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I’ve moved this blog
I have moved from blogger to self hosted WordPress as things kept going wrong with blogger. The latest problem was the images disappeared, caused by me deleting some images on my phone to make some room, and this automatically deleted them from the google cloud too. A bit frustrating about the images, but the migration…
Read MoreWalking to London Zoo we were captured on streetmap
As we walked along the canal from paddington Station to Little Venice we were overtaken by a guy capturing google streetmap images
Read MoreMy old boss invented the Hyperloop before Elon musk had thought of it
I worked near Cheltenham for Andy Marks and his wife Brenda at Skyscan aerial photography 20 years ago. We have kept in touch, and he recently told me about an upcoming fascinating announcement by Elon Musk, the founder of so many interesting venture including PayPal, SpaceX and Tesla cars. Elon’s next project is to forward…
Read MoreHot turnip juice
Tastes like tabasco seawater with upper notes of radish. High in anti oxidants hopefully. Gonna make me live forever. It is called hot turnip juice but actually served chilled.
Read MoreSam in with the Lions
For his Christmas present Sam got to play with some Lion cubs for 30 minutes at the zoo. see the pics here One day he hopes to be a vet.
Read MoreHenry shaped some kiln bricks for the door
Henry shaped some kiln bricks for the door, originally uploaded by thesnodgrass.
Read Moretest firing with a small blaze
test firing with a small blaze, originally uploaded by thesnodgrass.
Read Moresieving the big stones out of the concrete mix.
sieving the big stones out of the concrete mix., originally uploaded by thesnodgrass.
Read MoreLeaving a gap at the back for the chimney
Leaving a gap at the back for the chimney, originally uploaded by thesnodgrass.
Read MoreOven cementing begins
Oven begins, originally uploaded by thesnodgrass. The first of the bricks cemented into place using Ciment Fondue refractory mortar which can withstand high temperatures.
Read MoreBought from the reclamation yard in Winchcombe
Bought from the reclamation yard in Winchcombe, originally uploaded by thesnodgrass.
Read Morethe firebricks on the insulation
the firebricks on the insulation, originally uploaded by thesnodgrass.
Read MoreSam is great at mixing concrete
Sam is great at mixing concrete, originally uploaded by thesnodgrass.
Read Moreend of day 2 and the plinth is complete
end of day 2 and the plinth is complete, originally uploaded by thesnodgrass.
Read Morethe chickens enjoyed the concrete
the chickens enjoyed the concrete, originally uploaded by thesnodgrass.
Read MoreConcrete pad
Concrete pad, originally uploaded by thesnodgrass. Finished the concrete pad and Sam smoothed it with a float. We mixed the concrete in a wheel barrow with a 5:1 ratio
Read Morestart of the pizza oven project
start of the pizza oven project, originally uploaded by thesnodgrass. Barney and Sam were a massive help as I ran out of steam half way through mixing the concrete. Here is Barney checking the shuttering is level.
Read Moreend of the Pigs Ear Pilgrimage
end of the Pigs Ear Pilgrimage, originally uploaded by thesnodgrass.
Read MoreStart of the Pigs Ear Pilgrimage
Noah somehow got the Mayor of Cheltenham to give a speech at the sendoff. 35 of us rode 30 odd miles to the Fleece at Bretforton.
Read MorePizza Oven
This is the inside of a pizza oven that I saw at a pub. I’m going to build one soon like this.
Read More2 chicks hatched so far
2 chicks hatched so far, originally uploaded by thesnodgrass. Sam has named them Dufrais and Augustina We’ll see. :o)
Read MoreWhy I love my HTC One X
I’ve been awaiting the release of the HTC One X ever since it was first announced, and for a while I was trying to come up with as many reasons as I could to justify buying it. Well, the other day, I finally took the plunge and splashed out on the device. I bought the…
Read MoreWatch Monty in an ad for Pedigree http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkgB8JPl1qg&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Read MoreAt the regal waiting for woman in black
Most frightening film I’ve seen in years. Sam watched about 20 minutes then closed his eyes and stuck his fingers in his ears.
Read MoreChickens are laying again
Even if one of them is a tad small, at least they are laying. Had a delicious breakfast of eggs, bacon, Moroccan flat bread spread with Harissa and an espresso made with a coffee pod. Should chickens be laying at this time of year?
Read MoreMushrooming
Not all of them have horse poo on them, result! Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4
Read MoreOuch’ I fell off my bike.
I’d only had one pint honest. Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4
Read MoreGene Kelly and his prizes
First prize plus loads of other rosettes at Moreton Show for the Kelly’s, our old landlords. Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4
Read MoreOh No What Have I Done?
We are in a new town 4 miles from the coast, not much to see, stopped at a restaurant for a quick lunch and ended up buying the 2nd most expensive meal of my life !!! I thought the kids steaks were going to be like burgers, at 4.50 euros each. Turned out that I…
Read MoreMy new latte jug.
5.90 Euros with a solid stainless steel body and a soft rubbery handle cover. Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4
Read MoreOne more espresso
I’m loving having a coffee instead of a beer, when in a bar which is odd for me! Half a teaspoon of sugar, quick stir, 2 sips later and its gone. Watching the barista’s is good entertainment too, but it is so much easier using a coffee pod. Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4
Read MoreWhere do all the lost biros go?
I don’t know where lost pens and odd socks disappear to, but whenever the mountain of them is found there will also be found a pile of marble nobs, as it seems all the statues in Rome are missing there’s.
Read MoreWhat does this say?
It was on the road outside an apartment. Anyone care to translate as it must be important? Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4
Read MoreTime for moules
I’m not sure how to make moules mariniere, so I made it up as I went along. It has been 20 hours since and no-one died, so that is good. Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4
Read MorePalatine Hill
Collisium is good but Palatine Hill is more interesting and the ruins are much bigger than I expected. We had to dash from shaded area to shaded area to stay alive, as it is 34 c. Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4
Read MoreDerek’s Birth Certificate
Just as well Derek brought his birth certificate as it for him a 12 euro discount at the Colliseum ! They were asking for ID to prove he was a pensioner and be was the first to have a birth certificate on him. He has carried that around for 60 years and this was the…
Read MoreSquid preparation
Sam making an appetizers with a squid we bought together. His name was Squidward and he died in a good cause. Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4
Read MorePantheon has a hole in the roof. Shoddy builders.
Made of concrete though. The art of concreting was lost for centuries and reinvented by the Malley family Dublin. Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4
Read MoreColloseum is closed Eeek!
Union meeting at the Colliseum means it is closed for the morning, and we got here super early to beat the heat. Oh boy it is hot but there are water fountains all over dispensing beautiful cold water which we take advantage of whenever we see them. Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4
Read MoreCatacombs
Bloomin’ hot today so went on an open top bus tour that had a roof (so and open sided bus tour really) and then spent the afternoon underground in the catacombs looking at 2000 year old graves. I couldn’t care less what we were looking at ‘cos the temperature under ground was 16c and I…
Read MoreCoffees pot spares
In the supermarket here in Rome they sell all the spare parts for cafeteria pots that you might need, even handles ! Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4
Read MoreAmish beard
This year my holiday beard style is Amish. Today at the zoo I was mistaken for Norwegian, (and confusingly, Spanish !) Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4
Read MoreEspresso set-up
Enjoying plenty of coffees, at home and when out and about. This is how the apartment is equiped, with stove-top espresso pot, enough for 3 demi-tasse. Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4
Read MorePark near where we are staying.
You can see St Peters beyond the park, which looks close enough to walk to. Trouble is the park enjoys the worlds largest collection of broken glass, rubble and humping hobos. Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4
Read MoreRome ‘ere we come.
Highlight so far was watching Derek return his wallet to his ‘secret’ pocket after passing through the Gatwick security. It is pinned into his trousers and he looked dodgy rummaging around in there for ages. Should be pickpocket proof though. Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4
Read MoreLucky the lavender chick
Lucky the lavender chick, originally uploaded by thesnodgrass. One of Sam’s fertilised eggs he bought at the farm park hatched. See him/her peeking from under his adopted mum.
Read MoreMonty in a movie (ad)
This is the Little Thor viral video ad Monty was in. Sonia, his trainer, took him to London for the day and got him the part.
Read MoreHappy HONCers
IMG_0031.jpg, originally uploaded by thesnodgrass. At the halfway (26Km) point and Andy Grelak and mysel can still smile. http://www.honc.org.uk/
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