December 2015

All our very best wishes

We back… jammin'

It's nearly four years since we last made any Jam, due mostly to the yearly bounty of plums from my garden no longer being available. But this year having picked loads of blackberries while out cycling around Hurley, we then came by a windfall of apples. So we put the two together and present for 2015 our double batch of M&B jam.

Batch 1: Blackberry & Apple. 

Batch 2: Apple & Blackberry

The second batch was named differently for no better reason other than it had more apples than blackberries compared to the first batch.

Both are labelled 'Phoney Jam'. Geddit ?

November at the Cinema

The month's big film release was undoubtedly James Bond in 'Spectre', which is excellent and a must see on the big screen. 

However, two other films have come out that should also be on a not to be missed list. 

Brooklyn

The tale of a female Irish immigrant in 1950s Brooklyn, NY is a wonderful film. Starring Saoirse Ronan (pronounced Sear-sha).

The Lady in the Van

We actually saw this earlier in the year at a pre-production screening and were sworn to secrecy. Now we can tell you, it's great. Starring Maggie Smith as the Lady and Alex Jennings as the man in whose driveway she parks her van. True story.

*Coincidentally the excellent Jim Broadbent appears in both these films

Now pay attention 007. We have a budget of $245 million, can you by the 25 November make $683 million worldwide?

James Bond can do anything.

October 2015

Venice and birthday celebration.

This month has been about celebrating Margaret's birthday.
First of all in Venice
(see: http://mandbtrips1.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/venice.html and then with friends at our Italian restaurant across from the flat.

Having avoided the hundreds of selfie-stick wielding tourists, here we are practising
our own selfie pose on the very picturesque Venetian island of Burano. 

Happy Birthday and cake too.

September

Much of this month has been spent planning next month !  Watch this space…..
So for now here's a couple of pictures of the amazing Red Arrows taken at the Bournemouth Air Show in August.

I also had a short video of an RAF Typhoon flying past the beach front, but it wouldn't load onto the site even though it was only 12 seconds long.

August

The highlight of this month was our day at the Bournemouth Air Show on Friday 21st August.
Unfortunately the following day at another Air Show, 70 miles away in Shoreham a plane crashed while performing a manoeuvre, killing people on the ground. 
Writing about our fantastic day and posting pictures in the light of this tragic event seems inappropriate at this time.
Maybe at a later date.

Family Photos

Left to right: Aunt Theresa, cousin Elaine, Aunt Geraldine and Margaret.

Margaret, cousin Graham and his wife Gina.

Margaret and cousins Stephanie and Sarah (with Chloe hiding)

Aunt Theresa, cousin Mandy, Aunt Eva, Margaret and Elaine.

July 2015

See: http://mandbtrips1.blogspot.co.uk

Says: Your are the better for Guinness. Don't argue, I say!

15th June: 1215 – 2015

Magna Carta 800th - The River Relay

Two days before the official ceremony at Runnymede to mark 800 years since Magna Carta, a river relay took place starting at Hurley and arriving at Runnymede on 15th June. This received very little TV coverage by comparison. We were there at Hurley Riverside for that start at 9am, to witness the re-enactment of the story and the first boats leave to row down river.
Later in the day we caught them at Cookham Moorings. Joined by the Queen's Row Barge 'Gloriana' and an extended cast of players for another performance all about the Great Charter. (We took a 13 minute video - which unfortunately is way to large a file to post here).
For more on Magna Carta: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magna_Carta

This way to Runnymede.
Queen's Row Barge 'Gloriana' arriving at Cookham accompanied by numerous river craft.

Transporting the Charter, the lady (centre) wearing glasses, has the scrolls.

'Gloriana' on route to a place in history.

May 2015

We're back down the van, messing about by the river…

Floral Flotilla

Labelled as part of the Chelsea Fringe, an alternative garden festival, held at the same time of the year as the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Henley's Floral Flotilla mustered at Mill Meadows on a lovely sunny Saturday morning in May.

Powered and un-powered craft of various sizes, dressed and decorated in horticultural harmony, filled with participants as colourful as their vessels, paraded up and down the Thames, waving and singing their merry way. 

A catamaran with a circular table and chairs, all very civilised with glasses of Pimms and a mad-hatter. Boats with wicker arbours covered in lilac, lupins and dangling wisteria. Pink wigs - at least it looked like false hair? A home-made coracle that rather waddled along from side to side, moving slower than the ducks and a boat that was actually a car that was a boat. Not really James Bond 007, more Mr Toad & Wind in the Willows.

Brilliantly eccentric and loads of fun. 

Pimms anyone ?

Is it a boat ?  Is it a car ?

Hout Bay Flat

Some new photos, in and around our flat.

Dining area and kitchen.

Up the steps, first floor balconies, that's us.

Oh no, another panorama shot.... view from the balcony in the morning.

Small but well appointed pool.

April...

As a direct follow on from the previous posting about the fires around Cape Town, we thought we'd show a few of the pictures we took while we were there.
More news of this trip will appear on: http://mandbtrips1.blogspot.co.uk

At the top of Silvermine, Table Mountain Nat Park, looking east over sand and burnt remains.

Ou Kaapseweg road sign, at Silvermine.