#marlborough farms

[balleralbumcovers]

EPIC ALBUM COVER #123

The Ladybug Transistor - Marlborough Farms

Released: 1996 (Feeding Frenzy; reissue)

Slacker rock, indie pop, shoegaze

[edsonjnovaes]

Crianças em 1960 sobre hoje!

1966: Children imagine life in the year 2000 | Tomorrow’s World | Past Predictions | BBC Archive. 14 de dez. de 2021 Pupils from Marlborough college, Roedean and Chippenham schools predict what life will be like for them in the year 2000. With concerns ranging from nuclear armageddon, overpopulation, automation, battery farming and mass unemployment, it’s fair to say that most of them aren’t…

[catherinetheprincessofwales]

James Middleton: Kate, William and the dog that saved my life. The younger brother of the Princess of Wales was so depressed he came close to killing himself. Then Ella, his faithful cocker spaniel, stepped in — and even found him a wife. He tells Matt Rudd about his ‘waste of money’ education, family therapy and the help Prince William gave him. The Sunday Times, 22 Sep 2024.

I’m in a cottage on a farm with the brother of the Princess of Wales and his eyes are filling with tears. He has a cocker spaniel called Luna on his lap and I have a cocker spaniel called Inka on my lap. Both dogs are looking anxiously at their owner as he tries to tell me about the death of their mother, Ella. It could be a bit awkward when a man you’ve only just met starts getting very emotional about a dog that died nearly two years ago. Instead it’s the moment I realise James Middleton isn’t exaggerating. A dog really did save his life.

On a winter’s night in late 2017, Middleton climbed a ladder to the roof above his parents’ flat in Chelsea and contemplated suicide. Overwhelmed by feelings of failure, he had decided that the labour of living was no longer worth the effort. As his thoughts spiralled, it was only the sight of Ella, watching him carefully through the skylight, that gave him pause. How could he leave her, he wondered.

Over weeks and months Middleton had isolated himself from family and friends, ignoring increasingly desperate phone calls and texts. When his sister Pippa came to the door, he would hide in his room. When he tried to go to work, he got as far as the car park and then drove home again.

“I couldn’t focus, I couldn’t sleep, I was constantly agitated,” he says. “If I sat down I had to stand up again immediately. I couldn’t eat because I felt constantly as if I were about to throw up. What was most challenging was that I couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong. It wasn’t living, it was just existing in this awful state of anxiety.”

As his mental health crisis deepened, it was only Ella and the routine of looking after her that kept him going. “I was never alone in a time when I felt very lonely,” he says, stroking Inka’s ears. “I’m surprised there weren’t marks on the carpet from the laps I was doing, but she would sort of get in the way. It was a silent interruption, but for a fraction of a second it would stop the spiralling. “Something was taking over my mind, but not knowing what it was made it very difficult to talk about. And I didn’t feel as though I had a right to be depressed because I’ve had everything, because I am privileged.”

We are meeting today, I should mention, at Bucklebury Farm Park, a genteel sheep-petting outfit plus farm shop (excellent organic pesto) at the more desirable end of Berkshire. It is owned by his sister Pippa Matthews née Middleton and her hedgie husband, James, who is, among other things, the next laird of Glen Affric. Carole and Michael Middleton, parents to James, Pippa and Catherine, live in a manor house a stone’s throw away and Middleton’s own farm, which he bought from the parents of a prep school friend mid-pandemic, is a mile over there. It’s quite the empire.

Now married to the French financier Alizée Thevenet and father to 11-month-old Inigo, Middleton is happy to talk about his annus horribilis and his dog-assisted recovery. He does so at book-length in Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life. But it’s a good question: what does someone born into such wealth and privilege have to be depressed about?

The roots of his 2017 crisis can be found, like most roots of crises, in childhood. Born in 1987, the same year his mother set up the mail-order company Party Pieces, he followed his two older sisters to Marlborough. If the prestigious boarding school demanded academic excellence and his parents expected it, both were to be disappointed. Diagnosed with dyslexia then, and with attention deficit disorder when he finally sought help in 2017, he struggled where his sisters had excelled.

“School is about comparing yourself to others,” he says, recalling how he would avoid friends phoning to compare exam results in the summer holidays. “I didn’t feel despair when I failed because it happened so often, but I was embarrassed. I felt let down because I didn’t think that those results properly represented me.”

In the early chapters of the book he charts his struggles with expectation — his mother is frequently in tears, his father just as frequently exasperated. Even without VAT, it must have taken a large chunk of the trust fund established by Michael’s grandmother, the heiress Olive Middleton, to put his son through Marlborough. When that son had to spend a gap year retaking his A-level chemistry four times, a “humiliating record” for the school, he tells him his education was “a waste of money”.

Although today Middleton studiously avoids criticising his school or his beloved parents — he learnt valuable survival skills at Marlborough, he tells me, and “Mum and Dad just wanted the best for me” — the pressure was clearly intense. He sought escape from that pressure in nature and in dogs. “I was an outcast … alienated from my classmates,” he writes. “But dogs never judged me. Mum asked repeatedly if I wanted to bring friends home to stay at weekends. But truthfully all I wanted to do was to see Tilly.”

Tilly was the family’s golden retriever, but from an early age Middleton was desperate for his own dog. His parents, on the other hand, continued to be desperate for him to succeed. And so, after that long summer of resits, he squeaked into Edinburgh University, choosing criminology, environmental studies and geography modules because he was “pretty certain they would all be multiple choice”. They weren’t, of course, and he failed his first-year exams. More crying from Mum, more exasperation from Dad, more solace from a dog, this time his own.

“For all my reservations, I shall be eternally grateful for the time I spent in Edinburgh because it is thanks to Ben, a university friend, that I find my adored dog Ella,” he writes, introducing us to the dog that saved his life. Despite his best efforts, puppies and student life are not compatible, and when he was banned from bringing Ella to lectures he finally abandoned his studies. “I knew that if I left university I’d be responsible for that decision,” he says. “It was a big step, but I had Ella with me, as my companion and my responsibility.”

Middleton’s story is not exactly Angela’s Ashes. When he announces that he is ditching his degree to become an entrepreneur in London, he is cut off, he tells us, from the Bank of Mum and Dad, but he can still move in with his sisters at the family’s flat in Chelsea. His uncle Gary Goldsmith, he of Celebrity Big Brother 2024 notoriety, is also on hand to invest in his cake kit start-up. Nobody in this story is going to find themselves on the street.

But cynics desist! Don’t underestimate the impact of parental expectation, nor of not conforming to the traditional model of success. Middleton, anxious and increasingly socially uncomfortable, had left his friends in Edinburgh and washed up in London with his dog.

“She was my shield,” he says. “Through her I could enjoy things. I could take her for a walk and see what she was seeing. I process a lot of things in my mind and that can be overwhelming, but she helped me open my eyes and realise everything was OK.”

There are, I’m sure, many advantages to being royal adjacent, but when his sister Catherine started dating Prince William in 2004, Middleton found the level of media interest “shocking”. A young man who used his dog as an excuse to leave parties early was not equipped for the spotlight, for stepping out of the flat into a sea of flashing cameras.

“I’d never seen a royal wedding,” he says, rather sweetly. “There hadn’t been one in my lifetime. Not a big one anyway. I wasn’t aware of the scale or the global interest. I just felt privileged that my sister was asking me to do it, and it meant something to her. I wanted to make sure I did it.”

His description of the intense amount of practice he put in to the reading is like a potted version of The King’s Speech — he stutters, he stumbles, he takes lessons with the voice coach Anthony Gordon Lennox, he reads nervously and then more confidently to an audience of one dog ­— Ella, of course — in Chelsea Old Church. And then it’s the big day. “Really, the build-up to Catherine’s wedding was no different to Pippa’s or other friends’ weddings,” he says, unbelievably. Just the family, 1,900 guests, Her Majesty, an archbishop and a few world leaders. Watching the recording back today, there’s no hint of nerves — Middleton, 24 at the time, gives a bravura performance. Afterwards an American production company wrote to ask if he’d like to star in his own film — their opening offer was $1 million.

“They even ventured,” he writes wryly, “that members of my wider family might like to take part.” Middleton is not unaware of how everything is distorted by his proximity to royalty.

On the surface the next few years of Middleton’s life read like a Hello! magazine special — parties, holidays on Mustique, holidays in the Alps, a blossoming relationship with a glamorous older woman (the actress Donna Air, about whom his parents were hesitant because of the eight-year age gap), weekends at Sandringham (“Did you get my message, James?” the Queen asked the first time he visited. “Ella is welcome to stay in your room.”) But then came the night of despair in pyjamas on a Chelsea rooftop. Long sessions of cognitive behavioural therapy followed with a psychiatrist who was happy for Ella to attend too. She was, Middleton says, the only reason he kept going.

In December 2017, his mental health still fragile, he left London without telling anyone and holed up in a remote cottage in the Lake District. While his family grew frantic with worry, much to his irritation (“I’m a grown man”), he describes three days of elemental existence — fetching firewood and water, heating soup, walking Ella and her two pups. For the first time in a year he enjoyed a deep sleep and, in front of the fire after a wild swim with his dogs, he felt fleetingly happy.

“Dogs are amazing,” he says and all five of the dogs in the cottage with us — three spaniels and two beautiful golden retrievers — look delighted. “They do just sense things. Ella had been with me in every therapy session, she was always with me. I think we can learn from dogs. They’re not thinking about yesterday or tomorrow. They’re not even thinking about the next couple of hours. They’re thinking about right now. I’m here, they’re here, in the moment.”

As Middleton’s recovery continued, he says his sisters understood — they both had friends who had depression — but his parents struggled. “They were uncomfortable with the fact that I’d been labelled ‘clinically depressed’,” he writes. “To people of their generation, I can understand why it was concerning. Society was only just starting to break through the stigma.”

The solution, in the end, was to invite the family to the therapy sessions. “I felt guilty because I knew they were worried,” he says. “They felt guilty because it’s really hard if you’re not able to help the people you love the most. I was finally understanding how I felt but I got nervous trying to translate that to my family without the help of an interpreter. When they came into the sessions they had the opportunity to ask questions that I couldn’t necessarily answer.”

In the 13 years since Catherine’s wedding Middleton’s hair has receded a little, but he now has a beard for balance — a little twirl of his moustaches and he could be a not-too-distant cousin of Tsar Nicholas II. He probably is — this generation of Middletons is not the first to hang out with royalty. He looks less bright and bushy-tailed than he did in 2011, but that might be fatherhood or the weekend with friends he has just returned from in Norfolk. Or it might simply be the passing of enough eventful years.

Whatever it is, he tells me he is now happy, which, given the depths of his depression, he still finds extraordinary. His idea of what constitutes success has changed — he is no longer motivated by money but by the things in life about which he is passionate. He doesn’t even like the word entrepreneur any more.

Having stepped away from Boomf, a marshmallow delivery company (Boomf is the sound a marshmallow makes falling from a letterbox), he started James & Ella, a “premium freeze-dried raw dog food” company in 2020. He clearly finds it easier to be passionate about dogs than marshmallows. But it’s in his personal life that the change has been most dramatic.

“I remember sitting in the therapist’s chair with Ella’s head on my lap, wondering how long it was going to take to get better,” he says. “But within a year I had met my future wife. And we’re now here with an 11-month-old son, living on a farm with six dogs. If someone had told me that would happen, I’d have been annoyed. It would have just seemed so ridiculous.”

He met Thevenet, 34, at a members club in South Kensington, west London, in 2018. Ella, having actively disapproved of several previous girlfriends, broke the ice by going over to her table. They married in the south of France in 2021 (a Hello! magazine world exclusive, naturally) and Ella was a flower girl. And everyone lived happily ever after.

Except, alas, the dog. It is one of life’s cruelties that man’s best friend has a much shorter life expectancy than man. Just asking Middleton about the death of Ella, early one Saturday in January 2023, makes him emotional. Despite being given two weeks to live the previous September, she had made it through Christmas, perhaps buoyed by the thought of one final week in the Alps. Of course Middleton was with her when she took her last breath at 3am. The whole family, including William and Catherine, gathered in his parents’ garden for what sounds like an extensive memorial on the Sunday.

“Saying goodbye to Ella was not just saying goodbye to her as a dog,” Middleton says. “It was everything I’d been through with her. She had arrived just as I was starting out in my twenties and she was leaving as I’d finally figured things out in my mid-thirties. She put me on the right path and I didn’t want another day from her. I didn’t want another hour. I would have loved it but I didn’t need it. “She was sent to me before I even knew I needed her, but she chose me. She was able to transform my life better than any human could have done and then she put me in the capable hands of someone and together we’re now raising our own family.”

Eight days after Ella was buried in her favourite sheepskin, Alizée interrupted Middleton’s mourning to announce that she was pregnant. He is convinced Ella knew and that her death was a kind of passing of the torch. His son, Inigo, was born last autumn. “I hope there’s an Ella who will find Inigo, if there’s a time in his life when he needs it,” he says, as one of the golden retrievers has a long stretch.

If you’re not a dog person, you might find this cosmic canine intervention a bit much. Whether Ella was the ultimate therapist or a very effective placebo, it worked for Middleton. His sisters’ families are also fully invested in the joys of cocker spaniels — Pippa has one of Ella’s sons and Catherine, whose announcement of the end of her chemotherapy treatment comes a few days after this interview, now has one of Ella’s granddaughters — no corgis to date. Middleton himself now regards his mental health crisis as a blessing. “Although I would never wish it on anybody and I would never want to go through it again, I’m pleased it happened. It was an opportunity to recalibrate and to re-evaluate what matters.” Happiness, he says, is what matters. Happiness and lots of dogs. Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life by James Middleton (Radar £22). 

[panfishonthefly]

The Perfect Fly Rod for Panfish

Hands down, the most frequent question I am asked is what is the ideal rod for chasing panfish. Before I answer that question, we need to consider our quarry. Panfish is a term that covers a broad range of fish, including members of the sunfish family, including crappie, rock bass, and warmouth, as well non-sunfish like white and yellow perch, white bass, yellow bass, Rio Grande Cichlids, and several other smaller freshwater fish. While these fish may be on the small side, they are hard fighters that live in a wide range of habitats and eat a wide variety of flies, from tiny midges to big air-resistant poppers and foam or hair bugs.

The perfect panfish fly rod must perform well on a small farm pond or sprawling reservoirs, as well as tiny creeks and big rivers. It should be able to delicately cast a tiny dry fly, as well as handle a sizeable hard-bodied popper. I should be able to handle streamers and nymphs fished on floating and sinking fly lines. That's a tall order for any fly rod, but the ideal panfish rod must be light enough to allow you to appreciate the fight of these diminutive fish.

While I love the fight of scrappy bluegill on an ultralight two or three-weight fly rod, these rods are often too light to handle some of the larger, less aerodynamic flies I enjoy fishing. Casting double fly rigs, something I do quite often, on these light rods can be difficult, especially in windy conditions. As a result, I have settled on four-weight fly rods as my daily driver, although I still fish lighter rods when conditions are right for it.

A fly rod around seven and a half feet in length is ideal for me. It is long enough to make long casts on open water but compact enough to use on small streams or areas with a lot of overhead cover. While the current trend is to make rods stiffer and faster, I prefer slower, softer rods as they fit my casting style. I also like how mid or full-flex rods allow you to appreciate the fight of these smaller fish. A good bluegill will bend this type of rod down to the cork!

Fiberglass, especially modern S-glass rods, fit this bill perfectly. The only downside to these rods has been their ability to cast some of the larger flies I fish or deal with very windy conditions. I have often wished some of my favorite glass rods had a little more backbone in the butt section to deal with wind, big flies and the occasional big bass grabs a fly intended for panfish,

Building The Perfect Panfish Fly Rod

This past January, while attending the Fly Fishing Show as a featured fly tier in Marlborough, Massachusetts, I struck up a conversation with Jordan Ross, the owner of JP Ross Fly Rods. I was introduced to Jordon by good friend and fellow fly tier Fritz Miller, who owned a few JP Ross fly rods. He knew Jordon had a soft spot for panfish and thought we should meet.

During a slow spell at the show, I wandered over to the JP Ross booth to check out some of their fly rods. While speaking with Jordon, it became clear that we had similar tastes in fly rods. I cast a few of his rods and frankly loved them all, but they were similar to other glass rods I already owned. When I mentioned my desire to have a modern, lightweight, s-glass rod that could handle big flies (as well the occasional bass), cast in windy conditions yet still allow me to appreciate the fight of a smaller fish, his eyes lit up. He had a project he was working on that might solve my problems. He developed a fiberglass fly rod called the Toad. What set this rod apart from other glass four and five-weight glass rods on the market today was the fact that this rod was built with a stiffer butt section but retained a traditional feel in the top three sections. Jordon modified the butt section of this rod to make it more stiff and stronger for applications that need a little more backbone in the butt. While doing so, he kept the ferrule design the same; that means the TOAD butt section is interchangeable with their normal S-Glass fly rods.

Jordon handed me a 7 1/2 foot four weight with a Toad butt section, and I headed back to the casting pond. On my first cast, I could immediately feel the difference. That stiffer butt section allowed me to put as much power as I wanted into the cast, and the fly rod responded perfectly, laying out long, accurate casts as well as handling a short line with ease. I was sold.

We discussed collaborating on a rod project during the show, and I agreed without hesitation. Jordon brought in the incredibly talented artist Jeff Kimball to make the rod something special. Jeff Kimball's artwork appears on several of JP Ross's fly rods, and I was very excited to see what he could come up with regarding a panfish-themed rod. The results are breathtakingly beautiful.

In a few months, I had a JP Ross Panfish On The Fly edition fly rod in my hands. While I wanted to start spreading the word about this collaboration immediately, I wanted to put the rod through its paces first to ensure it performed as well as I thought it would. I have tested the fly rod in various fishing situations this past year and I am thoroughly pleased with the results.

Of course, my main objective was to use the rod for panfish. I used the rod at the start of the season, casting delicate midge patterns to early-season panfish. As the season progressed, the rod passed its second test delivering streamers and multiple wet fly rigs to pre-spawn sunfish and crappies. This past summer, the rod flawlessly handled bulky foam bugs, hair bugs, and popper/dropper rigs. Throughout the season, I fished in various conditions ranging from blustery late winter days to windless, sultry summer evenings. The rod cast flies of all sizes and still allowed me to appreciate the fight of smaller fish. As is usually the case, several larger predators were encountered, including a largemouth bass that topped the scales over five pounds. The stiffer butt section on this fly rod allowed me to handle this big fish with confidence.

In addition to my panfishing endeavors, I brought the rod along with me on several trips around the country. I used it to fish for smallmouth bass and landlocked salmon in Maine. While I typically would not use a four-weight in these situations, I wanted to put the new rod to the test, and it performed wonderfully. The fly rod also traveled with me to the mountain west where it felt at home on the small backcountry streams where I fished. I even put it through what I would call a torture test by fishing it on the Madison River, where it successfully landed several rainbow and brown trout over twenty inches. If you have ever fished a big river like the Madison, you know how strong these big trout can be.

After an entire fishing season, the rod has lost that "new" look. The fine cork grip has been darkened with the slime of hundreds of fish, but the artwork on the reel seat and blank still shines as bright as the first time I took the rod out of the tube. I have caught many species of sunfish, crappie, rock bass, large and smallmouth bass, rainbow, brook, and brown trout, landlocked salmon, and even arctic grayling on this rod over the last few months. It has cast everything from delicate spinners to big poppers, and I am happy to say that the rod has exceeded my expectations. I am ready to share it with the world!

If you are interested in a rod for yourself…

The purchaser can customize JP Ross fly rods in several ways. If the artwork I selected does not resonate with you, let Jordan know, and he can discuss other options with you. In addition to the standard reel seat artwork, you can add custom artwork to the blank, the butt cap of the reel seat, and the rod tube. This customization also applies to the grip. If you do not like the tapered half-wells cork grip I selected, you can customize the grip to your liking.

I want to be brutally honest here. Do you need a custom-built fly rod to enjoy fly fishing for panfish? Absolutely not! The motto of JP Ross Fly Rods is "Simply Fish," and that certainly applies here. I often tell folks to fish the rods that you already own. Don't sweat if it is a little too light or a bit too heavy. Just get out, enjoy the great outdoors, and fish. However, if you have been searching for the perfect panfish fly rod, I have one for you to consider. Check out the JP Ross "Panfish on the Fly" edition TOAD 7'6" 4 weight four pc fly rod. If you decide to pick one up, you will not be disappointed!

The rods are available now and can be ordered directly through JP Ross Fly Rods. If you decide to purchase a Panfish On The Fly edition JP Ross Fly Rod, you will support both JP Ross and Panfish On The Fly, as a portion of these sales will go to Panfish On The Fly. Click the button below for more information or purchase a rod.

If you have any questions about this build, don't hesitate to contact me (the button below will take you to my email). I am happy to share my impressions and answer any questions. You can also reach out to Jordan at JP Ross Fly Rods. He can fill you in on the design aspects of the fly rod and discuss any customizations you may be interested in. In addition, Jordan can set you up with a complete outfit, including a rod, reel, and line if desired.

If you decide to pick up a JP Ross Panfish On The Fly edition, please share your thoughts with me! I would love to hear from you.

[binicarsmenorca]

Top 10 Landmarks to Visit in Menorca with a Hired Car

Menorca, the serene gem of the Balearic Islands, is brimming with cultural landmarks, stunning natural beauty, and historical sites. The best way to explore the island’s diverse attractions is with the flexibility of a car hire Menorca. Driving allows you to uncover Menorca’s hidden treasures at your own pace. Here’s a list of the top 10 landmarks in Menorca you must visit with a hired car.

1. Naveta des Tudons

Located near Ciutadella, the Naveta des Tudons is one of Menorca's most significant archaeological sites. This megalithic tomb, dating back to 1000 BC, is a testament to the island’s rich prehistoric history. The drive to this site is smooth, and there’s ample parking nearby. With your car hire Menorca, it’s easy to incorporate this iconic landmark into your itinerary.

2. Monte Toro

As the highest point in Menorca, Monte Toro offers breathtaking panoramic views of the entire island. Situated in the heart of Menorca, this landmark is easily accessible by car. At the summit, you’ll find a 17th-century sanctuary and a cozy café. The winding road to the top is a treat for those who love scenic drives, making it a must-visit spot.

3. Ciutadella’s Old Town

The historic city of Ciutadella is a cultural gem with its narrow streets, stunning architecture, and vibrant markets. Landmarks like the Ciutadella Cathedral and the picturesque Plaça des Born are highlights. Navigating the Old Town by car is tricky, but parking nearby and strolling through the cobblestone streets is highly recommended.

4. Cavalleria Lighthouse

Perched on the island’s northernmost tip, the Cavalleria Lighthouse is a striking landmark surrounded by rugged cliffs. The drive to this lighthouse from Es Mercadal is filled with scenic landscapes, including traditional farms and untouched nature. With a car hire Menorca, you can time your visit to catch the mesmerizing sunset views from the lighthouse.

5. Fort Marlborough

Located near the port of Mahón, Fort Marlborough is an 18th-century fortress built by the British during their rule of Menorca. This landmark offers a fascinating glimpse into the island’s colonial past. The site is well-signposted, and driving here with a rental car is convenient, making it easy to explore at your leisure.

6. Cales Coves

A unique blend of history and nature, Cales Coves features prehistoric burial caves carved into the cliffs. The surrounding turquoise waters make it an ideal spot for a picnic or a swim. Driving to this secluded spot is straightforward, but be prepared for a short hike to reach the caves. Your car hire Menorca will ensure you can explore this hidden treasure without hassle.

7. Binibeca Vell

Binibeca Vell is a charming fishing village known for its whitewashed houses and narrow streets. It’s a photographer’s paradise and a perfect spot for a leisurely stroll. Located on Menorca’s southern coast, this picturesque village is best accessed by car. Parking is available nearby, making it a stress-free visit.

8. Mahón Harbour

Mahón, the capital of Menorca, boasts one of the largest natural harbors in the world. The harbor area is a lively spot filled with restaurants, shops, and historic sites like the Isla del Rey and Fortalesa de la Mola. Driving along the harbor gives you stunning views, and parking options are plentiful. With a car hire Menorca, you can explore Mahón’s bustling waterfront at your own pace.

9. Favaritx Lighthouse

The Favaritx Lighthouse, located in the S’Albufera des Grau Natural Park, is one of Menorca’s most iconic landmarks. Surrounded by a stark and dramatic landscape, it offers a unique contrast to the island’s usual lush greenery. Driving to the lighthouse is an adventure in itself, with winding roads leading you through the natural park. Ensure you have your car hire Menorca to make this journey convenient and enjoyable.

10. Son Bou Beach

While not a traditional landmark, Son Bou Beach is Menorca’s longest stretch of sand and a must-visit for beach lovers. The area is also home to ancient ruins, including a paleochristian basilica. Driving to Son Bou is simple, and there’s ample parking, making it an ideal spot to spend a relaxing day. With your rental car, you can bring along beach essentials and explore nearby attractions.

Tips for Exploring Menorca by Car

Plan Your Routes: Research your destinations and map out your routes to save time and fuel.

Arrive Early: Popular landmarks can get crowded during peak hours, so an early start ensures you enjoy them peacefully.

Carry Essentials: Keep water, sunscreen, and comfortable walking shoes, as some landmarks require short hikes.

Mind the Rules: Menorca’s roads are well-maintained, but always adhere to speed limits and local driving regulations.

Conclusion

Exploring Menorca’s top landmarks is an enriching experience, made even better with the freedom and convenience of a car hire Menorca. From ancient archaeological sites to stunning lighthouses and serene beaches, the island offers a diverse range of attractions. Hiring a car allows you to create your own itinerary, ensuring you don’t miss out on Menorca’s hidden gems and iconic spots.

Pack your bags, rent a car, and embark on an unforgettable journey through Menorca’s scenic routes and captivating landmarks. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a nature lover, or simply seeking a tranquil escape, Menorca has something special for everyone.

[cllnsllvn]

Marlborough Sounds Mail Cruise

Today, I went about 30 minutes up the road to Picton to go on a mail run in the Marlborough Sounds. In the north of the south island, the road stops at Waikawa, just past Picton, so anyone who lives past there has to access their property by boat. The mail gets delivered to them every few days, and people like me get to tag along. Most of the property out that way would likely be a secondary home or bach that would get more use in the summer, but there are some yearlong residents as well.

Started off in Picton Harbour for some lunch and a soak in the sunshine ☀️

Then, onto the boat for the mail cruise. We cruised through the Tory Channel and Queen Charlotte Sound.

A while back, farmers used to farm on some of the sounds, but when the costs started getting to high, many moved off the sounds into town. Because they couldn't get a profit for the land, there was a forestry initiative to plant pine trees. The thing about pines is once you plant them, they just keep spreading. And when the pine needles fall, the soil becomes too acidic to allow much of anything else to grow. So now, they're trying to reduce the pine population. One of the ways they did that from the outset of the initiative was to fly over the sounds in a helicopter and shoot the pine trees with poisoned bullets to kill them. Once that was deemed unsafe, they now poison the trees by hand in sections, so there are a lot of dead pines out there! But, where they have now died, other native plants are growing in their place.

Here are some more pics! Not much more to say, except that it was a lovely day on the water 🌊

^^thought the parents would like this one! It's at a swanky holiday home owned by this big real estate company in Auckland called the Lazy Fish where (according to the skipper) they send employees to "pretend to take meetings and drink wine."

[alcoraplant]

How a Wiltshire dairy makes better use of slurry

Investment in a new slurry system on a Wiltshire dairy farm has resulted in a drop in bagged nitrogen use of more than 100kg/ha a year on the grazing platform. Herd expansion in the past decade, from 150 high-yielding Holsteins to 600 crossbred cows, had put pressure on the old slurry setup at Wolfhall Farm, Marlborough. See also: 5 ways to cut nitrogen use on grazing ground With confirmation…

[nasze-zd]

Hana's Hill

Z zachodnich okien naszego domu widać ciąg stromych wzgórz. Po lewej otwiera go najwyższe, Mt. Kaukau, rozłożyste i szerokie, z wysokim masztem telewizyjnym na szczycie. Od niego odchodzi porośnięty gęstą roślinnością grzbiet kilku obłych kulminacji, dodatkowo wyglądających na jednakowo odległe od siebie. W połączeniu z intensywnym zielonym kolorem stoków zawsze obficie obdarzonych słońcem, wzgórza te sprawiają wrażenie wielkiego strąka grochu.

Nieco dalej na prawo grzbiet traci swoją regularność, a także okrywę drzew, ustępując miejsca łąkom należących do farm leżących po jego drugiej stronie, w Ohariu Valley (tamtędy czasem jeżdżę rowerem do Makara Beach, co opisywałem zeszłego lata).

Jednym z tych wzgórz jest Hana's Hill. Jego skrajem prowadzi popularna trasa spacerowa na Kaukau, będąca fragmentem dłuższego szlaku zwanego Skyline Walk (moim zdaniem jednej z najlepszych atrakcji Wellington). Często chodzimy nią lub biegamy.

Hana's Hill nie jest nazwą oficjalną, przynajmniej ja nie znalazłem oficjalnego dowodu jej istnienia na żadnej mapie, lecz prywatną, zaczerpniętą z tabliczki umieszczonej na znajdującej się na szczycie ławce.

Ławka jest solidna i wygodna, zwrócona ku wynurzającym się z Morza Tasmana wzgórzom Marlborough Sounds po drugiej stronie Cieśniny Cooka. To za nimi zachodzi latem słońce, czyniąc z tego miejsca ulubiony punkt widokowy wielu osób.

Smutnym kontekstem nazwy wzgórza jest natomiast druga wpasowana w ławkę tabliczka, upamiętniająca zmarłą młodo dziewczynę — pewną Hanę Grace.

[18thfoot]

6th April 1917 - Western Front. Captain John Edward Day, Royal Irish Regiment, died of wounds received in action. Captain Day, who was the son of the late Dean Day, of Waterford, was 22 years of age, and was educated at Marlborough College and Trinity College, Dublin. He was gazetted Second Lieutenant in August, 1914, and Captain in April, 1916. On April 8th, 1916, Day had been severely wounded. He was fatally wounded on a Trench Raid on 5th April 1917 near Butterfly Farm. His eldest brother was killed in action in East Africa in November, 1914.

#18thfoot #royalirishregiment #greatwar #worldwar1 #ww1 #westernfront

https://ourheroes.southdublin.ie/Serviceman/Show/17056

[cuddon]

Revolutionising Agriculture with Smart Irrigation Systems

In today's rapidly evolving world, agriculture is facing numerous challenges, such as water scarcity, climate change, and the need to increase food production to feed a growing population. One of the key solutions to these challenges is the adoption of smart Irrigation Blenheim Systems. These innovative technologies have the potential to revolutionise agriculture by optimising water usage, increasing crop yields, and reducing environmental impact.

 In this blog post, we will explore how smart irrigation systems can transform the way we grow food and ensure a sustainable future for agriculture.

What are Smart Irrigation Systems?

Smart irrigation Blenheim systems utilise advanced technologies such as sensors, weather data, and automation to optimise the watering of crops. These systems monitor soil moisture levels, weather conditions, and plant needs in real-time to deliver the right amount of water at the right time. By using data-driven insights, smart irrigation systems can significantly improve water efficiency and crop productivity.

Benefits of Smart Irrigation Systems

Water Efficiency: Smart irrigation systems reduce water wastage by delivering precise amounts of water directly to the roots of plants. This not only conserves water but also ensures that crops receive the optimal amount of moisture for growth.

Increased Crop Yields: By providing crops with the right amount of water at the right time, smart irrigation systems can enhance crop yields and quality. This leads to higher profits for farmers and a more sustainable agricultural system.

Environmental Sustainability: Smart irrigation systems help reduce the environmental impact of agriculture by minimising water usage, fertiliser runoff, and soil erosion. This promotes sustainable farming practices and protects natural resources.

How Smart Irrigation Systems Work?

Smart irrigation Marlborough systems use a combination of sensors, controllers, and actuators to automate the watering process. Sensors measure soil moisture levels, weather conditions, and plant health, while controllers analyse this data to determine the optimal irrigation schedule. Actuators then adjust the flow of water to deliver precise amounts to each crop.

Types of Smart Irrigation Systems

There are several types of smart irrigation systems available, including:

Drip Irrigation: Delivers water directly to the roots of plants through a network of tubes and emitters.

Sprinkler Irrigation: This uses sprinklers to distribute water evenly across a field.

Weather-Based Irrigation: Adjusts watering schedules based on local weather conditions and forecasts.

Each type of smart irrigation system has its own advantages and can be tailored to suit the specific needs of different crops and growing conditions.

Challenges and Future Trends

Despite the numerous benefits of smart irrigation Marlborough systems, there are still challenges to widespread adoption, such as high initial costs and the need for technical expertise. However, as technology advances and awareness of the importance of sustainable agriculture grows, the future looks promising for smart irrigation systems. Future trends include the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning to further optimise watering schedules and the development of more affordable solutions for small-scale farmers.

Conclusion

In conclusion, smart irrigation Blenheim systems have the potential to revolutionise agriculture by improving water efficiency, increasing crop yields, and promoting environmental sustainability. By harnessing the power of technology, farmers can overcome the challenges of water scarcity and climate change to ensure a more secure and prosperous future for agriculture.

 As we continue to innovate and adopt smart irrigation systems, we can create a more resilient and sustainable food system for generations to come.

Source - https://cuddon1.blogspot.com/2024/02/revolutionising-agriculture-with-smart.html

[cheaphousespending]

Kinneymorrow clads Berkshires Farmhouse in wood and weathering steel

US studio Kinneymorrow Architecture has completed a pitched-roof house on a family farm in western Massachusetts that is designed to “sit well with the existing utilitarian buildings”. Located in the village of New Marlborough, the Berkshires Farmhouse was designed for a family of four whose prior residence, dating to the 19th century, was destroyed in a fire. Kinneymorrow clads Berkshires…

[giseleharvey]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Vintage 1953 Queen Elizabeth II Coronation AW Gale Kirkham England Coffee Mug.

[laurenpomfrett-ardn516-2023]

6 Artist models:

Niki Boon:

This Marlborough, NZ based photographer is a mother of four children. She documents her children living their lives out in the countryside. These photos felt very nostalgic, as they are monochromatic, they feel like a slice of history. To me, I can relate her photographs from my own memories. The photo playing on the deck is especially important as at home in Kaukapakapa, we had a big deck that I would run up and down, playing dress up along and dance. Niki's photograph are inspiration to me to tell my story of what it was like living in rural Auckland as a child. My theme and message may not be so nostalgic and wholesome, but it has inspired my location and contrasting my views now as an adult compared to mine as a child.

Niki Boon Photo. (2013). Niki Boon Photo. Niki Boon Photo. https://www.nikiboonphoto.com/

‌

2. Richard Misrach

An American photographer whose career began in the 1970s, Richard Misrach photographs rural west America and the deserts. He focuses on the natural environment and societal factors such as politics, urban sprawl, and industrialisation. His graffiti photographs were of inspiration to me as I too am including signage in my own collection. I feel these short statements can tell very powerful message that gets the audience thinking about our ideas. His photo of the dead cow also relates to my theme about livestock and the dark truths of what happens to them in the countryside.

The Writing on the Wall | Fraenkel Gallery. (2022, March 5). Fraenkel Gallery. https://fraenkelgallery.com/exhibitions/the-writing-on-the-wall

Aperture. (2023, March 8). Aperture 127 | Aperture. Aperture. https://aperture.org/magazine/aperture-127/

3. David Husom

David Husom is an American photographer who shoots in his home state of Minnesota. His work focuses on shooting structures from a uniform distance away and at a front angle which makes them look very symmetrical. This front angle symmetry reminds me of Wes Anderson and his film techniques. This makes the photos feel a little uneasy. His work has inspired mine for I too am focused on structures in a rural setting without people. However, I have chosen a slightly different approach and have taken my structure shots from a side angle.

David Husom. (2023). Getty.edu. https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/person/103KY7

‌Aperture. (2023, March 8). Aperture 127 | Aperture. Aperture. https://aperture.org/magazine/aperture-127/

4. Harvey Benge

Harvey Benge was a photographer from New Zealand who also lived in Paris, France. He unfortunately passed away on the 7th of October, 2019. His collection "Against Forgetting" is my favourite and best fits my theme. This series focuses on paying homage to his childhood hometown of Mt Roskill and looking to the future. His work features portraitures and ephemera but I have chosen to focus on his structures and graffiti/scripture writing. His themes of childhood, past and present are key ideas in my own theme and with this series being situated in Auckland, I feel it is very relevant and inspirational.

Against Forgetting | Mysite. (2016). Mysite. https://www.harveybenge.com/against-forgetting

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5. David Byrne

David Byrne is an American photographer whose work was featured in the Aperture magazine. Unfortunately, I was unable to find any additional information or photos online to dive deeper into my research. However, these picket fence photos were great inspiration and I have to include him and his work in my list of artist models. The direct contrast of the idea of perfection and reality of isolation/neglect are the same ideas that I am exploring. My junk yard photo includes this 'perfect' picket fence gate and is a homage to his work.

‌Aperture. (2023, March 8). Aperture 127 | Aperture. Aperture. https://aperture.org/magazine/aperture-127/

6. Rhondal McKinney

My final artist model is Rhondal McKinney who was based in Illinois, America and photographed monochromatic farming landscapes. He shot panoramic views of figures, barns and houses. His photos showed an uninhabited view of the land which represented his past of rural living. His work inspired my lack of people in my photographs. This was intentional to let our impact on the natural environment speak for itself, without our physical presence. Additionally, this makes the photos feel eerie, isolated and neglected.

Gallery, A. (2013). PDNB Gallery | Photographs Do Not Bend Gallery. PDNB Gallery | Photographs Do Not Bend Gallery. https://www.pdnbgallery.com/rhondal-mckinney-illinois-landscapes

Gallery, A. (2013). PDNB Gallery | Photographs Do Not Bend Gallery. PDNB Gallery | Photographs Do Not Bend Gallery. https://www.pdnbgallery.com/rhondal-mckinney-biography

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[sonjatwogreyhounds]

Beauty and Performance Review

Argoss 1892

Argoss was owned in the U.S. by H. W. Huntington. He was the owner of the Marlborough greyhound kennel. He was a coursing and show judge and he was also a hunter and was interested in the Borzoi for coursing. Argoss was from the Duchess of Newcastle who imported him from Russia, Argoss was a Silver Medal winner for wolves in Russia. He was the first American and International Borzoi Champion. He won 58 first and special prizes in his lifetime. His sire was Ataman from N.A. Bolderov bred by Watzoff and his dam was Podrooga II from Waltzoff. His sister was a great great grand dam of Bistri of Perchina. All of H. W. Huntington's Borzoi were sold to the Terra Cotta kennel in  Canada in 1894. Some of these dogs were later acquired by Thomas for the Valley Farm kennel .Anastasia Ruzaykina 

[daggerzine]

The Angles- S/T (Baby Blue)

This was a recent find and I’m really liking what I’m hearing on here. It’s basically the work of one guy, Ashwin Prasanna, and he’ got a real knack for breezy pop melodies as there’s hooks all over this place on here.

Oh and check out his promo photo below.....so it’s not just the music that’s suave and sophisticated.

First cut “Moon” is just about perfect, riding the magic carpet over a bed of clouds while on “Emulsion” some wild guitar playing comes in at the end and “Knitting Without Needles” is more a straight-ahead rock pop cut, albeit a damn good one (another similar one is the great “All Your Life”).  “Span” is breezy with a capitol B and “Out There” is majestic in all its glory (and really made me notice his vocals).

These 8 songs swoosh by in 25 minutes and yeah, Mr. Angles has an instant fan over here. It’s one hell of a debut (if it is indeed a debut) and I’m looking forward to hearing more (and I say we introduce this guy to Gary Olson at Marlborough Farms as a record between those two seems inevitable), 

www.theangles.bandcamp.com

www.baby-blue-records.bandcamp.com

[ellcrys]

ok. these things. are so fucking good. and i’m mad that the shop is all the way out in marlborough bc when am i ever going to make the drive out to marlborough?????