Fishleigh Barton

PEMBROKE

2008-06-02T15:19:00.001-07:00

Emma Isabel and I spent 5 days in SW Wales. Mainly on the beach at Newgale:

After surf bbq over looking Newgale at our "wild camp" Later the sunset:

Amazing view on our way home after visiting the Red Kite Feeding Station and Pendine Sands famous for land speed records and the filming of "when did you last see your father"

Dingle's Steam Village / Fairground Heritage Centre

2008-05-05T23:28:00.001-07:00

Having driven up and the A30 many times and seeing the sign to Dingles Steam Village I finaly went there. This was encouraged byt leaflets I had seen about it and fomr looking at their website. This week end was a fairground organ special day.

There was a superb fairground organ from Belgium there:

I like old macines and there were lota of old steam machines there. There was also a fine collection of very old lorries. A Scammel chain driven one:

The Tamar Organ Group is now based there. They have secired some heritage lottery funding for a new concert hall there. I chatted to the guy who was there restoring their Compton organ:

Westward Ho! Surf

2008-05-05T23:22:00.000-07:00

Isabel could not find her gloves and boots. This was a warm up session with warm water:

SOUTHAMPTON - Broken door and broken bag

2008-05-04T02:17:00.000-07:00

I have been to Southampton three times in the last 7 days to deliver doors to the hospital and university. A fork lift driver dropped a a pallet of doors :-(

I then went to the dock to collect some flour. There was a huge cruise ship in:

When I got to Ivybridge with the flour I was told there was a broken bag :-(

Ended the week at Cardiff. Cardiff Bay, Atlantic Wharf at dusk:

BROMBORUGH - last week

2008-05-04T02:14:00.000-07:00

Took a load of fertilizer from Launceston to Bromborough Dock:

APRIL

2008-04-20T13:54:00.000-07:00

Last week end I took Isabel and her friend Chloe to Longleat:

In the middle of the week I had to deliver to a new primary school in Wembley:

I cycled / walked up Clent Hill. Supposed to be spectacular views but it was foggy :-( :

Local exploring around Ensis:

CONTRASTS - CITY & EXMOOR

2008-03-29T00:44:00.000-07:00

This week I went to an amazing range of places:

TUE - Haverford West with one of the smallest loads I have ever carried. It was a nice long drive through Wales though. Couldnt make it back to Exeter though. Overnighted at Bridgewater

WED - delivered fertilizer in the Black Dog area. Collected a load for London

THU - Delivered to London. Got a back load from Tilbury for Shaftsbury. Spent the night at Shaftsbury. Had a good look around even though it was dark. Saw Golden Hill and the ruined Abby founded in 888 for women only. The views must be amazing in daylight. I will be back!

FRI - delivered fertilizer to Exmoor. Saw a lovely old manor house c 1590. The farmer showed me the paster ceiling in the living room which also had a huge open hearth with seats at either end one with a cubby hole for a mug? My second exmoor delivery took me to Countisbury between Lynton and Porlock. The farmer said the only way to get there was through Exford and up over the moor to the top of Porlock hill. What amazing countryside :-) and very narrow roads :-(. Lucky it was late Fri and not much traffic. Not like the M25 on a Fri evening. That's partly what I meant by contrasts.

Tractor

2008-03-21T01:49:00.001-07:00

I had to deliver fertilzer to farms near Bude.

I reversed into a tractor light :-(

Bridge Over The River Wye - Bluith Wells

2008-03-21T01:09:00.000-07:00

Spent an evening and night here after a very pleasant drive up from Carmarthen through Llandovery. The home of the Welsh Agricultural Show; hence the bull.

Earlier this week I stayed at South Cerney. According to the sign at the village entrance a Saxon Parish charter AD999. Very cloce to Cirencester. I cycled up to have a look around. Nice big Waitrose there where I got something to eat.

The Steps & Good Humour

2008-03-14T23:42:00.000-07:00

Wow! I had to go back to Hampstead Hospital. I was a little nervous :-( but I need not have worried :-). All the people I met there were in excellent humour and I had an enjoyable tip. Best of all; I got the opportunity to photograph the the dreaded infamous steps. There are even less steps than I guessed in my previous post. Oh! and I got chance to try out my new camera. I was a little disappointed in the red colour of the lorry but I will have to try other settings on the camera. I am looking forward to using the extra features on this camera compared to my last one which I dropped and broke after taking the pictures of the sheep and scenery at Shaftsbury. I was on top of the trailer taking the photos, as I climbed down the camera fell out of my pocket and on to the road :-(

Scotland - Dunoon

2008-02-22T23:57:00.000-08:00

Doors had to be delivered to Dunoon. I was the lucky guy to do it.

Parked alongside Loch Lomond,

then up over the Rest and be thankful (had to stop for road works)

then down into Dunoon.

The weather was a bit "grey" but the pics give a glimpse of the breathtaking scenery I travelled through (and narrow roads :-( )

Scaffolding Fire Engines & Slander

2008-02-10T01:12:00.000-08:00

Scaffolding Fire Engines & Slander

On Friday 8th Feb 2008 I was scheduled to deliver Leaderflush doors to The Royal Free Hospital Hampstead. I was surprised that I was taking it with a 40 foot trailer and Moffet because on previous deliveries I had taken a 20 foot trailer and offloaded by hand. I telephoned the site on the Thursday to enquire whether a Moffett was required. I knew the delivery area and how little space there was there and wondered whether a Moffett was practical.

I was told that following the Royal Marsdon Hospital fire there had been frequent fire drills and that the off loading area was a designated area for fire engines. Lorries in the unloading area were staying too long and getting in the way. A Moffett would be quicker unloading. I knew there was not much space there so I enquired where I would put the doors when I had unloaded them. I knew that the doors had to be carried up onto scaffolding to a lift. I was informed that everything would be alright and that the decided course of action would not be altered.

I arrived at the site at exactly 10.00 am. The first person I saw was a security guard. We nodded at each other but I did not stop to speak to him as I drove past him neither did he speak to me or signal me to stop. I did not see him again for the duration I was at the site. The unloading area is a designated fire engine bay.

As I was reversing back into it I caught a small flight of approximately 8 scaffold steps which were in the fire engine bay. I caught them with the rear offside of the trailer which I was unable to see from my driver's seat. When I got out I noticed that a scaffold bar was sticking out beyond (approximately 1 foot) the edge of the steps and there was no warning tape on it. This was what caught the trailer and tore the curtain.

There was a team (approximately 4) of scaffolders on site. They dismantled the steps which took approx. 5 minutes.

They then rebuilt the steps differently so that they did not stick so far out into the fire engine bay. They spent about 2 hours (the duration of my visit) rebuilding the steps.

My opinion - The steps could have been re erected much more quickly. There appeared to be a number of breaks and delays whilst doing the reconstruction work.

Whilst the scaffolders worked on the steps I opened the curtains of the trailer ready to unload.

I unloaded the large frames by hand with the assistance of two men from the building site. As we were unloading the frames two fire engines with their sirens going came down the road. I asked the man from the site whether I should move but I was told it would be OK because it was only a drill. The fire engines came past my lorry and exited another way.

At no time was I spoken to or did I speak to any member of the fire service.

The next task was to unload the doors with the Moffett.
As I got on the Moffett what appeared to be a Traffic Warden came by. He asked whether this was my lorry. I replied that it was. He said that was Ok, waved and walked on.

I proceeded to unload all the doors with the Moffett under the direction of a man from the building site. I was told where to place all the stacks of doors. I was told to put them on the road which included the fire engine bay.

When I had unloaded all the doors onto the road a man from the site came out from the hospital shouting that the doors could not be left on the road and that his job was at risk over the doors obstructing the road and fire engine bay. He told me I had to get my lorry out as soon as possible. He then told me I had been abusive. I enquired further as to what he meant. He said I had told the security guard to "Fuck off" I replied that I certainly had not. I was extremely upset and angry at this allegation. As stated earlier at no time did I speak to the security guard. The man from the site also told another man from the site that a Moffet was never to be used again and that the doors would have to be unloaded by hand. The problems that occurred were my original concern when I telephone the site the day before.

Another man signed my delivery note and adding that "doors not checked because there was not time because of damage done by lorry" This could not be true because as stated earlier when I telephoned the site the day before I was to leave the packs of doors on the road and leave as soon as possible. This would de facto mean that they would not all be checked whilst I was present. In fact I could have waited for the doors to be checked but was told to leave the site.

My opinion - The hospital and or the fire service complained to the site about my lorry being in the fire engine bay when the fire engines arrived (this had been anticipated when I called the previous day). I feel have been used as a “scape goat”.

Suggestion - If the hospital wants building work done things have to be delivered to site. If the only area available to use for unloading is a fire engine bay (which it is) I would suggest sense reason and pragmatism. As the fire drill proved; fire engines could still get access. If there is a real fire and more space is needed any lorries unloading can be moved. If the fire engine bay is never to be used for deliveries no more deliveries would be possible. In view of the way I was treated and spoken to I would be quite happy with that.

I was there in my capacity as a lorry driver delivering goods to a building site. I was on this occasion and always try to be obliging, polite and good humoured even when circumstances are difficult. I resent the way I was treated and spoken to at this site. In particular the false allegations about my conduct. The fact that the security guard did not appear to back up the allegation speaks for itself.

I do not deny I caught the scaffolding but this could have been avoided if

- it had not been built in the highway and fire engine bay and
- there had not been a pole sticking out.
- The pole had hazard marked or high visibility tape on it
- Someone had assisted me with reversing (most of the people mentioned above stood and watched with out helping or advising)

Early Morning Shaftesbury

2008-02-10T00:14:00.001-08:00

Scenery: Looking West over Dorset / Gillingham

Looking East into the sunrise - sheep

WOOLACOMBE SURFING

2008-02-03T23:05:00.000-08:00

A glorious day last week end we (Emma, Isabel and me) headed to Woolacombe in our camper with two surf boards (I don't surf) . Great surf.

After surf cup of coffee:

CENTRAL LONDON

2007-12-02T23:40:00.001-08:00

The London Eye and Palace of Westminster from under Waterloo Bridge:

St Pauls from Waterloo Bridge:

GREENWICH OBSERVATORY

2007-12-02T23:26:00.000-08:00

This is the final set of pics from my four days in London. The Royal Observatory at Greenwich. I went to the planatarium which was amazing. Learnt loads of stuff I didnt know about the night sky. I watch "the Sky at Night" now ;-). Wish Id taken an interest sooner. Its never too late! John Harrisons clocks are also there. I rewatched Longitude starring Michael Gambon this week end and many of the scenes are filmed at Christopher Wrens building there. The meridion is there of course :-) .

Canary Wharf

2007-11-24T11:40:00.001-08:00

From Greenwich Observatory->>>

London & St Pancras Station

2007-11-22T07:09:00.000-08:00

Went to have a look around the refurbished station. Here it is:

Autumn Colour - STOURHEAD & WESTONBIRT

2007-10-28T11:20:00.000-07:00

Westonbirt was spectacular and very busy:

I stayed at the campsite at Stourhead.

More Cornwall Pics

2007-10-28T11:11:00.001-07:00

LandsEnd

Gwithian

St Ives Bay

Sennen Cove

Touring the Surf Beaches in Cornwall

2007-10-25T23:56:00.000-07:00

Watergate Bay:

Emma and I st off for Cornwall on a 5 day tour of the tip of Cornwall. Our first stop was at Watergate Bay. Emma went surfing.

Porthleven:

We parked overnight in an industrial estate in Redruth. Monday morning we set up camp at Tregillet Camp Site near Hale. From there we visited Porthleven, Praa Sands, Penzance, Newlyn, Mousehole, Portreath, Lands End, Levant Tin Mine beam engine. Godrevey

was our favourite spot for Surf, Beach, Parking the camper, Cycling and Walking along the cliffs.

St Michael's Mount

STIRLING CASTLE

2007-10-21T01:51:00.000-07:00

This week I went to Scotland in the lorry

Paisley, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen. On the way home south I stopped at Stirling the night and spent an hour ealry in the morning looking around Stirling.

View of Sunrise from Stirling Castle

ST IVES - A Day Trip by Train

2007-09-30T00:28:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed the train journey down along the Dawlish Sea Wall and over The Tamar Bridge for the first time. Saw the Tate Gallery but there were no Exhibitions because they were on changeover.

PUTSBOROUGH SUNSET

2007-09-16T14:40:00.000-07:00

Started the day by taking the train from Crediton to Okehampton. It was great seeing the scenery from the line rather than looking at the line or driving under the line; like at Railway Farm near N Tawton.

Took Emma and Isabel to Putsborough surfing. Or rather Emma took me. She does all the driving now. Emma was driving and Isabal in the passenger seat. They get smome great looks from passers by because you normally expect to see more mature couple sin camper vans :-)

There was a great sunset:

TIGGY ENJOYS THE SUNSHINE

2007-09-15T15:44:00.000-07:00

A worderfully warm sunny September day. Tigger enjoys it on the decking:

LOCH LOMOND

2007-09-15T15:38:00.000-07:00

Thursday 13 Spet 2007

Delivered to Faslane Naval Base then parked near Loch Lomond. The pic is not great but one for the record:

PLYMOUTH - Week End

2007-09-15T15:30:00.000-07:00

Sat 8th Sept 2007

Stayed at Riverside Camp Site at Marsh Mills. Great site with a pool - just right on a hot sunny day like today.

http://www.riversidecaravanpark.com/

Went to The History Boys at The Theatre Royal in Plymouth

http://www.plymouthdiary.co.uk/event.php?e=5335

Sunday

Had a look around the new shopping centre at Drakes Circus

http://www.riversidecaravanpark.com/

Went on The Plymouth Gin Tour

http://plymouthgin.com/template/distillerytour/pg_tour_content.html

Visited Saltram House:

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-saltram/

Visited Lanhydrock House:

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-lanhydrock/

I think this is my favourite NT property, the ceiling plaster work is done by Adams brothers. The same as in our house. Also the kitchensat Lanhydrock are amazing - huge spits driven by the hot flue gases.

In the evening I had Fish & Chips at Rick Steins (Prefer the Pelican :-()

http://www.rickstein.com/restaurants_steinsfishandchips.htm

Sunday evening I arrived home.

WATCHET

2007-09-15T15:23:00.000-07:00

Thursday 30 Aug 2007 Spent the night at the Paper Factory at Watchet. Had fisn n chip on the harbour side:

TWO BEACHES

2007-09-15T15:20:00.000-07:00

Thursday 6 Sept 2007

Had a swim off Shoreham Hourbour during my break. Parked at Bridport picnic site and cycled to Eype Beach; great sport of what? :-)

GOWER / S WALES

2007-08-27T10:32:00.000-07:00

RHOSSILI BAY - This where I stayed the week end. The site is in the dunes behind the beach half way along the beach. You can just see the caravans on the site in this pic.

The weather was forecast sunny and I had 3.5 days off so I decided to do my Gower camping trip I had been wanting to do for a long while now.

Me on the beach >>

Sat - I set off on my bike with tent and stuff on the back. I wanted to stay at Hill End camp site which I had read about in the Guardian Camping Guide. The site is set just behind the dunes in the middle of Rhossili Bay near the village of Llangennith.

I just managed to get a pitch there even though it was a bank holiday week end. It is a great site:

Ive also got the area sussed for a trip there with the camper. The view at Rhossilli Car park has got to be one of the best views ever in a place where you can park a camper. The one in the pic is not mine; but mine will be there one day ;-)

Sun - I toured the Gower visiting The Mumbles, Oxwich Bay.

Mon - I set off early at 8. Called in at Porthcawl - Wild campervan heaven but too many people know about it. It would be OK for a stopover i suppose but it was very crowded with campers.

My final visit of my week end was to Tyntesfield House near Bristol. A fantastic victorian time capsule - a NT property.

London - Park Lane / Leighton Buzzard

2007-08-19T02:05:00.000-07:00

I had to deliver to The Grosvenor House Hotel Park Lane and this is what I was parked next to...

This was a week of canals and rivers - The Grand Union and The Thames

This week I explored two new cycle tracks. The first was the Grand Union Canal at Leighton Buzzard. Un fortunately it was too dark to take any photographs but I want to go back to explore a little further. Perhaps cycle up to Bletchley. I remember having a brief walk along the canal there a while ago whilst I was parked the night waiting to deliver to B&Q. The second cycle track I explored was The Thames Path at Weybridge. This was very picturesque and the photo is of the swans and sunset at Walton - on - Thames bridge.

Found some great spots to park the camper if I want to return for a hioliday which I think I might. The train from Weybridge is only 30 mins to Victoria and the Thames path as well makes it an attractive spot. There are 2 caravan sites in the area Hersham (They Call it Walton) and Chertsey but I wont need to stay at either of them now !

KENT / EAST SUSSEX

2007-08-11T12:19:00.000-07:00

Monday early I took Hilary and Chas to catch the train home. Emma and I planned to travel east.

We set off at mid day. We stopped for lunch on a beach near Bexhill.

This was to be our stop for Tue and Wed night. It had unrivaled sea views and it was free. The only down side was that it was on a road and a car in the middle of the night thought it would be good fun to sound his horn all the way along where all the campers were parked. Just goes to show what nice people there are in the world.
After lunch we headed along the coast through Hastings and Rye and to Dungeness. A shingle wilderness with little houses dotted over it and a huge nuclear power station at the tip. This pic shows the lighthouse (spot the camper).

TUE

Having parked overnight at Great Dixter we were ready to visit the garden when it opened at 11.00 am.

We then moved on to Bodiam Castle (spot the camper). It was a great place to park and and amazing castle; builtin 1300's. A real castle where we climbed the towers and saw the holes in the roof of the gatehouse which were used to pour boiling tar on invade.rs. We watched the trains from the East Sussex and Kent railway go up and down whilst we were there.

Then on to Sissinghurst Castle garden near Cranbrook. At last I got to see the famous White Garden.

Then it was back to Bexhill to our favourite parking spot. On the way we stopped at Robertsbridge for Scampi and chips in a pub.

Wed

A lazy morning by the sea and then a ride on the Bluebell Railway. Emma wanted to go because she had never been on a steam hauled train before.I like steam trains. It was a great ride. The cariages were pulled by a massive steam engine. Emma was amazed at its size. Befrore the train we parked at Sheffield Park Garden for lunch. I had a quick look in the garden.

We then planned to head back to our favourite spot at Bexhill. Befrore that I decided to cycle the Cuckoo Trail. emma dropped me off at Heathfield and picked me up about 10 miles down the road at Polegate.

THU

Today is the day we planned to return home with stops on the way. Charleston Farmhouse was our first stop. Then Devil's Dyke for lunch.

We just got to Mottisfont Abby before it closed with its amazing walled garden. We had dinner in Salisbury and then headed home.

2007-08-05T09:59:00.000-07:00

HOLIDAY IN BRIGHTON

Stephen, Emma,Hilary and Chaz.We set off on August the 1st at about 16.30. I dorve to Barnstaple to pick up Chaz and then Emma drove the rest of the way. We stopped at Cartgate for an hour for tea. We arrived at Stonehege at about 22.00. Ther was just some light in the sky. The girls took photographs.
The alarm was set for 4.50. I made a cup of tea and went to see if I we were going to be treated to seeing the sun rise over Stonehenge. I took a very moody photo of first light but there was too much cloud to see the sun rise over the horizon.

We set off for Brighton at about 5.15. Emma drove. Salisbury Cathedral looked good in the early morning sunlight. We arrived at Brighton at about 7.45 when we had breakfast on Madiera Drive in the sunshine. We booked into Sheepcoatcampsite. I caught up on sleep whilst the girls went shopping. We have just had sausages followed by chocolate swiss roll on Brighton Sea Front in the camper. The night is still young....

SUNDAY 5 August 2007

I have never seen Brighton so busy; look at the beach...

St James Streeet is thronging with a huge street party -

Tomorrow Hilary and Chaz get the train home. Emma will drive is further East to Rye, Dungeness, Great Dixter, Sissinghurst and Bodiam Castle.

ME N MY BIKE

2007-08-01T06:32:00.000-07:00

At last I have a pic of me n my bike...

499cc, 57bhp, 120mph, Insurance group 9
The Honda CB500 is a first big motorcycle you’ll never want to sell. It’s huge fun because it’s so confidence-inspiring, meaning you can take it anywhere and it’ll make you feel you can push your limits. Very competent: commuters and couriers love Honda CB500s for their reliability and all-round, top-notch performance. In all aspects, the Honda CB500's a winner.

WALLASEA ISLAND - BALTIC WHARF

2007-07-21T11:41:00.001-07:00

I like the way the colours in the trailer design are reflected in the sky, stacks of wood and moffett.

Last night I parked on Wallasea Island and took this photo on the jetty at the dock there...

SUNSET AT STONEHENGE

2007-07-21T08:15:00.000-07:00

Wednesday night I parked at the new services - Solstice Park. As I was having my tea I could see the sun was setting. I pedaled as fast as I could to the stones and this was the result....

The following night I had to swap trailers with Jim. I dentical units and trailers with Moffett..

When I got to London my load had shifted :-(

On my way home on the link road coming up the Exe calley out of Tiverton I noticed a field of wheat with lots of poppies in. Not something a farmer would be proud of but a great splash of colour in the Devon landscape....

WESTWARD HO!

2007-07-14T15:26:00.000-07:00

Today I went to Westward Ho! with Emma and Isabel. Emma drove the camper for the first time. The girls went surfing. I enjoyed the sunset....

Sisters: Emma and co driver Isabel. Emma drove on her own from the beach home for the first time....

TORQUAY

2007-07-12T15:43:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday I went out in my bro in law Chris' yaght. It was amazing!

GREENWICH

2007-07-12T15:34:00.000-07:00

Last night I parked in the Woolwich end of Greenwich and cycled down the Thames Path to Greenwich. The sun was setting over the city towers canary wharf...

Then I walked through the foot path tunnel and took this shot looking back towards the College

The Lorry I Drive

2007-07-01T15:14:00.000-07:00

ERF ECX 440

My Bike - Honda CBF 500

2007-07-01T15:10:00.001-07:00

TWO SCRAPES

2007-06-29T23:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I scraped 2 cars on roundabouts in my lorry.

The first scrape was caused by a car driving erratically on the rundabout of the junction between the M25 and A13. I had exited A13 from the east to go M25 north. First the red Mercedes in question blocked my lane by trying to move into another lane containing stationary traffic. Having successfully moved into the middle lane of 3 lanes on a roundabout it decided, with out warning, to cut back into the lane I was in which is when it caught my nearside front bumper and his offside rear wing. I was then accused of driving into him when it was clear from the damaged sustained was caused by his poor lane discipline and erratic driving. I remained in the correct lane at all times; M25 N.

A13 W M25 N M25 N

The second scrape was slightly worse on J of the M5. I was exiting the motorway southbound onto the roundabout. The small red car in question was coming round the roundabout. I judged that I had time to enter the roundabout and for the car to either follow me around or move to the nearside lane which I assumed he needed to be on to exit the roundabout to M5 south beacuse he was coming from the Clevedon direction and there was no other exit on the roundabout. The next thing I saw was him in my offside mirror on my offside between my lorry and the central area of the roundabout. My offside rear of the trailer caught his nearside door and mirror.

2007-06-26T22:55:00.001-07:00

SOUTH SOMERSET

2007-06-26T22:35:00.000-07:00

As a new member of the national trust I decided to visit as many properties as possible on Sunday 24th June 2008. I managed five!

- Lytes Cary
-Tintinhull
- Montacute
- Barrington
- Priest's House ; Muchelney

They were all amazing in their own way.