Andy Roberts

Well I’m dead chuffed that 14 people have cheered my original photograph of the dark side of the moon, but there’s just one tiny little problemette isn’t there. The moon rotates on its own axis such as to always present the same face towards the earth, but it also rotates around the earth once every 28 days, and the earth is rotating once a day as well. So the dark side is a variable piece of turf, which is also the light side depending on your point of view. Sorry to dispel any illusion.

Annet is one of the largest uninhabited members of the Isles of Scilly, 28 miles off teh coast from Land’s End. It’s designated a bird sanctuary because of the Puffins, Manx Shearwater and other seabirds which make nests or burrows on the cliifs. Landing is normally prohibited, but I was with a small group led by a leading local ornithologist who had obtained special prmission. The best part was looking down from the top of the cliffs at an enormous colony of kittiwakes.

After I went to Primrose Hill for the first time, as soon as I got back I wanted to learn and record Loudon Wainwright III’s song about it. My version is not particularly original, but it has the edge that I did used to be a busker myself.
download mp3

Lots of Orchards in Worcestershire, and great places which sell cider. See Cider Pub Guide to Worcestershire

Lots of cider, both real and indistrial is made in Herefordshire, see Ukcider Wiki for more details.

I’ve been using this Mac mini since February I think, so I hardly ever boot up the old windows box any more.

My home office is upstairs so it gets too hot sometimes, and it’s a bit messy. I can watch my eucalyptus tree from here, and the sparrows nesting under the eaves.

I’ve been here since 1991 I think, which is too long to stay in one place really, but I had kids to bring up, so I kind of rooted in. There are some good things about the house – it’s in a very quiet area (usually), it should be easy to maintain, relatively fuel efficient, stays cool downstairs in summer. Nobody bothers me too much here, but that’s London – you can mind your own business.
On the negative side, it’s too far from the sea and there isn’t a view out across fields, mountains, rivers or anything like that – just the houses opposite.

The seafood, mountains, music, Sidra Natural...

Whilst touring Alberta in a Campervan truck RV thingy, I accidentally strayed across border in the middle of the the Rocky Mountains somewhere. So I spent a few minutes in British Columbia, then turned around and went back to the main road through the National Park from Banff to Jasper.