Tag: Plants

Greece 1: Getting There

Greetings from the sea front at Stoupa on the Mani peninsular where I am on holiday. Due the fact that I can only connect to the internet when in Stoupa my posts will be somewhat sporadic, and will come in bunches (eight in total today if the internet connection and my laptop battery both hold out).

Owing to the fact that my flight out left Gatwick at 5:40AM on Tuesday, I departed King’s Lynn on the 21:37 train on Monday, and achieving precisely the set of connections indicated by both thetrainline and google maps (King’s Lynn – Finsbury Park – Victoria – Gatwick), I arrived at the airport at 00:45 and sat down to wait until I could move towards my flight. After a few trifling delays, the flight took off a tiny bit late, and therefore arrived at Kalamata at 11:10 local time rather than just before 11 as scheduled. Still, I had a seat and got a drinkable and not too extortionate coffee, which is the best to be hoped for when flying with squeezy jet.

I also managed to stay awake until a reasonably sensible time of night, so adapting to Greek time without too much of a hitch. Here are some early Greek photos…

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This is one of several mosaics in the house in Tseria where I am staying.
This is one of several mosaics in the house in Tseria where I am staying.

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A map of Europe which actually marks Fakenham!
A map of Europe which actually marks Fakenham!
We are an hour's drive from Kalamata, home of the olive.
We are an hour’s drive from Kalamata, home of the olive.
The views toward the sea are quite stunning!
The views toward the sea are quite stunning!

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The Mani is the middle of the three spurs pointing south from the Peloponnese.
The Mani is the middle of the three spurs pointing south from the Peloponnese.

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This mosaic took several attempts to get right, ultimately needing the use of the flashbulb.
This mosaic took several attempts to get right, ultimately needing the use of the flashbulb.
This is my parent's holiday house from outside.
This is my parent’s holiday house from outside.
This arrangement of solar panels and external hot water tank is commonplace in Greece.
This arrangement of solar panels and external hot water tank is commonplace in Greece.
Told you it showed Fakenham!
Told you it showed Fakenham!

The Monday After Heritage Open Day and a Day Working on the Database

After an early finish at Learning Works due to there not being anything for me to do (that centre is closing due to not getting a contract they needed to get to stay open, so I have one more week there) I spent much of yesterday completing my series of posts (12 in all) about Heritage Open Day, while listening to county cricket coverage on the radio.

In the early evening I went out for a walk and as usual took lots of interesting photos, which is where pretty much all of todays pictures come from.

I have spent today hard at work on the database at James and Sons, with occasional restorative breaks checking out the twitter feed for the Great Centenary Charity Auction. A reminder here that as well as the twitter feed we have a website and a facebook page. While on twitter, I came across

Enjoy a crop of fine photos…

I am using this for the final time - my copy in its econiche!
I am using this for the final time – my copy in its econiche!
Assembled boxes
Assembled boxes
And not long later, disassembled boxes, as all bar a few had to be flat packed way
And not long later, disassembled boxes, as all bar a few had to be flat packed way

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Even this late in the year private boats are still using the jetty!
Even this late in the year private boats are still using the jetty!

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Probably this years last sightings of the Birdman of King's Lynn
Probably this years last sightings of the Birdman of King’s Lynn

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The light may not be needed at this time of the evening but this lamp post still finds a use!
The light may not be needed at this time of the evening but this lamp post still finds a use!

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Bushy-tailed Rat
This is the wrong kind of squirrel – to help the right kind of squirrel visit: voteforbob.co.uk

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This was to have been just the weathervane on top of the Custom House until I saw that the flag was also in shot and did not spoil the picture
This was to have been just the weathervane on top of the Custom House until I saw that the flag was also in shot and did not spoil the picture

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The Lynn Ferry lying (temporarily) idle.
The Lynn Ferry lying (temporarily) idle.

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More fiery colours of an early evening in Lynn!
More fiery colours of an early evening in Lynn!
The last hints of sunlight in Lynn yetserday
The last hints of sunlight in Lynn yesterday

Sunday’s Sporting Successes

After a superb Sunday lunch at my aunt’s place (parents away) I returned to catch up with the cricket, and got the last rites of the match as India’s response to a 338 run deficit on first innings was to be all out 94, demonstrating all the backbone of a jellyfish. What made things even worse for India than the abysmal score was the way in which some of those wickets were lost. One of the last few that I heard was a run out, which in a situation like that is absolutely crazy. 

India looked like a side who had mentally checked out. They had nearly been all out for under a hundred in the first innings (a catch went down when they were 95-9), and in the second they were much worse, because the conditions were better for batting.

Later that night I watched the last session of the European Athletics Championship on iplayer (I refuse to get a TV license, being quite happy to watch stuff at a time of my choosing once it is available). GB had been locked in battle with France at the top of the medals table, but by the time Mo Farah had won his expected gold in the 5000 metres, Greg Rutherford had won the long jump, the men’s 4×400 relay team and both 4X100 relay teams had also taken gold, and GB were convincingly top of the medals table. 

As usual I have a selection of pictures for you…

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