BSB Test Day, Donington Park, Thursday, 26th March, 2015.

Michael Laverty - Tyco BMW.

This is the third year running we have been to the BSB Test day and it's all gone a bit 'corporate'.

Much harder to get 'paddock shots' this year 'cos most of the teams have the rear doors to the garages closed. Managed to sneak in through a door to snatch this photo.

The number of spectators has also increased and we reckon it won't be long before Donington charge an entry fee. And why not? It's a good day out.

Howard trying out one of Robert's JPS Norton Rotary-thingies.

We've always said that if we won The Lottery we'd sponsor Jenny Tinmouth.

Now we don't need to 'cos she's got a proper Honda UK 'bike.

That's one less thing to worry about then.

Not many recognised an 'incognito' John McGuinness - but Vicky did!

New season, new team, and a new haircut for Joe Burns.

We've had some lunch - it was so busy at The Paddock cafe that we had to eat it outside in the bitterly cold north westerly 'breeze' - and we have now walked along the Melbourne Loop to the Foggy Esses where Vicky patrols the low ground……….

….and David takes the high ground above the 'safety fence line'.

The 600's are out on track now and this is Luke Stapleford chasing a rider on a Tsingtao MV (no idea who it is).

Ben Field not actually on his MV at this point in time.

It's the walk of shame for you young man.

Moved a little further back down the straight now.

The riders are Billy McConnell and Chris Walker.

Bruce Anstey at the Melbourne Hairpin.

Kiyo dismounts.

(See blog below for full sequence)

And on that note it's time to go!

Ryuichi Kiyonari crashes at Redgate, BSB Test Day, Donington Park, Thursday, 26th March, 2015.

I'm 'Randy Mamola' - I can save this.

Oh, perhaps not.

Nope, no way back from this.

Thank goodness he's OK.

This is the modern world: Monday, 23rd March, 2015.

Our new occasional table - just right for the settee - has arrived. Emlyn remains unimpressed.

Now here's the thing: we drove all the way up to Solihull the other weekend just to visit The John Lewis shop and purchase this table which we had seen on their web site.

When we got there we discovered that the shop had one example of everything on the web site but nothing that we could pay for and walk out with. It's all for display only.

No, a member of staff had to order it on line, take our email address, and promise that we would be contacted by 'phone so they could confirm the delivery details: 

Wednesday between 2:00pm and 9:00pm.

Two and a half weeks later a chirpy delivery man knocked on our door and delivered the said item at 7:30pm.

OK, so it all worked out in the end but wouldn't it be much simpler to do it the old way? 

On Broadway: Sunday, 22nd March, 2015.

Welcome to Broadway Tower.

Many times we have passed it on our way down to The Cotwolds.

Today we're taking a look at it.

Never mind the gargoyle, look at that blue sky!

Vicky sits back aghast.

What manner of horror has she seen lurking in the window?

Crikey! We haven't seen this many flies in one place since we considered staying in that back-packers lodge in Hall's Gap (which we didn't stay in on account of all the flies) ten years ago.

On a clear day you can see 16 counties from up here, evidently 

- Vicky is making do with just Warwickshire and Worcestershire from this bit.

David turns his back on Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire.

Oooh, very dramatic.

Either that, or someone has been messing about in 'levels' again.

Howard out and about in 'the great wide open' for the first time in 2015.

Mole hills and the Tower.

Driven back down from Fish Hill into the valley below and we're now in Broadway itself.

They say the lights are always bright…..on Broadway.

They say there's always magic in the air…..on Broadway.

(Note new glasses and walking shoes - smashing).

Possibly seen better days.

Time to drive home now - but not in this.

Later, back at HQ, Emlyn enquires whether it is time for his 7 o'clock.

No, Emlyn, it is not time.

Proper science and everyfink! Friday, 20th March, 2015.

9:20am and it's starting to go dark in Worcester as the partial eclipse of the sun begins.

9:30am: We mustn't look directly at the sun so it's out with the plastic (we don't have a metal one) colander and a beige settee cushion to project the eclipse in reverse.

9:45am. It's good, this science-malarky. Although you do have to use a lot of imagination.

So, not all that good, then.

Post-breakfast, Saturday, 14th March, 2015.

I've had me two breakfasts and now I can feel me chin getting heavier and heavier.

Nah, it's no good, I've gone.

The other side of the river, Sunday, 8th March, 2015.

Off out are you?

Shut the door behind you.

We've never been over to this side of the river before.

Good innit?

There are no snow drops on our side of the river.

Doing this had added another mile and half to our usual 3 mile walk.

Should have brought a bottle of water.

Robin telling us that this is his territory and we should bugger off back to our own side.

Mute swans 'in flight'.

Mute swans 'paddling'.

Has Spring sprung? Gheluvelt Park, Friday 6th March, 2015.

We haven't had a winter yet and it's too soon to say we won't get one. 

But it's 15 degrees today and the sun is out and it's a good forecast for the weekend an' all.

Not only are the crocuses out in the park but the busy bees are proliferating too.

Very sorry that the bees in question are a bit blurred: it's on account of them being very busy.