i-Recall 2009
Chris & Denise continue putting a small 'i' in front of just about anything
in a desperate attempt to try to make it sound trendy......
January began as Januarys usually do...
At Bristol Airport, time to de-ice the Airbus....
....and a few short hours later - that's better !
Taking a nightshirt where no nightshirt's ever been before (probably) - in this case 11,000 feet up Mount Teide
Not forgetting to take your slippers, of course.
A fine afternoon aboard 'Freebird 1'....
....gave Denise the opportunity to work on her Kate Winslet impression !
The view from the balcony at dusk. The G&Ts are just out of view.
Back home, to the snows of February....
A visit to Tom & Fliss (and Jenica !) at Clevedon, well wrapped up against the cold...
In February we also returned to Harbour Point - the three floors above the shop, including the Octagonal Tower. The famous cliff railway can be seen in the background.
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...and it obviously wasn't getting any warmer.....
In March we hosted a gathering of the Roberts clan at Lee Abbey...
...with the North Devon coast looking as lovely as ever...
It's warming up at last, but everything still stops for tea, including in this case a walk along the Kennet & Avon Canal at Avoncliff in April....
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A day out at Teignmouth on Easter Saturday
Our Spring boating trip in 2009 was from Teddesley to the top of the Caldon Canal and back, with Colin Smith and Roger Beazer. We were also joined for a couple of days by Judith Wood.
Healthy option, anyone ??
One man and somebody else's dog !
Our local community woodland looking beautiful during the Spring...
...though the open space in the middle distance is still under threat of being built on.
This year Tom had perfect weather for his birthday celebration...
...a chance for old friends to exchange diet tips !
2009 was forecast to be a 'barbecue summer', and here it is, in early June !
Going........
Going...
Gone ! Another former veggie rejoins the ranks of the omnivores ! Well done Jude !
Steve and Rachel Wells's summer barbecue - delightful as ever !
In France we explored the canals between Toulouse and Bordeaux
Dusk on the River Tarn at Moissac, on what was for us the hottest day of the year - we went in search of ice-cream at 10pm !
Denise's inner child gets to play in the fountain at Valence !
In August we spent a night aboard Andy and Wendy Tandy's newly acquired 'Black Pig'....
... the perfect opportunity to try out our own latest acquisition - a Brompton.....
....once it's owner had worked out how to unfold it !
The garden in August....
As always, a testament to Denise's hard work !
Morris - now 13 - looks for someone to bite !
Whatever the shortcomings of the summer of '09, we had excellent weather for the Flying Proms this year....
...now then, first things first !
....a terrific occasion as always....
....with a rousing climax !
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September was a busy month, beginning with the wedding of Faye (former next-door-neighbour, daughter of Nigel and Sally) to Andy.
Next, a gliding evening for the Flying Group at Aston Down....
...followed by a week aboard 'Sven', taking us from Worcester to Wolverhampton and back.
Three Vikings breasted up on the Severn, on our first evening aboard...
... and negotiating one of the staircases at Stourport the next day
Denise's birthday celebration this year was a fine lunch aboard the Quantock Belle.
Later in October we discovered Foxdown Manor, west of Bideford....
Denise has launched her own brand of gin !
October gave us some lovely weather ahead of that dire November. Back to the K&A again, this time with bikes. Bonzo enjoys a quick cuddle here, before resuming her run with the pack (of Bromptons that is) - on this occasion a full 9 miles from Bradford-On-Avon to the centre of Bath !
In November we returned to Watermouth Cove...
The Lyn valley near Watersmeet
Finally, just as we really should have been getting ready for Xmas, we spent a second weekend at Foxdown Manor....
...exploring more of the Tarka Trail.....
The former station at Fremington is now an excellent cafe
December 13th sees the earliest sunset of the year - this was the view during the afternoon, sitting outside 'The Bar' at Instow....
....before chasing the sunset in the West Devon hills.
And there it is - another year which has passed with truly scary rapidity !
Have a great Xmas 2009, and a Happy New 2010
Chris & Denise
P.S: If by any chance you feel the urge to look at previous years, here are links to 2008, 2007 and 2006.
If you'd like to see some video during your coffee break, click here