This is Der Fernsehturm (the TV Tower), the tallest building in Germany. The Communists erected this priapic concrete spire in East Berlin to laud the perfection of their Socialist worker’s utopia (or somesuch nonsense). However, when the sun shines, the ball reflects the light as a glaring cross; Berliners apparently call it, ‘The Pope’s Revenge’. Just returned [...]
Archive for February 2012
Der Fernsehturm 1 comment
Corfe Castles Leave a comment
Evening light over two Corfe Castles. Photo taken just now, courtesy of my mobile phone, whilst strolling the Enchanted Gardens after dinner at Corfe Castle Model Village‘s cafe. This is undoubtedly the Isle of Purbeck’s friendliest eatery and (happening to be not very many yards from our house) is effectively our second dining room.
Scilly times 1 comment
Two random images from the Isles of Scilly. The image above was taken out at the Western Rocks, which is the very first bit of Britain reached from America. A sizeable swell was rolling in from the Atlantic, but we were shielded from its full force by the 4km string of rocks and reefs. The photo below shows [...]
Postponement Leave a comment
To my intense disappointment, I won’t be running the South Devon Coastal Trail Series Ultramarathon tomorrow, as was planned. I’ve been laid low by illness all week; I’d hoped to shake it by the weekend, but am still coughing and running a high temperature. Very annoying indeed that I should contract ‘man flu’ at this time, [...]
Seahenge Leave a comment
In 1998, Norfolk man John Lorimer discovered a seven metre long oval of 55 oak posts in the tidal mud at Holme-next-the-Sea, encircling an inverted oak trunk. This Bronze Age ritual site had been uncovered beneath an eroding ancient peat layer. Excavations began, before the site eroded away. The press showed an uncharacteristic interest in [...]
Feb 14th Leave a comment
Have a good St Valentine’s Day, all. Having someone you care about to share your life with is, all things considered, a wonderful and precious thing. (The grey seals above live in Yorkshire)
Newquay surf and seals Leave a comment
Fistral Beach, Newquay, North Cornwall. Earlier on this day in 2007, I’d managed to launch out through clean 6-8 foot surf but (encountering steep 15-20 foot swell offshore) quickly realised that I was some distance out of my comfort zone. The problem was…now I was out there, how was I going to get back in? [...]
Shipwrecked on Muckle Green Holm Leave a comment
Heather and I had been stuck on the island of Rousay for three nights straight, waiting for the wind to drop. We were getting frustrated with our wait to head up into the North Isles of Orkney. One evening we returned to the tent and found that the wind had dropped… Within an hour we’d packed [...]
Dangling around Leave a comment
SAR helicopter training at the Needles, Isle of Wight. He was dangled right down between the Needles to water level and then winched up again. Rather him than me; funny, what some folk will do as a day job…
Puffins in Jack Sound, Pembrokeshire Leave a comment
‘Grief is the price we pay for love.’ – Her Majesty The Queen. Long to reign over us…
Great Yarmouth Leave a comment
Images of Great Yarmouth. Well, why not.
Muddy Purbeck dawn 1 comment
This was the very welcome view that greeted me in the last mile of this mornings’ very gruelling run. Home was at last in sight! I’d started out under starlight with the intention of running a full 26.2 mile marathon distance around the Purbeck hills, but the going was really heavy after last night’s heavy [...]
Exercise Smash and Fort Henry 1 comment
Fort Henry is an imposing concrete fortification overlooking Studland Bay in Dorset, built in 1943. The main building is about 30m long, with metre-thick walls. Several connected buildings are linked to underground tunnels extending backwards from the clifftop. On 18th May 1944, Fort Henry played host to several VIPs; none other than Prime Minister Winston [...]
