Angus rocks

Angus improvises with my new guitar........

Trip to the track

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Originally uploaded by Phil Haygarth

Last Sunday I joined my fellow club mates from Okehampton Cycle Club and Tavistock Wheelers for a 2 hour coaching session at Newport Velodrome. Despite having a cold, it was a thrilling first time experience for me, quite nerve racking at first getting used to the steep banking on the corners and most critically riding a 'fixed wheel' with no brakes! We did a flying lap, plus some pursuits and a 'Devil' race, where the last person around the lap is forced to drop off. Great fun and lovely bikes! Sharon Pitts from Okehampton CC took a load of pictures which are posted here. Phil

Grandma goes to Egypt

My Mum has just has a terrific trip to Luxor, complete with a ride on a camel and a boat trip on the Nile. 'Looks like she had a lovely time - I can't wait until I retire - some great pictures are posted here. Phil

Angus the cider maker

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Originally uploaded by Phil Haygarth

Yesterday we did that Westcountry autumn thing and joined Richard 'Ciderman' Johnson and Wendy for some cider making in their barn near Chagford. Angus was thrilled and really got stuck in, whilst Helen and Mum collected the apples and Matthew was enthralled with the old Land Rover. I took the piccies. We ended up with a couple of bottles of freshly squeezed apple juice (unfermented I may add - Dad is hoping for some of the fermented stuff when it is ready). Thanks Richard and Wendy.

A decent man

This week I was saddened to learn of the surprise passing of Dr Frank Foster, a man who made a small but important impression on me in my boyhood. Frank was an academic in mathematics, he loved walking the hills of the north of England and he enjoyed jazz music, especially, I recall, Oscar Peterson. Above all i remember Frank as a modest and decent man, and I admired him for this. Phil

Our old boy

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Originally uploaded by Phil Haygarth

He doesn't get enough attention in the blog, but 11 year old Dileas is an unassuming gentle stalwart of out family. This is a portrait of him I took this morning and it is part of a set of portraits I have taken whilst playing with a Nikon D 200 this weekend, which I must say I am finding an awesome camera. For those interested in pictures here are some I took yesterday and today (with no post camera edits). Anne is away this weekend on a girlie trip to Bath and so the four of us (plus Dileas) have been home alone - rugby, dog walks, and last night I played with The Lost Mules. Great gig but half we through the second set we blew up the PA literally in a cloud of smoke - a real Spinal Tap moment!