Charlie's WorldCoffee and Magic
Posted on May 17, 2015
So many years ago when I first came to Perth, I used to hang out on a local Flickr group and got to know a few people on there in person. Some really nice folks too – for example, Dodgee Bruce (although he hangs out more on Facebook these days), Jeremy and Jacob.
I also met up with Charlene, who was, at the time, a 9-5 office worker, 4×4 explorer and weekend wedding photographer. Read More
Easter in England – part 6
Posted on May 9, 2015
The last place we went was pretty unusual
Dungeness. Dungeness is a very odd place.
It’s classified as Britain’s only desert by the Met Office. It’s one of the largest, if not the largest shingle spits in Europe. It has 600 species of plant that grow there – about 30% of the total number of species in the UK.
It’s a site of multiple special scientific interests, a nature reserve and also home to 2 nuclear power stations. It’s also got a load of crazy holiday home shacks (including one owned by the late Derek Jarman) and also wrecked fishing huts and boats. Perfect place to take the kids then 😉 Read More
Easter in England 2015 – part 5
Posted on May 3, 2015
The magical mystery tour continued – I was thinking we might go see Rye harbour and Rye castle but the kids weren’t keen, so we popped into Camber Sands for an ice cream and a paddle in the sea.
I like Camber, we go there a bit as it’s safe, easy to get to and family friendly.
Easter in England 2015 – part 3
Posted on April 22, 2015
We met up with the my sisters and their kids at Bedgebury Pinetum. It’s a fair drive from my parents place and we got a bit lost (note to Bedgebury folks – the directions were a bit crap and the place isn’t really marked on my GPS). Still – it’s getting lost through amazing countryside, so it was no big deal.
After a quick coffee, we booked up on this thing called Go Ape. Read More
Easter in England 2015 – part 2
Posted on April 19, 2015
We often go out for lunch to Sevenoaks when I’m over – a special treat in a really nice restaurant that is open all day – so early or late is no problem. It’s not normally packed out, so we can usually just rock up and get a table without an issue.
This place specialises in pizza, which makes everyone happy 😉 Read More
Easter in England 2015 – part 1
Posted on April 18, 2015
It’s that time of year again – another trip to England to see my children.
I arrived in England early in the morning and Heathrow was packed. As in 2 hour queue to get through passport control.
Luckily, I knew the epassport gate was on the left of the line, so I wiggled through to the unloved machines and was out within 15 minutes.
Inky goodness
Posted on March 25, 2015
Dunno if I mentioned this before, but I love fountain pens.
I love the very analogue experience of putting nib to paper, the feeling of different pens, how ink reacts to paper, the very act of writing.
It’s been said that the pen is dead, but actually, like with film cameras and vinyl records, the ubiquity of faster, cheaper, easier, digital has actually created a brand new demand for old school.
One of the pleasures of fountain pens (aside from the feel of writing) is the most extraordinary variety of inks that you can buy.
And some of those inks have the most fantastic properties..
Way to go, America
Posted on March 21, 2015
If you haven’t heard about Pine Bush High School – get googling – the world is on fire with this story.
Apparently, it has escaped the attention of some parts of small town America that we are in the 21st Century.
Let’s set the scene. Read More
Day trip to Boyagin Rock
Posted on March 2, 2015
As you may remember, I’ve got this foolhardy romantic notion of doing crazy motorcycle adventures.
Well, to do this, I need practice (and fitness – it’s very tiring riding motorbikes off-road) and also to get my bike setup. So what better way to find out how unfit both myself and my bike are for this than to go on a marathon day ride out into the big empty yonder.
I’d spent a little while planning this out, pouring over Google Earth trying to piece together dirt roads and tracks to get to this place. I’d made a track and exported to my phone’s GPS app (OsmAnd+ on Android). The bike was ready, I was ready.
It 6am, Sunday morning, my alarm went and it was time to go.
Firing up the mighty DR650, Boyagin Rock and Brookton here we come. Read More
Charlie's World 