Packing For The Road

Yesterday was the summer solstice and a lovely day at that. I've been checking the inventory and packing up all that's needed for this years events. Looks like the beast may not be able make it. Some maintenance needs doing, I'm very fortunate to have a fantastic mechanic who has managed to help a great deal. But good ones are very busy. Time will tell if the beast will be with us. Click here for more information on Bandana Workshop events

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I'm not bother either way, but when things aren't getting done, it can be tricky. There is so much to do in a day and not a lot of time to finish things in.

For the past few days ,this site has had it's fair share of difficulties. No access,making me wonder what I was going to do and how things were going to be done. I had already delegated matters that I didn't want to deal with myself. To find that I was in stalemate and nothing was shifting so in the end it back to square one. Have you had one of those days ?

On my walk

Today it was out and about. No rest for the busy. I took a three mile light walk into town, scenery not very pictureque, a means to an end but none the less worth it. If there was smell a vision, then today was the day for just that.

I stopped off at the French farmers market to have my senses entertained with the glorious sent of the efforts of the stall holders.

French Cheese Stall

Italian biscuit and cake stall

Spanish Paella stall

The biggest Paella I've ever seen



Bread Stall




French soap stall



What a fantastic colour and the smell, oh heaven !





Lavender oh bliss !

Happy St Patrick's Day

Another excuse to celebrate, be creative and cook at the same time. We decided to have a traditional breakfast .


Potatoe Cakes


We boiled and mashed two largish potatoes with a desert spoonful of spread( butter to those who like it).




Added some plain flour about four table spoons.


Mixed with the metal spoon until a dough is formed.


Roll out on a floured surface.


Cut the dough into triangles.



Fired up the stove and fried the potato cakes over a low heat with a little spread ( you can use butter if you wish.




Served up the feast with a poached egg, grilled bacon and tomatoes magic !

Up and ready to go

For quite some time I stopped cycling, my bike it was sitting idle in the loft. But I got the bug again. I'd cycle across London from the south to the west, passing though the commons, along the river, stopping off for lunch then head back home. Oh happy days !



So it was time to take my old bike out of mothballs and give it a lease of life. Yes you can see bind weed growing though the frame and spokes .It was out of the loft and into the yard, for a while just before the change.

Cycling locally didn't feel right, once I started up again, it seemed like an age getting anywhere. I was also getting regular punchers, there was something stuck in the tyre that couldn't be found and the wheel tape had perished. So off came the terrains,I put on new wheel tape and slicks. This made such a difference, more speed and less drag, back to the old days, freedom ! This is going to be a bonus, helping me get around quicker locally now and on camp sites later this summer.


I'm so pleased that I'm getting out and about more locally and feeling better for it.

Festival season count down

We're looking forward to this years events. Unfortunately, we've had to send our workshop off to be repaired. The zip has seen better days. Fingers crossed we'll get it back on time.

Licence to thrill

It been nice clearing out the files. Just by chance I hit upon some old footage of last years visit to Chessington Work of Adventures with the Bandana kids and friends. I had the best seat in the house and managed to film a whole sequence of events. So watch this space for more of our crazy antics in between and during workshops.


It all work and play with us the opportunities that we've had to travel have been a sure thing to awaken our sences and to refocus on life.