This face shows where I've been, not where I'm going!
My lovely wife kept saying (and others too) the sun will come out soon and she/they were right!
I wanted to make a recording of my first doctor's appointment so as to get everything right, and not forget anything, I was told no you can't, then I pushed the issue, as it was for my wellbeing and health, they said don't do it, so I did! All the response I got from the doctor and nurse was mostly the simple word, no, no and no, repeated with a "dead pan face" (rather appropriate). Gee it gave me heaps of hope when then they said another 4 weeks in the sling, so they took my stitches out and I headed out into the wide world with NO still ringing in my ears! Afterwards talking to Angela who had been a nurse all her working life, she said she would also have said no to being recorded, in fear of being sued and held accountable to what was said! Going home in my uncle's car, after listening to my story he said that I'm cream crackered! So now I can actually smile when I hear the phrase "Cream Crackered" and will forever be adding "Knackered".
Boscombe beach and the chalets
I did manage to catch up with my cousin Raymond, I hadn't seen him since 1984, way too long. He's in the travel business and told me about the arrival of the American Greyhound company that services London with buses (with wi-fi and power plugs) from Southampton, Bournemouth and a few other locations. Must give them a go.
These rhododendrons are beautiful, but considered a weed and being cut out of the landscape of St Katherines Hill, just behind me, where Ken and I often go for walks
Now I was looking forward to be heading away for the weekend to the Jazz improvisation workshop that I enrolled and planned for from NZ months ago, being held in North Devon at Torrington. The month before leaving NZ was so busy with finishing jobs and having my 60th birthday party, that I had little workshop preparation and playing, in spite of Pete Canter's information and practice mp3s being sent 3 months ago. The night before, I opened the sax case just to make sure I could actually hold it comfortably and gave it a quick blow to confirm I should take it.
Auntie Angela's roses
I had arranged my first Warm Showers visit (this is an international group of people who host touring cyclists, we are hosts in NZ and now I was about to be on the other side of the fence) and contacted Phil Creasey in Barnstable only 13 miles north of Torrington. I made sure there was a bus, although this wasn't needed as a couple of the workshop participants were coming from the Barnstable area and kindly gave me a lift.
Back to Phil the Warm Showers host, he was great! He introduced me to his 18 year old neighbour, another sax player, and we talked shop on sax and music issues, nice lad, young and switched on too.
The Central church in Barnstable.
Saunton Beach
Views from Torrington
Now heading back to Christchurch but not before another foray out into the wilds of North Devon out on the cliffs and headlands looking toward Wales, I was reminded of home with the Romney sheep actually in lamb at this time of year, very late, like early to mid summer and obviously close to lambing! Tame too as we could get almost within touching distance of them. I loved the stone fences and gates, interesting to also see gorse and heather.
Looks like lots of locals have been stoned for quite a while!
It was my suggestion to finish Devon off with a Devonshire Tea, so Phil and I stocked up in the little local shop, choosing scones, a pottle of cream and was shown the range of local jams to go with it. Me being me, I chose this nice jar of local Exmoor Marmalade with Rum and took all our selection to the till to talley up. The assistant, said "do you know this is not jam", I said "it looks ok to me". She said "oh, no it's not jam". Anyway we enjoyed them immensly.
The train journey home was not without an event. I didn't realise I did not have my Kokopelli hat on until I was two trains into my journey. It's all good though, I must be getting back to normal as I'd left it in the front of Phil's van and the "hat to end all hats" will be returning to my bonce very soon. I do feel naked without it. The trouble is, most people don't like either option, me with orwithout the hat, both are a shock to the classic English reserve though it does start many a conversation. I'm lost with and without it.
Now I'm looking forward to returning to London to go to the British Museum Exhibition of Rennaisance Masters (more than 100 works by Leonardo da Vinci, Fra Angelico, Botticelli, Titian and more) and intend to also go to the Tate Modern Museum.
Still no busking or clowning happening yet, however it's in the wind.
Just swanning along now in Dorset
Cheers and Ciao
Jimu
8 comments:
"Its in the wind..." And the winds blowing towards the Midlands, my friend!
jimu - i had the same dude with the heavy black moustache and partial grasp of english - and guess what his only words were...'come back in 4 weeks'!!!... cant believe it - see you then!
gladsaxisme
glad to see your on the mend and getting about, very interesting read again with some loverly pics don't look so sad just because the red in your hair is fading a bit, you can always have it re-done (that is why isn't it) looking forward to meeting you soon..john
Ta fer the replies fella's, update on physio...all good but best senario re biking is still 3 weeks away.....
Hi Jimu! I've dropped in a couple of time to see yr adventures and have been also surprised with how things unfold so far for you, but im really happy you got some joy in the devon locality, it being my neck of the woods for my first 23 years! And my boyfriend still mixes marmalade and jam, its not decreased his value to me one bit, but u know what tradition is to the country folk!! Safe trip on, yr photos are great and yr whole trip/pace at life inspirational!
Amy, from The Grapevine, Brighton
ps: ill be anonymous because i don't know what these other tags are ;)
Hi Amy,
Yeah ta for the comments, now wi-fi ing along on UK Greyhound....tho the return to the bike is still a little way off!
Ciao
Jimu
Ps Your boyfriend's a jammy perisher!
I am really Glad i ran across this website.Added visionariblog.blogspot.com to my bookmark!
There are lots more....number 12 is the last in this series....enjoy!
Ciao
Jimu
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