Going south for the summer..

It's so easy to escape the city when you've got a trusty steed!.. and his trusty navigating gnome, Noah... Larry took us down to Dorset for the weekend.. we set off on Saturday night for a campsite on a farm in Wareham.. waking up to the loud mooings of cows all around us..





after a bbq breakfast of bacon and eggs (amongst some very loud mooings of protest for farmyard friends).. we set off to Lulworth Castle, and then onto another castle for a quick wander before heading to Lulworth Cove.. a pretty pebble beach village where we had fish and chips and baked in the sun..


Noah meets the locals


Noah @ Lulworth Cove

Then we trekked over the headland (amongst more cows) to Durdle Door.. a pre-historic geologic wonder.. well at least it was a rock that Blake could climb on and jump off.. we ticked another English Experience off the list by swimming in the English Channel!!.. IT WAS FREEZING!!.. luckily it was a hot day so sporadic 5 second dips were welcomed to cool off.. we spent a lovely afternoon sunning, swimming and throwing rocks and then headed back to london (via a nice old english pub for some dinner)..





Another great escape from London..

Larry, my Latest Love

It's not something I usually do, but there was a force far greater than anything I could resist.. I answered a one-line ad in the paper, it just felt so right.. We arranged to meet one hot summer afternoon.. I saw him standing there on the side of the road long before he saw me.. I fell in love at that very moment.. As I walked up to him, I thought of my previous loves.. First there was Felix who I nursed back to health after a serious illness, but had to let go when he became too dibilitated.. Then there was Harley who I loved dearly, but our relationships suffered many bumps and bruises and in the end I finished it when I moved to London.. no looking back.. I just knew that Larry would be Mr. Right!..

The introductions were a little awkward, but I was impressed with what I saw.. Full of character, and able bodied.. it was meant to be.. Some quick negotiations, and then he was mine!..

Larry is a 1989 Toyota Townace Royal Lounge.. (more commonly known as a Tarago back in Oz).. He's top of the range material with full velour trim, 6 sunroofs, Electric Curtains, Electric Windows, Power Steering, 7 seats, with 2 armchairs in the back that swivel to face either forward or backward and a small fridge / ice maker mounted in the dashboard...

Already he has taken us to Windsor, Camping in Somerset, Manchester & Glastonbury in comfort and style.. with the only casualty being the annoying little bell that sounds once you go over 110km/hr.. (we thought he could do without it)..

We have plans for another few weekends away in the English countryside, before we embark on a tour through France, Spain, Portugal and Morrocco in September.. our only wish is that we could take him to Canada with us after that..


Photos courtesy of Ray Grasso


Photos courtesy of Ray Grasso

Glastonbury 2005

AWESOME!

again, a fantastic 5 days!!.. We got there a day earlier this year and spent it lying in the sun, just taking in the vibe!..



the thunderstorm and rain on saturday was entertaining, but we were safe, high and dry overlooking the Main Stage under our £10 Argos Gazebo (the most praised item of the festival)..





Musical highlights were; White Stripes, Coldplay, The Killers, The Zutons, James Blunt, Tori Amos, Roisin Murphy (the chick from Moloko), Garbage, Van Morrison and 2 Many Dj's..

Musical lowlights were; Babyshambles and Cake (who didn't show up)..



But this year, it was so much more than the music!.. for example, where else would you find entertainment like the smallest club in the world - honours go to Bec Clayton who picked up in the smallest amount of time in the smallest club in the world!.. and where else can you camp and eat breakfast/lunch to the sounds of Brian Wilson (of the Beach Boys) live!!.. and where else would you be stuck in the queue to leave the festival for a massive 5 hours!!.. ah but it was worth it!..



Sadly i think this year was my last Glastonbury, but I'm just glad I got to experience it.. twice..