Warm Placed Safely Back in Garden!

Paignton: Slow Worm [Legless Lizard] Found in Mum’s House! (15.4.2025)

We think there is a colony in the back-garden as they are protected by Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) – meaning it is “illegal” to disturb these animals. Slow Worms may not be killed or injured for any reason – and wild Slow Worms are not usually to be taken as pets. In the wild, Slow Worms can live up to 15-20 years – but in captivity a Slow Worm has reliably lived to 54-years. We think this is a male – as Slow Worms are waking-up and coming-out of hibernation – seeking to eat and breed. This Slow Warm was placed safely back in the grass!

Galmptom Traction Engine

Galmpton: Encountering a Superb Traction Engine! (1.8.2024)

Indeed, what Goldsworthy Gurney first envisioned as an “Automobile” to be driven on open roads – became widely known as a “Traction Engine” from around 1850 in the UK. Ironically, whilst carry a single driver on country roads – whilst moving between farming fields – these devices were not allowed to evolve into the Motor Car envisioned by Goldsworthy Gurney. Only much later would a petrol-driven motor car be allowed to be developed. Whilst driving back from Exeter to Galmpton on Friday evening (Friday, August 1st, 2024) – whilst traversing the narrow streets of Galmpton – we encountered the above “Traction Engine” which was apparently joining many other examples in a local fayre that was about to be held! How lucky we were!

Inside the Castle!

Torbay: Berry Pomeroy Castle – Tudor Ruins! (2.4.2024)

During the 1500s, Elizabeth I was an absolute monarch (as was her father – King Henry VIII) – who preferred to live in and around the Nonsuch Park area – including Hampton Court Palace (which is no longer used by the royal family). However, there was once a “Nonsuch Palace” which does not exist today. After Elizabeth I died (1603 CE) – many of the castles she frequented were no long favoured by the royal family – leading to these buildings falling into neglect and ruin. This was the case with Nonsuch Palace which was so badly dilapidate that what was left of it had to be demolished in 1683 CE – for safety reasons – with the ruins being recycled into the constructon (or maintenance) of local buildings.

Buddha Light

Paignton: Meeting the “Waveman”! (31.3.2024)

Zionist War Criminals in Tel Aviv are no different to the warmongers in Washington or thr unelected BJP Junta currently running the UK! The Palestinians are suffering and dying due to the vicious ideology of a racially-based “Zionism” which has historically pursued the absurdity that one (White) group of theistic religionists are spiritually and physically superior to everyone else! If Israel was not serving the function of destabilising the Middle East for the US – the UN would be blanket-bombing Tel Aviv as I write! It is the socio-economic ideology of predatory capitalism that is causing all this suffering and which is the enemy of us all!

Busy Doing Nothing!

Greemway Gardens: Encountering the “Robin”! (29.12.2023)

Indeed, within the behaviour of these birds is the history of their interaction with humans and the surrounding the environment. Interestingly, there are photographs on display in the house that record the physical presence of family cats – but I suspect that as the house is so big and the grounds so extensive – these cats probably never ventured very far out of the house and into the gardens. Of course, Gee managed to find a cluster of bamboo shrubs probably planted by Agatha Christie – or at least one of her servants.

Lay Mum's Stair-Carpet 2023!

Paignton: Laying the Stair-Carpet! (27.12.2023)

I say ‘properly’ – but what I mean is doing the job ‘to the best of our ability’ – which is far from professional (but then none of us are carpet-layers or decorators)! The entire job took about three-hours and we did a good job all things considered. Gee interspersed sessions of hammering nails with myself – whilst Paul kept the carpet ‘straight’ and unrolling properly! Manual labour is the essence of social, cultural and political development! None of us are beneath manual labour!

1 2 3 4