Oh What A Night - The Four Seasons

You can say that again, and what a 'fantastic' dinner with

 

Bowie (Lorne) Edwards, (mine hosts) Paul and Annie Harris, Sheila Edwards and Humpty who looks like he's just about to fall off the wall.

Younger son (sorry) Michael Harris was also in our company and kept us adequately topped up with music from their new Sonos Wireless Music System. Reputed to be able to download just about any track of music, I had been set the challenge of trying to beat the machine. Wading in with the most obscure band I have in my own record collection, the gadget quickly came up with 4 titles from Swedish band Atomic Swing which were all the albums they have ever made except for Car Crash in the Blue, result Man 1 - Machine 0.

With a minimum of half a bottle each of 1990 Château Le Tour Carnet and a 1998 Château Feytit-Clinet along with a cider or twa the morning got off to something of a blurred start,

but nonetheless I was on parade a little after daybreak. Walking to the bus there was a notable increase in the number of this years juvenile Herring Gulls close to Westhan Bridge,

and a much smaller gathering of Portland and Weymouth Olympic Ambassadors.

The almost clear sky at home had quickly been filled by towering cumulus as I reached Ferry Bridge where it was seen Wader numbers were also higher.

A single REDSHANK attracted my attention with its 'call' as it flew by and over

a group of RINGED PLOVER which also took to the wing to join about

40 DUNLIN (left) and c3 SANDERLING (right).

On the Chesil Beach side of the Fleet c8 TURNSTONEs were feeding while

c6 MEDITERRANEAN GULLs seemed contented standing at the 'low water mark'.

No need for a bus to Portland Bill as avid Blog reader DAVID DUTTON happened by dropping me at the Lighthouse where he is a Volunteer Guide - Thanks again Dave!

First to fall to my Nosey Parker technique were the boys and girls of  the

not to be confused with the Portland Bird OBS,

while at the PBO there was plenty of stimulating conversation with EILEEN WHITE, SANDRA LAMBERT and BERYL CLAFTON - great to see you ladies! Also at the Obs were Peter and Rosie Morgan who are continuing Stewardship in the absence of the Warden, and had conveniently caught this

juvenile STONECHAT. 

 

Immature male SOUTHERN HAWKER DRAGONFLY. Paul Rendell was also there and kindly asked if I would like to join him in a search of

for CISTUS FORESTER MOTH (Wiki photos) that was recorded on the Island for the very first time last week. With an Insect about the size of a Kidney Bean there was never going to be much likelihood of finding it, but during our fruitless search there was chance for me to rediscover a section of Portland not visited for far too long.

Other Butterflies on the wing during our visit were Small Skipper, Red Admiral, Ringlet, Gatekeeper, Marbled White, Large White with Paul claiming a 'Fritilary' of sorts. Cinnabar and 6-spot Burnet Moths were also seen.

Low growing COTONEASTER is playing havoc with all other plant-life in most of the quarries, its rapid and choking growth being countered by a spraying program to try and eliminate it - it seems to be working here.

Before departing the Insect scene Moth'ers or even Unmarried Moth'ers may be interested in this new Field Guide which I first clapped eyes on at Paul and Annie's last night and immediately decided to buy. This has to be the mother (am I repeating myself?) of all Moth Identification manuals but comes in at a hefty £57, Paul having received a complimentary copy having provided a good number of his superb photographs within. It may also be of interest to some that as a member of the Portland Bird Observatory you would enjoy a hefty discount at the 'in house' Book Shop' along with many other advantages! I paid just £42 for my copy.

So, onward to the Olympic Sailing and the general ongoing Festivities, Alexander Gardens CAROUSEL

While there still seems to be fewer people in Weymouth than on what might be an otherwise ordinary holiday date, the Sports and Large Screens on the beach are both attracting good numbers. My first encounter on the prom was with these 2 beautiful people, visitors from The Punjab, India. Whenever I see a SIKH it is like a Bee to the Honey

 as a result of the extremely warm welcome I received there back in 2002 and particularly at the GOLDEN TEMPLE, AMRITSAR as these images show.

TEMPLE ELDERS

My new INDIAN FAMILY

Hard to believe but 60,000 people are 'fed for free' at the Temple every single day which generates an awful lot of washing up. This is not seen as a chore but a privilege given to only a very select few, as can be seen I soon wormed my way in there but I'm not so keen at home! Next came the

BRASS BAND from Bournemouth with their 4 SOUSAPHONES

and their MUSICAL ZIMMER FRAMES. In passing I would say pound for pound this lad is as good as Phil Collins! This was the point when my small camera battery ran flat, so a few more shots from the Promenade with the big lens:-

A nice big UNION FLAG not up-side-down.

The NAPOLEONIC CANNONBALL in a wall on Maiden Street said to have been fired from a French Galleon in Weymouth Bay.

Couldn't see or have the time to research ship names , but believe this may be Pelican of London

This is most likely to be the ROYAL NAVY BOMB DISPOSAL TEAM - there's a clue there somewhere.

DUTCH OCEAN SALVAGE TUG

and likely the Caledonia?

and although I have looked cannot find out who this fella mi lad is either?

and finally, a little bit of rolly poly, rolly poly, that's the way to do it, Judy, Judy my beauty, come upstairs - no I won't!

It's a Crociockockidiale.

Mister Blue Skies - Electric Light Orchestra

It was a toss-up whether to sit endlessly behind the lap-top to bring you these photographs 'on the day' of the Olympic Opening Ceremony, or get down and boogie! It was a 'close call' but in the end it was a case of:-

The sun is shining in the sky, 

there ain't a cloud passing by, 

it's stopped raining and everybodies in the game, 

and don't you know it's a beautiful new day 

hey, hey, hey!   ELO

Wanting to check out some of the logistics and services provided for this mammoth event. I very much stuck to the peripheries of the town starting on Westham Bridge where Cycle Parking has been provided including a check in/check out system along with Security. By chance I met my mate DAVID GUEST at the site doing exactly the same. Dave is also a seasoned World Traveller and always great value at exchanging experiences

Radipole car park is now closed to the public and utilised as a terminus for the extremely smart Park and Ride Shuttle Bus Service a couple of miles out of town.

BUSKERS, mostly of high quality, are now popping up all over the town while

 

here and there 'final touches' were being made.

Maybe a little early yet, but the crowds had not yet filtered to the beach to soak up an abundance of 'rays'.

Time then to check out Weymouth's new selection of deckchairs, each with their unique design thought up by local students.

Not only a splash of colour and a great deal of fun, but eventually a chance to raise some cash.

I have heard 2 stories regarding their destiny, either they will be 'auctioned' or each sold for £100 but either way the proceeds going to 'charity'.

Regardless of the earliness of the hour, a few were already securing their pitch for the evening events to come in the arena house 2 giant screens,

as Arthur Copus (right and in need of 40 winks) and his team of St John Ambulance First Aiders prepare for what is hoped to be a very quiet shift!

Not quiet sure what all these fantasy musical instruments are all about,

but it's quite clear what these small sailing vessels are doing. Here is a chance for anyone, particularly the young, to try their hand at 'sailing' - is that a Gold Medal I see blooming on the horizon?

Mid afternoon a number of choirs started performing

to an amazing backdrop of an animated cartoon the work of local school children.

The theme centred around the recent Olympic Torch Relay with one of the local, scavenging Seagulls mistaking it for an ice cream cone and flying off with it. Many children head off in pursuit passing a number of local landmarks (such as St John's Church and Statue of Queen Victoria at the east end of Weymouth Sea Front) which produced a huge giggle all through the showing.

Flocking to the sea, crowds of people wait for me

Sea Gulls scavenge, steal ice cream

worries vanish, within my dream

left my soul there, down by the sea

I lost control here, living free

The Sea - Morcheeba from the album Big Calm

a 'Must Have' work, please check it out!

Unfortunately, what I believe to be a Sand Sculpture Zone, appears to be ready but redundant. I'll keep an eye open. I was now approaching Weymouth Pavilion with intentions of checking out the Rock 'n' Roll but, as reported in yesterday's stop press, the FIRE ALARMS burst into life.

It would seem either I or the Dorset Echo Newspaper correspondent need a little more water with our Scotch Whisky as my tally was 7 and their 5 of Fire Fighting Appliances but whichever they were there in record time along with the other Emergency Services.

A fire in the gents toilet caused the furor, but with the might of the BBC TV Outside Broadcast Team no more than a few yards away, this was a 'scoop' indeed. Both building, part of the Pleasure Pier and surrounds were evacuated and with no report of casualties let's hope all ended well?

 Weymouth_Pavilion Fire

The first of another 2 appliances sped under the Town Bridge, sirens blasting, en-route to the scene.

With a prospective 'long evening' ahead it was time to head home for a bath and dhobie, passing 3 newly arrived GIGS (Old Harry, Great Ope and Little Ope) on the way.

Andy, Dawn, Lesley and I met at the

CROW'S NEST restaurant on Hope Square, Weymouth early evening suffice to say, even though none of us had eaten here before, the Tapas was of the highest quality - 01305 786930.

With the sun now well below the horizon the crowds were gathering back at the arena

for the screening of the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.

Along with an estimated 29 Million TV viewers thousands of us watch in awe as the pageant unfolded.

There were gasps, audible in Swanage, as Factory Chimneys emerged from ground level like giant telescopes reaching for the stars.

 

The QUEEN, making what was thought to be her first free-fall parachute jump, amazed us all with a perfect landing then taking her seat, totally unruffled, in the Olympic Stadium.

However, it was general consensus, on the beach at least, that Mr Bean (Rowan Atkinson) 'stoll the show'. His performance would be difficult to describe in words, how do you spell INANE?

Maybe of note, the Sailing Events start tomorrow in Portland Harbour and Weymouth Bay

check this link for

Sailing Schedule and Results