It was almost perfect except that “you know who” forgot to take his camera so there is no photograph today to show you all the smiling faces and various activities.

We removed scrub trees that have grown in the leat and on its close banks since it stopped running in 1898, that was when the reservoir at Burrator came into use. The leat has not been managed since then. The new pathway for walkers away from the road is coming along very well and, once again, a group of passers-by complimented us on our efforts.

Incidentally, in case you were unaware, as I was, the leat, that started running in 1801, was built during the reign of George III (1760-1820). You can say “Its Georgian!”

This was our 15th work day, Fri 24th Feb, and I want to thank Barbara & Roger, Barry & Tanya, Bill, Chris, Derek, Elaine & John, Helen, Ian, John, John & Rachel, Kathy, Keith, Nigel, Stephanie, Sylvia and Val, who with myself, made a total of 21 willing souls.

Another “thank you” goes to Stephanie for bringing a choice of three menu items for refreshment – chocolate cake, date & walnut cake and some rather tasty biscuits. It just gets better and better on the leat!

This was the last day of our season where we were pressing ahead, going along the leat towards Yelverton. Our next session will be spent cutting about 90 yards of gorse back on the golf course, where Barry & Tanya made a good start today cutting the brambles that were such an impediment to our intended activities in this section. The last day will be spent on a tidy-up walk along the whole length that we have worked on to date.

Depending on circumstances, our last day may involve reclaiming logs left by the residents to turn into longer-term habitat piles of hardwood logs for the benefit of wood-boring insects that so far have not benefited so much from our activities.

After the day of work, complete with morning, lunch and afternoon breaks, we repaired once again to – guess where – The Rock Hotel at Yelverton. At one point I counted 18 of us, all enjoying a really sociable time! If you would like to sample what we get up to, volunteers are always welcome – just make contact via the DPA web site Contact us page

We started from Bel Tor Corner car park and headed off to Sharp Tor, one of several with that name on the moor. As we headed up the eastern slopes we saw several reaves, clearly visible amongst the gorse and bracken. Derek headed up to the summit where the wind was so strong that we beat a hasty retreat and headed off between the two rock piles, skirting around the head of the Row Brook valley, visiting several hut circles on the way. A quick visit to Easdon Cott, down in the valley was rewarded by a break from the wind and then we headed back up the slope to see the magnificent Bronze Age roundhouse that sits just below the Ashburton to Two Bridges road.

From there we crossed the road and up to the summit of Yar Tor. I had thought we could have a coffee break out of the wind in the spiral cairn at the top but I had reckoned without the strength of the wind today. We made it into the centre of the spiral, but were still being buffeted by the wind so decided to head down to take shelter amongst the rocks below. By this stage the gusts of wind were so strong that at times it was all we could do to keep our feet as we scrambled down!

Whilst we had our quick coffee  we kept watching the summit of Corndon Tor, our next destination,  disappear and then reappear in the worsening weather! Not a very reassuring sight. As the quickest way back to the start was that way anyway we headed off, passing the Money Pit kist and the more modern Cave-Penney cross on the way.

We had planned a lunch stop on Corndon Tor, but by this time the weather had really set in so it was a quick yomp down the side of Corndon and across Sherberton Common back to the cars.

It was a shame that a walk with such magnificent views lost that aspect today, but I was as impressed as ever with our members’ determination not to let a little bit of rain spoil their day. Only this time it was rather a lot of rain and coming at quite a speed. There should have been some photgraphs of the landscape in this spectacular part of Dartmoor to go with this posting, but it was not a day for stopping to take pictures.

Needless to say my house, like several others I can think of, is still festooned with dripping waterproofs, or not so waterproofs. And the forecast for tomorrow is dry and warm – bother!!

Almost a month since my last post – too long ! This blog entry is dedicated to Tessa, my most recent sponsor. She must have read my previous post and thought that the results of this project would be modest and therefore sponsored me for a handsome amount to become my most generous sponsor. She also capped the amount of sponsorship which turns out to have been a very prudent move as the flywheel has at last begun to turn; the waistband is heading to more equatorial climes (see previous post), and the sponsorship money is beginning to roll in.

I was getting a bit desperate actually. The numbers on the scales just would not budge and I was beginning to think that a label had been stuck over the display. Then suddenly it has all started to move and I am right on track with the original plan. My plate is smaller. But then so too are some other statistics. Two pounds per week sounds such a trivial amount,

Larder at Paxman Towers

especially when compared with the vast surplus to be moved. But when I think of it in terms of the equivalent of 4 x 250gm packs of butter it seems a lot larger. I can’t even think of where I’ve been hiding it all, (take a look in the mirror – Ed) let alone how it then gets lost.

I promised you “A Farewell to Ale”. Actually this occurred on Boxing Day and I haven’t had a drop since. Perhaps, instead of paraphrasing Hemingway, it would have been more appropriate to choose Robert Graves since it has really been “Goodbye to All That” and away have gone the whisky (sigh), the beer (sobbing), and the wine (abject wailing) and Paxman Towers is now a vale of tears – “L’eau fait pleurer, le vin, chanter.”

However, strong drink remains the order of the day. Firstly, a fiery concoction of ginger beer, lemon juice and tonic water. Also I have found (thanks Christina) that strong coffee and chilli both help shift the pounds. So, copious amounts of strong black coffee. Also

The Chilli Patch in my Garden

frequent tomato juice liberally laced with products from Mssrs Lea & Perrins and the McIlhenny Company. So fond am I of chilli that I have even got a chilli plant successfully ripening in the front room. I have also taken to climbing the walls and roaming the country lanes at the dead of night in my enthusiasm for chilli and coffee.

In fact, abstinence has not been at all difficult. Partial abstinence, in the form of less food, is much crueller and harder to abide.

Weight: 115.5 Kg – 254.4 lbs

Distance Rowed: 230 km (an injury to my toe is temporarily enforcing a metaphorical stopover at a Little Chef somewhere up the M5)

Girth: Not measured recently

Money Raised to Date : £309.35

If you would like to sponsor me and raise funds for the DPA then just send me a message on http://www.dartmoorpreservation.com/contact.html  Just state the amount of money per pound weight lost (from the starting point of 263 lbs), the maximum amount of your sponsorship, and your best guess of my weight in pounds on June 16th 2012 to be in with a chance of the £50 prize. Judging on progress so far, this will not be an extensive outlay.

This task followed on from similar work to the ruined post-medieval farmstead carried out last November.  The archaeology is now easier to see – the farmstead is just south of the wall at about SX615626 and the hut circles are scattered just north of the same wall.

The site is some distance from a parking area, so volunteers walked in from Higher Hele, with tools carried in by four-wheel drive.

Thanks to strimmers John W and Nigel, to Bob who marked out the work site, Adam who took the photos, Derek and Chris for organising and transporting the tools, Elaine for the cake and John V, Rachel, Hilary, Stephane and Sylvia, for lopping, slashing, pulling and raking.

Also thanks to the farmer for allowing parking in his farmyard and to the Cornwood Inn for use of their car park and providing a welcome refreshment break after work.

Summer will include a day on Hawns clearing tracks.  There is more archaeology to investigate and clear later in the year.

New volunteers are always welcome – details are on the website.

Devonport Leat with a cleared walkway on the left ....... Click image for larger version

Friday 2nd February was our 14th day of conservation work on Devonport Leat and what an absolute beauty of a day it was! Sometime, the fates are bound to look less kindly on us, however, today was a real blue sky Dartmoor day, although it was very cold.

I saw -2°C recorded on the car instrumentation but after we started work I took off the old Barbour jacket and an old fleece – leaving just a winter shirt and a long-sleeved thermal polo-neck! I was not going to be cold, no matter what weather came along.

My many, many thanks to Bill, Bob, Chris, Clive, Derek, Elaine & John, Helen, Jack, John & Rachel, Kieran, Keith, Paul, Roger, Stephanie, Steve, Sylvia and Val who with myself made twenty volunteers.

A special “Thank-you” goes to Sylvia who brought (wait for it) two sorts of cake! This time we had great fruitcake AND orange chocolate bars. Someone told me the bar pieces were good – but I already knew that!

Another special “Thank you” also to our hero who is often taken for granted – Derek. He brings our tools religiously and takes them back again but there is a lot of work in between – checking, cleaning, servicing, etc. Its bad enough doing your tools at home – today Derek brought tools for twenty! I’m saying this particularly because I had a taste of it last week!

The photograph above shows the leat with little growth in it – what there was is removed. There is a cleared 2-metre walkway on the left and the road on the right. A number of logs are visible on the right bank ready for residents to collect.

After the work was finished, several of us retired to The Rock Inn at Yelverton, where a period of welcome refreshment ensued, interspersed with sociable conversation. If you would like to join this happy band then contact the DPA via the web site, clicking on “Volunteering” or “Conservation – Devonport Leat”.

The weather was hardly what we would have chosen, low cloud was a bit of an understatement – it seemed to be reaching all the way down to ground-level in places! With extra wet weather clothing supplied from Val’s stocks we all set to work undeterred. Bob and Bill had planned out our tasks the day before so there was plenty to keep us busy.

We owe a big thank you our visitors for working so hard and remaining cheerful despite the conditions. Some even said that they were enjoying themselves! In our usual tradition, we encouraged them with plenty of cake.

Getting to grips with the gorse

Now that's what I call getting stuck in to the job

Beats being stuck at the desk all day

We hope that they will come again on a nice, sunny day. Thanks also to so many of our own volunteers for turning up for work on such a damp day.

We met at Clearbrook as usual and then walked to the near end of the tunnel while I drove the tools around. We cleared some larger trees that were left on previous occasions.

Sheep join us for lunch ..... Click image for larger version

I have to thank Adam, Andrea, Barbara & Roger, Barry & Tanya, Becky, Bill, Bob, Chris, Helen & Tony, John & Rachel, Kathy, Mally, Stephanie and Sylvia, who, along with myself, made a total work party 19.

I also want to thank Mally for bringing two varieties of cake, again! Walnut and date or ginger – spoiled for choice again, James! Ho yes – the leat is the place to be!

Besides the cake, or empowered by it at coffee time, we worked very hard. Perhaps both with the calories it gave us and to burn it off anyway, just in case?

When we sat down for lunch at 12.50, we were almost invaded by a flock of sheep who were grazing the ivy on the trees that had been cut on the rising bank of the leat. I believe there are 26 in the photo above. The photo shows how close they came to us. This could be the start of another “working in partnership” scheme?

I want to say a special “Thank you” to Andrea, the Dartmoor Ranger for the area, who joined us for the morning. Her visit was very helpful in deciding some of our actions.

By 2.30 pm some of us had worked so hard that we were at a stand-still. More than enough work had been done to warrant clearing up and repairing to The Rock Inn at Yelverton for the usual discussion, libation and responsible rehydration. A good day.

Lunch break on the leat, waiting for the sun to come out again! Click image for a larger version

The group in the photo above look very content – worn out, perhaps? I suspect that their happy expressions derive to some extent from the very welcome cake that Mally brought for us – in fact, two types of cake. Thanks, again, Mally. Now we really are “cooking on gas” along the leat!

This was our 12th work day and to say that we covered some ground is an understatement. We finished near the property at SX 52005 66678, which means we covered over 200 metres of leat.

My thanks once more to Barbara & Roger, Bill, Chris, Derek, Elaine & John, Helen, Ian, John, John & Rachel, Kathy, Mally, Nigel, Stephanie, Steve and Sylvia, who, along with myself, made a total of 19.

Following a meeting with the Secretary of the Commoners Association last Monday, we looked again at some of the slightly larger trees that we had left, pending his further advice. Today, we carried out more of the Commoners’ wishes in removing some of the larger trees in and on the leat banks that could cause damage in the future.

As on previous, days, we ended up in The Rock Inn, and well-deserved it was, too!

If anyone would like to join this happy band on future work days, you would be very welcome. Either check out the DPA Volunteering web page, the DPA Devonport Leat web page, or call Keith Ryan on 01752 405245.

“G’day mate. That’s a nice verandah you’re building over the toyshop.” Owners of any self-respecting sized belly who have visited Australia may well have been greeted with this charming phrase of Strine. The imagery of this phrase is useful in describing a fundamental problem with the belly – where does your waistband go ? I am of course only speaking for the chaps here, as the engineering of the female body and the requirements of fashion are somewhat different and I don’t pretend to understand them.

The problem is that once your girth gets to any decent size, your waistband refuses to stay in place. It’s like trying to put a belt around a football; it just slips off. So the big question is: Above or Below ? I’ve always favoured the southerly route.

One size solution for the Tropic of Cancer approach

Most of those I have met who have favoured the Great Circle northern route have tended to be more elderly and to have their clothes well tailored. I used to have an honorary uncle who was a confirmed member of this persuasion whose waistband always seemed to me to be rather too close to his armpits. He also always wore a substantial pair of braces. Correctly done, it is a great gesture of confidence – “I’ve got a great girth and I don’t give a damn !” In modern times the celeb proponent of this is Simon Cowell for reasons that I can’t understand. He doesn’t have a decent belly size and can hardly be called well dressed. I’ve always thought it helps to make him look quite a prat. If I had made all those squillions from Pop Idol I think I might have invested a little more money in the fashion business and got rid of some of those old tee shirts.

Desperate measures ! I can't believe anyone would actually do this.

My own fondness for the Tropic of Capricorn stems, I think, from a fundamental attitude of denial shared, I suspect, by many men of a certain size. A good belly doesn’t just happen overnight. It creeps up on you to begin with and then takes years of unwitting nurture and care. Securing the trousers under the verandah is a way of making sure that our waist size (at least as measured by the trouser waistband) remains smaller than would otherwise be the case. It also provides a reassuring support, a kind of buttress under the verandah rather than the awning of the alternative approach.

Why am I telling you all this ? The sad truth, dear reader, is that all is not going to plan. The pounds are simply not disappearing as fast as I had hoped despite implementing two of my main weapons (exercise being the first – and I’ll tell you about the second next time). I think the weight is moving about a bit, re-distributing itself in more seemly fashion and the absolute measure of my waistline may have decreased by an inch and a half. But unfortunately the scales appear to be stuck and the belly is still large enough to accommodate a small family of asylum seekers. I now plan to bring in the heavy guns of the much dreaded 3rd measure to get this under control (of which, more in a later post).

Next time : A Farewell to Ale (Control Freak has been postponed but will appear later)

Weight: 118.8 Kg – 261.4 lbs

Distance Rowed: 110 km (a little way north of Junction 23 on the M5)

Girth: 51 inches

If you would like to sponsor me and raise funds for the DPA then just send me a message on http://www.dartmoorpreservation.com/contact.html  Just state the amount of money per pound weight lost (from the starting point of 263 lbs), the maximum amount of your sponsorship, and your best guess of my weight in pounds on June 16th 2012 to be in with a chance of the £50 prize. Judging on progress so far, this will not be an extensive outlay.

Many thanks to new sponsor this week – Martin.

It was a misty, damp day, but that didn’t get in the way of creating fire breaks in preparation for swaling in March. The brush-cutters decided to pack up part way through the day which slowed everyone down, but we still got plenty done. One more day on the East-west firebreak should mean we are ready for swaling.

This means that the 5th February work day can be spent at Hawns, the adjacent DNPA land. On our last work day there we cleared out a farmstead. There are Bronze Age features to the north of it that we will start work on clearing in February. 2012 promises to be a busy year for High House Waste and our conservation team.