I spent a fair bit of time discussing the options I have as a domestic user and it was great to catch up with some old friends as well, seems we all have a common idea of benefiting from the feed in tariff and also trying to help the environment.

Also other businesses providing energy saving solutions for the domestic market where there to discuss the options available.  I must add that it is great to see a number of local business working in the local area, like the friendly team of Exeter based solar installer Ecosource Solutions who I had a long chat with.

This kind of local energyshare group called Transition Groups are springing up in villages and towns all over Devon so if you want to really make a change why not get in touch with your local Transition Group and see how your house or business can benefit.

Vulcan at Dawlish Airshow 2009 from Alistair Gleave on Vimeo.

Also we’ve seen the Devon Air Ambulance, Sea King and EH101 helicopters and of course the Typhoon which was quite simply awesome.  So if you’re around Dawlish on the 18th August and you here a low droan of aircraft engines, those will probably be the Rolls Royce Merlin Engines of the Battle of Britain flight.

I will be live tweeting from the event so follow me here @alpenwest and if you do go then please put some money in the collection buckets, its people’s good will and generosity that keeps it going, please be generous.

Spotted outside a country hotel on Devon a truly wonderful Jaguar XK 150, I need add no more!

Friday 13th May the launch of GrowMyCharity, yes we chose the date well!

The launch of GrowMyCharity.com a collaboration between myself (Alistair Gleave) and Jackie Dawkins. Why you may ask?  Well we have both been working with charity clients for a number of years and wanted to find a way to support charities of all shapes and sizes to grow and flourish by providing them with resources, ideas and tools.

Our opening event was at TTS in Bideford, the picture shows me in full flow….  The event saw a number of charities come along for an opening presentation and group discussion on online marketing for their charities, something close to our hearts, and where we believe we can offer real value and support to charities.

The site and events will grow significantly over the coming months with more resources, information and guests posts etc, please come and join us on our new Facebook page here.

We’d love to see you at the next event at the wonderful Seale Hayne on June 22nd and you can book a FREE place for your charity here http://growmycharitysh.eventbrite.com/

I took this image while walking along a winding path finding the Shine Charity lunch where i was presenting, and i dont think the picture does it justice.

• Imperial War Museum Duxford opened 1976 – I visited this as a school boy.
• HMS Belfast became a branch of the museum in 1978 – ditto
• The Cabinet War Rooms opened in 1984 – well worth a visit, you can even have a sleep over.
• Imperial War Museum North opened in 2002 – never been, have you?

The museum’s mission is; ‘to enable people to have an informed understanding of modern war and its impact on individuals and society. I visited the Lambeth site in early June 2010 and for me the highlight was the atrium, a massive panorama of some of the machines of war, the video below is from my visit and surely coves the size and number of exhibits you can get ‘hands on’ with.

Exhibits which you can see on the video include: ‘Devil’ a Mark V World War 1 tank; ‘Ole Bill’ a B-type bus used to transport troops to and from the front in World War 1, a V-2 and Polaris missile, and a Grant tank used by Montgomery and Sherman Tank from World War 2.

Suspended aircraft (partially obscured) include a Sopwith Camel, Heinkel He 162 and a Supermarine Spitfire which flew in the Battle of Britain.

So go on pay it a visit you won’t be dissapointed.

Here am I after swimming1 mile for Devon Air Ambulance Trust in their ASA Agatha Christie Sea Swim on 19th September 2010. Just a short run up and over the sea wall.

I raised over £150 at you can still donate to me here http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AlistairGleave

Update: the results and times can be found on the Devon Air Ambulance website here.

I popped down there on my lunch hour and witnessed the Vikings and Saxon having a bit of a barny with each other, Friday i see was designated schools day so lots of kids cheering for either side – its great to see kids getting involved with history and actually seeing in in action.

Throughout the weekend there will be everything from Roman soldiers to craftspeople, physicians, leather workers, spinners and scribes from the eras of Exeter historical times, these include : Roman, Anglo-Norman, Vikings, Medieval, Georgian, Napoleonic, Victorian and World War 1.

Its on all weekend Friday 25 June – Sunday 27 June between 10.30am – 5pm, well worth a visit in my humble opinion.

You can find out more on the Exeter City Council website here.

The Vulcan XH558 made what can only be described as a stunning entrance last year, not just in her presence but also due to the number of people who have helped get her back in the air and the final flypast with the Red Arrows was very special.

I have blogged about last year’s show here;

• http://www.alistairgleave.co.uk/dawlish-airshow/
• http://www.alistairgleave.co.uk/dawlish-airshow-2009-the-devon-air-ambulance/
• http://www.alistairgleave.co.uk/dawlish-airshow-2009-the-airshow/
• http://www.alistairgleave.co.uk/dawlish-airshow-2009-vulcan-xh558/

It is well worth getting their early to see the static displays, last year you could check out numerous helicopters including the Devon Air Ambulance and it has just been announced that for 2010 78 Sqn from RAF Benson will be on static display with a Merlin helicopter, and, joining the Red Arrows and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight in the flying display, will be the Hawker Beechcraft King Air from 45(R) Sqn at RAF Cranwell.

Finally a bit of a plug as the event is entirely run by volunteers you can show your support by signing up to the for just £10, not only will you receive a badge and certificate, but you can also take a sense of pride from the fact that your contribution will go towards making the show bigger and better for everyone!

Become a friend of Dawlish Airshow here.

I was lucky enough to be there and a very mild day and recorded this on my Flip Video Ultra High Definition Camcorderand uploaded the vid on YouTube so have a look and do let me know what you think.

The flypast order was as follows;

• Spitfire
• Hurricane
• Typhoon
• Tornado F3
• Typhoon
• VC10
• Tristar
• Tornado GR4
• Sentinel
• HS125
• Nimrod R1
• Tornado GR4
• E3D
• Hawk T1 flown by the Red Arrows – as always awesome….

Subscribe to my YouTube channel here.

For information the flypast forms a holding pattern over the sea East of Southwold, with the slower flying Battle of Britain Memorial Flight holding North of Cambridge. The main formation routes to Buckingham Palace via Colchester, with the BBMF joining the main route at the outskirts of Northeast London. The now combined formation will overfly the Palace at 1 o’clock, before exiting via RAF Northolt and RAF Halton before finally dispersing over RAF Brize Norton.