings, and setting up some blogspots for them:

http://castledowngrounds.blogspot.com/

http://www.castledownschool.blogspot.com/

http://www.castledown4.blogspot.com/

and the 'Green Team' set up one all on their own:

http://greenisfun.blogspot.com/

2006-06-10T13:14:00.000+01:00

I also managed to get a days diving in - including one to an astonishing place called 'The Cathedral'.

This is is a cave with an entrance at about 15m - you pass into the opening - and can see a blue light in the distance - eventually you come to a huge cavern with a skylight -an a huge rock in the centre like an altar. You then swim around the rock and back ut the way you came. Fresh water mixes in the cavern so you get all these weird optical effects - it must really have freaked out the first person to discover this place.

Blue Adventures Diving

The White Mountains

2006-06-10T11:15:00.000+01:00

Last year I went to Crete - and climbed the highest mountain on the Island. However there are an even more amazing range of mountains - the 'Lefka Ori' or White Mountains which are really wild - and quite unworldly. I saw their cloud covered peaks last year and got the ambition to do some trekking there. Meeting the wonderful Elena form Thessalonika made me even more interested in Greek culture - so I just had to go before I started my new job. Heres a photo of Elena and the equally wonderful Aristea from last year.

Anyway I managed to make it out there - and walk right through the middle of the range as I wished. The landscape is really like the Moon or Mars - and many of the tiny plants that grow there are found no-where else on Earth. Apparently the only landscape anything like it is McMurdo Sound in Antartica. I left the Mountains by walking down the Samaria Gorge - the longest in Europe. I was lucky to have this all to myself. The only way out when you get to the bottom is by boat. The people and the music are pretty amazing too. you can find more about it from the French mountain guide Jean who showed me the way to the highest mountain - Pachnes ( there are also some great panoramas of the mountains there). A special place - I'll be going back I think.

2006-06-10T10:20:00.000+01:00

After a long pause...

I thought I ought to update my blog.

Have spent the winter unemployed (but very busy) in Hastings. Was actually a long-needed change of gear after my last job. I actually got to do some conservation work myself, as I volunteered to do some educational work at my local primary school. I also set up some blogs for them, so that the kids can show off thier work - and also the school grounds project I was working on with them. It was great fun and a real priviledge in fact:

Castledown school blog (main)

Castledown Year 4 Blog

Castledown School Grounds Blog

Unfortunately I have to leave them now as I'm starting a new job next week - suit and tie to go with the new haircut - and it's for a government agency so it'll be a whole new world for me - still good money though.

Poppy was telling me how to pose in my new fancy suit:

Poppy is of course the world expert on posing....

Climbing Psiloritis - the highest mountain in Crete (2600m+)

2005-11-02T01:54:00.000Z

I wanted a picture of myself and the strange cloud

2005-11-02T01:32:00.001Z

Pointe de Raz - Brittany

2005-11-02T01:32:00.000Z

One of the most Westerly points in France, and a graveyard for ships - from this point I counted at least thirty lighthouses

Standing Stones at Carnac, Brittany

2005-11-02T01:13:00.001Z

2005-11-02T01:13:00.000Z

Haven't been back here for a while ... mostly jobhunting - I did do a bit of travelling tho' went out to Brittany in July - a place I've always wanted to go that exceeded all expectations.. fantastic Atlantic scenery, and amazing Breton Music - checked out the D-Day Beaches on the way. Later in the summer I flew out to Crete to meet up with my family, and climbed the highest mountain on the island - a truly amazing experience. Met some nice people there too...
Some photos follow....

2005-07-08T01:58:00.000+01:00

Hastings Jazz Singer Lianne Carroll wins two BBC Jazz awards!

2005-07-08T01:56:00.000+01:00

Jack in the Green

2005-07-08T01:54:00.000+01:00

Jackie at the Jack in the Green

2005-07-08T01:53:00.000+01:00

Poppy on Mayday

2005-07-08T01:52:00.000+01:00

Mayday on the West Hill

2005-07-08T01:51:00.000+01:00

What a place for a wedding

2005-07-08T01:48:00.000+01:00

And the bridesmaid wore black

2005-07-08T01:47:00.000+01:00

Pete and Soozie

2005-07-08T01:45:00.000+01:00

Sunrise at Mayday ojn the West Hill

Hi Adrian

2005-07-08T01:03:00.000+01:00

Hi to Adrian and Mia in Japan if they made it this far!

Beatles Day and Soozies Wedding

2005-04-13T15:25:00.000+01:00

We had a fantastic Beatles Day in Hastings this year - I married off my long time friend to Pete, Poppy sang 'My heart will go on'( the Celine Dion song from the Titanic) at the service, and a generally splendid time was had by all!
£11000 was raised on the day for McMillan Cancer relief which e=was not a bad result either!

2005-02-11T00:00:00.000Z

I've been a very naughty boy!

2005-02-10T23:57:00.000Z

There was this article in the Guardian.....

2005-02-10T23:56:00.000Z

Laughing in the face of adversity

2005-02-10T23:55:00.000Z

Rock and Rollers

2005-02-10T23:54:00.001Z

Work cuties

2005-02-10T23:54:00.000Z

Staff Xmas dinner

2005-02-10T23:48:00.000Z

More at Granfer's house

2005-02-10T23:47:00.000Z

Granfers House

2005-02-10T23:46:00.000Z

My Mum after a few whiskies

2005-02-10T23:44:00.001Z

My Mum

2005-02-10T23:44:00.000Z

Auntie Lyn

2005-02-10T23:43:00.001Z

Auntie Kathleen

2005-02-10T23:43:00.000Z

Granfer Bill Damsell - the head of the clan

2005-02-10T23:41:00.001Z

Auntie Su

2005-02-10T23:41:00.000Z

Cousin Mervyn

2005-02-10T23:40:00.000Z

Lee Lyn and Trev

2005-02-10T23:39:00.000Z

Connie and Charlie

2005-02-10T23:38:00.001Z

Hayley Louise and Hayley

2005-02-10T23:38:00.000Z

Glen and Martin

2005-02-10T23:37:00.000Z

My cutie neices Katie and Lucy

2005-02-10T23:36:00.000Z

My cutie neices Holly and Rosie

2005-02-10T23:35:00.000Z

My cutie sister Mel getting married to Stevie in the Australian outback somewhere

2005-02-10T23:34:00.000Z

My cutie sisters

2005-02-10T23:33:00.000Z

Brom and Shano

2005-02-10T23:32:00.001Z

Uncle Brom

2005-02-10T23:32:00.000Z

Uncle Trev

Staff Xmas do

2005-02-10T23:25:00.001Z

I work for a charity - and found out that the government had decided to pull ou main contract - the day before we broke up for Christmas. I had the shitty job of telling my staff that I would probably be making them redundant, just before our Christmas party. They took it pretty well, and were very kind to me, and we managed to have a good time despite everything. Shows what a terrific bunch they are - some more photos...

Some Photos from Xmas in Devon

2005-02-10T23:25:00.000Z

I went down to see the folks at Xmas - the annual family boxing day piss-up was great!
here a selection of a few photos --

2004-12-13T21:51:00.000Z

Deano

2004-12-09T01:37:00.000Z

Lou Lou and Hayley

2004-12-06T19:46:00.000Z

The European Childrens Farm has a website including activities, costs etc. Veronique is looking for a couple to take on the running of the centre, and would welcome English-speakers to do this. I'm tempted myself!:

www.la-fee.org

or click on the picture below

2004-12-06T19:43:00.000Z

The European Childrens farm - Check out their website: www.la-fee.org or click on the picture above

2004-12-06T19:36:00.000Z

Cool French shopping trolley to transport kids and groceries

2004-12-06T19:35:00.000Z

Cool French Chocolate Father Xmases and StNicolases

2004-12-06T19:33:00.000Z

Steve processing the crop

2004-12-06T19:32:00.000Z

Colin's view of the house from the Mistletoe tree

2004-12-06T19:31:00.000Z

The first sprig of Mistletoe

2004-12-06T19:30:00.000Z

Veronique and the 'Oldest Cow in Normandy' she thinks that out of hundreds of thousands it would be nice for one to die of old age - this one was born in 1979 and is still going strong. Cows adore mistletoe! veronique thinks it's like medicine for them.

2004-12-06T19:26:00.000Z

Colin up the Mistletoe Tree

2004-12-06T19:23:00.000Z

More Castles!

France

2004-12-06T19:06:00.000Z

I've been over to Norther France for a few days to sort out some projects for work, and to collect some Mistletoe for Christmas.
The French are so amazingly hospitable they put the Brits to shame. We were shown around by a couple of old boys, Pierre and Bertrand who were overflowing with energy and enthusiasm. Saw losts of castles, learnt lots of history, were treated to succession of terrific meals and even got presents from the mayor of the village where we were staying.
Went on to the European Children's farm at Grancourt near Dieppe to with colleagues from work Colin and Steve, to see our old friend Veronique. She's a semi-retired GP who runs an old estate where kids can come to look after the farm animals and to learn about nature and living together. It's a super place, and again she's full of enthusiasm, and incredibly hospitable.
Came back to England with a load of Mistletoe which we cut to save an old Acacia tree - lots of grand plans about what we might do with it at Christmas.

Got back late Sunday night - everyone in England going down with 'stomach problems' ( English for 'the sh***').

2004-11-28T02:03:00.000Z

Me when I was a kid with my gran's dog Sandy

2004-11-26T00:32:00.000Z

The things we need ... by Poppy

Poppy's Joke

2004-11-25T20:40:00.000Z

I'm round at my friend Poppy's house, and she'd like to share her joke with everyone:

An ant and an elephant shared a night of passion, but in the morning the ant awoke to find that the elephant had died. Damn! sighed the ant - one night of passion and i spend the rest of my life digging a grave...

Hello im poppy my sisters say hi and so do my mum and dad. I am aged seven i just thought you'd like my joke. I live in a nice family in Hastings.
if you find this joke funny let me know i will send another one. Any way i better go iv got to go to bed night night bye bye.