Bad Mustard!

Turns out this mustard superbloom has some adversaries in artists and chefs. Their trying to collect the bloom before it can mature and spread. 

https://www.courthousenews.com/california-artists-chefs-find-creative-ways-to-confront-destructive-superbloom-of-wild-mustard/

Now we need someone to take a look at Spanish Broom (pictured above).

Birthday breakfast

I'm a Criminal in Devon

Well. Good thing I got to the airport early today because I had to have an interview with the police! They were two men decked out in gear like the Matrix minus the flowing coat.

I forgot about the pocket knife in my pouch. (I remembered to move it to checked baggage for the flight to London.) In the U.S., I would just surrender the knife and move on. But here in Devon, that short-bladed knife turned out to be an illegal weapon - the locking blade made it so. So, I couldn't just surrender it; the police had to interview me and make a report. I'm on file now in Devon. I won't try to carry a knife here in the future... things would get serious.

After that rigmarole, I got my last cream tea. Now, on to find my gate.

The View From Lyme Regis

Yesterday after my fossil outing and after touring the Lyme Regis Museum, I bought Pad Thai noodles in a small street food gathering and carried it to a seat on the sea wall.

Good fresh meal and what a view!

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My Mary Anning day on the Jurassic Coast

I joined Lyme Regis Museum guide Rosa and about a dozen other folks on the beach for the Friday morning fossil hunt and found fossils!

I also found an even greater appreciation of Mary Anning. She is the 19th century fossil-hunter and paleontologist, who became a scientist and made major contributions to the thinking of the day, against huge odds and with little recognition. As a woman of low birth, who battled poverty all her life, her opinions were suspect amongst many scientists and clergy of the day.

My Jurassic Coast outing, at low tide on a pleasant spring day, was fun and mildly productive. Luckily my rent and dinner doesn't depend on my fossil skills.

I found four of the ammonite fragments in this picture and was given two bits. I picked up the stones at the rear... just because. 

I think the stones on the right and left are chert. The one in the middle the fossil hunters would call "beef" and disregard it. 

If I didn't have to fly home with already too heavy luggage I'd have picked up a lot more simply-amusing bits and boulders.

In the garden at Middletown Farmhouse

I'm waiting to for the launch of my Day in the Dartmoor and enjoying this classic sunroom and garden.

Middletown Farmhouse B&B is a restored old farmhouse. It is classic whitewashed cob walls with stone foundation and thatched roof (good boots and hat). Inside the floors maybe uneven but the electrical and piping are up to date and reliable. Beautiful modern fixtures in the bathroom and traditional furniture in the bedroom. Fresh, luxe linens and in-room tea tray with an electric kettle and a nice selection of teas. A little jar of homemade shortbread cookies - better than any chocolate mint on the pillow.

I'll cone back!

The Bath Abbey.
I'll try to visit tomorrow.