"In your hands, the birth of a new day... " (Limahl)

29 October 2006

Trip to Exeter

Drove down to Exeter to watch AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup 4th Qualifying round. Had the intention of finding up to five caches in the Motorway mayhem series. It turned out I only found one, a micro at the Gordano services. I failed to fined three others and didn't even bother looking for the other one.

28 October 2006

Geodog

Geodog

Kenfig Dunes / Merthyr Mawr


Leprechaun geocoin

Volunteer geocoin


Definitive Series geocoin



On a dark Friday night I drove over to Kenfig dunes to pick up the volunteer and Definitive series coins. The dunes were surprisingly easy to navigate in the dark, with the glow of Port Talbot steelworks to the west.
The Merthyr Mawr cache was more tricky. Took the best part of an hour for what should have been 20 min. car journey. Out of car, stumbled through woodland and over barbed wires, though the cache location itself was easy enough, even in the dark. Retrieved the Leprechaun.
This evening probably marks the end of my 'first flush' of caching. My brother, 'Senseless thing', had warned me that this was quite a futile activity and I'm starting to get that feeling after a couple of months' cacheing. One last blast down the M5 tomorrow then I'll probably restrict myself to casual caching only when I'm in the mood for it.
Already, I have confined myself to traditional, one stage caches and have no desire to go after multi-stage or cryptic caches.
However, I am taken by the travelbugs and geocoins of the sport. I am fascinated by the routes taken by bugs, and the virtual geocoins icons that one can collect on the 'trackables' part of the personal profile. I would predict that retrieving bugs and coins from caches I've already found will become a steady preoccupation in the future, even as the zeal for new caches dies away...

USA Geocoin

Took an hour (and then some) off work over lunch while I had access to the car. Found the first of Write and Mane's caches in their formidable Caerphilly cache series.

23 October 2006

Bloggers' tributes to Dr Wally


All TOGs were saddened by the death of Paul Walters (Dr Wally / Pauly), the late producer of 'Wake up to Wogan' on Radio 2. To find out more about Pauly, please visit the websites of the BBC or the TOGs. Paul Walters was widely credited with bringing several artists to public attention. I include here the tribute websites of Eva Cassidy and Clifford T. Ward. A personal message has also been posted by Katie Melua. The TOGs have organised a fundraising effort in memory of Paul Walters. This is in aid of the Hospice of St Francis, Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire, where Pauly spent his final days. Judging by his comments on the morning show, Terry Wogan remains to be persuaded by the blogging scene and perhaps with good reason! But, browsing the blogosphere, several tributes to Paul Walters can be found. Several praise the special show of Monday 23rd October. This was a musical tribute to Pauly presented by Terry Wogan and wonderfully produced by Paul Walters' successor, Alan 'Barrowlands' ('Bingo') Boyd...

'I found out today that "Dr Wally" died on Saturday 21st October 2006. This will not mean an awul lot to all you dear bloggers across the world, but Paul Walters produced Terry Wogan's radio show on BBC Radio 2, making it one of the highest listened to shows here in the UK. Have never felt this way before about someone I've never met, but today is not a good day.' new-gold-dream.blogspot.com 'Tuning into Wogan this morning I heard the very sad news of Paul Walters untimely death. Like thousands of people up and down the country I am sure I am not alone in mourning the loss of this wonderfully talented man. Mornings just won't be the same again. Hats off to the magnificent Terry Wogan and his team, for pulling off such a wonderfully moving tribute to Pauly without the slightest mawkishness, and much great humour. I'm sure he'd have loved it.' maniacmum.blogspot.com Not really sure where to start today, but I think the most important thing (for me) to mention is that Pauly Walters died on Saturday. We'd obviously known for sometime that he's been unwell but we all thought that he was getting better and Terry even mentioned a couple of weeks ago that he knew of someone who'd been training on the new equipment and both Mummy and I felt that might mean that Pauly was on his way back. However, listening to Roger Royle this morning, he had obviously been in a hospice for the past few weeks, clearly indicative of the fact that he was never going to return to work. He was only 59 - just two years older than Daddy. It upset both Mummy and I greatly and we've been in tears on and off all weekend - I spent a lot of last night reading through the message boards and the togs website, reading the tributes and poems to Dr Wally and consequently, spent a lot of last night in tears as well! Wake Up To Wogan will never be the same without Pauly and we had all desperately hoped that he would make a return at some point in the future. How will we ever know what a spokeshave is? Or what naggling is? Or how many neices he has?! He has left such a huge hole in everyone's lifes. shnixangel.greatestjournal.com I personally felt that he didn't really get as much credit for bringing new artists to listeners with Terry being associated with introducing an audience to Katie Melua, and the superb Eva Cassidy. More importantly I can understand it's a sad day for devoted TOGs and TYGS to an extent but it was interesting to find out that "Dr Wally" had an interesting resume at the station producing shows for David Jacobs, Ed Stewart and John Dunn. Most of these were familar voices in my house all those years ago when Radio 2 was aimed at an much older audience although my mum still listened for some reason as has always been the case.Rest in peace Pauly. blammy.blogspot.com I worked with a bloke once at the BBC, he was Terry Wogan's radio show producer. He was one of those people it was impossible to be miserable around, a real happy go lucky bloke who never got stressed about anything and always had words of encouragement and advice for a young assistant producer as I was then. He refused to take his job anymore seriously than was needed, his line was always, "Don't worry about it Laurence, it's not as if we're saving lives is it?"In saying this he was one of the most professional, intelligent and inspirational people I'd ever worked with, the people I truly admire in this business are very few and far between but Paul Walters was one of them.Sadly he passed away on Friday at the young age of 59. Life really is a bugger sometimes. lozza-man.livejournal.com Death has been a preoccupation of mine, recently. Probably because of my mother's ill health, but I've been thinking a lot about the great "whatever". I heard on the radio today that Paul Walters, Dr Wally to all Wogan listeners, has died, aged 59. I felt really sad - just one of those people that you feel you know because they're in your house every morning. But he seemed fun, and he loved music. I love music and laughing, so anyone who combines the two does it for me (hence my adoration of "Barenaked Ladies". Plus, when you know of someone in a context, you get a feel for how that context will change - the colleagues and friends who will miss him, the change in the dynamic. The World According to Les the chick People who know me well have already realised that I am terminally bewildered and therefore well qualified to be a TOG. I find myself shrieking "Is it me?" at the drop of a hat, regularly get fed up with hearing teenagers moan ("They don't know they're born") and even yesterday responded to an enquiry about my health with "Mustn't grumble". The holidays are normally a blissful time when I can chuckle along with Terry for the full two hours, but today is tinged with sadness after the death at the weekend of Paul Walters, the show's producer. TOGS the world over are united in mourning the Mid-Herts Maestro. RIP, Dr Wally. talesfromtheplain.blogspot.com I was very sad to hear of the untimely death of Paul Walters, famous latterly as Terry Wogan's Radio 2 producer. He pioneered a unique form of half-off-mike grunts, uhms, aahs and chuckles which acted as the perfect foil for Terry Wogan on his "Wake up to Wogan" show. As such, Paul became much loved as a quiet, unassuming and jovial chap who, nonetheless, was skilled at choosing the music and emails for the programme, helping to make it an overwhelming success with listeners.He will be sadly missed. Terry's tribute show yesterday was a masterpiece - the music was beautifully chosen and Terry approached it with exactly the right tone.As the writer of a few letters read out by our Tel it will be sad not to be able to write in as "the real Paul Walter" or "Paul Walter singular" or some such unfunny joke anymore. paulwalter.blogspot.comIt was sad to hear of the passing of Paul Walters, long time producer of Terry Wogan's breakfast radio show.Paul's record selections were wonderfully inspired and it was through the show that i first heard Alison Krauss and Union Station singing "The Lucky One."Alison Krauss has since become my most listened to artist and i ventured forth last year and saw her and Union Station in concert at Hammersmith.There will be alot of tributes given, but this is just a simple thank you.You will be missed, Paul. one-more-thing.blogspot.com ...what a great programme on monday morning, led by Terry and the rest of the team... lets also hope his successor will keep up the good work at breakfast on Radio Two. francisthefearless.blogspot.com to all who heard him he was one of the best LandsdownLad Breakfast With Wogan on Monday (BBC Radio 2, 7.30 - 9.30) was a moving tribute by Terry Wogan to his programmer and friend Paul Walters, who died at the weekend. The tunes and performers were all 'Doctor Wally' favourites. barnden.blogspot.com The name Paul Walters may pass many of you by, especially those who are from the other side of the Atlantic. To around eight million Brits he was "Doctor Wally" "Doctor Wallington P. MacGillicuddy Walters" or simply "Pauly." He was the producer of the most popular breakfast show on British Radio, Wake Up to Wogan, and an on air foil to Wogan's barbed wit. Along with the rest of the team Deadly Alancoat (aka Voice of the Balls), Boggy Marsh and Fran "Mimi" Godfrey, they kept us laughing through the morning blues. His legacy however will live long in the memory of the British people. He was the man who bought to our attention the late Eva Cassidy and also Katie Melua. He was the world's greatest putter (by his reckoning anyway.) A quiet, gentle, unassuming man, he kept his illness a personal matter, lest he be inundated with well wishers. The true reluctant star. Mornings will be a little bit bluer without you Pauly. God bless you. Spudgun My deepest sympathy to Paul Walter's family and friends and Terry Wogan's team. blogs.mobhaile.ie/markmanning/

22 October 2006

Dr Wally


Paul Walters (Dr Wally) died today. He produced the radio show of Terry Wogan. I'll write more about this again.

Picture: Paul Walters with Terry Wogan (source: BBC)

19 October 2006

State cat of Maryland

Did you know that the Calico cat (basically, tortoiseshell and white) is the state cat of Maryland? The colours correspond with the pattern in the top left and bottom right quarters of the state flag. As it happens, Maryland is right up there with my favourite states. Geographically, it is defined by the Appalachian mountains and Chesapeake Bay, which influence the work of Bruce Hornsby from neighbouring Virginia.
It is the home of the crabcake and has a fantastic Baseball stadium: Camden Yards, home of the Baltimore Orioles. I was lucky enough to visit the stadium in 2000.

Motorway Mayhem Caches


Last week I found a cache in the Motorway Mayhem series of geocaches (M4 J33). These caches are designed as driving breaks for the discerning geocacher. I had tried it in midweek during the early hours. Ended up cutting and scraping myself for no reason. Went back on Saturday in daylight for a second attempt. My first encounter with a fellow geocacher who was looking for the same cache as me. Turned out to be Satellite kid. After keeping a distance to let him do the honours, I eventually found the cache wedged in between an advertising hoarding and a stanchion. A sojurn down the M5 is planned for next week so hopefully a few more 'motorway mayhem' caches to boost my stats, and ad some dots on the south west corner of Tortie's Map.

7 October 2006

Devil's Pulpit, KWSN Geocoin and Gloucestershire blog


Wales Geocoin


Drove out to Tintern for lunch at the Abbey Mill restaurant. In the past, I've had rabbit pie but on this occasion I settled for lamb and mint pie.

3 October 2006

Cute Coot 2

Turned up for football with the lads as usual. Unfortunately the muppets at the stadium had double booked so we all had to go home early.


I took advantage of this misfortune to replace the Cute Coot cache. Unfortunately it's just a micro, at least for the time being. But it contains an official Groundspeak micro-log which I purchased in the first flush a few weeks ago.

Next step might be to find a 'not another micro' geocoin to make it a bit more attractive for the geopunters.


So farewell then, Cute coot cache

Went down for a walk to the lake with K. Checked in on the cache. But, alas, the cache had been removed from the site.
The cache had been complimented on its relative 'easyness' - and had racked up some 25 finds in the first month of its existence. It seems the cache was all too easy for muggles, as well.
K was more downcast about it than I was!
Not to worry - I'll probably replace it with a micro in the next few days.