Arts

Far from Ethiopia

It turns out Bono wasn't talking about Ethiopia after all then.

Teignmouth is where the streets have no name, and here's the sign to prove it.

Personal

Any other business?

For the first time since I got more deeply involved with Greenbelt I'm missing the AGM today.

Any other business? Yes: climbing tors in Dartmoor, waving at trains from the beach (and getting a complementary toot in return), looking for crabs in rock pools and exploring the Smugglers' Tunnel.

Following up on an unproductive trip over the new year, we're back in Devon. We're packing into two days everything that filled our annual family holiday (even late-night Scrabble).

Most importantly though, it's time for formal introductions and seeking 'royal' assent for the wedding from my Gran.

Arts

Another festival

Just a few miles away from my home, Latitude Festival has been launched today. Another festival that's appealing to the broad range of arts rather than just music.

If they don't sell out I might just have to nip up there and have a look.

Greenbelt

Excitement mounts

I knew a while ago that Greenbelt was trying to secure Maria McKee, but today's news that Michael Franti is set to play the festival took me completely by surprise.

Was it really only yesterday that Emma and I were enthusing about his music, speculating that he'd make a fantastic headliner? This is shaping up to be a vintage year.

Have you bought your ticket yet? Be kind to Greenbelt's webservers - book early this week, rather than leave it 'till the last minute before the April deadline arrives on Sunday evening.

Personal

Not like Wales

Not spotting today's date, we headed into Woodbridge yesterday for a bit of basic shopping. On Church Street we met St George; the shops were all decked out for a "spectacular window display competition" which basically meant unimaginative incorporation of cheap flags.

I normally dismiss these small town events, but Emma was more impressed. "I've missed this, living in Wales," she said. Sure, St George is England's patron saint but I'd argue it's the way he swiftly dealt with the figure at the centre of the Welsh flag that might breed animosity.

Talking of which, even the trees at Sutton Hoo joined in with the theme, as this snap from an afternoon walk in the drizzle demonstrates.

Personal

Hidden costs

Why is it more expensive to buy a through rail ticket than it is to chop the journey into three segments and buy tickets for each leg? If it saved only a couple of quid I might not bother, but £40 is hard to ignore. Goodness knows what'll happen if I split the journey into a hundred.

If you're travelling between Suffolk and Scotland next month I'll be the one shuffling a stack of tickets.

Angels

Easter egg

High up in Salisbury Cathedral, an Angel holds out an egg.

Coastwalk , South West Coast Path

Osmington Mills → Lulworth Cove

Distance: 6.53 miles
Ascent: 489 metres
Duration: 3 hours 11 minutes

Easter Sunday
« Weymouth | Flower's Barrow »

Walking up Burning Cliff from Ringstead, the melody of a hymn drifted down the path to greet us. Occasionally voices could be picked out above the sound of the harmonium. We joined the small congregation of St Catherine's church on the grass just in time to hear to the Gospel. Easter Sunday had come looking for us.

The coast path from Holworth to West Lulworth is a strenuous switch-back of chalk down culminating in the famous natural arch at Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove. At the start of the walk we had the path to ourselves but by the end we were just two more walkers in a conga line of holidaymakers.

The car park at West Lulworth and the congregation at Holworth represent different sides of the modern Easter Sunday. We should have stayed longer at St Catherine's.

Coastwalk , South West Coast Path

Weymouth → Osmington Mills

Distance: 4.82 miles
Ascent: 297 metres
Duration: 2 hours 11 minutes

Relaxing
« Castletown | Lulworth Cove »

What's the point of walking if you're not having fun? With that in mind Emma and I knew fairly soon after setting off this morning that we wouldn't reach our intended destination of Lulworth Cove. We found ourselves walking straight into a strong wind as we headed out on Weymouth prom and even so were outpaced by a limping, bearded, 'serious' coastwalker.

By the time we were at the massive Riviera Hotel at Bowleaze Cove the wind had been replaced by a few spots of rain. We booked a taxi to pick us up from the Smugglers Inn two miles further along and settled into a more enjoyable, less stressed finish to the morning's walk.

Coastwalk , South West Coast Path

Kimmeridge Bay → Chapman's Pool

Distance: 4.40 miles
Ascent: 351 metres
Duration: 1 hour 59 minutes

Crumbling cliffs
« Flower's Barrow | Swanage »

Today's walk saw us re-visiting the Jurrasic Coast whose cliff paths we started walking last July. From Kimmeridge Bay, we climbed to Clavell Tower, an impressive folly perched perilously close to the cliff edge. Later this year the Landmark Trust plan to move the tower back away from the edge and turn it into a holiday home.

At the Freshwater Steps waterfall, what I took to be abandoned crates turned out on closer inspection to be an old flower arrangement spelling 'DAD'. Further along the cliff-top path reached the summit of Houns-tout where the crumbling cliff left craggy outcrops and revealed perfectly layered cross-sections. Every cliff here tells a different story.

After the small, sunlit cove of Chapman's Bay we turned inland to complete the circuit back to Kimmeridge. Although mist obscured the view of the furthest headlands, there were plenty of spectacular views to show us how far we'd come since we started last year.

Personal

Three lessons

Things I've learnt:

1. My iron is lovely. When Mum commented on its poor state I should have investigated, rather than suspecting she was imagining things.
2. If I break something beyond the point of repair, I should throw it out rather than leave it under the kitchen stairs for someone to find later.
3. Keeping white spirit and de-ionised water in adjacent, identical containers is asking for trouble.

And as a consequence, today Mum learnt about the unique characteristics of a steam iron full of solvent.

Personal

Spring has sprung

I've been shaking my head in disgust at my front door for some years now.

Finally today I mustered the enthusiasm to do something about it, and after taking the numbers off the door in preparation for the new coat of paint I was doubly motivated. This is what happens when your house opens straight onto a busy street.

Personal

West is best

When others argue over whether north or south London is better, I always manage to avoid taking sides. After all, I know the true secret: west is best. Two years living in Westbourne Green will never leave me.