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Archives for September, 2013

Garden Train Fully Operational

September 15th, 2013

After having fallen into disrepair my parents’ garden train is now up and running!

garden_train_scale

Unfortunately since this photo was taken the viaduct was attacked by a mob of Luddite snails. Said snails became rather ill afterwards. Serves them right.

Sock Disaster

September 14th, 2013

I have previously congratulated running sock manufacturers on their clear labelling of left and right socks. However, I unfortunately managed to bring two right running socks back home to Hastings which I can assure you is much worse than having two ambiguous unlabelled socks.

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Swindon

September 8th, 2013

Ah, Swindon. Who hasn’t dreamed of visiting that mythical Wiltshire town? I know I certainly have since I started walking along the ridgeway last week. So armed with maps and ample supplies I returned by bus to where I’d left off last time and headed west.

It’s a primal landscape dotted with iron age hill forts and ancient burial mounds. In places fire and brimstone bursts forth from the earth:

ridgeway1

At one point I came across hundreds of people milling about in a field. Turns out this was a metal detecting convention. Occasionally they would stop and poke at the dirt a bit, but no treasure was forthcoming while I was there.

metal_scale

To the north of the path is the “Vale of White Horse”, named after a giant white horse carved into the hillside by some iron age folk. For a local landmark it took quite some finding, and only onced I’d struggled up the hill did I notice the conveniently placed ancient viewing platform. So this photo doesn’t really demonstrate its horsey qualities:

horse_scale

One of the highlights of the trip was this 5000 year old burial mound in a glade just off the path. It’s called Wayland’s Smithy and was honestly a little bit creepy. Especially as I was the only one in the area.

mound_scale

After 20 or so miles I arrived on the edge of Swindon in a village called Wanborough. I didn’t fancy dashing over the dual carriageway and trudging through the outskirts of the town so instead I waited for a bus. Alarmingly a poster at the bus stop announced the imminent withdrawal of service. However the bus did eventually turn up and I was the only passenger for the entire trip, which perhaps explains its unprofitability.

On the way into Swindon the bus traversed one of the towns major landmarks: the Magic Roundabout. Now it wasn’t quite exciting as I’d expected, but that didn’t stop me taking a few snaps from the bus. I thought I heard the driver sniggering. If I were on Swindon council I would be promoting this as a tourist attraction, like Slough should have done with its bus station. There’s already a roundabout appreciation society who produce a mouse mat of this very junction so there is interest out there.

magic_scale

Speaking of bus stations, Swindon’s bears an uncanny resemblance to Slough’s former, much maligned, Brunel bus station.

bus_station

Fun day out! Below are some more photos from my adventuring.

Where has the fish gone?

September 2nd, 2013

I was somewhat distraught on a recent visit to Eastbourne when I discovered the fish fountain described previously on these pages had disappeared! Not just the fish but the water feature and plinth had also vanished.

Alarmed, I emailed the Enterprise Centre and heard no response for several weeks. I became convinced that I had uncovered some dark fishy conspiracy. But today I received this wonderful news:

Dear Nick

Many thanks for your message. We love it too – the bronze fish is our
logo and we are giving it a brand new home. Our designers are currently
working on its new setting as it will be re positioned in our entrance
externally!!

Hope to see it in its new home very soon.

Best wishes

Denise

I will be investigating further the next time I’m in the area.