tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9711239004494658002024-03-05T06:07:48.243+02:00greenlimabeans.comDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04771775314027714899noreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971123900449465800.post-39429029908877268312014-06-18T14:57:00.000+02:002014-06-18T15:02:48.155+02:00Things of value<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMo6kEjPuQo70vIloeBWutQbwk5-_QUu0iWQvbRwabVSplXDcTdtAMSvCBuqVG7aixlbE9qswy-i6uPq7fXIOBIksYhvq0g6mtuYR8tuZMmyq9XMsXVZVmmXEhPYxGrdYf6FS-d6X1u20/s1200/family+ring+on+embroidered+hankerchief+(1200x800)+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMo6kEjPuQo70vIloeBWutQbwk5-_QUu0iWQvbRwabVSplXDcTdtAMSvCBuqVG7aixlbE9qswy-i6uPq7fXIOBIksYhvq0g6mtuYR8tuZMmyq9XMsXVZVmmXEhPYxGrdYf6FS-d6X1u20/s600/family+ring+on+embroidered+hankerchief+(1200x800)+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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I am doing exactly what one is supposed to do in one's mid-40s: have a midlife crisis. So far, it's going very well.<br />
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Despite the relative freedom of being permitted to work from home most days, I found the constraints of a full time job awful, and the irritations and stupidity of a large organisation's bureaucracy increasingly unbearable. I am more and more aware of just how fleeting life is. And how hostile a normal modern professional life is to movement, health, and the time and calm for reflection and appreciation for beauty.<br />
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So I recently left my relatively well paid provincial government job for the scary world of freelancing, and uncertain, patchy income. Financially scary especially because I want to work on some more creative projects, and play in the garden and garage more.<br />
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In this time of navel-gazing I have never lost sight that I have so much to be thankful for. One of the most important is Rosie who makes every day happier. How many men are so lucky that they can devote their midlife turmoil entirely to pursuing vintage motorcycles and gardening, without any desire to wander? The last few months have been challenging for both of us, and not just because of me. But in that time Rosie has always been a refuge and support. She's also very easy on the eye, and far more career driven than I am. I'd be crazy not to try and keep her near for ever, and miraculously, she feels the same way.<br />
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This is an engagement ring. Appropriately, it is worth very little money, but it is from my mother's mother. The green stone is a simple synthetic spinel, with facet edges worn soft by the passage of many years. I photographed it on a hand-embroidered handkerchief made by a great aunt I never knew, in the late afternoon light streaming into our home.Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04771775314027714899noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971123900449465800.post-80480406001501645992014-04-22T15:06:00.000+02:002014-04-22T15:17:15.397+02:00Orangutan, Gunung Leuser<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZzEHsZlueyNF5IQ8LyK47dSR3iyhN3XmI8TEgsaggi0iiIRwFH0wMSJVwnq1GIm-6Wa6UrDMXs9mDSb4ZXiMek550RlF5zEI-MuAwhPBrfoKKldO6PB0hzpDn6hyphenhyphenlYVjcL8dLB8kZfo/s1200/Orangutan+female,+Gunung+Leuser+copyright+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZzEHsZlueyNF5IQ8LyK47dSR3iyhN3XmI8TEgsaggi0iiIRwFH0wMSJVwnq1GIm-6Wa6UrDMXs9mDSb4ZXiMek550RlF5zEI-MuAwhPBrfoKKldO6PB0hzpDn6hyphenhyphenlYVjcL8dLB8kZfo/s917/Orangutan+female,+Gunung+Leuser+copyright+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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An old photo for Earth Day: female orangutan with a rather ineffective makeshift umbrella, Gunung Leuser National Park, northern Sumatra.
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Sumatran orangutan WWF info page <a href="http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/great_apes/orangutans/sumatran_orangutan/">LINK</a>.Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04771775314027714899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971123900449465800.post-13862496748506236052014-03-27T09:09:00.000+02:002014-03-27T09:09:07.295+02:00DellortosSmall motorcycle progress added to the Guzzi post (<a -="" 2014="" carbs="" href="http://www.greenlimabeans.com/2013/02/deconstructed-guzzi-sp-1000.html#26Mar2014_Carbs">LINK</a>), sorry for those who come here for flowers but this is just as pretty.Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04771775314027714899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971123900449465800.post-59120947452262112782014-03-18T20:22:00.001+02:002014-03-18T20:26:44.173+02:00Hoekwil forest<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7p0q8YgmnwSyw9xHylBDzrIDokPTfQVueDrrxND3OMkfR38W4CwWESXRPp87EWzzipHDJEHWPQxrdcti9pODdImqFMiGtfiRs4pOivRP_nL2r75thuni6xsxWSVNMAOwhKe_LzToJXbk/s1200/Hoekwil+forest+canopy+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7p0q8YgmnwSyw9xHylBDzrIDokPTfQVueDrrxND3OMkfR38W4CwWESXRPp87EWzzipHDJEHWPQxrdcti9pODdImqFMiGtfiRs4pOivRP_nL2r75thuni6xsxWSVNMAOwhKe_LzToJXbk/s600/Hoekwil+forest+canopy+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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On a back road between George and Wilderness, just past a small settlement of low-cost government houses, there is a dirt road marked "Big Tree". It doesn't look very promising, but only a few hundred metres down the road, the dairy pastures and dusty stands of weeds give way to a cool green cathedral of Afrotemperate forest. On this late Sunday afternoon leaves were glowing stained glass, the streams murmured quiet prayers of thanks for last week's rain and the forest provided a silent sermon on the nature of time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDQQ9xL2H9pRrOiHNwndNEajhX4nI_0r0x232CeVIx9r6xtmpvKIlVkNqQIrrqiNPH1Kg5ynn3UoOZeUNvAGdvrXp7Br0EcfxSqIzqY_57PXZuv5yF-L-4uljN30cr4L94ohoYdiAwvY/s1200/Hoekwil+Plectranthus+backlit+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDQQ9xL2H9pRrOiHNwndNEajhX4nI_0r0x232CeVIx9r6xtmpvKIlVkNqQIrrqiNPH1Kg5ynn3UoOZeUNvAGdvrXp7Br0EcfxSqIzqY_57PXZuv5yF-L-4uljN30cr4L94ohoYdiAwvY/s900/Hoekwil+Plectranthus+backlit+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5BoN8Ww_FV3xoNdpT44ui5Rr872jLsuZOGzuTxSj6-qc4GeZDbiqDWesGEublRW1QLx5Uiymyxh4pU-1wVYE5vkjdjVYE4_-q1uBlJy3jPdsCSu2-xTxQLSRYoTV6sELvdXc6gqS5xag/s1200/Hoekwil+path+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5BoN8Ww_FV3xoNdpT44ui5Rr872jLsuZOGzuTxSj6-qc4GeZDbiqDWesGEublRW1QLx5Uiymyxh4pU-1wVYE5vkjdjVYE4_-q1uBlJy3jPdsCSu2-xTxQLSRYoTV6sELvdXc6gqS5xag/s900/Hoekwil+path+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVI8h1FyGeyou6wlASGZHflxsgjMXWVlNe2rL37dvrK9-QtpF8VBudq454TGDEEyTIgMyGca_Nl2PaviN5wkGE_Vj-7NfpocBWiZLGHutZFAruqOBiMXIAdAUtgxfeR0s3c-3XKgQqkhU/s1200/Hoekwil+stream+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVI8h1FyGeyou6wlASGZHflxsgjMXWVlNe2rL37dvrK9-QtpF8VBudq454TGDEEyTIgMyGca_Nl2PaviN5wkGE_Vj-7NfpocBWiZLGHutZFAruqOBiMXIAdAUtgxfeR0s3c-3XKgQqkhU/s745/Hoekwil+stream+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04771775314027714899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971123900449465800.post-76854363384074634212014-03-12T20:47:00.001+02:002014-03-18T20:25:45.290+02:00It's March again.On the sandy floodplain south of De Hoop vlei, this <i>Haemanthus </i>flower is pushing up. Only later the two broad, dark green leaves will appear, flat on the ground.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlvxRsqbendZ33zo37gB7DB2OIHKSLpaTiKzMc4eHtL5v-xKDo0ukDYREYlDVcsfymyex2S8N2vSMGEb9AREWzhBq3a2cvZCC4QdOiPWv44uiVex20Jdrlq8yw7oqrv_J7JVDBRXe4eo/s877/Haemanthus+sanguineus+emerging+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlvxRsqbendZ33zo37gB7DB2OIHKSLpaTiKzMc4eHtL5v-xKDo0ukDYREYlDVcsfymyex2S8N2vSMGEb9AREWzhBq3a2cvZCC4QdOiPWv44uiVex20Jdrlq8yw7oqrv_J7JVDBRXe4eo/s877/Haemanthus+sanguineus+emerging+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1qbj2dthLooV2hZ8I7PP_pJvfQJl3Xp326KUUnWovP2jdIBnyTQKYvf-_DP9d5hHtQ_Icme-7GUjK_plXt1WHjtNIkqk1ymNLZQTtc2M2lXoT0Q7yIbo0wq6sQG_Uy8W6dLsLy5qlYPU/s827/Haemanthus+sanguineus+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1qbj2dthLooV2hZ8I7PP_pJvfQJl3Xp326KUUnWovP2jdIBnyTQKYvf-_DP9d5hHtQ_Icme-7GUjK_plXt1WHjtNIkqk1ymNLZQTtc2M2lXoT0Q7yIbo0wq6sQG_Uy8W6dLsLy5qlYPU/s827/Haemanthus+sanguineus+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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It's interesting that Amaryllidaceae have recalcitrant seeds. This sounds like it means they are stubbornly resistant to growing at all. Botanically, it actually refers to seeds that are not able to dry and will germinate immediately when ripe. This explains why Amaryllids all over the world flower just before the rainy season of their native habitat. Unlike most plants, the ripe seed could not survive even a single dry season. Here in the winter rainfall areas of the Western Cape, that usually means the <a href="http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantab/amaryllid.htm">many and varied Amaryllidaceae</a> appear in early March, often pushing up out of hard, dry ground.<br />
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I'm not sure why this species is named <i>H. sanguineus</i>, but I'd like to think that it was presumed sanguine to be waking right at the end of summer, confident that the winter rains will be along shortly. A good word that, sanguine. One doesn't see it nearly often enough any more.Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04771775314027714899noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971123900449465800.post-70605569333361614882014-03-10T10:08:00.001+02:002014-03-11T11:36:45.386+02:00lost and found<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqrhdCwUTcp0vTVtizRjfUmvD-nXT55VQzquGZCgcCfUBkt4i4MtLZceBw9GejqTThezb1Lkd6EF0SROTPV3vSu3fv-QjPI6Fz4VQ2bUMjD6SfiVKffC3iq_bvkxjDLC3p9WFqafHjJb4/s1200/ginger+kitten+_1+(Custom).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqrhdCwUTcp0vTVtizRjfUmvD-nXT55VQzquGZCgcCfUBkt4i4MtLZceBw9GejqTThezb1Lkd6EF0SROTPV3vSu3fv-QjPI6Fz4VQ2bUMjD6SfiVKffC3iq_bvkxjDLC3p9WFqafHjJb4/s1200/ginger+kitten+_1+(Custom).jpg" width="600" /></a>
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A few days ago I saw a lone ginger kitten emerge briefly from the dusty grass next to a dirt road many kilometres from the nearest farmstead. I'm not sure what made me stop a hundred metres down the road and turn around to investigate. The last stray kitten I tried to rescue as a child was a terrified, un-tameable wild animal, spraying faeces everywhere whenever disturbed. Not an experience I'd care to repeat, especially inside my car with cloth upholstered seats, and sleeping bag and pillow on the back seat.<br />
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This little bedraggled mite had definitely been living rough for a while. Emaciated, filthy, patchy fur, tattered whiskers, scarred ears, and hosting more giant fleas than I've ever seen. But as I approached slowly, something unexpected happened. The purring started, and he came running over, rubbing up against my ankles. So into the car he went, and I set off with great trepidation. Apart from shedding flea eggs like sand, he only looked around with great curiosity at this novel experience, before settling down on the passenger seat.<br />
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The next day he joined our meeting, ate raw sausage and lapped milk like he'd never seen food before. He survived threats of drowning and shooting from two stern conservation men who rightly disapprove of all cats, and especially voracious, future bird and reptile murdering strays, but clearly didn't have the heart to do him in. However, we cannot keep a cat, I am mildly allergic, the cockatiel is very allergic, and the dog would consider him a snack. I stopped in Bredasdorp, the nearest small town on the way home, to drop him at the animal shelter. After looking over the miserable cages, and knowing his likely fate there, I was slightly relieved that they were closed and there was no answer on the after hours mobile number. In Cape Town, Rosie had already established that all the nearby animal shelters were full. So for a few days he was banished to the garage, with brief excursions when the mewing was replaced by constant purring. That time was enough to establish that he was intelligent and civilised enough to figure out how to use a sand box after one day, and exceedingly hungry all the time. After the fleas were dealt with and he accepted being bathed with minimal fuss, it became apparent that he really was thoroughly adorable, that the purring might never stop, and that laps were a lot more pleasant to be in than end of summer dry and dusty wheat fields.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCkW2sA1EAum3Abh0QO00sd0WNVQpbmDWgxkJ86gfynZ7dZWaLqyo7awW_oxf842rSul8Srt6szPJ_A4CsSse992KbJX45QocGfceMZAJx0Nf84kjN4HTkmZtxe4X601F1ZnyJkLAosI0/s1200/ginger+kitten+%2528Custom%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCkW2sA1EAum3Abh0QO00sd0WNVQpbmDWgxkJ86gfynZ7dZWaLqyo7awW_oxf842rSul8Srt6szPJ_A4CsSse992KbJX45QocGfceMZAJx0Nf84kjN4HTkmZtxe4X601F1ZnyJkLAosI0/s1200/ginger+kitten+%2528Custom%2529.jpg" width="600" /></a>
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The power of social media saved us from becoming cat people, and on Saturday the ginger kitten joined a loving family and was named Lenard. The pictures and video posted so far show a very small cat establishing that he is the boss of two large dogs, a besotted, gentle blonde toddler, and the adults in the house. He is now certain of the finest food money can buy, comfort and constant love. Sometimes a happy ending is that easy.<br />
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<br />Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04771775314027714899noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971123900449465800.post-38467276549427853672014-03-02T20:18:00.002+02:002014-03-02T20:18:48.594+02:00It's been five months.The problem with a blog for personal pleasure is that when one is less than buoyant, it can feel a bit like work. Also, I find that more and more I want to get away from my computer and do stuff with my hands again. To have something tangible when I'm finished.<br />
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So I present to you what I've been up to today: <a href="http://www.greenlimabeans.com/2013/02/deconstructed-guzzi-sp-1000.html">motorbike customisation</a> progress - a pair of lovingly hand-fabricated headlamp brackets.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIoDG2VZDr-C-n70FXNzP9EQQZOfO8o3uiUzS5h2tpH3lg67zw9lbdzE9RC3-PE_1OJtElrTA7W7t4_FwPJHU3SKiIngWTj3FUMAPSs5futUGpFQExlYThprxVe2uOkFpBQaW1v_CwSZI/s1200/headlamp+stays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIoDG2VZDr-C-n70FXNzP9EQQZOfO8o3uiUzS5h2tpH3lg67zw9lbdzE9RC3-PE_1OJtElrTA7W7t4_FwPJHU3SKiIngWTj3FUMAPSs5futUGpFQExlYThprxVe2uOkFpBQaW1v_CwSZI/s600/headlamp+stays.jpg" /></a><br />
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What you see here is about about 22 hours of Photoshop mock-up, cardboard templates, staring, measuring, staring, cutting, checking, staring, brazing, cosmetic filling with tin solder, grinding and painstakingly hand sanding to be ready for plating. Yes, that's only one small component of the bike. But aren't they pretty?Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04771775314027714899noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971123900449465800.post-59795758789410352882013-09-15T22:30:00.001+02:002013-09-27T17:14:48.520+02:00Lake Como, Italy(April 2013)
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hvXj6R8fm04ied9_yh6ATtJT3P-SgNj9A8G6GGkOU0D4yNEtAzq2K6me8m6M052Nt-7_b-yPLXmK6tz_UHz_P6AUhTN7oc09rZJvN653CmAEkSN_4vC8cNIMNAL-z6moMLFZntljHcs/s1200/Bellagio+_MG_6804+Photographer-+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hvXj6R8fm04ied9_yh6ATtJT3P-SgNj9A8G6GGkOU0D4yNEtAzq2K6me8m6M052Nt-7_b-yPLXmK6tz_UHz_P6AUhTN7oc09rZJvN653CmAEkSN_4vC8cNIMNAL-z6moMLFZntljHcs/s600/Bellagio+_MG_6804+Photographer-+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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I am at that point in life when I am becoming aware that the passage of time is alarmingly swift. And worse, the past fades so quickly, leaving only the tragic and the transcendent. That puts a lot of pressure on holiday decisions.<br />
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Deciding to go to Switzerland was easy. Rosie's parents were going to be there, with extended family nearby to visit. Also, we'd probably never go otherwise. After that, Eastern Europe was attractive, but opened up a paralysing range of options, and the whole of France was tantalisingly nearby too.<br />
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Fortunately, the onward flight from Milan turned out to be about twenty times cheaper than a train ride via Lyon to London, or any other option. Since we were being blown to and fro by the winds of chance anyway, nearby <a href="https://maps.google.co.za/?ll=45.973583,9.271774&spn=0.369362,0.617294&t=m&z=11">Lake Como</a> became an obvious choice when I discovered that the motorcycles I own and love are made there. However, we're both scientists, and that didn't seem an entirely rational basis for decision making. Some meticulous research was in order. Twenty minutes on Google Earth taking virtual strolls through every small town via Street View failed to locate a single scene that did not include picturesque lake views, or charming centuries old buildings, or both. Sold. Plane and train tickets booked. Done. Credit cards and the internet are a wondrous combination.<br />
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We left Switzerland in a new, immaculate train. In Milan we changed to a grimy local train to Lecco, from where we had to take a bus. We crammed in with a load of teenage school kids who were not fazed by the next hour of breathtaking lake views or the frequent near head on collisions with oncoming vehicles on what should really be a single lane road. Daily disaster is apparently avoided only by judicious application of the hooter at every blind bend. We got off at Visgnola, perched on the hill above bigger and more famous lakeside town of Bellagio, and wandered two hundred metres up the road in the drizzle to our home for the next two weeks, a little apartment above the square off Vicolo dei Frati.<br />
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Visgnola turned out to be an excellent choice. Our apartment was charming, clean, offered every amenity you could want, and being a little off the beaten path and outside tourist season, ridiculously cheap. When the rain stopped we went exploring and discovered that we had lucked into a rustic paradise of quaint architecture and breathtaking views.<br />
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Several seemingly sensible travel reviews had warned us that we could not stay up on the precipitous heights of Visgnola without a car. In reality the main town of Bellagio and all it's waterfront delights, turned out to be a gentle 20 minute stroll down a delightful stone passageway.<br />
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Real Italy, of course, could not possibly live up to the avalanche of clichéd travel writing. Sure enough, down on the Bellagio waterfront, there was a line of shops selling ghastly ducks and tortoises fashioned from lake pebbles entombed in plastic. Imported silk scarves printed with hideous patterns in lurid colours a sad reminder that <a href="http://www.museosetacomo.com/eng_home.php">once there had been a flourishing silk industry</a> in Como. I can imagine that in peak season the flocks of tourists become unbearable, but we were there just early enough to miss the crowds. For the first few very grey days we felt like we had the town to ourselves and we wandered around in a happy daze, drinking in the misty scenery.<br />
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The inevitable touristy bits fortunately included a number of lake side restaurants with only moderately inflated prices. Once the sun was out they quickly filled with customers basking in the gentle warmth.<br />
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Public transport is easy and not too expensive. Nearby towns, like the beautiful Varenna, are a quick ferry trip from Bellagio. Bus routes run all the main roads following the lake edge, and a rail line runs down the eastern side of the lake if you want to go further afield. But for the first week, we had no desire to go further than our daily walks around town.<br />
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<br />Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04771775314027714899noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971123900449465800.post-89911137019692339462013-06-23T21:00:00.000+02:002013-06-23T21:09:54.669+02:00(updated) on Lake Geneva - Lausanne, Morges, Vevey, MontreauxPictures of Switzerland usually show a land of brilliant white snow covered mountains, green pastures and sparkling blue lakes. Having spent all of one week there, I'm not sure if this spring was representative, but we got a lot of mist and subtle grey instead. Apparently there are mountains on the other side of the lake. I'm not really complaining, it was lovely.
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Lausanne
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_osbIYmJ9n4SOMVpiULlzFzxiHpqAuzMaCZUTkTHqHa_f9Zdyo-O1ehqcwcfo2n85o-MB28qQZjqVX4uAbmDtClpPUiGyiiecJwU0aV5mVOIp48S2eowKb1m0wWwGeBBXy1oXq18qNw8/s1200/Lake+Geneva,+Lausanne+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_osbIYmJ9n4SOMVpiULlzFzxiHpqAuzMaCZUTkTHqHa_f9Zdyo-O1ehqcwcfo2n85o-MB28qQZjqVX4uAbmDtClpPUiGyiiecJwU0aV5mVOIp48S2eowKb1m0wWwGeBBXy1oXq18qNw8/s600/Lake+Geneva,+Lausanne+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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It's a weird country, so different from what I'm used to. So much money, so many resources, so much public infrastructure, but fairly modest lifestyles for most. Yes, there are a fair number of luxury cars, but it seems most people would rather pay their taxes and use public transport most of the time.<br />
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The Swiss are famously risk averse. They really don't ever jaywalk, everyone drives carefully, and never after more than one drink. And yet everyone smokes. I mean everyone. Young and old, all the time, chain smoking non-stop. You'd think they'd have figured out that that was the one thing that would make them sick and dead surer than ignoring a red pedestrian light with no cars in sight. Go figure.<br />
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Morges
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The local market. Morelles from Turkey, Chaneterelles from Portugal, Shitakes from France. Local Spring asparagus was around, but three times the price of bigger bundles from southern hemisphere Peru. It's no wonder the seasons don't bother to come on time anymore.
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Cheese at least definitely from Switzerland.
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The tulip festival was supposed to have started a week before, but the long cold spring put paid to that. Only the beginnings of leaves and no buds. This small patch of crocus was the only sign of colour.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFcosVmQBEMf5sLkA0MHSFqESiZ2rr9aogDJFEC0VStQ9uBTcfTWrymMMh63O1aqf46uZ-vlitJW6k2zi5iKVJHhsj6gDSJv8ArfMVUwFbEAx0Kx6s5oZH39mQ88TbwPGGlCjnhcmUig/s1200/Morges,+Switzerland+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood++(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFcosVmQBEMf5sLkA0MHSFqESiZ2rr9aogDJFEC0VStQ9uBTcfTWrymMMh63O1aqf46uZ-vlitJW6k2zi5iKVJHhsj6gDSJv8ArfMVUwFbEAx0Kx6s5oZH39mQ88TbwPGGlCjnhcmUig/s900/Morges,+Switzerland+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood++(1).jpg" /></a></div>
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But everywhere on this trip the magnolias were out, huge fragrant flower buds ignoring the late winter.
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<h3>
Vevey
</h3>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEY_cgUeJQC9yVneqjxF612BKRNjxFk6rQC42620s4rmgLUpJXcspn_FZztU6ocQonU1wPFSgu-pN7mKA4hobI5hYj2VyEjIbAeTMVZy8Wi67WLWSp16JkfN_dJ6LlaepwUPHy0RXrtKw/s1200/Vevey_Switzerland_photo_Donovan_Kirkwood_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEY_cgUeJQC9yVneqjxF612BKRNjxFk6rQC42620s4rmgLUpJXcspn_FZztU6ocQonU1wPFSgu-pN7mKA4hobI5hYj2VyEjIbAeTMVZy8Wi67WLWSp16JkfN_dJ6LlaepwUPHy0RXrtKw/s881/Vevey_Switzerland_photo_Donovan_Kirkwood_01.jpg" /></a></div>
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The lovely Rosie.
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_kmjBm7skIVZt_ncvaLnnEuwZzHsAM1L83GSEyQtInLJ0EqgN4KInD3bYPHBr6GSCA8RMZqV9cfHhZMTvei334ECCeBz4t03etFUmPvQsXURjFLnMcV_6ciWprPZX4sBdg9tYaSmqqE/s1600/Vevey_Switzerland_photo_Donovan_Kirkwood_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_kmjBm7skIVZt_ncvaLnnEuwZzHsAM1L83GSEyQtInLJ0EqgN4KInD3bYPHBr6GSCA8RMZqV9cfHhZMTvei334ECCeBz4t03etFUmPvQsXURjFLnMcV_6ciWprPZX4sBdg9tYaSmqqE/s900/Vevey_Switzerland_photo_Donovan_Kirkwood_02.jpg" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlVf0h5GKKjfi46f7A2PZYXOK4Uz9ZfaJo_jeY_gZO222MmHQpvaWzlNs9Ev0rUbtYBxzO9KMQWoB7Ed7rUjqB3U3rEOrdUgrSlV_WCXhg1XbU3WSRIwQFDFNmvrCY_TUZUThVCwpS-ag/s1200/Vevey_Switzerland_photo_Donovan_Kirkwood_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlVf0h5GKKjfi46f7A2PZYXOK4Uz9ZfaJo_jeY_gZO222MmHQpvaWzlNs9Ev0rUbtYBxzO9KMQWoB7Ed7rUjqB3U3rEOrdUgrSlV_WCXhg1XbU3WSRIwQFDFNmvrCY_TUZUThVCwpS-ag/s900/Vevey_Switzerland_photo_Donovan_Kirkwood_03.jpg" /></a></div>
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The huge fork in the lake outside the food museum.
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvRbpppIbHvoWZ5H9GXO1qPRlsLfjn22l6SmPhStx_NJxerbVRup1FwO3EykIycuj-euL6PbyGuXhB9iDFZXbyp8zFlDP8KV7NGq_7p0lvl0KWpkIXX9e5CsRKkQoheVNtb9A6C9idHQ/s1200/Vevey_Switzerland_photo_Donovan_Kirkwood_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvRbpppIbHvoWZ5H9GXO1qPRlsLfjn22l6SmPhStx_NJxerbVRup1FwO3EykIycuj-euL6PbyGuXhB9iDFZXbyp8zFlDP8KV7NGq_7p0lvl0KWpkIXX9e5CsRKkQoheVNtb9A6C9idHQ/s900/Vevey_Switzerland_photo_Donovan_Kirkwood_04.jpg" /></a></div>
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In Switzerland you do not need to lock your bicycle.
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIUpAXmaDV2A5OoHMCfaAeiDPt_S6cCgwMvJp5rDBl1Y3IAloABKX8RWNid-JPXEe4AcGMhI7RvKUo7oSiFSTRac9hHGV4uJwXhM4fTBlswN5EFHWrnJ_Ak_PKJKewun2_HBpfbDPNe2s/s1200/Vevey_Switzerland_photo_Donovan_Kirkwood_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIUpAXmaDV2A5OoHMCfaAeiDPt_S6cCgwMvJp5rDBl1Y3IAloABKX8RWNid-JPXEe4AcGMhI7RvKUo7oSiFSTRac9hHGV4uJwXhM4fTBlswN5EFHWrnJ_Ak_PKJKewun2_HBpfbDPNe2s/s600/Vevey_Switzerland_photo_Donovan_Kirkwood_05.jpg" /></a></div>
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<h3>
Montreux
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There was of course local produce around. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allium_tricoccum">Ramp</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radicchio">radicchio</a>.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObFpVysVlvWmufHzubUxtUDG6XGMEsLDkPkvSjB3Xer0i7k-U3vw0RzZ46Q_hqwgurwSgrpdwcJ-JWZwzdbwkk6shwVHsBB8uStlK6vbu_oHQPFnvVqwJ5pBiCmo74pf6JIv0lblE_3I/s1200/Montreux_Switzerland_photo_Donovan_Kirkwood_06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObFpVysVlvWmufHzubUxtUDG6XGMEsLDkPkvSjB3Xer0i7k-U3vw0RzZ46Q_hqwgurwSgrpdwcJ-JWZwzdbwkk6shwVHsBB8uStlK6vbu_oHQPFnvVqwJ5pBiCmo74pf6JIv0lblE_3I/s900/Montreux_Switzerland_photo_Donovan_Kirkwood_06.jpg" /></a>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salsola_soda">Barba di Frate</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamb%27s_lettuce">mâche</a>.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrxsQbYcjm2gJ6StXToIgvlpuiHzt1jbuS9otnLBqCkMU3Ebd-AniAqk17VoHINoKog0yeHf0xIXFmcORIU-FeRZzfhbTGLFY2vKV2dlFEzzkYyMeqp3U_IKRs_pzh3gjzbNRAjy5UB9c/s1200/Montreux_Switzerland_photo_Donovan_Kirkwood_07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrxsQbYcjm2gJ6StXToIgvlpuiHzt1jbuS9otnLBqCkMU3Ebd-AniAqk17VoHINoKog0yeHf0xIXFmcORIU-FeRZzfhbTGLFY2vKV2dlFEzzkYyMeqp3U_IKRs_pzh3gjzbNRAjy5UB9c/s900/Montreux_Switzerland_photo_Donovan_Kirkwood_07.jpg" /></a>
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Rosie loved Switzerland. I liked it. A lot. But down a little side street, an Italian mechanic's workshop got my heart beating a little faster. It was time to head over the border.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwC3W91kwniufVRF0D5sBZKugzKrrdYEHlDsCtGlOJS2HXYO_D41jU3LDjINd9Kg-FAdvjcxzx_ftS6IO5AWd1hDv9lLbV39iDE4xZO0tTrYr3q9mq4W6E_phVNhefYbuAtG0pPQMYJ5w/s1200/Montreux_Switzerland_photo_Donovan_Kirkwood_08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwC3W91kwniufVRF0D5sBZKugzKrrdYEHlDsCtGlOJS2HXYO_D41jU3LDjINd9Kg-FAdvjcxzx_ftS6IO5AWd1hDv9lLbV39iDE4xZO0tTrYr3q9mq4W6E_phVNhefYbuAtG0pPQMYJ5w/s900/Montreux_Switzerland_photo_Donovan_Kirkwood_08.jpg" /></a>
Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04771775314027714899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971123900449465800.post-35064648522102976092013-06-04T22:18:00.001+02:002013-06-05T12:27:31.548+02:00GruyèresQuick. Word association - Swiss Alps? Cheese and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edelweiss_(song)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edelweiss_(song)">Edelweiss</a> right? Well, at least the cheese. And as we were mere hours by train from Gruyères, at least one day had to be spent in cheese country, complete with cheesy museum tour and bus trip to the top of the hill to potter around the medieval town and castle that give the famous cheese its name.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjacjuZxc_uM4laknofAvn7M072ZOFB3rnwFHjTf1KFyWpg2dud7yzn5OwZAQhMGLZO5AHI02Ix5_TJt8pwENq3mCk9j7I4ux4MeuG22QG-Q1SBXXrbhxsU3NsVEhev_fKseIcNqFuTEL0/s1200/Gruyere+village+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjacjuZxc_uM4laknofAvn7M072ZOFB3rnwFHjTf1KFyWpg2dud7yzn5OwZAQhMGLZO5AHI02Ix5_TJt8pwENq3mCk9j7I4ux4MeuG22QG-Q1SBXXrbhxsU3NsVEhev_fKseIcNqFuTEL0/s892/Gruyere+village+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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We discovered that artisanal Gruyères cheese-making involves more automation and stainless steel than one might expect, but that expert cheesemaker, cheese cultures and seasonal cow pastures are happily still crucial.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxKO-TdbXXt1KlHZ2DkpFXn1gHXLhUS0N-mQZzgUPqoHL5SWqiJB3qmVQfXOhyAekdmx3BhzGj7GfpTVqifTBeZITTSzC2Qp85DIDWB5R9kx0GJXWMhWuDyLunaKCvZfaWc_a9jgXLew/s1200/Guyere+cheese+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxKO-TdbXXt1KlHZ2DkpFXn1gHXLhUS0N-mQZzgUPqoHL5SWqiJB3qmVQfXOhyAekdmx3BhzGj7GfpTVqifTBeZITTSzC2Qp85DIDWB5R9kx0GJXWMhWuDyLunaKCvZfaWc_a9jgXLew/s864/Guyere+cheese+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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The Swiss are not scared to do touristy...
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBqhLHH_k0CoUKotMqxhhpUGlmXWjrxFkE-mpOF26gygqDvJzpybZQeinMJPkf7YAg_tQ4f5_VHqyO2noEmDdvSb890zu7Nx2Q9H2IQG-8xwtO0yaGTrZkiPf7gvHRUluQUJ7He5dLq-8/s1200/Gruyere_curio_junk_Switzerland_photo_Donovan_Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBqhLHH_k0CoUKotMqxhhpUGlmXWjrxFkE-mpOF26gygqDvJzpybZQeinMJPkf7YAg_tQ4f5_VHqyO2noEmDdvSb890zu7Nx2Q9H2IQG-8xwtO0yaGTrZkiPf7gvHRUluQUJ7He5dLq-8/s600/Gruyere_curio_junk_Switzerland_photo_Donovan_Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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...which means raspberries and cream all year round and eye-wateringly expensive, soggy <a href="https://www.google.co.za/search?q=rosti&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=aEmuUfKWIMiWhQeJ1YDoDg&ved=0CDQQsAQ&biw=1200&bih=1539">rösti </a>that bear no resemblance to the gloriously crispy real thing. Luckily I knew better than to order Swiss-German food in French-Swiss territory, and had glorious Gruyères fondue instead. Even tourist restaurants cant fuck up melted cheese.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnn2FICXgUfhFn5CPgOXTDVxe5un-1ykE-3p3e1ahAsiVWaxfrHOlL34aVwWWoWFkGWpylCghog9ZaFHL3IjBB_B-pt1SbvT2dk-W5rVXf9z_5YHE-rg4DspHO1plGMLMg75TnFEVEGJ8/s1200/Gruyere+street+menu+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnn2FICXgUfhFn5CPgOXTDVxe5un-1ykE-3p3e1ahAsiVWaxfrHOlL34aVwWWoWFkGWpylCghog9ZaFHL3IjBB_B-pt1SbvT2dk-W5rVXf9z_5YHE-rg4DspHO1plGMLMg75TnFEVEGJ8/s900/Gruyere+street+menu+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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After I got home I did a CSI type analysis of the view photographs and determined that there were in fact big mountains beyond the grey veil.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4iwOLYdOpEq7I2z-CFKzQ52YmZ9wF9DxLmvct0zYEFW-46pW0Iu-olvtisCpxQVdOVNssyvpBg3eahtxIMXLZx05CLiOVZ8ZyMB6AfptJ9amj4vAKDVaqmoYOWmU4F-ClNphSMFi-9U/s1200/Gruyere+misty+mountain+view+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4iwOLYdOpEq7I2z-CFKzQ52YmZ9wF9DxLmvct0zYEFW-46pW0Iu-olvtisCpxQVdOVNssyvpBg3eahtxIMXLZx05CLiOVZ8ZyMB6AfptJ9amj4vAKDVaqmoYOWmU4F-ClNphSMFi-9U/s952/Gruyere+misty+mountain+view+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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But the fantastic thing about travelling is that none of the touristy stuff matters. It's the little things that tell you you're in a different part of the world.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtaCFdxvaFmu9IwrYOTHwDKSrAmFGQPcC6poTgAiAy9bXpPHTTyvZypgTmteTPb3_I9vWeyJxxSRe6_L2GVNNzYloQO3nFoPRAEk77aQEeWpqWWX4MIt1I3qQsea0e_66CMZ_QNy5U3Wc/s1200/Gruyere+creeper+%2526+shutters+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtaCFdxvaFmu9IwrYOTHwDKSrAmFGQPcC6poTgAiAy9bXpPHTTyvZypgTmteTPb3_I9vWeyJxxSRe6_L2GVNNzYloQO3nFoPRAEk77aQEeWpqWWX4MIt1I3qQsea0e_66CMZ_QNy5U3Wc/s900/Gruyere+creeper+%2526+shutters+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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A bench lurking in a hidden corner, off the main street, with a back carved just as Heidi would have known.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0_OOzjY57A6W2ArQ73vpwDLokIR5-LIV_Pgnx08stMZCTqsLzvux9jqWwabFeRRJXssi-WSNM95Xa2_5WJdJwVMp0ACHi0w5Vybg1Jnp8Uxx95zTlOS2xPqaRtpHlfP15VNN5KBBk_E/s1200/Gruyere+bench+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0_OOzjY57A6W2ArQ73vpwDLokIR5-LIV_Pgnx08stMZCTqsLzvux9jqWwabFeRRJXssi-WSNM95Xa2_5WJdJwVMp0ACHi0w5Vybg1Jnp8Uxx95zTlOS2xPqaRtpHlfP15VNN5KBBk_E/s900/Gruyere+bench+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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A church with a particular kind of steeple.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kDHInV1Opb7UFtaW9AOufglQWIPNGkhaFczdvvg7pNisuvv6kZRfCgTRWAI5HvrclSl6AdXkl1n0UT3nQ1OJpju6NTDQFzdKseKMG0VDWzD1f8x9VWd0rAaA3xJf1QsoujmPFu1IA4E/s1200/Gruyere+church+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kDHInV1Opb7UFtaW9AOufglQWIPNGkhaFczdvvg7pNisuvv6kZRfCgTRWAI5HvrclSl6AdXkl1n0UT3nQ1OJpju6NTDQFzdKseKMG0VDWzD1f8x9VWd0rAaA3xJf1QsoujmPFu1IA4E/s900/Gruyere+church+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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A sculpture<a href="http://www.hrgiger.com/newborn.htm"> you knew about </a>but didn't expect to see on that square of all places, outside an entire Giger museum.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1Pb_FFdBSNJhEE8i3t2BzM6XylNDUC93JjuvJnKblRFeVNBQnJJLoc0Dg6_4DaIB5KT8VPrJghrWeZ1VEJ3PU6fP4KwIKjSOFgMPeZVhs6wTjmisAP0DzVbjJB1SE7FQ5i0k4st4VGc/s1200/Giger+birth+machine+baby+sculpture+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1Pb_FFdBSNJhEE8i3t2BzM6XylNDUC93JjuvJnKblRFeVNBQnJJLoc0Dg6_4DaIB5KT8VPrJghrWeZ1VEJ3PU6fP4KwIKjSOFgMPeZVhs6wTjmisAP0DzVbjJB1SE7FQ5i0k4st4VGc/s900/Giger+birth+machine+baby+sculpture+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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And just a little further outside the town, house styles that haven't changed in centuries.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrBHCAXQwLyPGUV1MRjrActQHrt8oQfZv_S8-JnhAQiydUD96dF4f5JKGUrR6t8rK3TFNAQURNYHLWvxW6wVTpqq7CguwmibKFRfLgyyU8b2FGFklD8iY75JZoYM_IUqT4QHL6d10oYKA/s1200/Gruyere+wooden+house+firewood+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrBHCAXQwLyPGUV1MRjrActQHrt8oQfZv_S8-JnhAQiydUD96dF4f5JKGUrR6t8rK3TFNAQURNYHLWvxW6wVTpqq7CguwmibKFRfLgyyU8b2FGFklD8iY75JZoYM_IUqT4QHL6d10oYKA/s900/Gruyere+wooden+house+firewood+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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Barns and farm life.
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Fields for the cows that smell completely different from cow fields here (dramatically more intense than our gentle local cow poo).
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZ-PeQfuia-U2IWf5Fk7SqhPTM4EsYHviFBoCIicJCHCNA9Fc5ZURCIzQb9_XMZau2cDUJ9CVlkqdCRSweJw_1J-j2Jia6Yg6U8YWqWsjolWVJib3nmziATKtpmsaqy2Gwq_lJoBnHS0/s1200/Gruyere+field+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZ-PeQfuia-U2IWf5Fk7SqhPTM4EsYHviFBoCIicJCHCNA9Fc5ZURCIzQb9_XMZau2cDUJ9CVlkqdCRSweJw_1J-j2Jia6Yg6U8YWqWsjolWVJib3nmziATKtpmsaqy2Gwq_lJoBnHS0/s600/Gruyere+field+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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Happy chickens, even if they're Rhode Island Reds and a symbol of creeping global uniformity. They're still happy chickens, and delightfully pastoral. Can you tell I love chickens, and especially Rhode Island Reds?
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsIrVBq6invbqwUYHD9u8ERDbWDLts8J8uDHw9FwyPDwJs0Bp2bqvjpb0Vt19M3I0b-2-PFEi1FPI1qR8xcuHYGj79U4F3q-ChzG_z17H7_OsGyAWaknBmuiQLRdY4vSxloyLdznTYgg/s1200/Gruyere+Rhode+Island+Red+chicken+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsIrVBq6invbqwUYHD9u8ERDbWDLts8J8uDHw9FwyPDwJs0Bp2bqvjpb0Vt19M3I0b-2-PFEi1FPI1qR8xcuHYGj79U4F3q-ChzG_z17H7_OsGyAWaknBmuiQLRdY4vSxloyLdznTYgg/s900/Gruyere+Rhode+Island+Red+chicken+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04771775314027714899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971123900449465800.post-52150241829159564922013-05-19T22:01:00.002+02:002013-06-05T12:27:58.155+02:00LonayWe arrived on the third of April to a cold, grey Zurich and headed south the same day. Our train left within 10 seconds of the stated departure time, as all Swiss trains do.<br />
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Our home for the first week of holiday was this nondescript but charming rural town on the north of Lake Geneva, chosen because it was off the tourist track, and conveniently halfway between Lausanne and family to be visited.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFV1NQTKVgTH2FM1CFf27Z4_yFl-xjL_6mtaBTIFCMSkWawYIjelGt2bmffOk_Y0vaTYuRtspa4W0mGPyaxR03pj9So22iat3YUqXJGtRXhKlLEBTaJSVYaD5AmMoWkxeqMe7Alofl40M/s1200/Lonay,+Switzerland+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood++(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFV1NQTKVgTH2FM1CFf27Z4_yFl-xjL_6mtaBTIFCMSkWawYIjelGt2bmffOk_Y0vaTYuRtspa4W0mGPyaxR03pj9So22iat3YUqXJGtRXhKlLEBTaJSVYaD5AmMoWkxeqMe7Alofl40M/s900/Lonay,+Switzerland+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood++(2).jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XfiFq8Uy5R5TIRiuEhpTYgesG-SrWzkdklimEYxxiU_vTUfIofwbE3uxGZUhgicbv8UdwpIX5xgymSJNWZNfWyhzY3sg5zZR0a5Pk4UUVZXaz1PpJNql_ndaxY_7bfdnPfnYxvVOZbk/s1200/Lonay,+Switzerland+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood++(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XfiFq8Uy5R5TIRiuEhpTYgesG-SrWzkdklimEYxxiU_vTUfIofwbE3uxGZUhgicbv8UdwpIX5xgymSJNWZNfWyhzY3sg5zZR0a5Pk4UUVZXaz1PpJNql_ndaxY_7bfdnPfnYxvVOZbk/s600/Lonay,+Switzerland+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood++(3).jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlaAF-2SISAA805PhYG9rkufKXressmE1CWY3ThB4Y24NvBDfK5ERjB1peTkz7dfnkJHbJIndUXVn9JttgjNGOZpjQ4Hra4rflVX2ECyakzPP5jQ3jei6uLXfbU7WVBj9tDh2UN1E-Z_E/s1200/Lonay,+Switzerland+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood++(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlaAF-2SISAA805PhYG9rkufKXressmE1CWY3ThB4Y24NvBDfK5ERjB1peTkz7dfnkJHbJIndUXVn9JttgjNGOZpjQ4Hra4rflVX2ECyakzPP5jQ3jei6uLXfbU7WVBj9tDh2UN1E-Z_E/s900/Lonay,+Switzerland+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood++(5).jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Zycx_qM5LgcRzQbTsXtMmJ5E_wC00jPmyxXoL90VQn0QT5xpTAMFQHuxnsKHw_GcoQiZsBqqzMQ2IFirhT93f2FJZpw-03FL1_cYA4M7v0lFvGykEhGKNTOVh2xlmDWfWLSvW4KXNtU/s1200/Lonay,+Switzerland+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood++(6).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Zycx_qM5LgcRzQbTsXtMmJ5E_wC00jPmyxXoL90VQn0QT5xpTAMFQHuxnsKHw_GcoQiZsBqqzMQ2IFirhT93f2FJZpw-03FL1_cYA4M7v0lFvGykEhGKNTOVh2xlmDWfWLSvW4KXNtU/s900/Lonay,+Switzerland+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood++(6).jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nFo0G7vmwVvEd8NDcuQqsjNZw2zB5WouHdJogaMxJuDc3YRBYpG8SUNnnnKf5-XSGHT2k4hWA1zEYz9NT-oKUbxa9fFjH4v3tOnAokLf0IRJS86aza2-x1JbW-2oy2I20DKWIg1cPEg/s1200/Lonay,+Switzerland+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood++(7).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nFo0G7vmwVvEd8NDcuQqsjNZw2zB5WouHdJogaMxJuDc3YRBYpG8SUNnnnKf5-XSGHT2k4hWA1zEYz9NT-oKUbxa9fFjH4v3tOnAokLf0IRJS86aza2-x1JbW-2oy2I20DKWIg1cPEg/s600/Lonay,+Switzerland+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood++(7).jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2n_hgOt5bb9OpmqPQBddNKatpj7ROtwLliJ0shjdjwmdM9CUpkVEXVrz8qlP6CpN-KGQxonWhM1ri3E3bWBTgZe1O1utx3QgDoFIB1s3rgoJ0-loi7izlLYOoJlN7rc5v52HBJIgimx8/s1200/Lonay,+Switzerland+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood++(9).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2n_hgOt5bb9OpmqPQBddNKatpj7ROtwLliJ0shjdjwmdM9CUpkVEXVrz8qlP6CpN-KGQxonWhM1ri3E3bWBTgZe1O1utx3QgDoFIB1s3rgoJ0-loi7izlLYOoJlN7rc5v52HBJIgimx8/s600/Lonay,+Switzerland+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood++(9).jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLSl06j0ZWjg_CRQAgxDANcZ9BL_9rPCcICpA9e2tMOS96ZKAUGmqgxG13sFrCh3UWemz-A9Aa7C0RKZFkm6yrRt1-esNV8_R2XDOuhk51o11UeD1a5Cw1eZcxw987uT5kOUwytvB-U9g/s1600/Lonay,+Switzerland+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood++(8).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLSl06j0ZWjg_CRQAgxDANcZ9BL_9rPCcICpA9e2tMOS96ZKAUGmqgxG13sFrCh3UWemz-A9Aa7C0RKZFkm6yrRt1-esNV8_R2XDOuhk51o11UeD1a5Cw1eZcxw987uT5kOUwytvB-U9g/s600/Lonay,+Switzerland+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood++(8).jpg" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGNfPGKaOhODaGDVdIAkhw0zNqskRxYGdBVuhnKon1tnHGUj5ROuRpqEY0vLRZXh5NeJoxwbG0IHfBF_2X5vNZWT5outt75bl04xLY2v0QqSMnvveoZcPuJEMXWWG9KTdm7_mC9YMJIHQ/s1600/Lonay,+Switzerland+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGNfPGKaOhODaGDVdIAkhw0zNqskRxYGdBVuhnKon1tnHGUj5ROuRpqEY0vLRZXh5NeJoxwbG0IHfBF_2X5vNZWT5outt75bl04xLY2v0QqSMnvveoZcPuJEMXWWG9KTdm7_mC9YMJIHQ/s880/Lonay,+Switzerland+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood+.jpg" /></a>Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04771775314027714899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971123900449465800.post-59170103967734541932013-04-18T19:43:00.000+02:002013-04-19T09:30:20.733+02:00Lake Como<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZE2j2pthDQaczhvfsCmiMvF52KeKvIxAPpI44-g1jzeAqqQENNAw2qB4fT4XerMBZsE77YPrRrEKSLSk-_8NVXtJk538YI7IBXoZ4l_sieHVODSVTatVnd_pz7NBLeN07tZLXC_KGZE/s1200/Varenna,+Lake+Como+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood_MG_7244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZE2j2pthDQaczhvfsCmiMvF52KeKvIxAPpI44-g1jzeAqqQENNAw2qB4fT4XerMBZsE77YPrRrEKSLSk-_8NVXtJk538YI7IBXoZ4l_sieHVODSVTatVnd_pz7NBLeN07tZLXC_KGZE/s600/Varenna,+Lake+Como+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood_MG_7244.JPG" /></a>
I probably should have mentioned I'd be away for a while. At first because of unpleasant work loads. But most recently because we've been on holiday, with no access to a computer to process photos. So here's just a taster of from our week and a bit on Lake Como in northern Italy. Yes, it is a bit touristy in places, but like all touristy areas, real daily life is only a few minutes walk from the curio shops and theme park restaurants. Even this close to the Swiss border, it's all delightful rural Italian cliché, with stone walls, narrow lanes, Vespas and old Fiats, geese and green fields, handmade Tallegio cheese and spectacular lake views over patchwork green fields.
More to come when we get home at the end of the month.Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04771775314027714899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971123900449465800.post-84495293253689465682013-02-04T22:20:00.000+02:002014-03-27T09:07:35.231+02:00A deconstructed Moto GuzziWhy would an otherwise completely sensible person buy a 33 year old motorcycle, sight unseen, as a pile of parts?<br />
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Reason no. 1: It's a classic Guzzi<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggynRGPZEh5IKnfybL6zCRHYHfvKWVW756YqLsrp_F9GgQX4anTkDARrBK1aAZTSi8ttmD_ylYtB7Xi5r7R4a4m178sqm6aKmnVp3uRW-OXp6UMpLRbPr4NCwjwBM8FBjikXzWDvroK44/s1200/_MG_4820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggynRGPZEh5IKnfybL6zCRHYHfvKWVW756YqLsrp_F9GgQX4anTkDARrBK1aAZTSi8ttmD_ylYtB7Xi5r7R4a4m178sqm6aKmnVp3uRW-OXp6UMpLRbPr4NCwjwBM8FBjikXzWDvroK44/s600/_MG_4820.jpg" /></a>
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Reason no. 2: Yes, that odometer really does say 26,326km. This Moto Guzzi SP1000 is basically brand new. Slightly more grubby than is typical for a new bike admittedly, but not a trace of wear anywhere. Flaking chrome and three decades of dirt, but all the working bits are almost virginal.<br />
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Reason no. 3: Well this is really the same as reason no. 1. Until the mid 1980's Moto Guzzi manufactured the most beautiful internal combustion engine on the planet. Still the old rounded tappet covers.<br />
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Reason no. 4: A very trustworthy, soft Welsh voice, all the way from Aberdeen. No, not Scotland, Aberdeen near Graaf Reinet in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. And some pictures. I'm not insane.<br />
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I fetched it Friday evening. Unpacking had to wait until Sunday. To the uneducated the following picture might look like a big mess. Understand that the newspaper is actually gift wrapping, and suddenly the true nature of the scene becomes clear.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpX6RnZe2PEsoaG1sLzYoXktDmEgV_VlrD35OBPbriy9oaJ-9s9_OTjVMbkj6Xz3JDtkcdGjdIRaRKkBeQ9zOudOVdyI__a84dGEHx0dJpE9YfHC24ZfYnDAQeJa082EtrNtu3zBYTaU/s1200/_MG_4803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpX6RnZe2PEsoaG1sLzYoXktDmEgV_VlrD35OBPbriy9oaJ-9s9_OTjVMbkj6Xz3JDtkcdGjdIRaRKkBeQ9zOudOVdyI__a84dGEHx0dJpE9YfHC24ZfYnDAQeJa082EtrNtu3zBYTaU/s600/_MG_4803.jpg" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuVQgIWsu2IaRuQxanE0WF05FQy-VjPaCP_4xAC5pVZ5FDmkfKS5EUfS394R17HIGs0TI390TsMxmi20D2VwwcE6hRIqi8CJCeVS8uZ4kdFkXYNsbNT4pFpVhkxAmoiM2hPZo8UqWsXHA/s1200/_MG_4805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuVQgIWsu2IaRuQxanE0WF05FQy-VjPaCP_4xAC5pVZ5FDmkfKS5EUfS394R17HIGs0TI390TsMxmi20D2VwwcE6hRIqi8CJCeVS8uZ4kdFkXYNsbNT4pFpVhkxAmoiM2hPZo8UqWsXHA/s903/_MG_4805.jpg" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4LcLp3_RuqZa4MDrZZHDWRmNYd8nrQG1nqt2CLK79m2VcSMEQ_Acx0kGMmqq50sbxbKjFY4Drb5P2zYCOnzGyxyg7mguW2t14J_vvsToMcb5eTrmKWIsiy-xSe1b8bgyYzTLck5D_38/s1200/_MG_4817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4LcLp3_RuqZa4MDrZZHDWRmNYd8nrQG1nqt2CLK79m2VcSMEQ_Acx0kGMmqq50sbxbKjFY4Drb5P2zYCOnzGyxyg7mguW2t14J_vvsToMcb5eTrmKWIsiy-xSe1b8bgyYzTLck5D_38/s827/_MG_4817.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaILeZPLl8wzBfBS_2vPUX1-1uL_xBIcMka2Nmqc-Yk3HiYjEmE1YYDKHOoGepyZs5BFyIKz1U25IDwz1bIoOkv-TshcyhxprxfsXXhFVCw6ZErPKMbCJULYnj6EzacN1IijXtDgenXM0/s1200/_MG_4819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaILeZPLl8wzBfBS_2vPUX1-1uL_xBIcMka2Nmqc-Yk3HiYjEmE1YYDKHOoGepyZs5BFyIKz1U25IDwz1bIoOkv-TshcyhxprxfsXXhFVCw6ZErPKMbCJULYnj6EzacN1IijXtDgenXM0/s600/_MG_4819.jpg" /></a>
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Which brings us to reason no. 5:<br />
Yes, there is another classic Guzzi engine in those pictures. It belongs to my 1971 V7 Special. We've been together since 1993, and slowly, slowly, she is returning to her former glory. Since she really is Special, serious modifications are out of the question. The SP 1000 though, is like a beautiful woman dressed in ugly clothes. She needs a little undressing, and some new clothes. A mistress, if you will, something of a plaything. Don't be alarmed though, that's just the Italian way, my oldest love will always be first in my heart.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkK0hHUHkhLy7DJLFJ7xeQXahDT9MjTpNnEHDzhO9uckwD5JtXNgVm_5yOSrD4jy9ZsP_fOV2LM5cjCPb6rbKGWGmxb3H2gW5YN2hsTY5NUE7JfDc-kf515sh298fs6YpzU1l4tePfvU/s1200/_MG_4810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkK0hHUHkhLy7DJLFJ7xeQXahDT9MjTpNnEHDzhO9uckwD5JtXNgVm_5yOSrD4jy9ZsP_fOV2LM5cjCPb6rbKGWGmxb3H2gW5YN2hsTY5NUE7JfDc-kf515sh298fs6YpzU1l4tePfvU/s600/_MG_4810.jpg" /></a>
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P.S. I don't really equate women to mechanical possessions.
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P.P.S. On the other hand, I do relate to the V7 as more than a machine. Judge me as you will.<br />
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<h4>
10 Feb update</h4>
I made more motorbike fix up progress this weekend than I have in ten years. Miraculously everything seems to be there. That pile of bits now looks sort of like a bike, and I've got a pretty good idea of what I'm aiming for - a custom that uses almost all original bits, maybe even the original paintwork on the tank, but every excess piece will be brutally pared away and all the lines cleaned up. That open rear frame is a winner and will stay, with all the components that were under the side panels to be hidden away somewhere else. Now to decide what needs to be cut and changed, and what bits I need to make, and then I'll take it apart again, do all the repairing and fabricating, and just put it back together again. Easy.<br />
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I promise this won't become a motorcycle blog, but if you're interested, bookmark this post and I'll update with major progress.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbrcHJ4bprrK5zoUiWQdPWMq9UfhSRWswoXAaKyOH1hKUQ_hBdw5uLMhtFKxcjccuKI2qcD3ApQb-ddisfDVfM0_MSvFA2AAspQIkbci_QdN2HeRwl0OHeaOvEyBW_0ELBPwE85b-dfo/s1200/_MG_5029+taking+shape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbrcHJ4bprrK5zoUiWQdPWMq9UfhSRWswoXAaKyOH1hKUQ_hBdw5uLMhtFKxcjccuKI2qcD3ApQb-ddisfDVfM0_MSvFA2AAspQIkbci_QdN2HeRwl0OHeaOvEyBW_0ELBPwE85b-dfo/s600/_MG_5029+taking+shape.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moto Guzzi SP 1000 cafe custom mock up. It's going to be pretty. And no, that's not the saddle I will use.</td></tr>
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For reference, here's how it looked before. Sort of charming in a 1980 kind of way. The windshield is very practical , and not completely hideous, but whoever thought those engine cowls were a good idea should be shot and thrown in Lake Como. Not only are they an ugly blight on that exquisite v-twin, they also bash the knees of any normal sized person. <a href="http://www.greenlimabeans.com/p/email.html">Contact me</a> if you would like to purchase all that excess bodywork at a very reasonable price.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0CkQX2YrAAS7nNNVg4gjWr5i-bNa_doeCZ_4AK0jLcGjCj7OAfSWiQz0BUrNK5tfeHNW2elrKtPgDMaQ89V_1ae3v2B-C6FhGGKbk79Y6gXBTk9QwmqbgvUusblzDrk9bL9xMbccdLk/s1200/Image2+rev1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0CkQX2YrAAS7nNNVg4gjWr5i-bNa_doeCZ_4AK0jLcGjCj7OAfSWiQz0BUrNK5tfeHNW2elrKtPgDMaQ89V_1ae3v2B-C6FhGGKbk79Y6gXBTk9QwmqbgvUusblzDrk9bL9xMbccdLk/s600/Image2+rev1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That same Moto Guzzi SP 1000 circa early '80s. Photo by original owner Les McMahon</td></tr>
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<h4>
</h4>
<h4>
February 2014 progress:</h4>
I've mostly figured out what I want to do and have started getting bits ready. E.g. this pair of lovingly hand-fabricated headlamp brackets.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIoDG2VZDr-C-n70FXNzP9EQQZOfO8o3uiUzS5h2tpH3lg67zw9lbdzE9RC3-PE_1OJtElrTA7W7t4_FwPJHU3SKiIngWTj3FUMAPSs5futUGpFQExlYThprxVe2uOkFpBQaW1v_CwSZI/s1200/headlamp+stays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIoDG2VZDr-C-n70FXNzP9EQQZOfO8o3uiUzS5h2tpH3lg67zw9lbdzE9RC3-PE_1OJtElrTA7W7t4_FwPJHU3SKiIngWTj3FUMAPSs5futUGpFQExlYThprxVe2uOkFpBQaW1v_CwSZI/s600/headlamp+stays.jpg" /></a><br />
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What you see here is about about 22 hours of Photoshop mock-up, cardboard templates, staring, measuring, staring, cutting, checking, staring, brazing, cosmetic filling with tin solder, grinding and painstakingly hand sanding to be ready for plating. Yes, that's only one small component. But this isn't a race, and aren't they pretty?<br />
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<a name="26Mar2014_Carbs"><h4>26 March 2014 - Carbs</h4></a>
Such a lovely name, Dellorto. Even the code sounds charming to me, one marked VHBT 30 C S, and the other VHBT 30 C D. VHB designates the old square bore Dellortos, with a nice wide 30mm diameter to feed those big cylinders. S is for <i>Sinistra</i>, left in Italian, D for <i>Destra</i>, right, indicating their respective sides.
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They started out like this:
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNe5BSBOSF84fpJkDK4rrNTF5ML5wjVqYrODTpTblgvIiSamAhNnN6irCuN7UuUyYnUPPe2KrkF3maZN0QYCGGTtavRN88W-QVaE37R8WnUPhGMw1U-AYsGyT74KJIrCQo1bC49WrMnyU/s1200/Dellorto+VHBT+30+C+carb+before+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNe5BSBOSF84fpJkDK4rrNTF5ML5wjVqYrODTpTblgvIiSamAhNnN6irCuN7UuUyYnUPPe2KrkF3maZN0QYCGGTtavRN88W-QVaE37R8WnUPhGMw1U-AYsGyT74KJIrCQo1bC49WrMnyU/s600/Dellorto+VHBT+30+C+carb+before+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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Filthy and corroded, dried out petrol sludge glueing everything together. This is great news. It tells me that this is why the previous owner stripped the carburettors, to try to deal with a problem, not to fiddle. It also confirms that the low mileage is genuine and the bike stood for long, long time at some stage.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwe9XCtYj3y5bH1onxNX0goz3iVIRoR9eMnX5Gi9Oci0bLHY5TkPkFmWEgGCr2zqIZnB865KAt23JAKHocaDWTlGPbtwXG1sehzlr_b4uotUjpm3ULB8xMB6nusX1mrxHlD4oM8hYCDQ4/s1200/Dellorto+VHBT+30+C+carbs+before+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwe9XCtYj3y5bH1onxNX0goz3iVIRoR9eMnX5Gi9Oci0bLHY5TkPkFmWEgGCr2zqIZnB865KAt23JAKHocaDWTlGPbtwXG1sehzlr_b4uotUjpm3ULB8xMB6nusX1mrxHlD4oM8hYCDQ4/s600/Dellorto+VHBT+30+C+carbs+before+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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A couple of hours of soda blasting, followed by a good rinse in boiling water and a careful drying got everything looking almost new. Home soda blasting is great, quick, safer and cheaper than nasty cleaning chemicals. Basically like sand or other media blasting, but with baking soda - powerful enough to quickly strip grease and deposits, gentle enough to leave even plastic components undamaged. The intake manifold gaskets had previously been stuck on with some gasket gunk, so I took the time to scrape them off carefully and get the manifold mating faces dead flat with sandpaper on a glass sheet.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtknIRMTVv7jw_bzyJaH58Lo3_MokXM0J-EuGyc1CeRk4UMZ8e-71xjaxQ6WOxgOpZ-cpC_mQlQWL3cfOPYwOmgMI0Di5X-vjHbRAiE8egawj_iPDiFB6hvWym53895Yn3XgZlzZs4s68/s1200/Dellorto+VHBT+30+C+carbs+clean+exploded+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtknIRMTVv7jw_bzyJaH58Lo3_MokXM0J-EuGyc1CeRk4UMZ8e-71xjaxQ6WOxgOpZ-cpC_mQlQWL3cfOPYwOmgMI0Di5X-vjHbRAiE8egawj_iPDiFB6hvWym53895Yn3XgZlzZs4s68/s900/Dellorto+VHBT+30+C+carbs+clean+exploded+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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After that it's like playing with a puzzle, making sure you have all the bits, undamaged and in the right places. MIA: one float pivot pin. Due for replacement: two number v9 needles badly corroded, one of which also had some wear. Dubious and should probably be replaced: one main jet, number 265, worn ever so slightly oval by the worn needle. All jetting standard and hopefully will do well with modern fuel, I've no desire to mess about with the more than adequate standard torquey performance.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3sCXfKUtDT_X5CW1eBti4Y0X8iauaxHUhoJFDxKruD_bDVqjKvWV3Jt0rv_y9qYGH5ek_V5E3IKPP95OxakCRAsDVYYmuHwUJgDGPbJebIpkZO5iTm3Y3cnNNh7U7aNopumc0YXL3DM/s1200/Dellorto+VHBT+30+C+carb+jets+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3sCXfKUtDT_X5CW1eBti4Y0X8iauaxHUhoJFDxKruD_bDVqjKvWV3Jt0rv_y9qYGH5ek_V5E3IKPP95OxakCRAsDVYYmuHwUJgDGPbJebIpkZO5iTm3Y3cnNNh7U7aNopumc0YXL3DM/s900/Dellorto+VHBT+30+C+carb+jets+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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For now, only temporarily assembled while I wait for the required parts, which will only be ordered once I discover what else I need. To keep everything corrosion free and prevent binding while it waits, all parts and channels are slathered in <a href="http://www.fluid-film.com/products/">Fluid Film</a>. <a href="http://www.fluid-film.com/testimonials.html">Like most of their clients</a>, I'm in love with this lanolin based anti-corrosion lubricant, which smells like Arnica lotion, doesn't go sticky or smell bad, and won't harm me, unlike most solvent based petrochemical lubricants that don't disclose their composition, but almost certainly include scary carcinogenic short chain hydrocarbons.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm4m5TbOXP4RYh2KNtuRsabsiy5i4Z-AcM685e_HvLTgQY_t-32VVALWlbi2NjHuHgh4rcI6ZuffE6Gjx9tDTd7UOodbvIeH-55n6U53vbWGWfRydjzUW6D2HEv-2LEYkHUsOiEO8wq34/s1200/Dellorto+VHBT+30+C+carbs+clean+assembled+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm4m5TbOXP4RYh2KNtuRsabsiy5i4Z-AcM685e_HvLTgQY_t-32VVALWlbi2NjHuHgh4rcI6ZuffE6Gjx9tDTd7UOodbvIeH-55n6U53vbWGWfRydjzUW6D2HEv-2LEYkHUsOiEO8wq34/s600/Dellorto+VHBT+30+C+carbs+clean+assembled+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04771775314027714899noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971123900449465800.post-76284629946297621232013-01-29T21:16:00.000+02:002013-01-30T13:49:09.775+02:00The Yale of Beaufort at Kew<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNY6PuxUVzz-K0ejwcMohnRdU89WDyTtJeIOKFHnkUXSjS6uBwSq_boqFIRJlsfg5QCUAbT5V3Gji8zi34igJI2Nzwis4cyAIsRqQUV_0DGGQTtC4WYRBhrqM4d1WYaNhfxgpoZQodzaM/s1200/IMG_0255+Yale+of+Beaufort+-+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNY6PuxUVzz-K0ejwcMohnRdU89WDyTtJeIOKFHnkUXSjS6uBwSq_boqFIRJlsfg5QCUAbT5V3Gji8zi34igJI2Nzwis4cyAIsRqQUV_0DGGQTtC4WYRBhrqM4d1WYaNhfxgpoZQodzaM/s600/IMG_0255+Yale+of+Beaufort+-+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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I'm not sure why a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yale_(mythical_creature)">mythical white beast with gold spots and swivelling horns</a> would be considered sufficiently imposing to be an important heraldic device for generations of British Royals. Especially as depicted here, looking like he's about to throw up. A condition I can entirely relate to, having yesterday contracted the stomach flu raging through Cape Town. Sadly, although I am quite white already, no gold spots have appeared.Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04771775314027714899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971123900449465800.post-43895082852087091852013-01-11T08:00:00.000+02:002013-01-24T08:24:28.581+02:00Labia Theatre<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHtkHNrbZEsoev-buE8h6tHu-U3sWfhSkNwVllM6uC3-MPqU-u8smpKzFse1u_c4CSmuL0Yoj2bgUtLgs2gwk55NwsJrh13OZa_QiAXrD4xqom4YXEQLcoOsfDbn_uf4rwoej0IKRgTY/s1600/Labia_Theatre_with_pigeons_photo_Donovan_Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHtkHNrbZEsoev-buE8h6tHu-U3sWfhSkNwVllM6uC3-MPqU-u8smpKzFse1u_c4CSmuL0Yoj2bgUtLgs2gwk55NwsJrh13OZa_QiAXrD4xqom4YXEQLcoOsfDbn_uf4rwoej0IKRgTY/s600/Labia_Theatre_with_pigeons_photo_Donovan_Kirkwood.jpg" /></a><br />
For <a href="http://thecapetownsourcerer.blogspot.com/">Lily </a>who is both a marvellous cook and poetic <a href="http://thecapetownsourcerer.blogspot.com/">writer and photographer</a>, and Braam, who appreciates benign decay but not necessarily the pigeon shit that tends to come with it.<br />
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<a href="http://labia.co.za/">http://labia.co.za</a> - it's still running, and still the only independent movie theatre in Cape Town. Go and watch an art movie there in an atmosphere of authentic shabbiness, tinged with sadness and served with beer. It may not be around forever.<br />
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<h4>Update 14 Jan- A digital photographic aside</h4>
I've been concious that I need to deal with my tendency to take too many pictures, with not enough care given to each one. I've been looking over transparencies and negatives from the days when money and therefore film was very limited, but my time was cheap. I took better pictures. Exposure and composition tended to be spot on, even on transparency film where one has a half stop margin at best. Far more of the pictures were of meaningful subjects.<br />
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Now don't get me wrong, I love digital. As an environmentalist with a technical bent, how could I not? Anyone who's ever done darkroom work is aware that the chemicals are super-scary. Sure my best selenium toned prints are lovely to look at, but that stuff will kill you and is environmentally toxic even in tiny amounts. Digital is benign by comparison, and done right can provide quality that required far more time, and insanely expensive medium format gear back in the day. Plus you don't have to spend hours at a stretch locked in a pitch black, humid hole reprinting the same bloody print to get it right. The magic of seeing that image appear under the orange light soon disappears after the fifth time you've fixed, rinsed and dried it, checked under realistic viewing conditions, and still haven't got the exposure and contrast right.<br />
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Sometimes, digital does let you get the moment that would have been almost impossible before. The image above is one of around 65 shots. I wasn't just shooting randomly, I only pressed the shutter when there were flying pigeons potentially located in compositionally useful places. No motor drive, single shot only. It's never easy to compose with fast moving elements, but the great joy of digital is that you can check those difficult shots, and when you've got it, you know. I realise it's not a picture for everyone, I've left it quite flat and cold, but I love the composition, and what I didn't even notice at the time, the way the diagonal viewing line of isolated pigeons bottom left and top right just emphasises the stillness of all the sitting pigeons, in contrast to the two flying.<br />
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And yet. There are too many mediocre pictures. In the world, and on my computer. I don't want to photograph less, but this year should be a year for deleting, for taking fewer pictures, and going over old ones. Expect some posts from the analogue archives.Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04771775314027714899noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971123900449465800.post-51920100721521822982013-01-07T21:37:00.001+02:002013-01-25T08:08:05.921+02:00the science of portraitsCameras do horrible things to people. Self-conciousness sets in, and with it uncontrollable rapid blinking and forced smiles. Even the most self-confident rapidly get that rabbit in the headlights look when faced with a huge unblinking glass eye. Ladies contort their heads into weird positions in a misguided attempt to hide real or imagined flaws or sagging.
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For me portraits must be entirely natural. Unguarded and not posed.
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This is why family portraits are a nightmare. Let's do the maths - it's all about probability. For an average picture with an average group of humans I'd estimate the input numbers as follows:
<br />
<br />
<b>Adults</b><br />
chance of an adult sitting properly without finger up nose: 99/100 = 0.99
<br />
chance of an adult having an acceptable expression: 4/10 = 0.4<br />
chance of an adult having a great expression: 1/20 = 0.05
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Children</b><br />
chance of a child sitting properly without their finger up their nose: 6/10 = 0.6<br />
chance of a child having an acceptable expression: 5/10 = 0.5<br />
chance of a child having a great expression: 2/10 = 0.2<br />
<br />
For the purpose of the calculations that follow, it is important to note that having a great or acceptable expression and putting your finger up your nose or similar antics are NOT mutually exclusive, as demonstrated convincingly here by both Sadie and Zoë who manage to look beautific while respectively mining for gold and pretending to be an eel.
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUwVWYIZWDqgdO7CF_1R2DB6zL1voKFQ0FT7vgaO8GmUvsPeAB3TiF08YefkSrJZe84MxR567xfkv7KhoKkJIFF2r4hbuCoJS0yw5n8UfpT0ERBkXszDHJFXSXLwmTE3e4WcoCXnAlDw/s924/portrait+havoc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUwVWYIZWDqgdO7CF_1R2DB6zL1voKFQ0FT7vgaO8GmUvsPeAB3TiF08YefkSrJZe84MxR567xfkv7KhoKkJIFF2r4hbuCoJS0yw5n8UfpT0ERBkXszDHJFXSXLwmTE3e4WcoCXnAlDw/s779/portrait+havoc.jpg" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<h4>
<b>Single children</b></h4>
Contrary to popular wisdom, portraits of single children on their own, are therefore not too much of a challenge - probability of a great expression, natural, decently framed picture without orifice exploration is:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
0.6 x 0.2 = 0.12 or 12%</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
i.e. 1 in every 8 or 9 photos is likely to be a great success</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
If you can even relate to kids a little, just set up your kit, shoot 8 to 9 photos and <i>et voilà</i>:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAjYyYzpqi6A6QyA722f11BfmzvvgiVA52j671H-6kjmc_ChTdOTBH4IOW4nZqcMhD1D6hMLo99X1-Ym5_rmwXH-CNZd8aD_8iiHeDNDUIqmke410QXRYfXoUDpeAWlKcBf_S6wie9sVQ/s1200/Zo%C3%AB_Dec2012_B&W_photo_Donovan_Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAjYyYzpqi6A6QyA722f11BfmzvvgiVA52j671H-6kjmc_ChTdOTBH4IOW4nZqcMhD1D6hMLo99X1-Ym5_rmwXH-CNZd8aD_8iiHeDNDUIqmke410QXRYfXoUDpeAWlKcBf_S6wie9sVQ/s900/Zo%C3%AB_Dec2012_B&W_photo_Donovan_Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
<br />
<br />
You want a picture of your son just before his milk teeth fall out and he looks all rabbit-like for the next five years? <i>No problema señora:</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQoRhHjL2yNWvPttYjN0x43m01khHsroNlsZp16lLeuO4ZM4qlGFmIWGSz0dHwqItB9Ek4YBwLxrteWpClipKXazV5igIRMUDQBoIOjiB8Zw3F7gHpu3KUv4FACo119MuvKcFhlb53uo/s1420/Al%25C3%25A9n_Jan2013_photo_Donovan_Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQoRhHjL2yNWvPttYjN0x43m01khHsroNlsZp16lLeuO4ZM4qlGFmIWGSz0dHwqItB9Ek4YBwLxrteWpClipKXazV5igIRMUDQBoIOjiB8Zw3F7gHpu3KUv4FACo119MuvKcFhlb53uo/s710/Al%25C3%25A9n_Jan2013_photo_Donovan_Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<h4>
Multiple children</h4>
Two kids together? Still do-able:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
(0.6 x 0.5)<sup>2</sup> = 0.0144 or 1.4%</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
i.e. 1 in every 69 photos is likely to be a great success</div>
<br />
Three kids? We're starting to get into lower your expectations territory. Unless you want to shoot the 579 images that it would take to have at least one shot at them all looking great over enough sessions for the kids to stay fresh, you'd better accept that at least two of them are going to look merely OK while the other one looks superb enough to make the mediocrity of the other two clearly noticeable:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
(0.6 x 0.2) x (0.6 x 0.5)<sup>2</sup> = 0.0108 or 1.1%</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
i.e. 1 in every 93 photos is likely to be a two-thirds OK with one-third great success</div>
<br />
And best you bring your best reflexes and enough light for f11. You don't want to be a little out of focus for that one in 100 shot. Keeping them still is not an option.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Single adults / teenagers</h4>
Single person portraits of adults are already substantially more challenging. While it will probably be easy enough to get an acceptable photo unless the person is really camera-phobic...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
0.99 x 0.4 = 0.396 or ~40%</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
i.e. one in every 2 to 3 pictures is likely to be OK</div>
<br />
...getting a really natural and flattering picture can be a lot harder:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
0.99 x 0.05 = 0.0495 or ~5%</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
i.e. one in every 20 properly exposed, lit and framed pictures might be pretty decent.</div>
<br />
Teenagers can be more challenging still, although the standard deviation on that group is awfully high so I will omit probability calculations as largely meaningless for specific cases. I personally think morose is not actually that bad since it's at least natural and will likely make an authentic portrait, although not necessarily one parents would pay you for.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Combinations</h4>
Hopefully I've already made my point and you know where this is going.<br />
<br />
Let's say two grandparents, two parents and two kids. Want everyone looking their very best?:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
(0.99 x 0.05)<sup>4</sup> x(0.6 x 0.5)<sup>2</sup>= 0.000000054 or 0.0000054%</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
i.e. one in every 18,507 pictures is likely to be close to perfect.
</div>
<br />
I'm not really an 80/20 kind of person, but with these odds, I'll settle for OK, with a dash of lovely. Oh wait, one of the kids has run off and refuses to come back? Never mind, then it's time for alchemy. Just put grandpa with any available granddaughter:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4LxhMENYb8QTF7FanRH_jhY_yJTgxotSDMCMludpcKbzwDSbw8Z4WGQVsSEz4-H77VFEduaR0I8Qg4wbFDDtV40nHFcIlstIy2eaANSw6rx1pla0T8xcmkChhmDsKhwUFZZcVhwkNd74/s1600/Brian%2526Sadie_photo_Donovan_Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4LxhMENYb8QTF7FanRH_jhY_yJTgxotSDMCMludpcKbzwDSbw8Z4WGQVsSEz4-H77VFEduaR0I8Qg4wbFDDtV40nHFcIlstIy2eaANSw6rx1pla0T8xcmkChhmDsKhwUFZZcVhwkNd74/s917/Brian%2526Sadie_photo_Donovan_Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
<br />
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Probability of success: 100%Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04771775314027714899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971123900449465800.post-65255347740759892792012-12-21T21:39:00.002+02:002012-12-21T21:43:50.527+02:00after the windThe southeaster has been howling for weeks. I've been entertaining thoughts of moving to Thailand or the Med, where decent, gentle air is taken for granted. This morning, the wind was just getting started as usual, then it just stopped. Completely. Idyllic summer appeared and I was instantly in a beautific mood.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XGUpoDFlGJd0U2faNjJ79BuFfewrUMSVYfNTohRP0_qF2CYMiaHF6W1Cs5iGuA9CiUobXWjKieBv2sSJFwliemV7SX7UUCKN9w1IC_JCAi0Ky5zgkvwx0v1oM8UytijKZbwDQgpHwYQ/s1200/Noordhoek-sunset-from-Ou-Kaapse-Weg-photo-Donovan-Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XGUpoDFlGJd0U2faNjJ79BuFfewrUMSVYfNTohRP0_qF2CYMiaHF6W1Cs5iGuA9CiUobXWjKieBv2sSJFwliemV7SX7UUCKN9w1IC_JCAi0Ky5zgkvwx0v1oM8UytijKZbwDQgpHwYQ/s600/Noordhoek-sunset-from-Ou-Kaapse-Weg-photo-Donovan-Kirkwood.jpg" title="Lazy, hazy Noordhoek sunset from ou Kaapse Weg today with my new bargain - the dirt cheap Canon 40mm f2.8. It has limitations, but I just love the way it renders backlight, flare and out of focus areas, AND it's razor sharp when you need it to be." /></a><br />
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The last two years have been unnaturally still for Cape Town. Weeks of summer wind is more like what I remember. You'd think after 42 years here I'd be used to the wind, but no, I still hate it with a passion.Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04771775314027714899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971123900449465800.post-84888415108168694812012-11-20T21:19:00.000+02:002012-12-06T17:41:54.633+02:00Poor Man's ShopI'm pretty sure there haven't been any farm riots in <a href="https://maps.google.co.za/maps?saddr=Gouda&daddr=R44&hl=en&sll=-33.30148,19.041066&sspn=0.025807,0.017574&geocode=FeDhA_4d9WwiASmPMVfjijzNHTGgP2IS2fgACg%3BFcHpA_4dSIwiAQ&t=h&gl=za&mra=mift&mrsp=1&sz=16&z=16">Gouda</a>. Why riot? Nobody's watching. Nobody cares. All the windows are already broken.<br />
<br />
And yet two girls sitting at the side of the road still laugh and chat when I ask them if I can take their photo.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xtWMlCmtJXn8sIUJrVaj4gWmGzFHIKyn8Ky9wBGOcKmLdUHOwok456uKMiZNtvqEgwQxcNMx1o_NKoYMHXX1ufahXV513GI-xOulHPIQUCGD4qA9ZLt39vpglQSuOEeInnHSq_rWRxg/s1200/Poor+Man's+Shop+Gouda+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xtWMlCmtJXn8sIUJrVaj4gWmGzFHIKyn8Ky9wBGOcKmLdUHOwok456uKMiZNtvqEgwQxcNMx1o_NKoYMHXX1ufahXV513GI-xOulHPIQUCGD4qA9ZLt39vpglQSuOEeInnHSq_rWRxg/s600/Poor+Man's+Shop+Gouda+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnBNa2pKT5ILJitkGYKDPnwfF4mimS2q-4mg1_vhI2tQxXhhdNPTAdAJf4zXVpgrbLsLcQ20GGHB7a1ALwDMJrcM0dBDWr570YKFIie3Tx9cWHkeO9lMYek3vqRgceS20rzanZEK0XZ0/s1200/broken+car+Gouda+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnBNa2pKT5ILJitkGYKDPnwfF4mimS2q-4mg1_vhI2tQxXhhdNPTAdAJf4zXVpgrbLsLcQ20GGHB7a1ALwDMJrcM0dBDWr570YKFIie3Tx9cWHkeO9lMYek3vqRgceS20rzanZEK0XZ0/s600/broken+car+Gouda+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3INet0YRsU0AS9wb09t7UGzbvCJfOdk4C5aXHAtTZrOcvdfhWQrZizU0_gYrx7sQNsel8BSWbF-U_e6QDeSo1BLZjv0tnX_c_F7AV64rWH3Ltkq-1ywmslwMmUSElzHsIHi_ayHIIbPc/s1200/broken+car+Gouda+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aaaaaaaabkc="aaaaaaaabkc" border="0" broken="broken" car="car" irkwood.jpg="irkwood.jpg" onovan="onovan" ouda="ouda" photo="photo" s600="s600" t_czcl8ydwo="t_czcl8ydwo" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZlI3kbTmsAj6WmBtlfwToZnZYxwNV6Nz2pbA-DJrGAVvghSlrocKQi2Ut4MRtvjjU9nXmsbEn4OWKyGPVhjmnx7KJZum1bpLaL_pxxldZNNNOI9lARuxqf2Bfjtl-udyrjezHfGt0p4/s1200/ANC+branch+Gouda+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZlI3kbTmsAj6WmBtlfwToZnZYxwNV6Nz2pbA-DJrGAVvghSlrocKQi2Ut4MRtvjjU9nXmsbEn4OWKyGPVhjmnx7KJZum1bpLaL_pxxldZNNNOI9lARuxqf2Bfjtl-udyrjezHfGt0p4/s600/ANC+branch+Gouda+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFVaY5Q3vy4EfcbRAfbWnleYhlA5ev23OWIgDULMaq44QbdwmssA0sMBjPM6WDECb3f_0PqAsUiCGJbCaq-UDhjgMgIF0yLGOIcaU54lJ5xAgdowcbjUhHuawnlJncUzIwkfxaHtn8n4A/s1200/Poor+Man's+Shop+Gouda+(1)+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFVaY5Q3vy4EfcbRAfbWnleYhlA5ev23OWIgDULMaq44QbdwmssA0sMBjPM6WDECb3f_0PqAsUiCGJbCaq-UDhjgMgIF0yLGOIcaU54lJ5xAgdowcbjUhHuawnlJncUzIwkfxaHtn8n4A/s600/Poor+Man's+Shop+Gouda+(1)+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJW2VmAQoBe4suVK9LiGWt1CXajNPiWpP4jxrnZTUlHiWjOjq1oTTv_yZ8WgEZ2Jc7LtN5uyg_mN88Sln3xn4E3H2Jf93deLUxCJoGKuwKaj0UYSg7MD-ORNCq-OjqToVoMPc42E35Vvk/s1200/dogshit+in+Gouda+(1)+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJW2VmAQoBe4suVK9LiGWt1CXajNPiWpP4jxrnZTUlHiWjOjq1oTTv_yZ8WgEZ2Jc7LtN5uyg_mN88Sln3xn4E3H2Jf93deLUxCJoGKuwKaj0UYSg7MD-ORNCq-OjqToVoMPc42E35Vvk/s600/dogshit+in+Gouda+(1)+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04771775314027714899noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971123900449465800.post-6844201061683694102012-10-30T20:43:00.000+02:002012-10-31T06:49:30.811+02:00Pooh, Leo and Pookie<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xNyzpSED1dS1rRheNRZpFsEaIcQ3pO3O_iac3iDYvfmF2URtvw8gWAoxO0DbSnh1zw2eBMfx2V8Juul1jYQDXidEZ5GOIhnEv1qOXrFRSUlp1YKzNpDASwTB4GpoIBHH3AbblJ-TTiA/s1200/leo-photo-Donovan-Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xNyzpSED1dS1rRheNRZpFsEaIcQ3pO3O_iac3iDYvfmF2URtvw8gWAoxO0DbSnh1zw2eBMfx2V8Juul1jYQDXidEZ5GOIhnEv1qOXrFRSUlp1YKzNpDASwTB4GpoIBHH3AbblJ-TTiA/s600/leo-photo-Donovan-Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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The three of them have been with me since birth. I can't find a picture of Pooh, but he sits near my desk, yellow flannel for fur, with hand stitched eyes, nose and mouth radiating slightly surprised pleasure. Leo was made by my godmother in Cathcart in the Eastern Cape, and his floral green coat only gets more awesome with every year since 1970. I think he takes drugs when I'm not looking. And then there's Pookie. A life of hard loving and a couple of unpleasant encounters with family dogs has been tough on him, but he carries the scars of multiple injuries and facial reconstruction surgery with stoic calm.<br />
<br />
It's important to have the right kind of stuffed friends. I couldn't ask for better.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZcH6-Pv3yOuvUvq_lnaDKLhZa3vVcLWFvVTAi1MMIIC_64ZuQBZRJJpls8VrJjKAGZNkvvTaaYEpcLfE9z-ne6e1uLNUtp_ZTWkHHKhEtwM6YqRTgFCdVPrMU0KpLJt-OkcFZhbe66k/s1200/old-teddy-bear-photo-Donovan-Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZcH6-Pv3yOuvUvq_lnaDKLhZa3vVcLWFvVTAi1MMIIC_64ZuQBZRJJpls8VrJjKAGZNkvvTaaYEpcLfE9z-ne6e1uLNUtp_ZTWkHHKhEtwM6YqRTgFCdVPrMU0KpLJt-OkcFZhbe66k/s900/old-teddy-bear-photo-Donovan-Kirkwood.jpg" /></a></div>
Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04771775314027714899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971123900449465800.post-60188353252005290602012-10-20T18:10:00.002+02:002012-10-25T08:29:33.031+02:00The cuteness continues: a baby tortoiseJust in case the baby sunbird wasn't heart warming enough, here's a tiny baby tortoise spotted in the garden this morning.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hsy2zBXP6pOQWpnBvhv82Na5hATPOz2Yzw3WJcsidNZJhBIP99XWKPcGe2Mk3Pf516nrDf8C-il3ygy7UHVRtFvLzVzj9ey0rSQ5kGMCO99nqFiVpNpi9OkXS2b5x90zySLdgNi4dns/s1200/juvenile_Angulate_Tortoise_1_photo_Donovan_Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hsy2zBXP6pOQWpnBvhv82Na5hATPOz2Yzw3WJcsidNZJhBIP99XWKPcGe2Mk3Pf516nrDf8C-il3ygy7UHVRtFvLzVzj9ey0rSQ5kGMCO99nqFiVpNpi9OkXS2b5x90zySLdgNi4dns/s600/juvenile_Angulate_Tortoise_1_photo_Donovan_Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgND1t1CtT1yn8aWTXCr5W6lPX4wXD9elRS3VdeSwBqcVKCC1M2_VQFruNsrC1Dsgqz-vBHhRI57htW9YbIAlunV0wTKOHhfC4L01VES6U0HGsAbTg7emltwt52mPi5RZdE2J810UCC40Y/s1200/juvenile_Angulate_Tortoise_2_photo_Donovan_Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgND1t1CtT1yn8aWTXCr5W6lPX4wXD9elRS3VdeSwBqcVKCC1M2_VQFruNsrC1Dsgqz-vBHhRI57htW9YbIAlunV0wTKOHhfC4L01VES6U0HGsAbTg7emltwt52mPi5RZdE2J810UCC40Y/s600/juvenile_Angulate_Tortoise_2_photo_Donovan_Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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Juvenile Angulate Tortoise <i>Chersina angulata</i> (Schweigger 1812). Adults get to about the size of a man's outstretched hand, but this one had a carapace barely 8cm long.<br />
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Just for the record, this is a free-roaming tortoise. We're a stone's throw from the fynbos of the extended Table Mountain National Park. Wild visitors are one of the huge privileges of living here, and a very good reason to leave the bottom of the garden mostly natural. It also makes for a very nice view across our wild olives and <i>Rhus glauca</i> thicket, which could almost convince you you're actually inside the nature reserve as long as you don't look to the right where suburbia sprawls.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qmT8ynQxornpaT5GSrB3phOo1q19h4l2V2p7s_2S2Y4_pI4sjIxyI2Zu6g-B5NV7Yy_Ob8UYnuXhRdncRp5G8bPdP3em-wlnIh4fr85vpsCFlsGyhjfvoPxhGMST2D5ycLam3SLD3Oo/s1200/garden_view_photo_Donovan_Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qmT8ynQxornpaT5GSrB3phOo1q19h4l2V2p7s_2S2Y4_pI4sjIxyI2Zu6g-B5NV7Yy_Ob8UYnuXhRdncRp5G8bPdP3em-wlnIh4fr85vpsCFlsGyhjfvoPxhGMST2D5ycLam3SLD3Oo/s600/garden_view_photo_Donovan_Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04771775314027714899noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971123900449465800.post-91587130885844333162012-10-17T21:07:00.002+02:002012-10-25T08:30:00.447+02:00Just a baby sunbird<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU6pl3uVp6BAZBvTnWLqgJ3MvA1ZAHlIXhu3AGsEdfEM2_JOI6qzLIrjwTnj7Hu3xKMUV8H91jH9iNuRzofjVTKjABm0nk8SyryTig9yQK_WqOwugx7IZNekNk95BRfz83Bn7CofV1zb8/s1000/baby-lesser-double-collared-sunbird-photo-Donovan-Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU6pl3uVp6BAZBvTnWLqgJ3MvA1ZAHlIXhu3AGsEdfEM2_JOI6qzLIrjwTnj7Hu3xKMUV8H91jH9iNuRzofjVTKjABm0nk8SyryTig9yQK_WqOwugx7IZNekNk95BRfz83Bn7CofV1zb8/s600/baby-lesser-double-collared-sunbird-photo-Donovan-Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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Fledged four days ago. At first just a tiny ball of fluff, completely out of control, crashing into the ground and cheeping plaintively while its parents fluttered around frantically . It's a miracle any birds survive their first day or two out of the nest in the hungry wild. Two days later, when this photo was taken, it was starting to fly and move through the plants confidently, even exploring flowers for nectar. But it's still very much a baby. The non-stop peep-peep-peeping makes it easy to find in the garden while its parents hurry around and bring food. I was lucky that the nest was right next to my vegetable garden, so I could watch the show from the very start, and they soon got used to me being a few feet away. Father, like all male Lesser Double-collared sunbirds, is small but spectacular, with an iridescent green head and postbox red breast, separated by a narrow band of the deepest royal blue. He seemed to spend most of his time on top of the nearby Cape Honeysuckle or the fence, showing off his disco plumage and singing his heart out. You could tell when baby hatched, because suddenly mom was around again, all businesslike, backwards and forwards between collecting insects and delivering them. Maybe, baby it will hang around long enough so that I can see it's going to be a shiny boy or a sleek grey girl.<br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Double-collared_Sunbird">Southern Double-collared Sunbird or Lesser Double-collared Sunbird, <i>Cinnyris chalybeus</i> (formerly in the genus <i>Nectarinia</i>).</a>Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04771775314027714899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971123900449465800.post-53341964143965024322012-09-25T22:00:00.000+02:002012-09-27T09:00:01.535+02:00So much Spring, so little time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's the best and longest Spring in as long as I can remember. Despite my best intentions, photo editing and this site are coming a rather poor spare time second (fifth, sixth...?) to gardening, playing in the unbelievable flowers, taking photos, rearranging my garage as a preamble to actually re-starting work on my Moto Guzzi V7 Special, and admiring some vintage red tractor lights that I intend to turn into light fittings.<br />
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Did I ever mention that I'm a chronic and unashamed junk hoarder? But really, who can resist cool old shit. Like these cast agricultural valve handles. One day they'll be door or drawer handles, but for now I'll just look at them lovingly once in a while, or include them in a Spring-themed photographic reference to the shortage of free time in my life. And by that I mean the deep inconvenience that results from having to earn a living and do useful things most of the time.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPj0aeC7dP9W4EoGnNfLzN8mja_evSj56WFpFdX2PnbB0I-3h8lDTo547CCUMRxjqWWgePe3lHf-QvUPzP0550Mu0ls5v6j7hXZlBqLgB7i5l3kySu0Y34dlAA405hVUVgnm8DZcnh_88/s1000/cast-iron-flowers-on-concrete-photo-Donovan-Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPj0aeC7dP9W4EoGnNfLzN8mja_evSj56WFpFdX2PnbB0I-3h8lDTo547CCUMRxjqWWgePe3lHf-QvUPzP0550Mu0ls5v6j7hXZlBqLgB7i5l3kySu0Y34dlAA405hVUVgnm8DZcnh_88/s600/cast-iron-flowers-on-concrete-photo-Donovan-Kirkwood.jpg" width="600" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrfebQZJRIKn29-jOlFiLYs3OqtYJ-acrdEuG_G87mW6bLgN7oThOMDw2BfF56UsDqiIMc-0RYWSMMjF9_odNlwqgtagUKkv10_6NWJYcDrkdSSFrkABbvy_oycUwozruuWWzx_f6AfhA/s1000/daisies-on-concrete-photo-Donovan-Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrfebQZJRIKn29-jOlFiLYs3OqtYJ-acrdEuG_G87mW6bLgN7oThOMDw2BfF56UsDqiIMc-0RYWSMMjF9_odNlwqgtagUKkv10_6NWJYcDrkdSSFrkABbvy_oycUwozruuWWzx_f6AfhA/s600/daisies-on-concrete-photo-Donovan-Kirkwood.jpg" width="600" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizZskriSghZtoDE-r_3ltU_Kfs-qs5EHlJxE9hAa4hsIBF5NpSh7vIz7xshGOJYdIuYuNAwm4hZ_-LOPJJW75IerCDvMJeyvgdIk4Q9JdH702_S4DKEcG5sCiIXlJ6_qZQe6wtCpZO6k/s1000/lenses-photo-Donovan-Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizZskriSghZtoDE-r_3ltU_Kfs-qs5EHlJxE9hAa4hsIBF5NpSh7vIz7xshGOJYdIuYuNAwm4hZ_-LOPJJW75IerCDvMJeyvgdIk4Q9JdH702_S4DKEcG5sCiIXlJ6_qZQe6wtCpZO6k/s600/lenses-photo-Donovan-Kirkwood.jpg" width="600" /></a>Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04771775314027714899noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971123900449465800.post-83882634366370698272012-09-09T18:48:00.001+02:002012-09-11T10:50:30.851+02:00<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPAALrEUXpwvcWbP16o5XBlo3HSQgnAHmQz3ro5oLBw4H23aSMF-Ru7KIQVc6FlQoUTCgJKUfMb5xkI9az0Ak5ikhKjFzfZgCoCC-J9MTBhoN6eeFndyshNFlKpCbxpmlUjPSmR0s0du0/s1600/magnolia,-photo-Donovan-Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPAALrEUXpwvcWbP16o5XBlo3HSQgnAHmQz3ro5oLBw4H23aSMF-Ru7KIQVc6FlQoUTCgJKUfMb5xkI9az0Ak5ikhKjFzfZgCoCC-J9MTBhoN6eeFndyshNFlKpCbxpmlUjPSmR0s0du0/s640/magnolia,-photo-Donovan-Kirkwood.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">burgundy magnolias picked from a forgotten and neglected tree</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0cjOD6VWtdslKZGTjCbGTkiNgMzIyWvsCxqaEDP1eGO3kYucyGVH46oPi26-VFfvStj2uYotrFUUiu4aycd5UkO6P_75irxRalgplI0QwyzYtDtEUG3xC9v-pxIYU6JkOWgu-j_kBZg/s1600/Gladiolus-tristis-photo-Donovan-Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0cjOD6VWtdslKZGTjCbGTkiNgMzIyWvsCxqaEDP1eGO3kYucyGVH46oPi26-VFfvStj2uYotrFUUiu4aycd5UkO6P_75irxRalgplI0QwyzYtDtEUG3xC9v-pxIYU6JkOWgu-j_kBZg/s640/Gladiolus-tristis-photo-Donovan-Kirkwood.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">wild stock of <i>Gladiolus tristis</i> grown in pots, elegant and beautifully scented</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtg6VNLaOgKD_uVecToRobG_sjLjZ2u89gNBUVD7l0CJlN4wlSp7R3Z8h0_uVeVcKRqszD3aM8AQ6HgL2i2l-LkFQBJ0hyphenhyphen6_vkekXGZh0p1qp1ppvDlB7Ob3yfFJApaRHejiLoEwR6Ic/s1600/pink-anemone-photo-Donovan-Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtg6VNLaOgKD_uVecToRobG_sjLjZ2u89gNBUVD7l0CJlN4wlSp7R3Z8h0_uVeVcKRqszD3aM8AQ6HgL2i2l-LkFQBJ0hyphenhyphen6_vkekXGZh0p1qp1ppvDlB7Ob3yfFJApaRHejiLoEwR6Ic/s1600/pink-anemone-photo-Donovan-Kirkwood.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a happy experiment for our garden, anemones in shades of pink, mauve and red (variety St. Brigid)</td></tr>
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Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04771775314027714899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971123900449465800.post-20618557343588276632012-07-29T18:05:00.000+02:002012-09-27T16:23:45.012+02:00De Mond & Waenhuiskrans Nature Reserves<div>
A lot of my work over the last couple of months has been at De Mond Nature Reserve, probably my favourite stretch of coastline anywhere (see map at end).</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL60XutL2WSUpTVucBShXZnkoGceTh88L69YqOKEocXW85hyphenhyphenDC2p6Hhv0YVl48LyEPF-Lxdcgke94vcBO9Lc7jJyYPeKgdxaJvr6AklwWqkRFF46ysmYrh0XaO1sKOEmsoWFyegRdl1eU/s1600/(7)+de+mond+estuary+photo+donovan+kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL60XutL2WSUpTVucBShXZnkoGceTh88L69YqOKEocXW85hyphenhyphenDC2p6Hhv0YVl48LyEPF-Lxdcgke94vcBO9Lc7jJyYPeKgdxaJvr6AklwWqkRFF46ysmYrh0XaO1sKOEmsoWFyegRdl1eU/s600/(7)+de+mond+estuary+photo+donovan+kirkwood.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Heuningnes Estuary at De Mond Nature Reserve.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7IS4pYXfevNI0PfwTy5_mOY5KA4J_1pxxHJ4qKapJ4md3-eCW2NR2Ar7zC-qYP4txN8Q9nSDKaMgY8BEu9vqOUVeiOqh-1j3kmj7vRCSxE8sjboMyPPxIw9uI3uihVjG_dSw6gyyG_g/s1600/(13)+Agathosma+cerefolium+photo+donovan+kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7IS4pYXfevNI0PfwTy5_mOY5KA4J_1pxxHJ4qKapJ4md3-eCW2NR2Ar7zC-qYP4txN8Q9nSDKaMgY8BEu9vqOUVeiOqh-1j3kmj7vRCSxE8sjboMyPPxIw9uI3uihVjG_dSw6gyyG_g/s600/(13)+Agathosma+cerefolium+photo+donovan+kirkwood.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Agathosma cerefolium</i> - this buchu has hands down the best smelling foliage of any plant anywhere. Small and inconspicuous, it's hard to see when it's not flowering, but if you just brush against it, the lemony-anise scent tells you it's there. The perfume is so characteristic of the area that the coastal ridge of Agulhas National Park is named Anysberg. Buchus are the fine-leaved Cape branch of the lemon family (Rutaceae).</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The neon-green foliage of another buchu, <i>Agathosma collina</i> is much easier to see - it's dominant on the dune fynbos in this part of the Overberg, and in full flower at the moment.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYz9p0PkLrS5ButZBH2SlnRjhAlnx3N5atU3HtSLUOCUdvZyoSgt54Jm4Bnt0cItBVL1hJLzG7HRJ1ubAdjhF0qzbSQNJSWqh8qsxE4Ty9-dHJw0u0ttWRNthWGvQJ3v3BfJ_G-QEiwE/s1600/(15)+Pink+Orchid+(Satyrium+carneum)+photo+donovan+kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYz9p0PkLrS5ButZBH2SlnRjhAlnx3N5atU3HtSLUOCUdvZyoSgt54Jm4Bnt0cItBVL1hJLzG7HRJ1ubAdjhF0qzbSQNJSWqh8qsxE4Ty9-dHJw0u0ttWRNthWGvQJ3v3BfJ_G-QEiwE/s600/(15)+Pink+Orchid+(Satyrium+carneum)+photo+donovan+kirkwood.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Pink Orchid <i>Satyrium carneum</i>, just starting to flower now. Regionally considered Near Threatened (<a href="http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=2836-8">redlist.sanbi.org</a>) it's actually locally common in many coastal sandy areas.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4iBiV0RPfnm8lyffhCKOEmyJPWSGx23embRATTeScrYBnIxtl2wfofTZdwZcLjbpu2C-wc1VsGbg9WETDX8MadR8VIALfe5kqPH7JIb-2V-l021Hk2lnpe1SMWVXpILp1x1VLH96NHBg/s1600/(6)+de+mond+beach+-+photo+d+kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="477" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4iBiV0RPfnm8lyffhCKOEmyJPWSGx23embRATTeScrYBnIxtl2wfofTZdwZcLjbpu2C-wc1VsGbg9WETDX8MadR8VIALfe5kqPH7JIb-2V-l021Hk2lnpe1SMWVXpILp1x1VLH96NHBg/s600/(6)+de+mond+beach+-+photo+d+kirkwood.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">De Mond and Waenhuiskrans Nature Reserves are separated by about 5km of private land, but like anywhere else in South Africa, the beach below the high water mark is Admiralty Zone public property and makes for a delightful wild walk.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waenhuiskrans - the wagon cave. Presumably named for its size, rather than it actual ability to shelter wagons, since it is very wet at high tide. The neighbouring town was named Waenhuiskrans before being renamed to Arniston to commemorate the ship wrecked here in 1867. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzqpbyYt9aQS_wcaWWwB34v2W7YvjslXv_pJlALCgdwFCLX-pLNG7rL05XnIGezdDpF6NiDhPhHDP3ev4SGvM4OcPxEDvbNY_xykvm7LV7h_oRxrXnITBZP7TzvU97PpyVnpJeAf9W4Y/s1600/(18)+southern+right+whale,+de+hoop+-+photo+donovan+kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzqpbyYt9aQS_wcaWWwB34v2W7YvjslXv_pJlALCgdwFCLX-pLNG7rL05XnIGezdDpF6NiDhPhHDP3ev4SGvM4OcPxEDvbNY_xykvm7LV7h_oRxrXnITBZP7TzvU97PpyVnpJeAf9W4Y/s600/(18)+southern+right+whale,+de+hoop+-+photo+donovan+kirkwood.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huge numbers of Southern Right Whales gather every year between June and November to mate, calve and nurse their young in the shallow, warm coastal waters of the Overberg.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh389Atmb7oBv4bjWplKbtCBU6KnD29r28IW_XxL1QdN94fdo36YmVYk-ZGiJ4C4PsJlZ81YF0F9iHEG8lSCtuFfF0bEnD0ecrvuUlqUquWM1kM19isHVHfjjGkzDlLkxCXrviaUkrtmJE/s1600/(10)+common+terns,+waenhuiskrans+-+photo+donovan+kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh389Atmb7oBv4bjWplKbtCBU6KnD29r28IW_XxL1QdN94fdo36YmVYk-ZGiJ4C4PsJlZ81YF0F9iHEG8lSCtuFfF0bEnD0ecrvuUlqUquWM1kM19isHVHfjjGkzDlLkxCXrviaUkrtmJE/s600/(10)+common+terns,+waenhuiskrans+-+photo+donovan+kirkwood.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">common terns</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqcYkLuOq0v7dsH0pQLqjZzy1RfJ7wbq8YX-nMHl0yiixtsNRlWW7Up6JnvD-gfwAZi-Z41K4_5pCZqprT49jfOeMgdzewNPRpxhCpthTwzco5CyliM0zc-hIS4S76XFr86Ol63zn27Y/s1600/(12)oystercatchers,+waenhuiskrans+nature+reserve,+overberg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqcYkLuOq0v7dsH0pQLqjZzy1RfJ7wbq8YX-nMHl0yiixtsNRlWW7Up6JnvD-gfwAZi-Z41K4_5pCZqprT49jfOeMgdzewNPRpxhCpthTwzco5CyliM0zc-hIS4S76XFr86Ol63zn27Y/s600/(12)oystercatchers,+waenhuiskrans+nature+reserve,+overberg.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oystercatchers, once in decline, are now locally abundant, and commonly seen.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmc8rPA539mvpRYSasRxAY7HzKMoNZN7ShqVSWt6s3l_PMhtuSJBzzKeXvP4QEsLwqhpwqZfsULvWK4uqgzf0BJxvbgfyNrJn8f9snzRQ65pWrStO9E-n5M8I_QLq4FiOm4HG6nW08lQ/s1600/(2)+view+above+Waenhuiskrans+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmc8rPA539mvpRYSasRxAY7HzKMoNZN7ShqVSWt6s3l_PMhtuSJBzzKeXvP4QEsLwqhpwqZfsULvWK4uqgzf0BJxvbgfyNrJn8f9snzRQ65pWrStO9E-n5M8I_QLq4FiOm4HG6nW08lQ/s600/(2)+view+above+Waenhuiskrans+photo+Donovan+Kirkwood.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View over the sea from cliffs above Waenhuiskrans</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEins_qY-Kak-dYXkGFxoVc7uURYKxnn-hQeTtjN8SdCZOLzsvNJqfrnhhHv1yf0XzKcRAMbkgTvg7sOZAnkCR7NGs3UJ-PwmjVOlmky7ey9Q-ncTm8TCEKsToZC-1P2j1X_kgBo4oUJ7jE/s1600/(8)+crowned+cormorant,+waenhuiskrans+-+photo+donovan+kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEins_qY-Kak-dYXkGFxoVc7uURYKxnn-hQeTtjN8SdCZOLzsvNJqfrnhhHv1yf0XzKcRAMbkgTvg7sOZAnkCR7NGs3UJ-PwmjVOlmky7ey9Q-ncTm8TCEKsToZC-1P2j1X_kgBo4oUJ7jE/s600/(8)+crowned+cormorant,+waenhuiskrans+-+photo+donovan+kirkwood.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crowned cormorant. Just before I took this photo a couple of years ago, my GPS fell into the sea. I went back at low tide just after dawn the next morning and actually found it wedged between two rocks, sadly the battery seal had failed and it was full of sea. A long bath in distilled water, then pure ethanol, brought it back to life long enough to retrieve a weeks worth of work before it died forever.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxTQcQJX4RmCEc15BlUm-6xN5b7JBVMMWuxDwU3FPouzRmkL3t5RvoATwE_g7y_Zy4LxsTiOwamF0mRyK77XlO04wupFlF1v5KlbB3Dut4X5Gb-Q_6lYQhhszWFBVBMIpfzXycdnN5K8/s1600/(4)+waenhuiskrans+beach+-+photo+donovan+kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxTQcQJX4RmCEc15BlUm-6xN5b7JBVMMWuxDwU3FPouzRmkL3t5RvoATwE_g7y_Zy4LxsTiOwamF0mRyK77XlO04wupFlF1v5KlbB3Dut4X5Gb-Q_6lYQhhszWFBVBMIpfzXycdnN5K8/s600/(4)+waenhuiskrans+beach+-+photo+donovan+kirkwood.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beach at Waenhuiskrans Nature Reserve.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHPxUDjBJ2eh6vgI-7EuWe3urMfl47nTNOkTaiWCzp5PO-TkPH2wB-hD-jeYiws1hsmw9JLH1HMh_PD_RucePwN4rTkm2Qnig6Brad1XnyPu5V5pQQm-nP5ZOtrKgIuXZG4P3w-_4voU/s1600/(1)+S+Overberg+Map+(credit+Donovan+Kirkwood).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHPxUDjBJ2eh6vgI-7EuWe3urMfl47nTNOkTaiWCzp5PO-TkPH2wB-hD-jeYiws1hsmw9JLH1HMh_PD_RucePwN4rTkm2Qnig6Brad1XnyPu5V5pQQm-nP5ZOtrKgIuXZG4P3w-_4voU/s600/(1)+S+Overberg+Map+(credit+Donovan+Kirkwood).jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And for those of you who don't know the Cape well, that's where the reserves are, just along the coast from Cape Agulhas, the southern tip of Africa.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04771775314027714899noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971123900449465800.post-57943789046154767012012-06-26T20:25:00.001+02:002012-09-27T19:17:54.477+02:00Angels come in all shapes and sizesMy father and I both love old motorbikes. He mostly loves old British motorbikes. While I admit that they have a certain rustic charm, I prefer bikes that are reliable and don't leak oil everywhere. Unfortunately I'm also lazy, and my incomparable 1971 Moto Guzzi V7 Special is still distributed as disconnected bits all over my garage. So a couple of months ago I was forced to use his 650 BSA to join a vintage motorcycle rally he was helping organise. Half way to the venue, in classic British fashion, the BSA managed to vibrate loose every bolt holding the headlamp nacelle and speedometer. <span style="background-color: white;">I pulled over on a highway overpass near the lower edge of the Voortrekker Road industria and investigated my pockets and backpack: one screwdriver, a couple of spanners, and a pair of pliers. No use at all with the bolts lying somewhere on the road behind. I was just staring at the sky and cursing having gotten out of bed early on Sunday morning when this apparition on a black Kawasaki appeared. Black leather, dirty faded jeans and work boots. Old-fashioned blue ink tattoos on his hands that may or may not have been done professionally. And kind eyes. We got talking and I found out that he was the mechanic for the crankhandle club. I also discovered that he'd owned the exact same model BSA. We did not immediately come up with a solution for my problem. I was about to turn around and head home when I stepped on a strap hanging from my backback. I'm not sure what it was originally intended to hold, but since it had not been used in ten years, I turned to my guardian angel and asked if he had a knife. He pulled out a retractable craft knife. The kind with disposable carbon steel blades that snap off in sections. Except this one had been resharpened to a narrow point and razor edge. He said "Be careful" as he handed it to me. Ten minutes later I was on my way, motorbike held together with nylon strap, glad that I'd gotten out of bed early on a Sunday morning.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8TDeaMpOWnOoMlzP6OOO_h6Z5r3FzNTfzSA69aYzhL-sRmvL6IRriJJ1WoLHspQKSajKNR6Fr5XQiZQqQf1QStCI1ip9WRSBWmOaIG0gb1CiaQlHYDutw8CsFmg5g2W3Itv1iX1WNm1Y/s1000/Angel-photo-Donovan-Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8TDeaMpOWnOoMlzP6OOO_h6Z5r3FzNTfzSA69aYzhL-sRmvL6IRriJJ1WoLHspQKSajKNR6Fr5XQiZQqQf1QStCI1ip9WRSBWmOaIG0gb1CiaQlHYDutw8CsFmg5g2W3Itv1iX1WNm1Y/s600/Angel-photo-Donovan-Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3Fnee2F8oI0X6XrBy1srQfxc-QMj70mBZpex7wi03WtbQL9T7tamNC-MFqyuv7rEtlb9oyPFsqilq1LRHYhl2CW75T5pWq3ANrpHRbPgg1MG1p_VF5DSO9NUkOYE4rtwiKJSzmpdFUA/s1000/Angel-2-photo-Donovan-Kirkwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3Fnee2F8oI0X6XrBy1srQfxc-QMj70mBZpex7wi03WtbQL9T7tamNC-MFqyuv7rEtlb9oyPFsqilq1LRHYhl2CW75T5pWq3ANrpHRbPgg1MG1p_VF5DSO9NUkOYE4rtwiKJSzmpdFUA/s600/Angel-2-photo-Donovan-Kirkwood.jpg" /></a>Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04771775314027714899noreply@blogger.com0