M&I / GBMINI

Back to Oakland Nature Preserve

Posted on May 18, 2020 by Ian C.

After a (long!) coronavirus “lockdown” (for us further extended by our own choice because of traveling home from ‘Vegas back in mid March), Central Florida is beginning to open back up, with a number of downtown restaurants re-opening at reduced capacity – and happily some places for us to go walking that are more than just downtown (which we’ve walked a LOT – here Orange County we were always allowed to go out for exercise walks).

So yesterday, our first trip for a while, to nearby Oakland Nature Preserve; the parking lot was busy but we saw few other people – lots of walking space there I guess! Here’s some pictures …

Sandhill Cranes, once a year?

Posted on April 27, 2020 by Ian C.

Almost exactly a year since I last saw Sandhill Cranes near our home, and today I captured them on video once again – they were curiously quiet this year so I added a little music!

More Garden Flowers

Posted on April 20, 2020April 20, 2020 by Ian C.

While the “stay home” remains active, we won’t be going far – so another look today at the lovely flowers that Margaret has been planting, recently …

A white X3

Posted on April 15, 2020April 15, 2020 by Ian C.

My BMW X3M went for it’s second annual service last week, and the BMW dealership has decided that it’s not safe to drive any more! They are concerned about a “wobble” in the right rear axle shaft – it’s not much but I could see the difference between the right and left …

So for now, I’m driving a loaner X3. It’s not got the wonderful M engine, and it’s missing much of the high-end technology of my own car … no head-up display, no active driving assistant (no detection of vehicles in adjacent lanes), no upgraded stereo … and the steering wheel is curiously light (maybe another difference that the X3M has?)

But it’s comfortable enough and gives me my own transport without needing Margaret to take me everywhere. Who knows how long it’s going to be with me!

Garden flowers

Posted on April 10, 2020 by Ian C.

There’s a whole huge lot of not going anywhere / not doing anything these last few weeks (with lots more to come!), thanks to the coronavirus situation … Margaret has been making our front garden ever more pretty so here’s a colorful view from today:

Stay safe, everyone.

Lake Louisa last chance

Posted on March 23, 2020 by Ian C.

Continuing to practise “social distancing” in this new virus-scared world, Margaret & I drove over to Lake Louisa State Park yesterday to enjoy some very peaceful and empty nature walking around Hammond Lake. Of course I took some photos …

It was lucky we did, since all Florida state parks have now been closed!

LakeLouisaClosed

Las Vegas 2020

Posted on March 20, 2020April 20, 2020 by Ian C.

Our recent trip to Las Vegas was partly vacation, and partly to visit Conexpo where many customers of PG Trionic exhibit their vehicles; here’s a selection of photos from Snorkel, CMEC, Skyjack and GMG (European and China customers were mostly not present!):