Enjoying some shed time. G&T, crackers and a book.

I finished these utensils yesterday. A spatula, teaspoon and a fig-shaped eating spoon. I created a rippled surface and distressed paint effect on the teaspoon.

This is a spot on my regular gravel ride circuit. "DEW" by Simon Armitage. One of his Stanza Stones. It seems, to me, to be about the possibility of renewal and fresh starts. Also the fragility brought on by stress. The reference to parched grass is apt in the current heat wave.

Cows cooling off in the canal on my bike ride today.

Yes! I'm going to Spoonfest this year. Brilliant. It was such a good time, last time.

Scruffy viking braid pattern chip-carved on a spoon handle. It'll look better when it's oiled.

Any road up. Spent the evening finishing some spoons and adding some chip-carved detail to some of them. They'll look good with some oil on them. Some I've left "raw" others I'll paint.

More spoon making over the last week.

Camping for a living the last few days supervising a DofE expedition. Looking east from Greencarts campsite near Hadrian's Wall.

Also "Burnsall Park"? Most of what I see are cars (some parked within a couple of metres of the bank) and loads of people shuffling around in the river gravel. A landscape and habitat being trashed. Calling that a "park" (especially in a National Park) displays a certain level of cynicism IMO.

A minke?

I will be making a statement on my future in public life at 2pm.

Peanut butter and tikka paste. Possibly the world's most disconcerting sandwich filling.

A recent story about the discovery of a stinking illegal waste dump was met with the comment "I'm surprised the locals noticed...". It got loads of likes. The few challenging its bigotry were down-voted and castigated by a majority. The @bradfordtanda.bsky.social is a Nazi bar.

It's not just the big platforms - X and Meta. The comments pages of regional news organisation (I'm looking at you @bradfordtanda.bsky.social) are sewers of racial hate speech. Nazi bars. It's the background noise of many people's local politics and the lack of moderation is chilling.

Rather a fraught week so roughing out some spoons was today's head-clearing activity. These are from a cherry tree that I felled in my garden. The wood is still very fresh so they'll have to dry before finishing cuts. Biking was considered but the drizzle was a bit uninspiring.

I got this mushroom growing kit for Fathers' Day last week. It seems to be coming on well. If I hold the box close to my ear I can hear the faint sound of cowbell. #IYKYK

Painting and decorating. Spent the evening adorning some serving spoons and pickle forks. I'll oil them when the milk-paint has completely dried.

My dad. In this shot he's just a few years older than I am now. He died in his early 60s. I miss you, dad. Happy father's day. ❤

The sunset is pretty wild tonight.

Any road up. It's got a bit too dark (and beery) to read so I'm listening to the blackbirds going off and other sounds of suburban evening setting in.

In my shed. Evening light slanting through the slatted walls. Beer, a notebook, "The AA Book of the Road" and JB Priestley's "An English Journey". Right now I can't think of a better way to spend my time.

I remember some big Friday nights out from Carlisle City Council's Planning Department in the early '90s. That sort of hammered, or did it have to be out of the shipyards?

Took a family walk on Grassington Moor today, among the old lead mines. It's not uncommon to find gun litter on grouse-shooting moors, usually spent shot-gun cartridges. My boy sometimes picks them up. I've never found a live one before though.

Been making some pickle forks out of hazel.

Ah were in Barnsley for t' first time t'day. Ah thor i' were orreyt.

Purple glossy starling at Lotherton Hall. What a stunning little bird.

A couple of weeks ago I was voyaging at sea on the Hampshire to Devon coast, now I'm expeditioning in a field in Derbyshire. It's not a bad way to make a living.

Northern Marsh Orchid at Portmagee, Co. Kerry.

Heading home from County Kerry tomorrow. It's been a great holiday and we'll miss this place. Ice creams, beer, swimming in the sea, botanising, card games, culture, history and nature. Lots of love and laughs.