Lakenheath Fen

Grey Wagtails

Marsh Harrier

Grass Snake swimming across pond. At first I thought this was some sort of rodent due to the the large 'V' shaped trail it was creating. Then I saw the yellow and black head emerge from the water with it's tongue sticking out!

Damselfly

Emperor Hawk Moth Caterpillar

Gatekeeper Butterfly

Whitethroats

Long Horned Beetle

Common Darter

Cinnabar Caterpillar feasting on Ragwort

Eddie and me enjoying the Suffolk sunshine



It was my first visit down to Lakenheath Fen in Suffolk. I was catching up with fellow nature and Nightwish lover Eddie Mallet who lives in nearby Brandon.

LF is a large wetland consisting mainly of reedbeds. There is also a Poplar Wood where there is a small colony of Golden Orioles which we were lucky enough to hear but not see.
The reedbeds are well established now and therefore the breeding birds have increased dramatically. There are hundreds of pairs of Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers, Reed Buntings, Marsh Harriers and Hobbies. There are also Bearded Tits since 2004 after a l00year absence in Suffolk.
Bitterns are present al year round and can be heard making their distinctive booming noise in early Spring.
The grazing Marsh provides food for Cranes, Redshanks, Lapwings and Snipe.

We had a nice wander all around the Fen with highlights being hearing the Golden Orioles which are very secretive, spotting the Marsh Harriers and a host of interesting insects.

Marillion -Assembly Rooms Leamington Spa

Marillion fans after the gig

I was a huge Marillion fan back in the mid 80's mainly because of larger than life lead singer Fish. I virtually wore out my vinyl copy of 'Script for a Jesters Tear' and had the wonderful Mark Wilkinson artwork adorned across my bedroom walls. The early works of Marillion contained Fish's poetic and introspective lyrics combined with rich influences of Genesis, Pink Floyd and early Queen. I saw the band at Leicester De-Montfort Hall and the 'Garden Party' at Milton Keynes bowl in 1986. For me they were something special and unique, songs like 'Market Square Heroes', Forgotten Sons, Grendel were epic. I loved the follow up albums, Fugazi, the Live 'Real to Reel', which featured the beautiful 'Cinderella Search' which expressed feelings that meant so much to me. The next album 'Misplaced Childhood' brought commercial success with Kayleigh and Lavender yet somehow they kind of passed me by. In 1987 the final album with Fish at the helm was released 'Clutching at straws'which was a dark and brooding album about lifes excesses but not in the same class as the first two albums in my opinion. In 1988 Fish left the band for a solo career. I felt devastated, It felt like losing a loved one. Although Steve Hogarth joined Marillion in 1989 I never gave the band a chance again, my link had been broken. Thankfully a couple of years ago I happened to hear some tracks from 'Seasons End'and my interest was renewed. This was to be my first experience of seeing the 'new' singer Steve 'H'

Hogarth a mere 16 albums later.... What a wonderful gig in what is turning out to be one of my favourite venues! The Assembly rooms were packed with a wonderful knowledgeable audience. Highlights for me had to be , 'King', 'Neverland' and the final encore of 'Happiness is the Road'. I took my 17 year old stepson Henry with me , a late substitute for my wife who is abroad working. He new very little about Marillion but thoroughly enjoyed himself. One thing is for certain that the band never get the credit or airplay that they deserve. One thing that 'H' said, “We’re just tired of the opinions of people who haven’t heard anything we’ve done in ten years. A lot of what’s spread about this band is laughable. To accompany the release of Anoraknophobia in 2001, the band issued a press release asking critics to review the album in “a manner that is both accurate and fair. So, our challenge to you is to firstly listen to the album. Then write a review without using any of the following words: "Progressive rock", "Genesis", "Fish", "heavy metal", "dinosaurs", "predictable", "concept album". Because if you do, we'll know that you haven't listened to it.” From my perspective i'm just so sorry that I have left it for so long , still better late than never! A fantastic night and amazing atmosphere. Full set list as follows - The Invisible man Slange King This strange Engine Afraid of Sunlight The Great Escape Neverland ----------------------- This Town/100 Nights ----------------------- The Space The other Half Hooks in You 3 Minute Boy Happiness is the road

  

Pure emotional power during my all time favourite 'Neverland' 'H' with Bassist Pete Trevawas Steve Rothery an absolute guitar hero just wonderful Steve 'H' Hogarth - Wonderful emotional vocals. I

Catching up with old friends

It was to be the first time I had re-visited the Badger Setts over at the Woods near Weedon in Northamptonshire.
Many times last year I had witnessed at such close quarters upwards of twelve badgers at any one time venturing out from their underground hideaways.
So it was was with a sense of trepidation that I set off hoping that for whatever reason they had not deserted the setts for a new location.

If you read my post from last year you may recall that I was amazed that the Badgers were happy to come out in early evening rather than wait for night to fall.

So I arrived at the destination about 7 PM - Sprinkled liberal amounts of peanuts (not salted) and strategically spread some Peanut butter on some old tree stumps.

Then it was a case of getting settled in the undergrowth keeping quiet and as still as possible and waiting. Fortunately my favourite watching spot was 'upwind' which is also an advantage as the Badgers have amazing sense of smell to compensate for such poor eyesight.

Nothing stirred from the Setts for well over an hour, however I did see a Muncjac Deer foraging, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Treecreeper, numerous Squirrels and a Fox.
Not to mention scaring a passing Mountain Biker so much that he almost fell off his bike !!
Eventually my patience was rewarded and I saw the familiar black and white markings emerge just as the light was beginning to fade. It was just like old times except there were three beautiful cubs who were very adventurous. The slightest unknown noise and they all bolt down back into the setts . It's only a minute or so before they tentatively make their way back out again.
It was fantastic to see them again and I look forward to many more visits over the coming weeks.

Working in Canary Wharf

Enjoying a well earned beer or two after a busy day of meetings.




A view from the 26th Floor with the Millenium Dome now the O2 Arena.

Barclays HQ at 1CP

The Tube Station at Canary Wharf


Yesterday I made the trip down to Head Office in the heart of the the Canary Wharf Financial district.
The train travel is a pain especially using the London Underground to get right to the other side of London. But it's always good to catch up with colleagues based down there.
The Underground was it's usual hectic and chaotic scenario. Made worse because someone had passed out on one of the trains so everything ground to a halt. The heat was intense coupled with the amount of people I thought it was going to be me next!

Canary Wharf is built on the site of the West India Docks on the Isle of Dogs. From 1802, the area was one of the busiest docks in the world. By the 1950s, the port industry began to decline, leading to the docks closing by 1980.
The first buildings were completed in 1991 which included One Canada Square that became the UK's tallest building and a powerful symbol of the regeneration of Docklands.
The number of people employed on the estate is over 100,000 !!

Pride of Northampton

On the Market Square

Becketts Park



This one is rather tenuously called 'Alion Carr'and is based on one of Northamptons famous sons - The Comedian Alan Carr who was born in Northampton.


Outside All Saints Church



This fine fellow was standing guard outside the Town Hall

Popped into Northampton Town Centre one lunchtime last week on the works courtesy bus. Or the 'Magical Mystery Tour' as I like to call it. The bus is an experience in itself as you are never quite sure if it will turn up. It is always a relief to arrive safely and without any road rage incidents or driver getting lost!

On arrival in the Centre I was greeted with a strange sight ? Lots of different multi coloured 5ft lions mounted on plinths. All very bizarre even by Northampton standards.

Apparently the Pride of Northampton will be a ten-week public art exhibition organised by Northampton Borough Council working with specialist art events and education company Wild In Art.
Each lion sculpture is sponsored by a business, individual or community group and local artists have decorated the lions and bring them to life. At the end of the summer the sculptures will be auctioned to raise money for charity.

I can't help thinking that there are going to be some 'interesting' sights particularly on a Saturday night when the pubs anc clubs are emptying??

Whatever happens i'm sure it will be a 'Roaring Success'and the 'Mane Attraction' groan.......

The Hellfire Caves

Sukis Ghost

Amongst the labyrinth of Gothic arches there have been a number of reported ghostly sightings.
Suki was a servant girl who was employed at the nearby Public House, the George and Dragon. Apparently she was most appealing and had high hopes of being noticed by the local squires and nobility. She desired to be a bride of an aristocrat. As such, she kept herself pure and rejected the propositions of the local lads who grew increasingly irritated by her manner. There came a day when a young and wealthy nobleman visited the George and Dragon and seemed quite taken with Suki who flirted “most seriously” with him.
After he departed the angry local lads who had witnessed this interchange decided to teach Suki a lesson. Apparently, they wrote her a letter purportedly from the young man that she had just met. It stated the he wanted to elope with her and that she was to meet him in the caves in her wedding dress. Suki did as she was asked and arrived at the caves to find that she had been tricked and it is said that “Stones were thrown”. It seems that one struck Suki on the head and she collapsed to the ground. Horrified at what they had done the young men carried her to the Inn but she died during the night. Her ghost is said to roam the caves and is also sometimes seen at the George and Dragon and many paranormal experts have claimed to have been able to make contact her.

Unfortunately we didn't have any sightings although a lot of people claim to have seen the ghostly figure of lady in a wedding dress.


The mysterious 22 steps ??
Along the passage between The Circle and Franklin’s Cave you will discover the Roman numerals XXII deeply engraved into the chalk wall. Nobody knows for sure why they were carved at this point and various explanations have been proposed. The most interesting is that they mark the starting point from which an undisclosed tunnel can be discovered that leads to hidden caves and passages that contain the real secrets of the Friars of St. Francis. A contemporary poem from this time refers to this as a possibility:

Take 20 steps and rest a while;
Then take a pick and find the stile
Where once I did my love beguile.
'Twas 22 in Dashwood's time,
Perhaps to hide this cell divine
Where lay my love in peace sublime.








The entrance to the Hellfire Caves

The Caves were originally excavated by Sir Francis Dashwood in the 1750's. They were and still remain totally unique. Dashwood was a man whose name has become a byword for hedonistic debauchery, and who is today best remembered as a leading light in the most infamous of all the so-called “Hell Fire” clubs!
The caves were all dug by hand and it is still possible to see the individual pick marks on the wall.
John Wilkes (1725 – 1797), the radical politician, and an enthusiastic member, described their gatherings as “A set of worthy, jolly fellows, happy disciples of Venus and Bacchus, got together to celebrate women in wine”. I suppose thats one way of describing it ??

The select central core of just thirteen “apostles”, led by Sir Francis Dashwood, included Lord Sandwich, John Wilkes, the painter William Hogarth, poets Charles Churchill, Robert Lloyd and Paul Whitehead, whilst American, Benjamin Franklin, was reputed to have been an occasional visitor.
The animosity felt by Lord Sandwich for John Wilkes would lead him to pursue a vendetta against him that would see Wilkes expelled from the House of Commons and ultimately, lead to his being jailed for three years.

Despite the fact that these self -styled monks certainly indulged in a goodly amount of sexual frolicking, and did include mock religious services in their rituals, there is no evidence to suggest that, as has been frequently claimed, they ever practiced Satanism.

The rumour that they did, was probably begun by their enemies in the late 18th Century, and gathered momentum throughout the 19th and 20th Centuries.

There is, however, a delightful, though spurious, tale that at one of the meetings, John Wilkes concealed a baboon, which he had dressed as the Devil, in a chest beneath his seat.

At an appropriate moment, he jerked a cord which opened the chest and the creature jumped onto Lord Sandwiches shoulders who, believing that he had conjured up the Devil, cried out “Spare me gracious Devil: spare a wretch who never was sincerely your servant. I sinned only from vanity of being in the fashion; thou knowest I never have been half so wicked as I pretended: never have been able to commit the thousandth part of the vices which I boasted of…”.

At the height of the Wilkes scandal, Sandwich is supposed to have exclaimed at him, “Upon my soul Wilkes, I don’t know whether you’ll die upon the gallows or of the pox” “That depends, my lord,” replied Wilkes “on whether I first embrace your lordships principles or your lordships mistresses”.


This was pretty much the beginning of the end of the Hellfire Club..

West Wycombe

One of the amazing Red Kites that are a familiar site all over West Wycombe.
At one stage in the early 20th Century they were almost extinct.
The reintroductions in The Chilterns have been a particular success. They really are a magnificent bird. Between 1989 and 1993 90 birds were released in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. By 2002, 139 pairs were breeding in the area, a real success story.



The unmistakable church of St Laurence perched high on West Wycombe Hill with the famous 'Golden Ball' at the top of the tower. Sunday worship at 11am each week.


It was a steep climb up the hill to the Mausoleum

The Dashwood Residence

A view of the Dashwood Mausoleum taken from the top of the Belltower at
St Laurence Church West Wycombe. It was a long climb up but well worth the
effort as youwill see from the other photos.


West Wycombe is a lovely, though tiny, village, comprised of a single high street of timber and flint buildings, on the outskirts of which sits the magnificent seat of the Dashwood family, the beautifully Palladian West Wycombe Park.

On the summit of the steep conical hill across the road from the house, is the immense Dashwood Mausoleum, behind which towers the strange golden ball that sits uneasily on top of the church of St Lawrence. Meanwhile, hewn out of the hillside beneath are a series of caves, reached via an entrance that has been fashioned to resemble a gothic church and which adds to the overall essence of eccentricity with which the overall estate seems to made up of.

The person responsible for all this was Sir Francis Dashwood (1708-1781), a man whose name has become a byword for hedonistic debauchery, and who is today best remembered as a leading light in the most infamous of all the so-called “Hell Fire” clubs.