June 29th, 2017 - Photo 180 of 365

A Lonely Job

Day 2 at Henley Regatta. This gentleman spends his whole day at the regatta on his lonesome... His job is to move the barrier, allowing rowing boats and official umpiring boats to cross through the racing lanes when heading down towards the start. Does he have anything there to keep him entertained, can he have a cuppa, and what happens when nature calls? So many questions 😊

June 28th, 2017 - Photo 179 of 365

Racing at Henley Regatta

I reckon that my Mum and Dad notched up the best part of 65 years of virtually unbroken attendance at Henley Regatta. 2009 is the only year missed as far as I know, which was when dad passed away shortly before the regatta. Dad competed at the regatta in the 1950s, but times were very different back then. He once told me how their preparation the night before, would involve many pints of beer. Not so sure the athletes would get away with that now! 😁In the last few years the baton has been passed on to me, and something I am proud to continue. It was a bit chilly by the river today for the first day, but there were quite a few close finishes to keep the spectators interested. 

June 27th, 2017 - Photo 178 of 365

Westcott Venture Park

I took this photo when I went to the Westcott Venture Park this morning with work. This former Royal Air Force station is now a business park, but it still has the feel of a military base in places, with some of the old buildings still there, and huge flat expanses that are characteristic of any airfield. The base opened back in 1942 during WW2, and was used as a training base, and then as a staging post for liberated POWs after the war had ended. It closed in 1946, then becoming the home of the Rocket Propulsion Establishment, and there is a rocket on display at the entrance.

June 26th, 2017 - Photo 177 of 365

DIY & Wild Strawberries

I am not the most practical person, and hate DIY with a passion, so I was quite pleased with my effort tonight of putting up the wall basket bracket. I managed to line up the holes without incident, so I think I will next replace the white bracket with another matching black one. The wild strawberry plant was something I salvaged from Mum's house a few months ago, and it has done brilliantly giving me these tiny tasty strawberries on a daily basis recently.

June 25th, 2017 - Photo 176 of 365

Hope this one doesn't fall down!

For my 50th birthday last year, the family got me this limited edition commemorative print from The Alarm. I ordered it at The Gathering in Llandudno, and ended up, due to circumstances out of my control, having to wait a year before getting it at this year's Gathering at the beginning of February. So why am I posting this photo today? After hanging it up a few months ago disaster struck, as one evening, while watching TV, there was a crash from upstairs, and the print had fallen down smashing the frame in the process 😭 I wanted to get a replacement frame that was as close to the original as possible, and today's job has been to put it back together again. Fortunately the new frame looks like the original, and more importantly it fits perfectly! This time I have dispensed with picture hooks and put two screws into the wall, so fingers crossed this one doesn't come crashing down! I am not sure if Prince is that impressed with it 😊

June 24th, 2017 - Photo 175 of 365

Prince on a Saturday Night

Prince is continuing to adjust to life without Storm. He is doing amazingly well still, although there is no doubting how much he misses his Mum. He especially loves time on the bean bag, which is now one of the few things left in the house which would have Storm's scent on it. So we spent a nice, quiet and chilled Saturday night in front of the television 😊 

June 23rd, 2017 - Photo 174 of 365

Wheat Field

I have lovely walks right on the doorstep at work, and this particular field now with wheat growing, is where it all started with the dogs some years ago. I love these older style telegraph poles which add a bit of charm and character to the view. At lunchtime today I took Prince right around this field, although it's not quite as big as the image might suggest. Although it's not harvest time yet, over the last couple of weeks big chunks of the wheat have been taken from the field, but I don't why? Anyone one know the answer? Seems very random to me...

June 22nd, 2017 - Photo 173 of 365

Pinkies

I am loving all the colours in my garden at the moment, and one of success stories of the last three summers has been these pinkies. Originally taken from a hanging basket, I transplanted them into a pot and they come back beautifully each summer. Who would have thought that I would get all gushy over pink flowers 😆 The owl from Mum's garden looks splendid next to them too.

June 21st, 2017 - Photo 172 of 365

Drilling

Midsummer's Day, the summer solstice, and what a scorcher! Not the best day to spend it drilling, but that was how my working day fell. Seriously I take my hat off to machine operators who must sweat buckets on days like today. I was using my new work table for the first time, and it's perfect. It didn't fall down in spite of me putting it together 😊

June 20th, 2017 - Photo 171 of 365

Out of Control

Well as U2 once said in a song title, "Out Of Control." The shrub at the back with the purple flowers, no idea what it is called, is both good and bad. The colour for a couple of weeks each summer is amazing, but it takes over everything. I worked quite hard on the garden last weekend, but have left a major attack on this shrub until the flowers have finished. Somewhere at the back I have planted an evergreen clematis and an evergreen honeysuckle plant to hopefully cover the fence at the back. 

June 19th, 2017 - Photo 170 of 365

Dilek at Trafalgar Square

Had some fun with Dilek at Trafalgar Square and a bit of Nelson's Column...

June 18th, 2017 - Photo 169 of 365

Flip Flops

I think after the last 48 hours of sweltering heat there is little else I can photograph today. I've spent the day doing the garden and house chores, and it's just too damn hot to go and find something interesting to snap. The flip flops have been out this weekend for the first time this summer, although by my reckoning we are still just in spring...

June 17th, 2017 - Photo 168 of 365

Prince with a Cosmos for Storm

Today I got a plant for the garden to remember Storm by. It naturally had to be one with white flowers and this Cosmos fits the bill perfectly. It's a happy plant, so very apt for Storm - it's also something I will be able to take with me if I move house. I got Prince to sit by it for the photo - he is adjusting to life without his mum really well - taking things very gently with him, but I think he is going to be ok...

June 16th, 2017 - Photo 167 of 365

Preparing for Henley Regatta

The view of preparations for Henley Regatta from the bridge today. Less than a fortnight before it all starts and the site is a hive of activity. Let's hope the weather is as good for it as it has been today...

June 15th, 2017 - Photo 166 of 365

John Darvell

Today is the 8th anniversary of my wonderful dad passing away. Aged 81, he was still working with me every day before getting pneumonia, and the dreadful sepsis. It all happened very quickly, and the week he was ill, and in an induced coma, was too awful to describe. 

I am no different to anyone who has lost a parent. I still miss him - the time seems to have flown by, and I strive to make him proud of me. He told Mum not long before he died that he had no regrets, and how happy he was with his family. I wish I could get to a place in life where I feel the same, but that is work in progress.

Last year he was joined by Mum and I am sure they are looking down on us with a glass in hand x

June 14th, 2017 - Photo 165 of 365

Medmenham Camp

There is some history literally on my doorstep at work with Medmenham Camp, an iron age hillfort. It dates back to 2,700 years or possibly much older. Of course it looks like any woodland scene, but when you walk round and read the literature at the sight, it is quite fascinating and makes me wonder what life would have been like so very long ago. I took the photo at the northern end of the fort.

June 13th, 2017 - Photo 164 of 365

St Mark's Road, Henley

St Mark's Road is one of my favourite roads in Henley, and the long straight road me and prince were about to descend was looking pretty good at 7.15 this morning. We hadn't been able to do this walk while Storm was poorly, so it felt pretty good being able to do it again a year or so since we last did it. A lottery win would be required to buy one of the many lovely properties in this road!

June 12th, 2017 - Photo 163 of 365

Poppies

Poppies have been of great significance to me ever since I got into the music of The Alarm back in 1983. The poppy is the band's logo and has been used on record labels and covers, t-shirts and even the carrier bags I got printed for the band a few years ago. I also have a poppy tattoo on my left arm. It's always lovely to see the poppy flowers out at this time of the year - on my travels today I was able to take this photograph and then use a bit of editing to come up with this image.

June 11th, 2017 - Photo 162 of 365

A plant for Storm

This Arum Lily has been planted in remembrance of Storm, who was put to sleep a few days ago. It's just to one side of her grave, and it will hopefully come back with these striking flowers each year. The grave itself has now been top-dressed and seeded, so it's all looking very tidy.

June 10th, 2017 - Photo 161 of 365

Under The Bridge

These pigeons (although correct me if I am wrong) were making a lot of noise tonight, as I walked under the railway bridge. I can think of better places to make a home, but they seem to like it there...  

June 9th, 2017 - Photo 160 of 365

George's House

My morning dog walk around Henley, on the way to work, usually takes me past this rather impressive gatehouse and entrance to a property - otherwise known as the home to the late and great George Harrison. It always looks absolutely immaculate, and no better than at 7.00am on a late spring morning.

June 8th, 2017 - Photo 159 of 365

Workstation!

This old kitchen table has served the business superbly over the last 10+ years as a workstation. Over the last year it has become more and more wobbly, and it was just a matter of time until this happened - although to be fair there was no way it could have withstood a pallet weighing a tonne falling on it!

June 7th, 2017 - Photo 158 of 365

Up close with Prince

One of the major worries with the sad passing of Storm is how will her son, and companion, Prince cope, and adapt to life without his mum. On Monday night he was an absolute hero spending the night never too far from his mum knowing how poorly she was. 

Since she was put to sleep, yesterday afternoon, he has been amazing. Maybe he doesn't know that his mum isn't coming back yet, or perhaps she told him that it was time for her go to sleep? Work isn't so much of a worry as he has been alone there with me, on and off, quite a bit recently. But so far at home he seems ok about everything. There are no plans to leave him on his own for the time being and to allow him as much time to adjust to things as he needs.

I tried to do a selfie with him today, but I wasn't much cop at that, so instead here we up close with Prince. What a handsome boy! x

June 6th, 2017 - Photo 157 of 365

Storm 2006 - 2017

Storm was put to sleep on June 6th after losing her battle with a horribly aggressive form of lymphoma. This photo was taken at the beginning of May on her last trip away to Salisbury. The Grasmere House Hotel was a place she loved with its huge lawns in a picturesque spot with views of the Cathedral. She was so full of love until the very end, and she is now at peace and no longer in pain.

June 5th, 2017 - Photo 156 of 365

Dorney Common

On way work travels Dorney Common has become an occasional stopping place to give the dogs a pit stop. Today, with Storm at home and Prince flying solo, I took him a little further than usual with his extending lead. Obviously no complaints from Prince and spot my tiny van in the distance.

June 4th, 2017 - Photo 155 of 365

Stormy

Storm in the garden today. It's not been a great day for her, so fingers and everything else crossed she has a good night's sleep and feels a little better tomorrow. 

June 3rd, 2017 - Photo 154 of 365

Squier Affinity Telecaster

This gorgeous Squier Affinity Telecaster is going to be put to good use over the coming months. It's well over 30 years since I got my last electric guitar, so this is my little treat to myself this year.

June 2nd, 2017 - Photo 153 of 365

The Perfect Storm

A film on the tele - the title of which perfectly describes this sleeping beauty... The Perfect Storm x

June 1st, 2017 - Photo 152 of 365

Worplesdon Place

Worplesdon Place, just outside Guildford, dates back to the 19th century. It became a hotel in the 1950s, and with it's vast lawns and beautiful lake it makes for a lovely place to stop for a drink or bite to eat. Today it was looking at its best in the hot sunshine. As children we used to spot it as one of the landmarks on our annual journey to Pagham for our summer holiday. I've been there a few times, including one nightmare internet date!

With Storm going to Fitzpatrick's Oncology Centre for her chemotherapy, Worplesdon Place is very convenient being just a short drive away. The news on Storm is not so good sadly. The chemotherapy has failed to stop the aggressive cancer with only short term respite for her. This week we got the devastating news that there are no more treatments available to cure her, so she is now on rescue chemotherapy to hopefully reduce the cancer symptoms in the short term and give her a better quality of life for the time that she has left.