Games People Play - Joe South

A little hurried today - friends arriving imminently - table booked for 19:30 - drinks before and after - bon apatite

In an attempt to highlight to the readership the progress that has been made towards the Olympic Festivities, I took an early morning walk around Weymouth Town this morning and before long I was absolutely buzzzzzzzzzzing!

A jet airliner flying over my house gave a contrasting view to the clear blue sky only marred, as I reached the sea front, by no more than a wisp of high cirrus cloud.

That was quickly forgotten as I noted that all roads leading to the town now have a 'Smily' badge

and a WELCOME to all our guests.

 

Most boats in Weymouth Harbour are now bedecked with 'bunting', but a pity 'SPIRIT', 2nd row, had his Union Flag flying upside down. 

No matter, as I was quickly onto the sea-front even before the town's workforce had arrived, marvelling at the newly refurbished Victorian Shelters, the usual early morning cleanliness of our unique sands,

the Royal Hotel

and once again  King George III surveying what was once his realm from a lofty perch.

INSPIRATION for ALL I would have thought as now some sort of flag or banner flaps from every halyard in town.

The program of Rock 'n' Roll over the next few week is without parallel, I have been a keen 'muso' here since the damned stuff was invented but have never seen the likes of 200 acts perform over a 17 days period. I will endeavour to publish a program before the kick off!

'Public Enemy No 1' hereabouts at the moment is Mister Doldrum who is being hunted by everyone in town. All of the Olympic Sailors are going to need at least a breath of wind and have to admit to being sorely tempted to add to the poster one verse from that classic 'maratime hymn' The Good Ship Venus'.

 The first mate's name was Carter,
By God he was a f*rt*r,
When the winds didn't blow

and the ship wouldn't go,
They got Carter the F*rt*r to start her.

As scaffold towers were being dismantles and the final chocks were hammered home, tall cranes were also

being demobbed to leave the site,

 

just leaving marquees, stages, viewing platforms etc ready to greet the crowds. For my own entertainment, I was determined to 'poke my nose' into as many corners as possible, with first and maybe most exciting being

Weymouth's new International Airport,

complete with brand spanking new Jet Airliner.

 

The brainchild of 'artist' Richard Hartnell, you will all now be able to take a 'flight' along one of the Natural Wonders of the World - The Jurassic Coast. Richard permitted me a preview of his work, and I can report a not to be missed experience wait for you all right on your doorstep. For more information visit:-

http://jurassicairlines.co.uk/ 

WEYMOUTH PAVILION offers and endless programme of entertainment.

 

You could talk all day about the Olympic and Millennium Stadia, The Velodrome, various other pitches. courts and arenas, but have you ever seen one with a 'BACKDROP' like this. It would be simple MADNESS to miss such an occasion - so no more MOANING on the bus please!

Behind the Pavilion noted above, are even more attractions including a FUN FARE,

another Music Venue (I can hardly wait for UK PINK FLOYD, T.REXTASY and BACKBEAT BEATLES) just a £5'er a time so I am told,

a BEER BAR big enough to slake anyone's thirst,

oh look, just in time here come the provisions. The young lady on the 'dog 'n' bone allowed me 'access all areas, to bring you these shots.

The Driftwood Flotilla just outside of this complex, along with

the Sea Life Tower and

excellent views across the Bay to the Purbecks.

I hadn't seen my ol' mate Joe Bowring for more than 20 years so what a great surprise to find him doing similar to myself - Best Wishes Joe!

At Weymouth's Outer Harbour more boats 'dressed overall', the Weymouth Lifeboat and so much more for locals and tourists alike to see.

I don't think I've ever seen so many power generators in my life

so it was interesting to watch this one being loaded onto a barge for transport to the South Quay where there are several fine restaurants and public houses.

The north side of the Town Bridge also has its share of facilities with a personal recommendation being The RENDEZVOUS !

A quick look back on the SANDS to find them full of sun-worshipers,

as the PRESS HELICOPTER filmed and reported from above.

The only disinterest I could find all day was a TERN fishing

and fish turning. Common Tern and Grey Mullet

MANANA!

Maggie's Farm - Bob Dylan

My final day at Parley Court, only because the food and wine have run out, and just time for a wander around the farm with the Lord of the Manor.

The recent floods have had something of a devastating effect on crops,

with the last attempt at 'spreying' ending in bog down. The good news comes from the Crop Inspector who visited yesterday pronouncing that the Maize is savable.

Things are somewhat better at the turf fields, where already several acres have been cut and the bare ground taken over by

 

thousands of these Toadstools.

The other half of the field looks ripe for cropping.

 

Close by stands this HIMALAYAN BALSAM which I'd identified as Japanese Knotweed before being put right by Hugh.

The ponds at the north end of the property always seem to paint a beautiful picture

but a little too bright this morning spoilt the photo just a bit.

Small birds were also much in evidence with Chiffchaffs singing all along the way,

and what were thought to be juvenile WILLOW WARBLERs also in good numbers.

A quick shot of a BLUE TIT on a nut feeder was followed by

MEADOW BROWN Butterfly,

a host of THISTLE,

my first COMMA Butterfly of the year, showing the 'punctuation mark' from where it gains its name,

before spreading its wings to reveal the full glory.

A much better day for Butterflies all round including this SMALL TORTOISESHELL, Large and Small White, Red Admiral, Ringlet and Gatekeeper.

News has been received from the Els Camp that Big Ernie has pulled out of next years 'Open',

I wonder why??

The little white dot, front of picture, was my best effort but distributed a few balls across the Driving Range to make things look good.

Arriving in Weymouth this afternoon, along with a full compliment of Bus Pass Holder on the X53 service from Poole, the beach was ram-jam packed with searing skins under a cloudless sky, I was already 'twitching'. I'll need to get among that lot tomorrow hopefully soaking up the carnival atmosphere as a prelude to the Olympic Games. There was also another satisfying moment on the bus as I struck up conversation with 2 young Colombians presently on long term studies in Bournemouth. Hoping to reach Lulworth Cove, I was only too pleased to help and consulting the bus drive put the young lady and equally young man off at Wareham to catch the No40 'Breezer'. It would have been great loss indeed not to give them my e-mail address in the hope a day out in Portland and Weymouth can be arranged for the future - “dos cervezas, por favor”.

.......and just as the sun comes out and I start to really enjoy my favourite hobby, cocking everything up and getting my facts wrong, someone comes along to spoil it! With reference to yesterday's post of the Blue Angels, Willie writes:-

Ship Ahoy....Capt.....!

I see no ships.......Only hardships............!  :)

From one character to another........

Loving that Blog of yours......Great! Passed it on to so many people....

Now! This is Willie Downes.....(With an 'E'). And.....I'm from Blandford,

Dorset.....So...Not to far away.....

Well, actually I'm originally from Sicily.......Not Scotland......Scotland....!

Love It.......

HaHa!  Take Care.............!  Willie..........!

1,000 apologies 'Willy' and hope you won't get DownEs about it - as ever good to hear from you.

Blue Angel - Roy Orbison

My third day at Parley Court and the very first I have experienced to be completely cloudless, no wonder then reports have been coming in of traffic jams and Service Station full to breaking point further north. There was never a finite date for my departure and there's never any knowing when 'this lot' will let me go, so each evening I have continued 'tunneling' to effect an escape. Meanwhile, the day has been filled with aimless wanderings around the property, one of my absolute favourites.

A MIGHTY OAK and a

London Transport, Diesel-Engined 97-Horsepower Omnibus (Flanders and Swann) contrast sharply, the latter on its way to convey the Bride and Groom to the reception at the Manor House.

At the Equestrian Centre business appears to be booming, today the clientele we strictly young people.

Flowers of a 'wanted' nature bloom in the herbaceous border within the Manor garden,

while elsewhere prolific and poisonous RAGWORT is not so welcome especially around horses.

The Memsahib (Janet) keeps the verges trimmed with tones of the Genesis classic "I Know What I Like In Your Wardrobe". As the sun beats down I lie on the bench, you can always hear them talk. 'Cus me I'm just a Lawnmower you can tell by the way I walk.

Aircraft continue buzzing in and out of Bournemouth International Airport ( we even caught brief glimpses of the Red Arrows today)

as LILYs flower in

PARLEY POND. Pictures of Lily made my life so wonderful, pictures of Lily help me sleep at night. The Who.

If you have had enough of the unseasonable weather, what about this from Frampton on Severn, Gloucester, first-summer Redwing trapped and ringed this morning, now even the birds are totally confused. A Redwing is a northern Thrush rarely associated with English summer months.

From my former 'ship-mate' Paul Knapp, the image of a female ROE DEER close to the Granby Estate, Weymouth (a built up area) where she is reported as weening 2 Fawns.

and finally from Willie Downs, up there in Bonny Scotland, a series of amazing shots of the BLUE ANGELS a US Aerobatic Display Team. Blue_Angel Link