March 31st. Ben from Coleford. Just the sight of 150 sq mts of Indian Sandstone arriving on the lawn made my back ache. Ben from Coleford delivered them today from their yard in the forest of Dean in Gloucestershire. Now the hard work begins.

March 30th. Fritillaries. Susan spent a lot of time planting her fritillary meadow last year on the hope that the Somerset soil would be OK. Well great joy. They have done well and watch out as I suspect that there are more to be planted shortly. 

March 29th. Ellie Irvine. An old Client (as in we have acted for Ellie before rather than age). We are putting her delightful cottage on the market and hope to move her on soon. Great fun and does not mind in saying what she feels. It was not to be us!!!

March 28th. East Worldham Church. There is nothing more English than daffodils in the Spring in an old graveyard. These seven graves stand out like stout soldiers and have a splendid variety of old and new daffs around them. Spring is Sprung

March 27th. Oxford Sandy and Blacks. This year we are moving away from Gloucester Old Spots to Oxford and Sandys. Off to Bridge Farm in Willerton this morning to choose the lucky ones and I was rather caught by the farm's terrier in the thick of it. Seems like the sow's are going dry and the piglets are just thinking this "small white pig, that looks like a terrier" could be an OK alternative to Mum. Did not quite workout.

March 26th. North Curry Coffee Shop. This really is a good example of DC's Big Society. In the middle of the village the parish have a building, In Grayshott is a bog and a cop shop. In North Curry it’s a coffee shop and the Parish offices. Lottery funded to start up, run entirely by volunteers and the profit is given back to the charities in the same proportion as the hours that their volunteers have worked. Very successful.  Coffee Shop Link

March 25th. Sid. Again! Took him to be clipped today in Fivehead and he looked so smart that I thought I just had to take a photo. I hear what you are thinking - the clipper should have been the subject of the photo. Since then he has only escaped three times and his name does not give the "warm cuddly feeling" it did on Friday...

March 24th. Northern Monkeys. Or at least that is what they called themselves. They left Stoke at 4.30am to erect our greenhouse and were here by 8am. Did a great job and were good banter especially about "softie southerners"

March 23^rd. Stonehenge. This iconic stone monument was erected around 2500 BC, dating back to the same sort of time period as the Parthenon we visited only 20 days ago on March 4th. They could not be more different. Basic stone slabs compared with artistically worked marble.

March 22nd. Double Trouble. Natalie from Hairworks in Grayshott. I photographed Natalie's mother in early January and it appeared to me that unless the "bump" got a mention it might disappear soon.

March 21st. Gerard The Green Grocer. Frost, snow, wind, rain or shine his door is always open, it must be freezing in there on a cold winter's morning but he does not complain. A real plus to the Grayshott shopping scene.

March 20th, Full Moon. Caught this super view of the moon rising up through our Walnut Tree. As it was a Full Moon yesterday at 18.15pm it was very bright and luckily enough the sky was clear, tonight being the Spring Equinox - equal daylight and night.

March 19th. James Bartosik. James and I went for a bit of off-roading on Curry Moor in his landy. Yes, of course we got stuck, high and dry on the differential. Did all that was required, jacked it up, dug it out and carried on, good fun...until England lost to Ireland.

March 18^th Little Grebe. James my nephew came down this afternoon and we spent some time at the RSPB reserve at Greylake. James just happened to have a very serious Canon 300mm lens which fit my camera and today’s "picture of the day" is my first attempt with a meaty lens, a Little Grebe fishing

March 17th. Paul Bristow and colleague. Paul from Milverton joinery made and fitted our hardwood folding doors, which will lead from the kitchen to the patio. He came back today, six months after they were fitted to make sure they were all working fine and to make some adjustments.

March 16th. Tom Garrad. Tom is the new manager of the newly refurbised Keats Liphook office. The office has been kitted out with state of the art LED backlit window displays which are stunning at night.

March 15th. Jonathan Foster FRICS. A local Chartered Surveyor based in Hindhead. Jonathan has a head for detail and very little gets past him, to his credit. Gone are the suits and ties for surveyors, jeans seem to be fine. Changing times.

March 14th. Nigel Baldock. Recently retired from being the senior Partner of the Grayshott Surgery now enjoying his retirement. Just about to go skiing and from what I can tell really enjoying himself.

March 13th. Bernie and Sprout. Bernie is seen around the village most days with a selection of equestrian friends ranging from large dray horses to this chap called Sprout. Today they were making they way down Knapp Lane for nothing other than a nice ride in the country when I caught up with them. They had been down on the moor where Bernie is teaching himself to play an ocarina, which is quite something when you see there are several digits missing off his hand!

March 12^th The Church of St Peter and St Paul. Is a major landmark on the moors and can be seen from many miles around.  Now part of the Benefice of Athelney – along with the parishes of Stoke St Gregory, Lyng and Burrowbridge - North Curry’s Parish Church is frequently referred to as “The Cathedral of the Moors”. It was built on a site of an earlier Norman church in about 1300 in the Decorated style, using Ham Hill stone, blue lias, and some grey sandstone from a quarry within the parish.

March 11th. New lambs next door. David and Sandrine Bennett our neighbours next door have 5 new lambs. I'm not sure what make they are but they are rather nice, our lambs are coming in a couple of weeks.

March 10th. The Rookery. In North Curry along The Fosse there is a large and loud Rookery. I don't think it has ever been plundered as it really is too high to make it worthwhile. Wikipedia

March 9th. Queen's Square North Curry. At last Spring has arrived, even if its just for a few hours. Daffs are out and so was the sun.

March 8th. The Water Machine. Yes, yes I hear what you are say, what a strange photo but it really did make me smile. Stuck on a water bottle dispenser in the departure lounge was this set of directions on how to operate the machine. I especially like Line 1 in Greek English. You may have to select the photo to enlarge to read it.
“ 1. Throw one by one the coins in the slot of reception”

March 7th. Enzo The Barman. A jolly chap who looked after the bar at the Fresh Hotel In Sofokleous Street. Gave us some good tips on where to eat but I suspect they were mostly owned by his cousins.

March 6th. A Grecian Guard. Outside the Parliament Buildings in Santagma Square. Each hour they perform the most amazing changing of the guards routine which is a cross between “good toes and naughty toes” in a third grade ballet class, combined with wiping something rather sticky off the bottom of their boot. Check out this Link – you have to see it to believe it. Whilst we were watching a large rat ran along the wall at the back to the amusement of the onlookers, not on the video.

March 5th, The Priest. I asked him for his photo as he walked by with the Bishop of the town and he waved me off like I was annoying him. Ten minuets (SS) later after he had taken the Bishop home he was back for his photo shoot. Tried to do the “fromage-cheese” bit to get a smile but he was not playing.

March 4th. Susan at the Parthenon, on the Acropolis. This is the real McCoy not a theme park in Dorset. It is quite astounding the size and sheer volume of the buildings, much of which was being built over 2500 years ago. There is a gap up there in the East Portico where Lord Elgin nicked some marbles. They area a wee bit sensitive about that and want them back, although it took him 10 years to take them away with Greek help and labour. All very strange. (Thanks for the editing, Sally)

March 3rd. Dan from Easy Jet. Not quite sure what to say here. Most of you will know why he is here but as it is a subversive photo with my phone I don’t wont say too much. Let’s just say he is representative. Gatwick to Athens

March 2nd. Phil Duroc. Spends every Wednesday fishing, wind, rain or shine. Always in the same position on Aller Moor near Stathe. usually catches the same indiviual fish which he appears to know on christian name terms. ie Jim Chubb, Tim Chubb and Bruce Chubb. This is the highlight of his week

March 1st. Siobhan Orchard-Webb. March 1st is the first day for product placement in advertising. What do we have here? The Apple logo bold as brass. Gallery One is a great gallery in Grayshott run by Siobhan and her mother Marian (37 years married today) and friends.

Feb 28th. Z Nasser also known as Mr Gnasher by most of the local young ones. Z runs a very successful dentist practice in Grayshott and has been there for many years. Now working less on the front line and more in the management of the business he is not so often see in the office. I can sympathise.