Living Coasts, Torquay and being cold

Yesterday we went on the train down to Torquay to go to Living Coasts (http://www.livingcoasts.org.uk/) and to do some shopping. Living Coasts is like a zoo for the sea, and although is perhaps only an hours entertainment it is great fun. Contains mostly birds (with a smattering of seals and fish) and the penguins are the highlight (everyone likes penguins, surely?)





I think the above penguin looks a bit sad!



You could walk under the sea pool and see things swimming above, which was quite fun.





The estuary area lets you get close to birds that otherwise you would only be able to see from a distance on the Exe, such as the Avocets here.



And Auks and Puffins,



We then went to the Harvester restaurant on the harbour and had a really nice meal (Harvester have vastly improved recently) and then into the town to do some Christmas shopping.

It really was quite freezing down by the coast, but it was also freezing today when I decided to go for a cycle ride along the river Exe to the Double Locks. Two Winter Warmer beers helped, but I was still very very cold! This is me being cold, and a friendly Robin that kept me company!

New Ten Pence

Thanks to Sarah at work for discovering this one. Just the Pound coin to go now.

Exeter Pub Guide, No. 3, The Double Locks

Where is this pub?
Down the canal towards Countess Wear, but on the other side of the river. You can drive there, but most people cycle, canoe or walk on a sunny day.

What would draw you to this pub?
Lovely canal side location, good beers, the chance for some exercise and fresh air



What sort of person would you find in this pub?
The middle class family, the sporting young couple, wannabe marathon runners, fair weather drinkers.

What can you consume in this pub?
Mostly Young s Ales, including at this time of year Winter Warmer. Several other guest ales straight from the barrel, Addlestones cider, a rather expensive range of wines and plenty of soft drinks.



What is quirky about this pub?
The location, it takes a bit of effort to get to. Also the pool table outside, and the outdoor area for children. Live music and Barbecues are also a regular feature of this pub.



What is specifically “Exeter” about the pub?
The Exeter canal, this is an historic pub that has been used for centuries by traders and locals. The local bands, the poker playing bar manager.

What is there to do in this pub?
Admire the views, play pool, run around outside, get fit getting there.

What are the worst things about the pub?
In the summer it gets awfully busy, and the food is pretty average.

Is there an old man sat at the bar?
No, just a man with lycra shorts and bicycle clips.



In a word, should I bother coming here?
Yes, but pick a midweek day, or a sunny winter afternoon. Make sure you don't wobble off your bike on the way home.

Acting for babies

From the BBC News website



But I had heard it was such a popular evening class...

(there are just too many ways to read this headline!)

Christow and Bridford

I went out on a walk with my dad this morning from Christow to Bridford.



This is the area my dad grew up in, so the walk was interspersed with stories and reminisces about the local area. The views across the Teign Valley and Haldon are really lovely, and the villages feel proper villagy!

Wandering up to Bridford we had a surprise when we saw a couple fields of Llamas! Not exactly what you are expecting to find in the Devon countryside.





We then went up to the lovely little church in Bridford, it has a very interesting screen in it with strange little figures carved into it. I am sure they all have a meaning, but sadly some of them were defaced by those pesky puritans so it is hard to make out who each is supposed to be.







Also a colourful stained glass window.



There is a tiny little brethren chapel that my dad used to visit sometimes, it looks like it my hold about 10 people (and looks pretty run down and disused now).





We then stopped off in The Artichoke pub for a bite to eat and popped into Christow church.



Lovely day out in this hidden corner of Devon, makes me glad I live where I do.

The all new, new look, new Wibsite

It has been a long time coming, but the Wibsite (community site of my friend Dave Walkers) has been redesigned and brought kicking and screaming into the 21st century.

http://wibsite.com/



Well done to Chris, the technical brain behind it, for such a good job. Do take a look around, many of my friends have blogs on there, and my old blog is still lurking there with intent to spring into life one day. (http://neil.wibsite.com/)

River Exe watching yet again

A week off work and I have spent the first two days reading and walking around the river. I guess doing very little is all part of having a holiday.

Here are some photos of today's potter around the quay and local area.



This part of the river path is quite impassable at them moment, so I had to take the long way around.



Cormorant making use of the temporary buoy that has been put in place on the river.



The clock on St Marys church, I was just in time to watch the little guys do their mechanical striking routine!



A "free" bookshop, I resisted going in today, I have more than enough books to read at the moment.

River Exe watching again

Went out for a wander in the rain earlier and look these pictures of an increasingly turbulent river Exe.









And I found another funny name on the Environment agency site

River Exe watching

One of the things about living next to the River Exe (apart from the high contents insurance costs) is being able to watch the river rise and fall with the weather. It seems to take about 12 hours from a heavy rain fall until the river noticeably rises. A few weeks ago it was very high, and the Mill on the Exe scrambled to move benches and put the flood barriers in place around the pub, I expect they will stay in place for the whole winter now.

After last nights rather heavy rain I thought I would check the Environment Agency's site to see if any warnings are in place.



Thankfully they are not. My love of funny place names was satisfied when I saw where there was a warning.



Frisby-on-the-Wreake!

Talking of funny names I spotted this mountain on Wikipedia the other day...

New Fifty Pence

Finally the new 50p! Just the 10p and £1 coins to go now.

Congratulations to Steve for getting into the Guardian work suppliment this weekend, online version available here http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2008/nov/08/working-life-used-car-salesman

Blogs and F1

Well that is the end of the F1 season for another year, It simply could not have been more finely balanced! Enjoyed it very much, and I think it is good to have a British champion once more (although I am much more of a Kubica and Vettel fan).

Sorry for the lack up updates this week, I have been feeling under the weather and having stupidly early nights, have managed to fit in Burn After Reading and the new Bond film, will review them soon, honest...

Looks like I have gained some minor fame this week on the SPCK/SSG blog (http://spckssg.wordpress.com), in fact I watched tonight's grand prix with an ex-manager of the Exeter shop.