Well, what a summer! Once again – too busy to be spent at the keyboard so yet another slapped wrist for not updating the website! The whole summer was spent bushcrafting, camping and travelling and, for a nature lover, it’s often surprising what the “highlights” turn out to be: having a youngster turn round and tell you he’s had the best day ever for example!
A lovely trip to Cornwall during exceptionally high tides produced some really interesting beachcombing and turned up some mighty jellyfish. Another trip to beautiful Poland found me hunting the naturally occurring amethysts – perhaps I’ll make some “natural jewellery some time? The New Forest is a diverse habitat and not actually my favourite in the congestion of summer holidays – but we did get some great observations of Dung Beetles making good use of what the New Forest ponies leave behind! I had a stunning trek across the South Downs which served to remind me that we have some incredible countryside so close at hand.
Rounding off the summer period was a first trip to Turkey: I was stunned by the nature of the landscape: incredible rocky mountains and nowhere did I see anyone hiking or climbing in them!! That seems an opportunity that’s begging for another year!! Anyone fancy joining me for a trip??? Turkey also gave me the opportunity to have a go at Scuba diving for the first time – for some who know me it might be surprising to know that this puts me well out of my comfort zone! However, I survived and, yes, I think I’ll do it again!!