What is it? Who am I?
Q: So what is this Mostly Harmless place?
A: Essentially it’s just another blog with a few pictures. (As if the world didn’t have enough already).
Q: Who is to blame for the literary and photographic content?
A: Just another overweight, balding and grumpy old man. (See Picture above)
Q: Has n’t this all been done before?
A: Probably many many many times.
Q: What’s in it for me the visiting reader?
A: I suppose it provides a another space on the Internet where you can waste time that you could be spending interacting with your real (non virtual) friends.
Q: Seriously now, who are you and what have you got for me?
A: All right I’ll talk.
Q: Yes? Go on?
A: Let me finish my tea in peace and I’ll write my statement below.
This Blog is intended to be a place where I can share my experience of country life. Looking after animals, tending the garden, watching the changing seasons. That sort of thing. I’ll also be sharing such little knowledge as I have on the safe riding and maintenance of motorcycles. And, or course, I’ll be showing off some of my efforts as an amateur digital photographer. If you like any of the pictures feel free to right click and download them. If you re-publish any, do please let me know. I’m very unlikely to refuse permission. At the risk of being called a pirate, I’ll also be adding a few fragments of my favourite music. Just the odd track which may encourage you to buy the full album.
I’m a 55 year old man living in a tiny village no one has heard of on the northern fringe of Norfolk in England. I’m one of those ‘born again bikers’ that you often read about in the papers. Usually when some old bloke, attempting to recapture his youth, injures or kills himself riding a bike he cant control. Modern bikes are so much more powerful than they were in the 60s and 70s.
I had my fair share of motorbike incidents in my youth and bear the scars to prove it. When I began riding again at 50 I reckoned that, with that experience behind me, I was now at an age to be able to ride sensibly. I’ve undergone advanced training with both the IAM (Institute of Advance Motorists) and RoSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) and try to keep safe.
I am a Quaker. By convincement, as we say. That is I was not born into the church but became a member of the Religious Society of Friends as an adult. I don’t take part in my local meeting as much as I would like but I do help administer the web site for the Norfolk and Waveney Area Meeting. You can find my article there telling why I chose to join. It’s listed among the links.
My partner of nearly 14 years lives in a similar, but not identical bungalow, roughly 100 metres away as the crow flies. In any case, near enough for us to share our wireless Internet connection. Between us we care for: two terrier dogs, five assorted cats, two Rex rabbits, two guinea pigs, two ferrets and 12 chickens. There’s also several hundred worms in the wormery and there are plans for adding a bee hive to the collection.
For many years now I have been numbered among the idle poor. Back in 1986 I suffered a brain haemorrhage. The subsequent four operations to my head over the next two years left me a little giddy. That is to say, while I walk and talk, I no longer have either the speed or stamina to earn a living from any of the jobs that I am trained or qualified for. In the past I have been a newspaper and broadcast journalist, a Fair Ground attendant, Amusement Arcade Manager, van and lorry driver, Probation Officer, and taught basic numeracy and literacy to young adults with learning difficulties.
There’s not much content here yet. But as it grows I hope visitors will find something to amuse or help them.