Christmas Tree Decorations by Sharon McSwinney

We went shopping in Chester yesterday, and we were very pleased to buy some decorations by Sharon McSwiney in a shop called Counter Culture
We had met Sharon McSwiney last year during Hereford Arts Week, and admired her work then.  Now we have decorations on the Christmas Tree from her as well as Ann's earrings.

The White Ribbon

This is a very bleak film, set in a German village on the eve of the first world war, filmed in back and white, in German with subtitles.
When a riding accident is found to be caused maliciously, the suspicions start to fly, and when a tragic accident follows soon after, suspicions continue, even though they may not be warranted.  There are further crimes, and suspicions, but very few get resolved.
There is no car chase in the film, or chase on horseback, or even on bicycle, because a chase would require some idea of who it is that is causing the mischief.
There is no nudity in the film, because there is no need.  When the characters have already laid their souls bare, in some superbly bleak dialogue, there is little that nudity could possibly add.
The story is told by the school teacher, who is quite an engaging character, and one of only two that I ended up caring about by the end of the film.

Bright Star

John Keats was a brilliant poet, with a talent that was recognised by just a handful of friends before his tragically early death at age 25 from tuberculosis, or consumption as the disease was known in those days.
There are three characters in the film, Charles Brown, an author with whom he lived and collaborated for a while, and Fanny Brawne, who lived next door.  The story is told from Fanny's viewpoint, and the unconsummated love affair being the main theme.
Very little is made of any other characters; his other literary friends have little more than cameo appearances, and  Fanny's younger brother sister and mother have little more importance than the props.
At one point Charles Brown says to the family that when they see them sitting doing nothing they are not idle; it is all part of the creative process. The initial spirited dialogue gives way to this creative idleness, and we found it to be a slow moving and rather tedious film.
If you are acquainted with and love the poetry of John Keats, you may find the film quite engaging. But we did not.

The Snow Goose

This book by Paul Gallico will get more well deserved attention, now that Michael Morpurgo has chosen it as his neglected classic for the Radio 4 program, Open Book
I was surprised to hear that it was on the list, as I was expecting long novels. It is quite a short story, just four chapters - you can read it in an evening.
It sits alongside Winnie the Pooh as one of the few books I have read to all my children at the same time.  Not that I would suggest that it is a children's book, rather that it is very accessible - Michael Morpurgo thinks he read it first when he was eleven.
It is also a cracking story, of wild open seascape, of an unlikely friendship that develops between a young girl and a recluse living alone in a lighthouse, drawn together as they care for an injured bird she discovers.
As you get lost in a story that could have taken place at any time in the last thousand years, there comes a sharp recognition that it actually is taking place in1940, and the call to take British troops of the beach at Dunkirk breaks into the story.
The mood changes, and the voice of the story teller changes, and the story draws to its conclusion, and my children realise that they have to read the final paragraph themselves, as I struggle to keep reading amid all the emotion.
A great read. Very Recommended.

Sailing on Windermere with Dave

On Sunday of last week I went sailing on Windermere with Dave, the guy who did the RYA level 2 course with us.
His boat is a WildFire, an Ian Proctor designed boat, nearer 20 ft than 15 fit in length, and with a removable keel rather than a centreboard.  The keel is lowered in place, and the weighted down by 6 pairs of bags containing weights, that drape over a central divider, so that they can be lifted out again.
It is berthed just south of Bowness, near the Hawkeshead chain ferry, very close to the footpath that runs along the lakeside, so that you are in view of the passers by as you are floundering around / coping expertly with the cover and rigging etc.
Unlike Glenridding, where it is all sailing and canoes, here there are motor boats and yaughts, and sailing dinghies are very much in the minority.  There is a ramp with space for two boats to be launched at any one time, and a jetty to tie the boat to after launching and parking the car.  There are toilets, and a snack bar, with some tables, and some picnic tables overlooking the slip way and the extended jetty area, where there were many fine yaughts to be admired.
We wore our wetsuits, which was totally unnecessary, as the wind was barely noticeable as we set up. But because I had left my car at Dave's house, I had a choice between the wetsuit and a rather unsuitable pair of trousers I was wearing, and Dave gallantly joined me in wearing a wetsuit.
When we got out to the middle of the lake the wind was reasonably OK, and we had a gentle sail upwind to the south, before we started getting a slightly stronger wind which made it nice sailing.
This was Dave's first time in the boat for several weeks, and after he felt he had got the hang of it, he let me take the helm, and it felt very nice.  After a while we turned back to get some lunch, and it certainly seemed to have a good turn of speed travelling with the wind.
Windermere is very beautiful, and there are some very admirable properties along the banks.  It was certainly a very nice experience, and a little more like going on a public highway, with lots of crafts of various types parading along the same stretch of thoroughfare. All the boats have a permit number in white letters on black background on their side, a bit like number plates on a car.
We ate our lunch back on the side where we launched from, and several folk Dave had met before came over and had very pleasant and encouraging conversations.  I had thought Windermere was all to do with yaughts and quite snooty, so I was quite encouraged.
What I was a bit taken aback with was how long it took to set up and pack away. I was hoping for a further afternoon session, but I had to be back to meet Ann by four, so we called it a day.  It was frustrating that the wind was quite a bit stronger by then, but it was a good sail, and we can always do it again another day.

Thanks for a good day, Dave

Racing at Glenridding

Last weekend I had my first experience of racing.
Twice a year, in June and September, the gaffe rigged boats gather at Glenridding for a day of racing. Always ready to learn from someone more experienced, I offered to crew for anyone without a crew, if they would have me.  So I ended up crewing for Barry.
All the boats were traditional boats, without a keel, and with weights along the ridge which make them very unlikely to capsize.  So much so that Barry had carpet in his.  He taught me how to drain the excess water off my shoes before stepping in, but sadly my rolled up trousers were not rolled up enough, and I dripped quite a bit of water on the carpet. Sorry Barry.
Gaffe rigged boats have a beam attached at an angle to the mast, so that the sail reaches higher than the mast. Barry's was a gunter rig, where the beam rises vertically above the mast.  It was a GRP (glass reinforced fibreglass) body with a wooden trim, well treated and bright.
The boat had two jib sales, one attached to the front of the boat, and the other attached to a short extension bar.  They were my job to look after, the front one had green sheets (ropes) and the back one had brown ones.
Neither Barry nor I had a watch, so Steve lent me his (thanks Steve) and we timed the 5 and 4 and 1 minute hooter, counting down the the start hooter.
I was impressed how much every one trusted each other. The boats were sailing incredibly close to each other, and the ones with the right of way were not tempted to give way themselves, confident that the other boat would indeed do what was required.   While all this was going on they were busy trading banter with one another.
After we turned at the south end of the lake we had a long stretch on a run, and there was more time to talk. We went round an Island near the east and across to the west round a buoy, and then came the stretch sailing upwind toward the finish line.
Traditional boats are not like dinghies, and I was trying to pull the jib sheets too tight.  Linnhe explained to me afterwards that if you try to sail too close to the wind, the boat is blown leeward, and you actually make more progress by sailing less close to the wind.
I think we came in fourth.  A hooter is blown as you cross the line, and you hope that it is blowing for you, and not the other boat that is trying to catch you.   It is difficult to tell, because you can cross the line at any point between the two shores.  After you cross you hold up the page with your number, so that they can make a note of it against your time.
Afterwards, Barry had the job, with some help I think, of keying these times and handicaps, to work out who had won.  In the second race, which he was not taking part, the winner is the one who crosses the line first, but the handicap is quite a different matter.
I took the opportunity to go out in one the Seaflies before I had to be on my way back, and Linnhe lent me her watch so I could finish in time. The staff at Glenridding are certainly very supportive.  I got changed into my (brand new) wetsuit, which was just as well, not that I capsized the Seafly.  Being concerned not to hit the dagger board on the bottom, I pulled it up well before I reached the shore. But as I was sailing into the wind, I soon started drifting without the centreboard.  I thought I was in water shallow enough to jump out, and soon discovered otherwise when I tried, and pulled myself back into the boat.  And that was how my new wetsuit was baptised.

Hereford Arts

We missed the launch of the  Liverpool Food Festival in Seton Park on Sunday, choosing instead to go to  opening weekend of the Hereford Arts Week.
We stayed two nights at The Hopbine which was reasonably OK at a fair price, and well placed to explore the county and the city.
We started off in the city centre, where many crafts folk had stalls, so that we could see lots of stuff without walking too far, and I bought some cuff links.  After that Ann had to visit the galleries on her own, as I got waylaid by a visit to Hereford Cathedral and the Mappa Mundi In the same display room was John Wyclif's bible that he translated into English, laid open at the Psalms.  A remarkable place to visit.
After buying some plums at the covered market, we headed south to Galanthus in Wormbridge, where we saw more alloy jewellery and pottery by Stuart Houghton, who we met last year.  The lunch there was excellent, Ann had tomato & basil soup and I had an open sandwich with local bacon and their own award winning blue cheese.
Our next stop was Bailey's Home & Garden, where a family were just leaving with a pair of antlers as we arrived.  This was a mixture of art craft homeware and recycling, as well as a cafe with some very delicious apple cake, which we enjoyed in the sunshine on their terrace. Our next visit took us to a farm where we admired the penstemon flowers on the way in, and bought a casserole dish from one of several potters who have studios there. The next visit also had penstemons on the way in, but sadly that was what we enjoyed most there.   After that we visited an exhibition of pottery, knitware, paintings garden sculptures, where we were made welcome with tea and cake, and there was a Jazz group playing in the field next to the garden.
We had seen quite a bit by then, so we were very pleased to find a pub with a garden where we could enjoy the late afternoon sunshine, before looking or somewhere to enjoy our evening meal.
Our first stop on Sunday was Hellens Manor. I would like to visit it properly one day, but we were there to see the exhibition by the Guild of Herefordshire Craftsmen, where we saw bags, and furniture, and pottery, and mirrors, and more besides.  I bought Ann a jewellery box made by Ken Gilbert.  He was not there that day, but his fellow craftspeople obviously held him in high regard.
After a quick stop to look at ribbons, we went onto Ledbury, where once again Ann had to fend for herself, while I got waylaid at the Ledbury Heritage Centre.  Tinsmiths in Ledbury is always worth visiting, and we enjoyed an excellent lunch in the cafe at the back of Nice Things.
After lunch we visited the best place of all, which was a family home, with a pottery display in the front garden, garden sculptures in the back garden, silk pictures being demonstrated in the kitchen, and finished pictures and furniture in the front room.  Everything was a delight. The silk pictures looked like felt, but finer, and with embroidery that made the trees look quite beautiful.  The furniture was beautifully made, and we bought a brightly coloured pottery dish to use as a fruit bowl.
The H.Art sites were easy to find, with bright sign posts, but they do tend to close at 5pm. So we just had time to visit an African textile and fair trade place before 5, and then we found some stay open until six, so we  got to visit Blue Ginger, over the border in Worcestershire as well, before we began our journey home.

Inglourious Basterds

This is a violent film, and there are some scenes I could not bear to watch.  I would not have chosen to see it, but David wanted me to go with him as he saw it a second time.
I was very impressed.  I enjoyed it from the first scene. There was the rolling French countryside, and an unwelcome visit from German soldiers to an isolated farm.  The tension between the family, polite respectful, but wary, and the German officer, full of charm but observant, was wonderfully portrayed.
The group of American soldiers, which gives the film its name, also gave the most gruesome scenes, but the best part of the story lay elsewhere.  A German war hero, an English officer, a German actress, and a Jewish cinema owner had the most engaging parts of the story, and also gave what I think were the best performances. (Sorry Brad).
Look elsewhere for historical accuracy. You will not find that here. But it was a cracking yarn, well presented.

Blackwell House

Blackwell House was built in 1900 by M. H. Baillie Scott, as a holiday home for Sir Edward Holt, a Manchester Industrialist and one time Lord Mayor. Baillie Scott was part of the Arts and Crafts Movement, inspired by John Ruskin and William Morris, and the house has a more restful relaxed atmosphere than the busyness of the average Victorian home.

It was acquired by the Lakeland Trust 10 years ago, and has been open to the public since 2001. As well as admiring the quite beautifully restored internal decoration, visitors also get to see craft exhibitions as they are housed in the upstairs rooms. It is located south of Bowness, on the hillside affording wide views of Windermere and the Coniston fells beyond. Visitors to the tea room can either sit inside, or on the terrace, enjoying the views.

The house has a large hall, more like a medieval house, but like all the rooms, there is a an inglenook around the the fireplace, for more intimate gatherings. There is a second area of recessed seating with a superb peacock frieze in the opposite corner, and above the fireplace there is a minstrels' gallery.

There are two other downstairs rooms, a dining room, fairly formal with its wood panelling, but facing west, and with views over Windermere is the drawing room. The walls and ceilings are all patterned, but painted white, and the result is very light and restful. There is a recessed seating area around a window, with views over the lake, and as the other rooms, inglenook seating around the fireplace. There is a shelf, at picture rail height around the room, supported by slim columns. It really is a most restful and peaceful room.

Upstairs there is a bedroom with a dressing room, and one smaller bedroom. This room has some pictures of the time the house was used to re-house a school during the war time. The other upstairs rooms house craft exhibitions. At our visit we saw an exhibition of glass made by James Powell & Sons. There were also sculptures by David Nash.

The exhibition changes each few months, so we can look forward to visiting again next year.

Sailing Boats on Ullswater

Here are a couple of pictures I took last summer, of sailing dinghies on Ullswater. I had just turned up on spec, and they were all booked up, so after a chat with Steve I found a quiet spot to enjoy my picnic.

Very restful.

The Little Stranger - Sarah Waters

When Dr Faraday calls to attend a sick servant girl at the Hundreds, he finds the house a little more delapidated than he remembers when he attended a prize giving there once in his childhood. Then he finds himself taking tea with the Ayres, who retain their grace and charm through all the troubles that the post war period presents to the once grand families. So it is that he begins an unlikely friendship with the family for whom his mother once worked as a domestic servant.

But the family have more than a reduced income from the estate, Roddy's injury from the war and a house they cannot afford to maintain to contend with. As they weather a series of unfortunate events they begin to wonder whether, something about the house, some little stranger, is working against them. Or perhaps it can all be explained by an overwought mind and imagination? Dr. Faraday is concerned for their welfare, and has his medical training to guide him.

As the events move on, the slow beginning is left behind, and there is no shortage of drama and excitement. Even Dr Faraday is caught up in his own drama before we reach the end of the story. You might consider the ending unsatisfying, but I don't think so. I hope that, like me, you will have been well entertained along the way.

With thanks to David, who lent me his book, signed by the Author.

Solo Seafly

On Friday I went out solo in a Seafly, and it was great fun.

I remember not liking the Seafly intially, because of the sound of the water splashing near the front of the boat. Peter Lawson, who makes the boats now, told me on Monday that the shape of the boat pushes the water out to the sides, which makes them sail better, especially in the sea. I found the splashing noise annoying again this day at the start, but either it stopped once the boat was sailing faster, or I did not notice it after a while.

There are other things not to like about the boat; there is no cleat to hold the rudder up, which is only a problem when landing on a beach, and I took off and returned from the jetty; The wooden centreboard was slightly swollen, and very stiff to move up and down; the centre main goes round a loop of rope on the transom, which is only a minor problem following a capsize (you have to duck underneath the get to the back of the boat); Following a capsize it comes up full of water.

Having got all my grouses out of the way, I have to say it is a great boat, and it was a great session of sailing. It was a really enjoyable time, and it was great to get to know the boat and to feel how it handled. It was a very different experience to sailing the Laser on Tuesday, even when the wind grew stonger, there was still time to react to situations. It certainly had a good turn of speed, and was a lot more fun than the traditional boat, or Lune Whammel.

I started off with the two jib sheets tied together with a reef knot, but it came undone, twice. Then I reverted to a figure of eight on each end, but it was a struggle to reach. So then I tied the two ends together with a reef knot but the two figures of eight in place, and that worked very well.

I found the yellow buoy and practised the man overboard procedure, generally I stopped too short, but one attempt worked perfectly.

I practised stopping the boat, keeping the boat turned away from the wind so that the boom was over the side of the boat rather than directly over it. I also put it in the hove-to position, which worked fine the first time, but not the second.

The wind was quite strong by this time, my guess is force 4 rather than force 3 that Jonathan wrote in my log later on. There was only me and a Whammell with a family of four still sailing as far as I could see, although there were still a few canooes.

I felt quite cheated, because I had avoided capsizing through all the sailing, and thought that the hove-to posistion was a safe one, and that adopting it was a responsible action to take in winds that had become quite strong. I was quite dissappointed when the boat gently keeled over, and I dropped into the water. Apparently what was needed was less centreboard, as it is the centreboard that causes the boat to heel.

I was pleased to find that getting the boat righted again single handed was no great problem, nor was pulling myself up over the side. However sailing the boat, which was now full of water, was not a piece of cake, and the controls all felt very heavy. I capsized again almost straight away, and managed to lose the scoop, which floated gently away. By this time Steve had arrived in the safety boat.

I sailed, or limped, most of the way back to the jetty, without opening the flaps at the back that might have emptied the boat of water. I doubt they would have done. Steve showed me how to undo the flaps, and then towed me round in a circle at speed, which did the required job.

The lessons for next time? If someone is available, have a crew; use less centreboard; learn how to put in a reef.

Sailing a Stratos with Stan and Alex

After sailing a small boat solo on Tuesday, I was pleased to join with Stan and Alex sailing a Stratos on Wednesday.

I would not have been sure about taking a Stratos out single handed, but I did feel very happy with Stan, an experienced, self taught sailor. I followed his lead in electing not to wear a wet suit, and the confidence was justified. It was my only day sailing in the week that I did not end up in the water.

Stan is one of many people who travel many miles, in his case from North Yorkshire, to do all his sailing at Glenridding, which is a testament to the wonderful scenery, and the relaxed atmosphere that Steve & Pete maintain. (It also helps that he used to live locally, and knows Linnhe's husband through a shared interest in Folk Music)

Having recently done my RYA level 2 course on a Stratos, I was familiar with the boat, whereas for Stan it was his first time in a Stratos, and for Alex his first time sailing. I could also remember most of the "right" terminology, some of which Stan had never learnt. When he gets time and the instructors are not busy on other courses, he is doing his Seamanship skills.

The sailing conditions were not particularly easy, the winds were mainly light, and sometimes they seemed to drop altogether. There were episodes when it was not obvious where the wind was coming from at all, it was certainly changing direction confusingly. At one stage, we were sailing close to the wind, we knew that because we were close to both sails flapping. Then, as we went about, we turned 270 degrees before the sail swung over, as the wind seemed to be following us around.

Stan started off at the helm, and once he felt he had the measure of the boat, he let me take the helm, which I did for most of the session before lunch. Then he helmed for the short session after lunch, as I had to leave by 2.45. They were hoping that they might get the Seafly afterwards, thinking that it might make a safer option for Alex.

I have to say that Stan gave us a smoother ride than I did. There were gusts, and even when we heeled over enough to ship in some water over the side, it felt secure, smooth and in control. By contrast when I took action during gusts we were often lurching back into the centre of the boat as I overreacted to the situation. More practice needed.

The day I took out a Laser (but did not bring it back)

The best moment on Tuesday was before the sailing began. There were low clouds on Farleton Fell, and it did not get any better past Kendal, Ings, or Troutbeck. Approaching the top of Kirkstone, the valley looking down towards Ambleside was thick with cloud, but as soon as I started down towards Ullswater it was bright and clear, and Brother Water was lying in bright sunshine at the bottom of the pass. Beautiful.

The Laser is like a Topper Topaz, but faster, having a larger sail area. It certainly made for exciting sailing, and it was a good lively and enjoyable session.

I practised my man overboard procedure with the yellow buoy, but mainly stopped short, due to the boat being lighter and the wind being heavier than when we had been taught it.

There are many ways of capsizing a Laser, and I probably managed most of them. The wet suit proved very necessary.

One of the problems could be that the main sheet passes through a loop at the back of the boat (at the transom), and has a tendency to get snagged on the corner, meaning that you do do not have any control until it is unsnagged. This design makes it different from a Topaz in a couple of ways. First, on capsizing you have to duck under the loop of mainsheet to get to the back of the boat, and secondly you pull yourself up over the side when the boat is righted, not the back as on a Topaz.

The main reason for capsizing is the lightness of the boat and controls, and that it tips very easily. I got quite used to slipping down between the boat and the sail, and it was certainly light enough to right again very easily.

On one occasion I over-reacted to a gust and the boat tipped over towards me. I was pleased when the sail landed beside me rather than on top of me, but I had to lunge to grab hold of the sail before it drifted off beyond my reach. I guess that this was the time when the boat tipped over and soon as I had righted it. As one of the staff commented, it is probably easier to let it tip over like that than to turn it round in the water before righting it.

I returned the boat to the shore after the first capsize, as the rudder would have floated away had the tiller extension not got caught up in the loop of rope on the transom. Pete was able to bend the clip that keeps it in place. I returned it a second time, after I had made a grab for a piece of plastic at the bottom of the boat that came away in my hand. It was something to do with the self bailing mechanism, but it seemed none the worse without it. I returned a third time, to explain how I could not correct the tiller extension joint which had got twisted, but when I came to show what the problem was it had corrected itself.

The wind got stronger after a while, and by the end I was enjoying the sail, but I did not feel fully in control of the boat. Eventually I had no control at all, as the sail had come off the boom, and was flapping freely on the mast. A few attempts to reach hold of it persuaded me that I was not going to manage it without tipping over again, so I had to wait until the rescue boat to arrive, which was not immediate, as I was behind the near Island.

A couple of geordy men, both called Mike, picked me up in their Laser Fun, and we left the Laser upturned in the water. But by now the wind had grown stronger, and the three of us capsized, and were attempting to right it when the rescue boat arrived. Pete picked me up, and on the way picked up the crew from a trimaran, that had also gone over.

Retrieving the laser, the laser fun, and the trimaran kept most of the staff busy most of the afternoon. I did not feel quite so bad, as I was not the only one giving them extra work on a windy day.

Our RYA level 2 qualification teaches us to take out sailing dinghy in light winds, and how to cope with gusts. So here is what I gleaned about coping with heavier winds:-

1. Tighten the outhaul and the kicking strap. This is what would have prevented the sail coming off the boom.
2. Let the sheet out, so that you are wasting some of the wind. You may even go faster with less wind because you are heeling (leaning toward the sail) less.
3. When on a reach, let the sheet out before you start heeling. Once you are heeling there is a limit to how much further you can let the sail out before it dips in the water, so turning to wind is the only option left.
4. Use less centre-board. With less centreboard you will tend to drift leeward more, but heel less.
5. Less helpfully, sail a larger boat, have a heavier crew, and finally
6. Put in a reef and use a smaller sail area.

How to Play Zilch

You need: six dice, three different colours, a pair of each colour; a pencil and paper to score with; a group of friends, anywhere between three or twenty; a table or surface to throw the dice on; and relaxed hour or two.

Basic Scoring: Any 1 counts as 100; any 5 counts as 50; a single dice then has a 1 in 3 chance of scoring, and a 2 in three chance of not scoring; two dice have a better than 50:50 chance of scoring.

The play: Each person plays in turn, clockwise round the table; A turn consists of one or more throws of the dice; After each throw, the player scores the newly thrown dice; If none of them score, its the end of the turn and the score is Nil or Zilch; The player sets aside one or more of the scoring dice to add to his score for the round, and discards the rest; He or she can then choose whether to throw the discarded dice, and possibly add to the score, but risk getting Zilch, or to end the turn with the score already achieved; When all six dice are set aside to score, they all become available to throw again; The turn continues until the player opts not the throw again, or with zilch.

The twist: at the end of a turn that is not Zilch, the player declines to throw one or more dice; the next player has the chance of starting his round with that score, by throwing only the dice the previous player left unthrown; He may get zilch, throwing only one or two dice, he may inherit a good score; If the prize is not worth the risk, he can ignore it and start with six dice.

All the scores;

1 scores 100; 5 scores 50;

A run of 1 to 6 scores 1,000;

Three pairs scores 1,000

Three pairs with matching colours score 2,000

Three of a kind scores 100x face value; (three sixes are 600);

Four of a kind score 200x face value; (four fours score 800);

Five of a kind score 300x face value; (five threes score 900);

Only the dice thrown at one go count, dice set aside to score from a previous throw do not count;

After three Zilches in a row, a player loses 1,000 points.

(some of these scores need to be verified by someone who knows!)

How the Game ends.

The game ends when one player reaches 10,000 points or more, and each player has played one more turn. The player with the highest scoreis then the winner;

How to Eat Banoffee Pie (Anderson style)

First of all, give your spoon a good lick, to clear the soup off. Then when the dish is passed your way, pick up the dice and throw.

You are hoping for a 6, because that means you can help yourself to a nice spoonful of Banoffee pie, before you pass it to the person on your left.

What you want to avoid is a 4, because then you help yourself to a spoonful, but not of Bannoffee pie. You take a spoonful of cold baked beans instead. Yuk.

If you throw a 3, it is good for you, you still help yourself to a spoonful of pie, but not so good for the person on your left, because they miss their turn.

If you throw a 1, then some one gets to eat pie, but not you. You get to choose who.

On the first round, throwing a 2 or 5 is quite boring, you eat nothing, and pass the pie and dice to your left, but after the first round, things are different.

When you throw a 2, you get to take a spoonful of pie, but you feed it to the person on your left. If they then thow a 6 they do quite well.

When you throw a 5 you take a spoonful of pie, and you feed it to the person on your right. Only you have your eyes shut, and are guided by the person on their right. It can go smoothly, but some how it didn't

With special thanks to Nathan for making the pie, to Tim for having a birthday to celebrate, for Dave for devising the game, and to Dan, John, John, Peter, Colin, Dave, Mark, Luke, Nash & Mike.

Sailing & Fellwalking

Last Saturday I went up to Glenridding, arriving at about 11 am, and by half past I was out on the water on Topper Topaz. Pete said the wind was quite awkward, and pointed out two boats sailing not far from each other, but using wind coming from different directions. At least the setting off was straight forward, as it was blowing down from Glenridding, across the beach, so by starting the other end from the jetty it was easy to get under way.

After quite a bit of sailing up and down not being quite sure where the gentle wind was at points, I went up past Norfolk Island and found a stronger consistent wind blowing down the valley, so I enjoyed sailing back and forth on a reach parallel to the shore. Even then the wind direction became confusing, and I found the wind was coming from the South, aslo fairly strong, with stronger gusts. So then I sailed back up towards Glenridding and keeping the boat balanced through the gusts, as we had been taught.

When I reached the circular yellow buoy, I practised my man overboard procedure. The first one was perfect, just nuzzling up to the buoy. The second I turned too far at the end, and came in the windward side. The third time I ran straight into the buoy - it is best not to let go of the tiller. Then I had a few more attempts, mainly stopping short. Room for improvement there!

Coming back in was OK as well, the wind was blowing across the beach from Glenridding, so a reach from the other end from the jetty did very nicely.

In the evening Ann & I went to Arnside, where we enjoyed a meal at the Fighting Cocks pub, and bought some licquorice at Arnside House, which was quite a treasure house, before heading back to Capernwray House, our bed and breakfast. We had stayed here before, and knew it was good, but our room for this night was wonderful, large airy light and restful.

The next day after going to church at St. John's Yealand, I went picking raspberries at Over Kellett. This is a fascinating village, so close the the M6, yet with sheep grazing on the village green beside the cross roads.

I spent the afternoon rambling over Farleton Fell. It was a beautiful dry clear fresh breezy afternoon, perfect rambling weather. I ate my lunch sat looking west over the Silverdale & Arnside area of outstanding natural beauty, picking out the hills I had rambled over on previous excursions. It was very beautiful.

After that I looked over the east, across the valley towards Kirkby Lonsdale, which was equally beautiful.

A very enjoyable weekend.

RYA Level 2 - one week on.

So how much can I remember seven days on?

Starting Off. Check the boat sides for damage, check the stays and shrouds, tip the boat and drain any water in the buoyancy tank. Rig the boat on land, always with the boat pointing towards the wind, prefereably without stepping into the boat, but if you do step in, stay forward of the tipping point.

First raise the Mainsail as far as it will go, then attach the boom (gooseneck), then tighten the outhall before tightening the kicking strap.

Keep the boat pointing into the wind as you wheel it into the water, with an onshore wind you have to get quite wet. Once in the water hold the boat by the bow, or by the windward shround. If launching solo, hold the end of the painter or tie it to a post or jetty, as you pull the trolley clear of the water.

When on a reach, set each sail slightly tighter than the point where the luff of the sail begins to flap, keep testing as the wind direction changes. Set the dagger board half down.

On a run, raise the dagger board completely. You do not need to avoid leeway slippage, and there will be less drag, and less chance of capsizing in a gust. The sail here acts as a kite, at other points of sailing as a wing. On a dead run, try a goosewing, pushing the jib out on the other side, but beware of jibing invountarily. To avoid a dead run, steer the boat just closer to the wind from the point where the jib flaps in the shadow of the mainsail. Keep testing for change of wind direction. In heavy winds, it may be necessary to sit aft in the boat to keep the trim OK.

On a close haul, have the dagger board fully down, pull both sales in hard, and steer the boat slightly away from the point where the luff begins to flutter. Keep testing the wind direction. Watch out for gusts, and keep the boat balance using three methods, leaning out, loosening the main sheet, turning into the wind, reversing after the gust dies down.

To stop the boat, let both sales flap, feed out the sheets or push the boom out if need be. Turn into the wind so that the mainsail flaps free of the shroud, but not so much that it flaps over the boat, or that you go about.

To heave to, lower the dagger board, and back the jib, so it is cleated on the windward side. Once the boat is still in the water, push the tiller towards the flapping main sail, so that it is working against the jib.

To get out of irons, boat not moving and pointed directly into wind, tighten the jib only, until the boat has turned away from the wind, or raise the dagger board, and the boat will pivot on the rudder. A third option is to sail backwards, by holding the boom out.

When approaching a windward shore, you need the mainsail, not the jib, you also need the dagger board for as long as you have the depth. The helm can jump out at the shroud on the shore side as soon as it is shallow enough.

When approaching a lee shore, stop some distance out and lower the boom and mainsail. Bring the boat in on a run using just the jib. Raise the dagger board. Turn to the wind as it becomes shallow, and the crew jumps out on the deeper side, and hold the boat at the windward shroud.

To set off from the lee shore, the crew holds the boat while the helm raises the mainsail singlehanded. The crew gives the boat a push, climbs in and lowers the dagger board. Once away from the shore, stop the boat and fully lower the rudder, or lower it as you are moving if you can risk the unintended steering that may result.

For man overboard, identify the reach line, which allows you to approach on a reach. Free the jib, and using mainsail only position some distance out along this line, and approach on a reach. Turn onto a broad reach about four boat lengths away, and then turn sharply into the wind when downwind of the man, steering the boat as it slows just downwind from the man, whom you drag onto the boat using the buoyancy aid straps at the windward shroud, bouncing him up and down in the water if necessary to get the lift.

Following a capsize, meet at the stern, and decide who does what. Crew ensures the dagger board is fully down, locates the jib sheet, and throws it over the boat to the helm who goes to the dagger board. Crew gets into position to be scooped up. You can communicate at the dagger board. The helm climbs onto the dagger board and pulls on the jib sheet, righting the boat. Crew pulls the helm onto the boat.

Avoid collisions at all costs; give way to comercial shipping; power gives way to sail, sail gives way to paddle, paddle gives way to swimmers; port gives way to starboard, windward gives way to leeward, overtaking boat gives way.

RYA level 2 at Glenridding

Once again Steve and Pete provided us with three days of wonderful sunshine and gentle winds for our RYA level 2 course last weekend. I do not know how they manage it.

Our instructor, also called Pete, went through stuff in a thorough, unhurried way, and we gained a good understanding of a lot of things that we only had a slender grasp of at level 1. The same unhurried approach continued on the water, where we learnt to go about in a controlled manner. It inspired confidence that none of us were in wetsuits on the first day; he obviously expected to stay dry. Meanwhile Neil, our instructor at level 1, was coping with a big group of young teenage lads in canoes; what a hero.

There were three of us learning, rather than two for our level 1. What we lost out on by having less time at the helm, was more than made up for by the camaraderie and teamwork. We became very confident with one another, so that by the time we did man overboard on the last day, and the crew are not supposed to help because we were simulating being without crew, we were very happy curled up in the front, or enjoying the magnificent views.

We were very pleased to discover that man overboard was in fact a floating buoy, and not one of us. This was one of the few brand new skills, most of the course was fine tuning skills and understanding that we had at least some exposure to at level 1. Another new one was sailing backwards, which fascinated us, as did raising the centre board to get out of irons (pointing directly upwind) when the jib is not available.

We had plenty of experience of righting a capsized boat, none of it unplanned. It was good, because it gives us confidence when we go out without an instructor. We did find it a bit more of a struggle when you are eight stone than when you are seventeen stone. (I was in the middle).

As well as the practical stuff, we had some class room work to do. Sitting outside in garden chairs, looking out over Ullswater in bright sunshine - we had it tough!

What we have to do now is keep one another to the intention to get more experience, and not let our newly learnt skills and confidence get forgotten. That, and Pete's final comment to me - don't forget to pay attention to things outside the boat as well.

Ness Gardens

Just a couple of pictures, a dragonfly, and the Laburnum arch.

We had a very enjoyable morning, there was plant sale, the weather was wonderful. The gardens were beautiful.

St. Edward's College Farewell Concert

It was a great evening at St. Edward's this week, as the class of 2009 bade farewell to the school, with the best of their musical talent. The Chamber Orchestra performed well, the Chamber Choir were good, and the College Consort sang to a very high standard, but between a small selection of formal program items, most of the evening was taken up with performances from this year's leavers.

Before the interval there were a number of solo performances, largely accompanied by the piano, including the Adagio from Mozart's clarinet concerto, and two pieces from the cello, the first stood out as the highlight of the first half. Each performer was introduced by a master of ceremonies (M/C) who also kept us amused during the necessary shuffling round of performers between the pieces.

This aspect of the evening went up a gear after the interval, the performers had changed from school uniform to evening wear, and the M/C made a dramatic entrance to the music of "Also Sprach Zarastrutha" (used in 2001 a Space Odyssey) played through the loudspeakers. He continued to keep us well entertained between the pieces with a low key humour, ribbing performers in a way that only one of their own number could.

During the second half, there were some group pieces, a duet from a Mozart opera, and a brass group. Several of the solo performers were accompanied by the chamber orchestra, conducted by members of the orchestra so Mr. Moseley, the usual conductor could take a back seat. He did get on his feet in the middle of a piece with a post horn. This wonderfully played piece would have been a duet, had appendicitis not stood in the way, and the sole performer, with brass group accompaniment, took up positions at various points in the hall, playing an impressively wide range of notes on the long elegant post horn.

This was for me the most memorable part of the evening, a high quality, high octane performance, and I wondered how do you follow that? The answer came with a change of mood with two beautifully played piano preludes.

As well as the short excerpt on the post horn, Mr. Moseley also played a solo piano piece himself, as this evening also marked his farewell to the school, after 29 years as head of music.

As the evening went on, it took on more and more of a fun aspect. There was "Live and Let Die", a slide show presentation of pictures of the A level music class, Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, sung with words honouring Mr. Moseley. Eventually the final part of the program got underway some hour or so after the intended finishing time.

Each year's farewell concert features "God Only Knows" what we will do without you, by the Beach Boys, as Mr. Moseley wonders how the school music will fare without the talented crop of leavers. This year it was the turn of the school to wonder how musical life will continue to thrive at St. Edward's without him. What was very clear to all, was that this year's leavers, a very talented crew, are united in holding him in the very highest regard and affection. We all enjoyed the fruit of his work this evening.

Cycling in Sefton Park

All those hours at work admiring the blue sky and sunshine were eventually rewarded with a couple of laps round Sefton Park in the cool of the evening. It had rained a lot this morning, and the smell of the wild garlic along Greenbank Drive was quite something.
Sefton Park was great, with a game of cricket in progress, the usual crop of runners and cyclists, people out for a stroll or walking the dog. There were just a few clouds low in the sky, silvery gray and white against a milky blue sky. The grass had recently been cut, and the park looked very pretty, none more so than the wooded corner near the Dell.
A perfect transition from afternoon to evening.

Sailing a Topper Topaz at Glenridding

The weekend did not start very promising, with force 4- 5 winds there was no hiring a boat, but I did enjoy a trip to Gowbarrow Fell, where I enjoyed some nice views of the water I hoped to be sailing on, and some great views of Aira Force. There had been quite a lot of rain, so the waterfall was quite impressive, and when the sun was shining as well making a rainbow in the spray it was a wonderful view.

Sunday brought a steady force two breeze, gusting to force three on occasions, dropping away altogether at one point, before returning from a completely different direction.  I was sailing a Topper Topaz, with just a main sail, and it was quite good fun. 

I took Anna out on a Lune Whammel a week or two back, and found it a bit cumbersome. The Topaz was very repsonsive, and I had to be quite careful shifting position not to move the tiller without meaning to. 

There were fewer other users on the lake than when we did the initial training, but then the weather was wonderful, and I suppose the rain showers kept them away.

I was glad to have experienced righting a capsized boat in previous training, it meant there was no great panic the two times I did capsize. I probably should have capsized a few more times, I certainly lost control, but I think I benefited from not having a jib, as soon as I let go of things the boat naturally turned to wind.

Steve was impressed that I had listened to the training Neil had given, and paid attention to the trim, (avoiding the boat tipping forward or backward in the water). I was helped in this by two aspects of the boat's design:  The tiller extension suited a fairly forward seating position, otherwise you do not have room to manouver it; and the low stern, that makes it so easy to clamber back on after a capsize, meant that water would flow into the boat when you sat too near the stern.

It was altogether a very enjoyable experience, and I am looking forward to the level 2 training in a few weeks time.

Sailing at Glenridding

After two enjoyable days sailing I have a certificate to show for it.  

We could not have had two better days, brights sunshine, gentle reliable wind, mostly force 2 coming consistently from a Northerly direction, it was ideal conditions for learning to sail.   

There was one instructor for two course participants, which meant we got experience of being crew and at the helm, opportunity to practice all the manouvres, and to watch both the instructor and one another, (learning from mistakes) as well as ask lots of questions.

There is a definite advantage in doing the course in a dinghy with mainsail and jib.   Learning solo in a single sail boat with an instructor in a motor boat gives you twice the experience at the helm, but you have to learn about a two sail boat later.  With the instructor there, you spend more time on the water, you see stuff demonstrated for real, you can ask questions as they arise.

Our instructor was called Neil, clearly enjoyed sailing and following sailing races, and was ready to answer our questions even if it took us onto stuff we did not need to know for the qualification. Steve & Pete, the centre managers also took an interest in how we were doing, and generally managed to make us feel very welcome at the centre.

The boat we learned in was a Laser Stratos, small enough to be manned by one, better by wo, and fitted the three of us reasonably, and would certainly manage four at a pinch.  

Ullswater is a beautiful place to learn to sail.  We were surrounded by beautiful scenery, that (almost) made me wish I had been out walking instead.  We were lucky, getting a fairly consistent wind, it can come from different directions with all those mountains around.  There are islands, buoys, bays, lots of interest, and hazards - another good reason to have the intructor in the boat with you - you need to learn the lake as well as the boat.

Salt Mills, Saltaire, Shipley & David Hockney

This is a great day out, and http://www.saltsmill.org.uk/ is also a great web site.

Using the M62 and M606 and ring road around Bradford, it is a fairly easy journey from Liverpool.

There are books and exhibits about the mills themselves, which I think are more about cotton than salt, but I rather ignored them.  More than anything else the experience is about David Hockney, who was greatly involved in getting the mills re-opened, and who has many of his works of art exhibited there.  There is  a wide range of styles media and subject matter, and I would expect that most people would find at least something that makes it a worthwhile visit.

On the first floor is a space called "Home" which is something between an exhibition and a shop. It is slightly more kitchen than the rest of the house, a lot of Alessi and Dualit. You can certainly wander round and enjoy the exhibits, there is a great deal of beauty and nicely laid out, ranging from kitchen utensils to designer tables and chairs.  As well as exhibits with extraordinary price tags £3,874 was it for one dining table? there are also lots of small ticket affordable items, so the experience is partly going round a shop, and partly exhibition.

That same fusion of purpose applies to the whole place.  There is no entry fee, you can come to shop, or you can come to visit the art.   The main gallery is not a hallowed display space, with a shop annexed to it.  The books posters and art material you buy are laid out in between all the paintings and pottery you come to admire.

One of Hockneys works we saw most of was produced with the media "felt tip on napkin"  a little motif af a dog is used on the menus the crockery, the bills, and the staff's tee shirts in the Salt Diner, where we enjoyed a very acceptable lunch.    This is one of two eating places within refurbished mill.

Spending time in the book shop was an enjoyable relaxed experience.  Certainly there were shelves, but more  was laid out on tables that were easier to browse and be engaged by. With more space between tables than in an average high street bookshop, the whole experience was more like moving between one exhibit and another.

We left with much more still to see.  Rugs Fabrics early music theatre sets and more. We shall certainly come back another time.  Plus we have a much better appreciation now of Hockney as an artist.

On the way home the skies were dark in the East, and a very vivid blue in the West, darkening before the sunset lit up the sky as we enjoyed the last of the pretty scenery on the outskirts of Bradford before the darkness fell.

Worcester Sauce & Sun Dried Tomato Crisps

This is a very satisfying bag of crisps.

Each crisp is quite substantial, you do not get flaky bits and a pile of crumbs at the end of the pack, each crisp is an enjoyable experience.

They  are a pleasure to eat, not too salty, they taste nice without having that desparately moreish sensation that its more saltier cousins have. 

Nor are they overly greasy, you can eat them and your fingers still feel fairly clean and dry.  

The taste is very pleasant, but delicate and understated.  If you want to blow yout taste buds up, choose the Walker's variety, with all its salt and grease.  If you are prepared to savour your crisps and enjoy more subtle flavours, then this  is well worth a try.

Slumdog Millionaire

When a young uneducated man from the slums reaches the the highest question in the Indian "Who wants to be a millionaire", the show organisers take the opportunity afforded by the break between one night's show and the next to ask the police to investigate whether he got so many answers by cheating. 

After an unpromising and gruesome start, the police inspector lays aside his other pressing cases, and listens to the young man's story...and so it is we learn how the events of his childhood conspired, alongside the heartbreak, to give him just the knowledge he needed to answer the questions he was asked.

It is an eventful and moving story. Plenty of chases, on foot rather than car chases, given extra drama by the superb music, against a backdrop of excellent photography of the Indian land and cityscape.  There is racial violence, friendship, exploitation, romance, betrayal, murder, humour and ambition.

A great story, wonderfully told, leading towards.. well I won't tell you what it leads to.  You will have to see the show. 

Australia, the Film

A Good Film, and quite long.

It is a bit like Out of Africa: huge landscapes, he is off on his travels half the time, she gets one drink in an otherwise all male bar,  there is a war coming, and a lot gets destroyed by fire near the end.

There is adventure, romance, murder, lost children, war, it has it all. Although it has no car car chase, there is a stampede of frightened cattle which is just as good.

It claims, by the intruduction and conclusion, to be about the lost generation of aboriginal children who were taken from their families to be brought up in institutions.  I think it rather suffers from 'the Casablanca problem' (it doesn't take much to see that the problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world.) Although it is painted on a large canvas, it is actually the story of three people.

It is still a good and very moving story, and well worth the watching.  The plot is a little like "Once upon a Time in the West" She arrives to be with her husband only to find that he has been murdered for standing in the way of a business rival, and she decides to make a go of the station, except this is a cattle station rather than a railway station.

What makes it a great story is the half-caste aboriginal child.  At times he is the narrator, and it is the tension between whether he is an orphaned child who needs to be protected or an aboriginal man who needs to learn the way of his ancestors from his grandfather that makes the love story amount to slightly more than a hill of beans.