Robin's Bloggin's

Kim and I spent yesterday at the PGA Golf Championship at Wentworth, with our friend, David. Rachael had very kindly arranged everything for us, and was a real star looking after us all throughout the day - many thanks Rach! Watching golf was a first for Kim and I. During my youth in Essex, I came to associate golf with elitism and the nobby echelons of society that I deplored then and still do today. Yes, I know that sailing often attracts similar types - I’ve generally managed to navigate around that stuff in my boating career, but not always!! Anyway, joining the Flippance family, when Kim and I got together, did a lot to cure me of that deep-seated prejudice against golf and golfers. I was warmly welcomed into a lovely blokey culture of sportsmanship and all that goes with it. It was assumed that I was an accomplished golfer, cricketer, footballer, rugby player, and similarly adept with racquet sports, darts and drinking beer. I think I passed on the last point, but it rapi...

After a quiet and rather fallow winter, our lovely garden started coming to life with crocuses and daffodils in the spring, followed by a magnificent display of purple and cream tulips. They’re all finished now, but Kim and Polly have been very busy, and much is going on, both with flowers and veg 😁. 

Trips to Pembrokeshire always involve Mrs Thomas’ wonderful campsite at West Hook. This one was no exception.  Mark and I arrived well into Friday evening, having had a long journey from Stroud in heavy traffic. Intermittent texts with Rod and Hillary thankfully ensured that the barbecue would still be burning when we got to the campsite. We drove down the Marloes peninsular with a clear sky, calm sea and setting sun - absolutely glorious, and very much a feeling of coming home.  Rod cooked a hearty tea for us whilst we pitched tent. Then food and beers and chat as we watched the sun sink into the still sea, and the sky turn through a series of beautiful colours. Time then to turn in.  A hearty early porridge breakfast, cooked on the Trangia, some final preparations, then Rod, Mark and I drove to the start point near St Davids.  The ride was really splendid. Conditions were near-perfect. Clear sky, bright sun and a cool, gentle breeze. The views were magnificent....

A grand paddle yesterday evening with Craig and Lesley.  From Warsash, out of the Hamble river and left, towards Hillhead.  We paddled as far as the 'Red Post', and pilled up on the beach for a picnic.  Craig impressed us when he broke out a stove and russled up mushroom fried rice (well re-heated yesterday's takeaway!!!). A lovely sunset, and paddle back upriver to Warsash.

Kim and I had a lovely, though all-too-short, break in the west country. We hired a VW camper van, which was a first for us. Really good, though took some getting used to. Our first night was in Bude with Jill and Craig. Great to catch up.  On Monday, we hired a tandem at Barnstaple, and rode along the splendid Tarka Trail to Torrington and back. We’re much enjoying tandem riding together, and are increasingly tempted to splash out on one... After a good overnight stop at a near-empty campsite in Croyde, we drove down to Exmouth on the south coast of Devon forour last day. We had a lovely evening with Pat. 

Not the ginger knob, soon-to-be-wed prince, but the splendid old chalk cliffs and sea stacks of Dorset.... Kim had the honour of being invited to St Paul's Cathedral for the installation of Sarah Mullally today as the new Bishop of London.  Whilst Kim was robing in the crypt of Christopher Wren's magnificent church and witnessing history, I went kayaking with Craig, Lesley and Claire. We met at Studland.  Conditions were near-perfect.  Very calm, slightly overcast, and a weakish neap tide.  We paddled straight out to Old Harry Rocks, and beached for a brief stop and to check conditions out in the tide race.  We then had a fantastic paddle along the coast to Swanage, beneath the towering chalk cliffs, with fun going through some arches and small rocky passages. A welcome stop in Swanage, straight into a fancy establishment in full kayaking gear for a take-out coffee! We then paddled back along to Old Harry, then across Studland Bay to Sandbanks, and up to B...