Robin's Bloggin's

Kim and I spent a while in West Sussex this weekend.  This is an area that I'm not all that familiar with, but became fascinated about last year, when I started to plan a mountain biking ride along the length of the South Downs Way (in three stages).  I did the first leg in September last year (from Salisbury, via Winchester, to Butser Hill, adjacent to the A3, then down to Havant).  I hope to complete the other legs this year. I had intended to call this post 'East of Portsmouth', but then thoughts turned to John Steinbeck, and also to Jack Kelly.  I had huge fun in the early '80s, race crewing on a Sigma 33 named 'Off Licence', owned and skippered by Jack.  At that time, Jack was a dentist in Emsworth.  Thanks for some great times Jack! Anyway, on Friday evening, we went to the Southern Cruising Group spring supper at Chichester Yacht Club.  A hearty, happy gathering of the south coast Drascombe crowd.  Good food and fine company. On Satur...

As workplaces go, Solent Business Park is a rather a nice one on a sunny spring day. The landscaping and water features are lovely, and are now well matured. 

Art Group again this evening. I’m not sure whether my technique is improving, but I enjoy it 😊

May the road rise to meet you; May the wind always be at your back; May the sun shine warm upon your fields; May the rain fall soft upon your face;  and, until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand. Amen. The beautiful words of the Gaelic Blessing, spoken by the congregation at yesterday evening's service at Salisbury District Hospital chapel to send Kim on her way after her wonderful 16 years of ministry there. The warmth, love and fellowship was really moving.  Surrounded by the family of Chaplains and Chaplaincy volunteers, past and present, supporters and friends, Frances, supported by the whole magnificent team, led a service that was stirring, humorous, uplifting and completely fitting for Kim's departure. People's kind words made me feel very proud of my lovely wife, the work that she has done, and the impact that she has had.  I'm deeply aware of the magnificent work that the Chaplaincy does at the hospital in supporting so very many...

Old friends, old friends..... I’ve spent the past two days at the Oceanology conference and exhibition at the Excel Centre in London’s Docklands. Oceanology is a biennial gathering of the clans. I’ve attended pretty much all of them since 1984. In those days, it was held in Brighton, and was incredibly amateur and rustic in comparison with this week’s corporate glitz.  It’s a chance for marine sector companies, large and small, to parade their wares, and also a chance to catch up with many old friends, acquaintances, adversaries etc., etc.  Back in 1984, I was starry eyed and full of excitement about this wonderful industry that I somehow found myself working in (how that happened is another story!). These days, I’m a little more wizened and worldly wise, but still have some sense of awe about the technologies associated with working in the world’s oceans, and a strong sense of common interest with my fellow applied oceanographers. How is it that I haven’t been fou...

Since Katherine was young, I’ve called her ‘Kates’. However, her friends now know her as ‘Cat’. This morning, we rode the ‘Wiltshire Wildcat’ sportive together, in preparation for Kates’/Cat’s forthcoming charity ride from Cardiff to Amsterdam in May.  We were concerned that it might be wet, but the weather was kind to us. We rode the 30 mile route. It was really enjoyable. Testing on some of the hills, but we both survived pretty much intact, and felt that we could have ridden further.  We were riding neck and neck with a rather portly couple on very fancy Italian bikes. We overtook them on every hill climb, but with their greater mass, they came thundering past us on the downhill sections. We were delighted to get back before them!! 😁 Sportives are not races, but inevitably you try to beat the guy in front of you!! We’re planning to ride from Salisbury to Cardiff in a few weeks’ time. 

I spent this afternoon at the Royal Navy Club and Royal Albert Yacht Club in Southsea, attending the Drascombe Association AGM. Much looking forward to the sailing season ahead 😊 ⛵️ 

Perhaps not quite Conrad’s fictional journey up the Congo in search of the deranged Mr Kurtz, but there is something elemental about our Thursday evening paddling in the dark on the upper reaches of the River Hamble. I hadn’t been out since October because of my knee problems. Last night was the first time back. We had planned to go last week, but were thwarted by ‘The Beast From the East’, not that freezing temperatures have stopped previous outings.  We meet up at Swanwick after work, change in the car park then go down to the water with our boats. Last night it was Charles, Mike, Mash and myself. Craig is our chief protagonist, but was held up at work on this occasion.  We paddled upriver, under the motorway bridge, around the bend into the darkness, then on up to Curbridge on the beginning of the ebb. You have to take care not to paddle into the shallows on either side.  I was very aware last night that I hadn’t paddled for several months. My arms stru...