FREE HUGS

Dear Bloggers all

I found this profoundly moving:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr3x_RRJdd4

watch it to the end, with your sound on.

the world needs more of this!

Watch the sunset at Red Bluff ( In Western Australia), with the Bear and a hip-flask full of good Malt whisky.

These photos are for HHnB (Secret Hill) who mentions in her latest blog that one of the things she would like to do again was....(see title). So here they are doing just that together with her Ma and Pa, with a panorama and sunset from Red Bluff.

Romans Invade Germany

No - this is not a self portrait, but another member of The Ermine Street Guard in "marching order". This seems appropriate as we are off again next week to the German city of Aalen (see:http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9003199) to give displays over two days at the major Roman Festival they hold each year (20,000 people there last year). All the kit (armour, artillery weapons, leather tents, etc.) go by lorry in the early hours of next Thursday and we fly out in the evening.

Looks like a good gig. Billetted in a "Youth Hotel"nearby, with a beer garden attached (which I suppose we shall have to sample, just for politeness, you understand).

This is my 20th year of "Roman Soldiering". Sometimes think I am getting too old for all this (67) - but, hey!, what an antidote to the stresses and strains of modern life in UK.

LOOK BOTH WAYS

My daughter took us to see this film when visiting her in W. Australia. I did not quite know what to make of it then, but it stayed with me. I recently bought the DVD and have viewed it twice since. It is a film that needed quiet reflection from me. It is now one of my favourites. Totally life affirming.

HADRIAN'S WALL

We were worried that it would be wet for the Roman Army displays up in the North of England at Hadrian's Wall - the forecast was not good. However we had brilliant weather. It was not all playing Roman soldiers though - on our "off days" we (my wife and the dog) went walking along the famous Wall. It is spectacular countryside with wide panoramas over the moors. To have it as clear as this during August is quite unusual. You are high and wide above England, the air is clear and breezy and is a tonic for the soul.

NOSES!

Since Vita and HHnB seem to be into the "nose" thing at present I thought I should publish my Roman Schnozzle!

ROMAN HOLIDAY

Off to Hadrian's Wall country for a week with the caravan. Whilst there incorporating an Ermine Street Guard (see: http://www.esg.ndirect.co.uk) re-enactment at the Roman site at Corbridge. The weather forecast (as seems normal up North) is for heavy rain. Oh! that rusty armour and sodden sandals! Have just spent a day cleaning all my Roman kit - shall probably come home and spend the same time getting it up to scratch again. When I was in the British army "brass, blanco and bull" was the bane of our lives - now I do it for a hobby!

SHATTERED!

Jo - 14 year old grand daughter rang to say she was bored at home and could she come to stay for a few days.

Collected her in car (45 mile trip), Every evening long walks with the dog (who thought heaven had arrived) day 2: to cinema (Pirates of Caribbean 2 - great fun), day 3: 80 mile run on the motorbike, day 4: we ride around Romney Marsh on push bikes, day5: reverse delivery in car.

Return home, handed large gin and tonic by "grandma", collapse in chair. Great fun, hard work, but at least you can spoil them and then send them home!

"The joys of youth are but a moment long" as the song has it - trouble is, she has them, I am past them!

Tiger Eye

A little bit of the Australian outback. Formed some millions of years ago in some volcanic upheaval, prospected as a rough lump of rock and polished by "Helen" and partner who knew it's inward beauty, acquired by "Secret Hill", boxed and wrapped in coloured paper, flown with her to UK and now resting on the bedside table of "Avus" in the Kentish countryside.

The Inanity of Evil

I have just finished a terrible and evil book. Not terribly and evilly written - just the opposite totally gripping and thought provoking - but about a terrible and evil subject. And yet to those who (proudly) accomplished this thing it was about efficiency on an industrial scale - to these people it was about how to transport, process and dispose of large quantities of articles that were no longer required - not people - not little children, mothers and fathers - just articles.

I have seen photographs of concentration camp victims, but have never been so involved and affected as by reading this book.

To any who think it could not happen in their country, read and think again!

HEAT FIRST AID

Here it is 38C (the magic 100F) out the front of the house. Since we Brits do not go in for air con. I guess there is only one way to survive all this.

Mellow Yellow

I love the colour yellow in nature. Many people cannot stand our fields of rapeseed (canola down under) but I enjoy its violent, ecstatic contrast with blue skies. Yellow is the opposite to blue, just as white is to black, I suppose.

HMS VICTORY

Have recently read "Men of Honour" by Adam Nicholson about the personalities involved in the Battle of Trafalgar, with asides about the continuing battle - a new slant on an often told story and a great read. This decided us that we should make an effort to visit Portsmouth and spend a day with the ancient ships and Museums, Victory especially, but also The Mary Rose (Tudor flagship) and The Warrior (First British "Ironclad").
Having just read the book, Victory was full of atmosphere and the rest made a fantastic day out. Too much to see in one day but, hey! the ticket lasts for a year and you can go back for those you missed.
If this sort of thing lights your candle give "Men of Honour" a try - I take my hat off to the absolute sang froid under fire of those men