The Soon-to-be-Archive for 2010

To be honest, not a great deal has changed in the Dodge household during the last twelve months.  Chris is still practising the dark art of Delay Attribution for Network Rail at Cardiff, and Denise is still working at Companion Care at Filton.  Happily all the animals are hale and hearty - Bonzo will be 11 in January, Morris turned 13 in November, and Austin has just turned 12, so they're all thoroughly middle-aged now, just like their owners.

Here are some photos from 2010

Popham Airfield on a freezing New Year's Day

One of the visitors, a delightful De Haviland Dragon Rapide

To Tenerife later in January.  Now then, ask for a nice view, open the curtains and.......

Lovely at dusk too......

A lovely sunset every evening.....

Never happier than when eating.....

Ilfracombe in February

Staying at 'Mizpah', just off Fore Street

Exploring the Tarka Trail

.....the weekend included a visit to the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway....

Don't leave me !

A fine weekend in Appledore with friends in March.....

More cycling......

Refreshments and running repairs at East Yarde

And further refreshments the next day at Fremington.  Sadly the Old Station Cafe has since closed.

First barbecue of the year in April.

Colin and Roger joined us overnight before.....

Chris's birthday bash

...complete with cake !

Spring boating on the Llangollen canal.  Appearances can be deceptive.....

Despite the sun, it was fleece weather for most of the week.

Sunrise on the Monty, caught on camera simply 'cos Denise needed a wee !

Illuminated Gin and Tonics !

Abbot's Wood in May

Bike cleaning time !

And so to France, for what will probably be a once-in-a-lifetime three week trip, made possible by a legacy from Denise's late Uncle George

Castelnaudary laid on some unusual entertainment on our first evening.....

Moored at Toulouse, with Denise having installed her 'bling' in order to pimp our ride !

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Evening back at Castelnaudary.....

....Dusk....

...and night-time.

 G&T - unilluminated this time - at Gardouche

A very special bottle of wine accompanied lunch.....

The staircase at Fonserannes

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The lighthouse at Les Onglouse, at the edge of the Etang de Thau

Ascending Fonserannes a few days later.

Back at home, The Charlton provided an interesting evening's entertainment......

And Roger masterminded a small extension to the garage....

An evening visit to Ebbor Gorge, and a stroll along the edge of the Mendips.

Brent Knoll is left of centre, Brean Down and Steep Holm to the right.

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August means the Flying Proms at Old Warden....

Picnic time....

weather later on.....hmmm

- but one thing guaranteed is a spectacular conclusion !

The grounds as seen from our room in the Mansion

For the first time in ages, Steve and Sarah Rendall joined us for our boating week in September - the Warwick Ring.

...obviously a fine afternoon !

Multi-tasking !

Chicken a la basque - inspired by Delia and, er, Dave Beckwith

A day out exploring the Droitwich Canal - as it transpired, very much the last day of summer !

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To Instow at the end of October - the view from Westfield House.

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....where we spent Halloween.....

Denise toys with the idea of 'taking the veil'

Amidst December chaos on the M25, we managed another visit to Calais to stock up on a few essentials....

Mission accomplished !

A return visit to Foxdown in mid-December

Dusk on Sunday 12th December at Fremington.  Bonzo has just completed another 9 miles running with the bikes, taking her total for the weekend to 20 !

Finally, some picture from Abbots Wood on 18th December

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And there it is - another year which has passed with truly scary rapidity !

Have a great Xmas 2010, and a happy and prosperous 2011

Chris & Denise

P.S: If by any chance you feel the urge to look at previous years, here are links to   2009 2008, 2007 and 2006.

If you'd like to see some video during your coffee break, click here